[0:03] >> Good afternoon, everyone.

[0:04] And good afternoon. Time is 4

[0:07] o'clock. We're going to start

[0:11] this notice. Meeting. We have

[0:12] the room for just one hour

[0:13] this time. And I think we want

[0:13] to make sure that we walk out

[0:15] of here with a piece

[0:16] legislation and kind of kind

[0:17] of move forward. We're trying

[0:20] to make the Wednesday

[0:22] deadline. So that's kind of

[0:23] why we're I want to just go

[0:26] right to business. We're going

[0:27] to start with introduction

[0:30] story from our left Garden.

[0:33] >> Bring your smears office.

[0:36] Goes Office General Counsel.

[0:36] >> water.

[0:39] >> We police the District 7.

[0:42] Reginald afternoon, Julia

[0:45] Charles Moreland, j they very

[0:46] much. Yeah. If you've got red,

[0:47] that means you can talk

[0:48] different than the other room

[0:49] which is different than

[0:55] another room. It's none of our

[0:56] system

[0:56] >> Thank you all for being

[0:59] here today. Thank you to my my

[1:00] co-chair.

[1:02] >> COUNCILMAN Gaffney, do you

[1:02] have anything before we kind

[1:03] of start the bottom of that in

[1:06] 2?

[1:07] >> would jump straight into. I

[1:09] think the fact remains the

[1:11] same that we need some utility

[1:12] really, you know, we did again

[1:16] calls up and to day, you know,

[1:17] hopefully after this me and we

[1:18] can try to have some type of

[1:19] solution, you know, so at the

[1:24] last. We me and I have gotten

[1:25] calls from all types groups

[1:28] tied to individuals seeking

[1:29] utility. So cleotha today with

[1:33] gas and resolution.

[1:33] >> Understood. Thank you very

[1:34] much. And I believe we might

[1:35] have another council member

[1:37] here to join us, which I to

[1:43] introduce yourself.

[1:44] >> Councilmember get

[1:45] afternoon, everyone. I'm Tara

[1:45] Maclay Murray District 9.

[1:49] Thank you for joining us

[1:50] today.

[1:51] >> And we truly appreciate

[1:52] your efforts and this again, I

[1:53] think we've all kind of gotten

[1:54] these phone calls and heard

[1:55] about needs for for

[1:58] assistance. I want to kind go

[2:00] back to where we were last

[2:01] meeting, right? We talked to a

[2:03] number of providers, got a

[2:03] good kind of understanding

[2:05] about. What programs exist

[2:09] now. I know that I try to

[2:10] become in the span of a couple

[2:14] days. More of a try to learn

[2:16] more about how these

[2:18] nonprofits operating help with

[2:20] utility assistance that I knew

[2:20] before. There's a lot of

[2:22] nonprofits that are providing

[2:24] assistance, including the city

[2:25] of Jacksonville, right through

[2:26] our parks, Rec and Community

[2:28] Services Division. Every

[2:29] program has something a little

[2:33] bit different. The one that

[2:34] the 2 things that the city of

[2:34] Jacksonville and correct me if

[2:35] I'm wrong, anyone the 2, the

[2:40] 2. Programs of the city of

[2:41] Jacksonville has one of which

[2:42] is under parks, rec and

[2:44] community services. And that's

[2:44] utility assistance program

[2:47] that we've internally created.

[2:47] So dollars come out of the

[2:48] budget, go to parks community

[2:52] services and able to to spend

[2:53] those dollars. You're able to

[2:55] get assistance once every 18

[2:56] months in that program. That's

[2:58] under Daryl Joseph Shop and

[3:01] then under the neighbor to

[3:02] neighbor program, which was

[3:07] codify in law in 1987 by City

[3:08] Council. That is a jta program

[3:10] were. Households and families

[3:14] and rate payers can put can

[3:15] can can voluntarily put

[3:17] dollars aside, put into a pot

[3:19] of money and ga is able to

[3:19] distribute those dollars to go

[3:21] into utility assistance via

[3:26] the United Way in the in the

[3:26] code. It specifically says the

[3:27] United Way is going to

[3:28] administer the program and

[3:35] correct me if I'm Charles. So

[3:36] that correct. Missed a

[3:37] neighbor to neighbor program

[3:38] to described it appropriately.

[3:42] The funds are distributed

[3:43] through 2, 1, 1, and then it

[3:45] gets to a Catholic charities.

[3:46] Catholic Charities and takes

[3:46] care of it. From that point.

[3:50] Moving forward. It's my

[3:53] understanding that so in in

[3:53] the law are in the in the bill

[3:54] codify it as United Way's the

[3:57] minister. I think since 1987

[3:58] Catholic Charities has been

[3:59] the one via the 2, 1, 1,

[4:01] program actually administer is

[4:02] the dollar. So 2, 1, 1, still

[4:04] continues to be this pre

[4:08] screening. Operator and then

[4:12] can send it off to. One of a

[4:13] number of providers. However,

[4:14] its Catholic charities that

[4:15] does the neighbor to neighbor

[4:19] program. A lot of other

[4:21] substances given through

[4:23] different operators, Family

[4:27] Services desk Eldersource uses

[4:34] a the heap dollars uses lie.

[4:35] He dollars. Both of those are

[4:36] federal programs. So there's a

[4:40] lot of stuff that exists. It's

[4:40] just a matter of what is the

[4:41] city of Jacksonville. Kind of

[4:43] have the most. Direct

[4:44] engagement on. And that's kind

[4:46] of the parks and rec and then

[4:48] this neighbor to neighbor

[4:50] program. And even then it's

[4:51] not city dollars that go into

[4:51] neighbor to neighbor. Just

[4:53] happened to be codified. So

[4:55] that's that's everything that

[4:55] I've kind of learned in the

[4:58] past in the past week. And

[5:00] Lord knows I'm probably

[5:01] forgetting some other

[5:02] incredible organization that's

[5:03] out there supporting families

[5:05] right now. But all that to say

[5:07] as we are trying to, I think

[5:09] get a bill out by Wednesday. I

[5:11] want to make sure that we sort

[5:13] of saw okay, where does this

[5:15] Last time I said 2.3 million.

[5:19] That's what I want asked my

[5:20] colleagues if feel come

[5:21] confident going for 2.3

[5:24] million from reserves to go

[5:25] into some kind of utility

[5:28] assistance program. The first

[5:29] question I think we all asked

[5:31] ourselves was all right. If we

[5:34] are parks and rec. And

[5:35] ministering dollars, why not

[5:35] give them all the money to

[5:39] which? I think Parks and Rec

[5:41] and any other organization

[5:41] would say you give me that

[5:42] kind of money. I got to hire

[5:45] more staff. I need more people

[5:49] to administer. And so it was a

[5:50] matter of okay. Well, we do

[5:53] want to overburden city

[5:54] department and especially have

[5:55] them hire more staff if

[5:56] they're not gonna be able to

[5:58] continue that staff in future

[5:58] years. I don't think our

[5:59] colleagues would be on board

[6:01] with that. Told us that

[6:04] different iterations. But how

[6:06] much can they take on and sell

[6:09] parks and rec? Do you want to

[6:14] vent? Up? I was going I think

[6:16] parks and rec from what

[6:16] understand take on about an

[6:19] extra 200,000 without hiring

[6:21] additional staff and they can

[6:23] re address their program. So

[6:24] it's not just once every 2

[6:26] months, but go ahead.

[6:29] COUNCILMAN, first of all,

[6:31] little tardy, but what I want

[6:36] to see. If we if we're if we

[6:37] have the funding to do what we

[6:40] need to do, where things I

[6:41] want to make sure is that.

[6:50] >> Access? 2, 1, 1, And other

[6:50] organizations. They only have

[6:53] a certain amount of time. And

[6:54] a lot of time people can cut

[6:58] off. And so we need to look at

[7:02] the big picture. Of how they

[7:04] can access these funds. That

[7:07] would be my major concern

[7:08] because sometimes we don't

[7:10] know they get so overwhelmed.

[7:12] The staff, they MAY not have

[7:13] the capacity to distribute the

[7:16] funds the way it needs to be.

[7:20] Distribute it. Now I know

[7:23] organizations like even j a

[7:24] had a program. The neighbor to

[7:26] neighbor program and then they

[7:29] were even collect in funds

[7:33] from different businesses by

[7:35] asking individuals or

[7:39] companies to donate it and if

[7:40] there and I don't know if

[7:44] could do this and not, but we

[7:44] need access like immediate

[7:47] access people either have a

[7:48] day before they cut off. All

[7:50] that might be today. So

[7:53] whatever we do and I think we

[7:54] need to.

[7:55] >> Ally and

[7:59] >> be an asset to those

[8:00] organist stations, not the

[8:01] ones that are already doing

[8:04] like the regular goes, open

[8:09] the lines up at 8 o'clock.

[8:10] They open it up by 8 o'clock.

[8:12] They probably had 20 people on

[8:13] already. And then those

[8:17] dollars are just And of

[8:17] course, you have United Way as

[8:20] well. But we want to make sure

[8:21] that whatever dollars that we

[8:24] do, need to be able to have it

[8:28] done immediately.

[8:28] >> COUNCILMAN, I think your

[8:31] frustration and your for one,

[8:32] you probably you to both. The

[8:33] more about nonprofit work that

[8:37] I certainly do. And you hit

[8:37] the nail on the head. Talked

[8:38] about that a little bit in the

[8:39] last meeting yet these dollars

[8:43] can just be can't just get

[8:44] written. And as we say,

[8:45] goodbye, got to get more staff

[8:46] to be able to administer those

[8:47] dollars. And it's got to be

[8:49] fast because if if the public

[8:52] sees we cut a 2 million dollar

[8:53] check. They're gonna expect

[8:54] that they get those taxes.

[8:55] Those dollars annually as

[8:56] opposed to having to wait 3,

[9:00] 4, 5, months. No question. You

[9:01] know, as as I kind of talk

[9:01] with our auditors and r and r

[9:05] attorneys, I thought some

[9:06] dollars can go in the park's

[9:06] and rec immediately where they

[9:07] can spend dollars. We already

[9:09] have staff to do that. And

[9:10] you're right. You got to call

[9:11] a comment Tuesday to make sure

[9:12] you get the assistance and

[9:14] then 2, 1, 1, United Way told

[9:18] us they can they can handle

[9:19] the rest of the dollars and

[9:20] get an additional staff member

[9:21] to through their network and

[9:23] make sure those dollars go a

[9:24] lot faster. I want to call

[9:25] cold right up here. I kind of

[9:26] brought Arbor and credit pay.

[9:29] You can introduce yourself.

[9:31] Just kinda, maybe go little

[9:33] bit more about sort of what we

[9:35] discussed. Get my apologies

[9:36] for going to recognize

[9:37] COUNCILMAN Park Maryville for

[9:40] quick. To the chair to

[9:45] Councilmember Pittman.

[9:46] >> I think at this one system

[9:47] clarification. So I think what

[9:48] you're saying is not so much

[9:49] about the funding that we that

[9:53] we're proposing. But access to

[9:55] those programs that there's no

[9:55] delay. I think that's what

[9:59] you're trying to emphasize a

[10:00] little above, to be honest,

[10:02] because I don't think one

[10:02] program.

[10:05] >> Could handle all we need

[10:08] right. The complaints that I

[10:09] hear about is that they can't

[10:12] get in to talk to someone or

[10:14] and might be a senior that

[10:16] don't know the process of how

[10:17] to maneuver to get the money.

[10:19] You know what it means. So I

[10:24] don't know if we can have.

[10:25] Organization or a couple of

[10:29] organizations that if your

[10:30] lights are going to be less

[10:33] than 3 days of today's at I'm

[10:33] just saying it out loud. I

[10:36] don't really know. But the

[10:37] most immediate because a lot

[10:40] of the organizations have

[10:43] allocated dollars even I

[10:44] social services have that. But

[10:46] at least they MAY have a

[10:48] little time. They say it is if

[10:51] they're 2 months behind,

[10:53] right? They make an

[10:53] appointment with social

[10:56] services or we call they try

[10:59] to help them within a certain

[11:01] period. But if you have

[11:06] somebody like a 2, 1, 1, or da

[11:08] again, that works with these

[11:09] organizations to keep those

[11:10] lights on keep them from being

[11:12] cut off the cause of a lot of

[11:13] the families already stressed

[11:16] out and struggling, right. And

[11:17] and even if they live in low

[11:19] income house and if you don't

[11:22] have any lights, then they

[11:26] they cancel terminate. Your

[11:28] your house easy. So we had

[11:31] make sure whatever we do. It's

[11:33] going to be something this

[11:34] immediate. Okay. So then with

[11:35] that being said, I think that

[11:39] it there should be look at

[11:40] each program and see how the

[11:43] dollars are distributed

[11:44] immediately in terms of each

[11:45] program like she's going to

[11:48] talk about.

[11:49] >> United Way. So what the

[11:50] turnaround time is for them

[11:52] actually receiving service.

[11:53] And I'm I'm assuming that when

[11:56] there is a program jta that

[11:57] it's a little more immediate

[11:58] than other programs. If you

[11:59] understand the point that I'm

[12:06] making. All right. Thank you.

[12:08] >> Opelousas, if you MAY, one

[12:09] of the questions that was

[12:10] asked to Leslie, after the

[12:14] meeting. How do we come up

[12:15] with love? How did you come up

[12:19] with 2 million dollars? 2.3,

[12:21] you know, one of the

[12:21] organizations that reached out

[12:24] to me and say, can we take we

[12:26] used a nonprofit, you know how

[12:29] that we come up with is 2.3

[12:30] million dollars. So if you

[12:32] want to elaborate on great.

[12:33] >> Thank you. I mean, it is it

[12:36] is a little bit arbitrary. You

[12:37] know, I I chose I wanted

[12:37] 2 million dollars actual

[12:38] dollars to go out and hit the

[12:41] street. I felt like when we

[12:42] looked at I think was an

[12:43] average of about $650 per

[12:46] household

[12:48] >> we've been told that a lot

[12:50] a lot of the services that we

[12:51] provide get drained by the

[12:52] middle of the funds into the

[12:54] year. And right now with with

[12:55] the rate increase and with the

[12:58] economy as it is. I thought

[12:59] 2 million dollars made sense

[13:00] of that was a good round

[13:00] number. And then the extra 300

[13:03] k was for additional ft. Ease

[13:04] and folks to be able to hire

[13:05] staff to administer those

[13:06] dollars because to the point

[13:08] of what we're all concerned

[13:09] about. We don't want we don't

[13:10] want these dollars just

[13:11] sitting back out performance

[13:14] before dollars. Get out. So so

[13:17] that it it frankly is Carey.

[13:18] It is. So anyone thought that

[13:18] was a magic reason, why was

[13:19] that number was 2 Million?

[13:20] Because I thought it was a

[13:24] nice round number 300 k for.

[13:28] Help for to use.

[13:29] >> other another person also

[13:33] brought it to my attention.

[13:34] What about veterans? Can we

[13:35] set aside Mayville 100,000 is

[13:39] to the whole committee? Can we

[13:42] set 100 100,200 1000 aside,

[13:43] the veterans side is on a bit

[13:45] that on table as well as the,

[13:48] you know, Congress a business

[13:49] 50 minutes about veterans as

[13:49] well because it's a lot of

[13:51] veterans. The utility relief

[13:56] as well. So

[13:56] >> I just for one as far as

[13:58] I'm concerned, you're my. Want

[14:01] to do is from this. What were

[14:02] your head is? That is where

[14:02] where I want this to go. But

[14:06] also. I think it's for it's

[14:07] for anyone who's having a

[14:09] tough time right now. Veterans

[14:11] are part of that equation. No,

[14:12] no question now. Know if you

[14:13] want to buy for Kate too much

[14:15] and confuse some of our

[14:17] colleagues. But if that's if

[14:17] that's what you want to do as

[14:19] a veteran myself, I certainly

[14:20] know the struggle that a lot

[14:23] of households have, especially

[14:27] when they got a bunch of kids.

[14:27] And their living off base

[14:28] housing. I mean, it's real. So

[14:29] if that's if that's what

[14:30] you're looking to do, support,

[14:37] whatever you want. And so.

[14:40] >> lot of programs that I want

[14:40] to segregate anything, the

[14:41] populations that are being

[14:44] served right? Because a lot of

[14:48] like I know that our Veterans

[14:49] Services, they do have a lot

[14:54] of programs. And or they know

[14:58] how to get funding from other

[14:58] organizations. But at the end

[15:00] of the day, I thought we would

[15:02] talking about people who our

[15:03] need and I don't want to

[15:09] segregate. Anybody embodied in

[15:10] the Hill. You know, if is

[15:11] wanted 2 days before lights to

[15:13] cut all we need to make sure

[15:15] you can call this number and

[15:19] it MAY be because, you know,

[15:20] that's not a whole lot on the

[15:20] on us, which is that not a

[15:24] whole lot of money to. If we

[15:26] have a whole lot of people who

[15:26] need help, people are being

[15:29] laid off right now is not just

[15:29] poor people, you know, is

[15:33] people that have jobs either

[15:37] hours of being cut and they're

[15:37] just not making is me

[15:40] insurance for cars. They're

[15:42] being inquiries, you know, and

[15:44] so at the end of the day, you

[15:44] want to make sure you that a

[15:45] roof over your head and you

[15:49] got some lights and house. So

[15:50] if we can look at I mean, I'm

[15:52] really glad that we're talking

[15:53] about this because you really

[15:54] can't have one without other.

[16:00] If you lost some income, my

[16:00] comment is that I don't know

[16:03] how we can disaggregate. Need

[16:05] help. I think that will be

[16:05] difficult unless you're

[16:09] talking about. That pot of

[16:11] money. The 100,000 to

[16:12] specifically to veterans

[16:13] services. So that way it can

[16:15] be done.

[16:16] >> You know, it would go

[16:17] specifically to help veterans.

[16:19] I don't know how you could

[16:20] disaggregate. Like we Chris,

[16:21] like Councilmember Pittman

[16:24] said the fact that, you know,

[16:25] everyone needs help. So I

[16:25] think the whole pot to be

[16:26] distributed among those

[16:27] programs that are existing

[16:29] rather than desegregate. Thank

[16:32] you.

[16:32] >> And personally, I would

[16:35] love to see additional support

[16:36] for rental assistance for

[16:37] housing problems, things. It's

[16:42] just. I feel like sometimes

[16:43] you got to get the cities like

[16:44] guys to got to get our

[16:45] colleagues on the same page.

[16:46] And I think sometimes as a

[16:47] bridge too far for some of our

[16:48] colleagues, I think utility

[16:51] assistance is something we all

[16:52] we all feel. We all know we

[16:53] all recognize is an issue at

[16:53] this very moment.

[16:57] >> That that, you know, that I

[16:58] think everyone can get behind

[16:59] which one going down this

[17:00] avenue. But I think if we help

[17:00] people with utility

[17:03] assistance, it's it's still

[17:04] help some of those other

[17:04] things right now. We don't

[17:05] need to worry about rent to

[17:07] the same degree for that on.

[17:09] >> I would like to hear from

[17:14] jta in terms of the number of

[17:17] people, either been cut off or

[17:21] pending and or if you work

[17:22] with the different

[17:24] organizations that this money

[17:27] potentially MAY go to, how do

[17:30] we put it on a fast track. Is

[17:31] there that He'll speak first.

[17:35] But when is any way that we

[17:38] can look at.

[17:42] >> Oh, I'm I'm sorry. Game.

[17:44] You know, over But thank you.

[17:48] Can can you help us out?

[17:50] >> And so that you want ready

[17:52] to speak first. Yeah. Look

[17:52] that.

[17:53] >> Well, which ever says she's

[17:54] been standing up there a

[17:57] little bit. Can you help us

[17:58] out? Let her go. And then if

[18:01] you would speak. So the chair

[18:05] of thank you again.

[18:06] >> The question was kind of

[18:09] what we discussed previously.

[18:09] My name's credit. Addresses on

[18:14] file. I want to just kind of

[18:17] go back to a kind of the

[18:18] foundation of how to 1, one

[18:19] works, because I know that has

[18:25] been. Little bit of confusion

[18:28] about we are the net, the the

[18:30] epicenter of the hub, if you

[18:32] will, where the more tens of

[18:34] thousands of calls come in

[18:36] every week for all sorts of

[18:37] emergency assistance. Knees,

[18:38] as you mentioned, housing,

[18:40] which is actually housing

[18:41] stability is actually at the

[18:42] top of that list right behind

[18:45] housing is utility assistance

[18:46] right behind that. Our food

[18:49] and transportation needs. Our

[18:54] team is 7 days a week. 24 7.

[18:55] So we answer those calls 7

[18:56] days a week. 24 7, the

[18:57] majority, as you would imagine

[18:59] of the calls come in during

[19:01] the day in our daytime team is

[19:04] 07:00am to 7 p m with multiple

[19:06] shifts. I also mentioned last

[19:07] week that that daytime team

[19:12] includes 7 people total. So

[19:12] know was on vacation are out

[19:15] sick or with issues. But on a

[19:17] full day, we have 7 total

[19:18] people available to take

[19:22] calls. The way that our

[19:25] network works in general, 90%

[19:26] of the calls that we get are

[19:29] referred out to organizations

[19:31] and I database. We have a

[19:33] database of thousands of

[19:34] organizations, including the

[19:37] city of Jacksonville. And we

[19:39] do make referrals to the city

[19:40] of Jacksonville, along with a

[19:44] list of others. In addition to

[19:46] that, we have a network is the

[19:47] community navigation network,

[19:49] which is that close loop

[19:50] model. And the reason was a

[19:52] closed loop model. And the

[19:54] difference is when we make a

[19:55] referral to, for example, the

[19:58] city of Jacksonville, those

[19:59] individuals make the call

[19:59] based on that, you know, the

[20:02] number we give them, but we

[20:03] don't know what happens on the

[20:05] other side. So we don't know

[20:07] when they reach that

[20:08] particular organization, if

[20:09] they receive the help that

[20:11] they need it because this

[20:12] system is clogged, right? We

[20:15] give the referral, but we

[20:16] can't tell you what happens

[20:19] now. We do surveys and we do

[20:20] follow-up calls, but we can't

[20:20] follow up and survey every

[20:24] single color. The community

[20:26] navigation network, our list

[20:27] redefine partners that we've

[20:29] been working with for many

[20:31] years. We are expanding that

[20:34] partnership. But right now it

[20:35] includes Catholic Charities

[20:36] who's here today. Ali insiders

[20:41] here. As well as Jewish family

[20:42] and community services. I

[20:42] don't know if Mary in Maryland

[20:43] there is is here, but she was

[20:47] planning to join and led by

[20:48] Tina Worth. Now, if you've

[20:52] seen that announcement, those

[20:53] 3 organizations have partnered

[20:58] with United Way, 2 pre screen

[20:59] their their calls, meaning

[21:00] they send all of the call

[21:03] their college to us. We in

[21:05] individuals looking for

[21:07] emergency assistance. Our team

[21:09] of 7, 3, screens. Those calls

[21:11] to indicate specifically for

[21:12] eligibility requirements is,

[21:14] as you all know, very

[21:16] different funding sources have

[21:17] different eligibility

[21:20] requirements United Way. In

[21:22] addition to the funding source

[21:24] is that each 3 each of these 3

[21:26] organizations receive majority

[21:28] of them receive some pg psg

[21:31] dollars. They also received

[21:32] dollars from United Way and

[21:33] other private and government

[21:36] funding sources all very so

[21:38] depending on the funding

[21:40] source and the availability of

[21:42] the week, they give us on the

[21:44] set number of appointments on

[21:47] a Monday. So that on Tuesday

[21:48] what we consider a lot of

[21:51] people know that as a direct

[21:52] referral or a community in the

[21:53] way that we navigate. That is

[21:55] by providing that direct

[21:58] appointment too. The

[21:59] individual organization. So

[22:02] those individuals who get pre

[22:03] screened and appointment, they

[22:04] know when they show up, it is

[22:05] likely they're going to get

[22:06] served. And we also know on

[22:10] the back end, whether they got

[22:12] served because they these

[22:14] organizations enter all of the

[22:15] data into a shared database

[22:16] and system that we we each

[22:19] use. That is the difference

[22:20] between the regular kind of

[22:23] information and referral.

[22:25] Network of getting information

[22:28] out and the ability to close

[22:30] the loop with that network of

[22:31] partners where we have the the

[22:34] information. And we also meet

[22:35] regularly to share and

[22:36] understand was happening,

[22:37] common themes, cetera, with

[22:39] the purpose of improving the

[22:41] system. And that network of

[22:43] partners is committed to doing

[22:45] that. So that is the

[22:46] difference in the 2. And what

[22:48] we discussed is initially

[22:49] Catholic Charities obviously

[22:51] already being the neighbor to

[22:54] neighbor partner, I will say,

[22:55] says our conversation Council

[22:58] blue. So you encourage me to

[22:58] reach out to the other

[23:01] partners to see because if

[23:03] there are more you mention

[23:07] COUNCILMAN Jacoby Council

[23:08] Pittman, you are very right in

[23:09] that the more partners that it

[23:12] could expand the dollar, the

[23:13] better opportunity for the

[23:14] dollars to be distributed in

[23:15] each of them have said they

[23:17] would be able to do that. I

[23:19] have also asked specifically

[23:22] what can you do? At a minimum

[23:25] with the current

[23:26] infrastructure that we

[23:28] currently have. And I have

[23:29] some numbers from each of them

[23:31] to be able to help you all

[23:35] come to a good number based on

[23:39] what I was shared with 3 and

[23:40] in that does not include, of

[23:41] course, what you share because

[23:43] the city of Jacksonville is

[23:44] not part of that network. So

[23:45] that's a separate and see. But

[23:52] in completion, the sum total

[23:54] is around $750,000 that that

[23:59] is without any anything.

[24:00] Obviously everyone has

[24:01] indicated that still will put

[24:04] a strain on the team. But with

[24:07] understand understandably. So

[24:09] we recognize the dynamics of

[24:11] that with an additional you

[24:11] know, percent is that could be

[24:13] lower than what we initially

[24:15] discussed last week. They

[24:18] could accommodate even more.

[24:21] So that is an update for you

[24:22] today out. Take any questions.

[24:25] But I wanted to make sure you

[24:27] understood the 2, 1, 1,

[24:28] process. We are more than a

[24:30] connector. It is connecting

[24:34] while also vetting. Well,

[24:35] also, quite frankly, our team

[24:35] is trained to not just listen

[24:38] for the utility me, but to ask

[24:41] questions because to the point

[24:43] most times as utility need

[24:46] means there's a food need or

[24:46] transportation me. So color

[24:49] can call in about one thing.

[24:49] But when they leave or when

[24:52] they get off the call, they're

[24:53] giving resources from

[24:55] multiple. I multiple resources

[24:58] and that's the difference.

[25:03] >> a couple questions. One I'd

[25:04] like to know once you all

[25:09] screen the individuals. How

[25:09] was the percentage of those

[25:10] individuals come into the

[25:16] appointments that? Our side

[25:18] because then it becomes a

[25:19] transportation issue. So if

[25:22] you can talk a little bit

[25:23] about that, and of course,

[25:26] they're not going to tell you.

[25:27] I got transportation issues

[25:28] because they they they trying

[25:31] to get that Bill pay. Can you

[25:32] can you give me an idea what

[25:34] percentage of them make that

[25:36] appointment oppose that them

[25:39] not making their appointment.

[25:40] >> To the chair? Yes, the

[25:42] majority and I don't have the

[25:43] exact percentage. Certainly if

[25:45] any of my my partners here

[25:47] answer that specifically, but

[25:48] because we do close loop, we

[25:52] do. Excuse me. We know that

[25:53] the majority of those that get

[25:53] an appointment also get

[25:56] served. And if there is a

[25:58] transportation transportation

[26:00] issue, we identify that as

[26:04] well on the call United Way

[26:05] does provide transportation

[26:06] assistance, also limited

[26:08] funding, but available for

[26:09] individuals who are in need of

[26:12] a right to work to a

[26:15] healthcare non-emergency

[26:15] healthcare appointment as well

[26:18] as access for food. And so

[26:20] there is a transportation

[26:20] needs specifically to

[26:24] emergency financial assistance

[26:25] that is also any basic me we

[26:26] can address that on the call

[26:29] as well.

[26:31] >> And as that, also a

[26:31] partnership with jta. I know

[26:33] they have a ready ride

[26:36] program. Was that totally

[26:36] different?

[26:37] >> So the chair, our this is a

[26:39] specific program. It's called

[26:40] Ride. United is in partnership

[26:43] with Lyft and through private

[26:43] dollars were able to provide

[26:47] those those rights for those

[26:48] specific basic needs. And

[26:49] Decatur earlier. Okay. Thank

[26:53] you.

[26:54] >> I know that we also

[26:55] discussed that this these

[26:55] stars would be potentially

[26:56] used over the course of 2

[26:59] years, but going over the

[27:00] course of 2 years, it would

[27:03] have been 2 years after yeas.

[27:03] I think we kind of had a

[27:04] conversation about maybe only

[27:06] doing one year and trying to

[27:07] get these stories out during

[27:09] the one-year period. Is that

[27:12] something that still? You guys

[27:13] are comfortable with doing and

[27:14] then also how much would do

[27:16] you think is available? Do you

[27:19] think is appropriate for admin

[27:23] and at t's?

[27:24] >> So the chair based on my

[27:26] conversations with the other

[27:28] net partner networks and the

[27:34] we discuss that we could

[27:35] absolutely dispense the

[27:35] dollars with now with

[27:37] recognition of all of us

[27:40] working together on rather

[27:44] putting the on one partner.

[27:45] And we agree that average of

[27:48] 10 to 15 would allow steel

[27:50] some of the black again, just

[27:51] back in in a straight of

[27:52] things, because as you can

[27:53] imagine, more checks have to

[27:55] be cut to jta are just things

[27:56] that most people don't think

[27:59] about is not just, you know,

[28:00] getting dollars out the door.

[28:04] There's a process to that. But

[28:05] average 10 to 15 would very,

[28:09] very much possible would allow

[28:12] for us to expand that within

[28:12] the year.

[28:13] >> So if I'm if I'm doing kind

[28:14] of quick math, that's you

[28:15] know, we can get to around

[28:19] 200,000. Of the one. So I

[28:23] initially said 2.3, 2.3 was

[28:25] the number 400,000 will go to

[28:27] parks and rec community

[28:29] services 2, 200 for this year,

[28:30] 200 for next year. So we stir

[28:31] some additional for next year.

[28:33] That's just under parks

[28:34] because that we don't need a

[28:35] term sheet or any of that.

[28:38] Then the remaining 1.9 Now

[28:39] 200,000 would be taken out

[28:44] for. In support. And then the

[28:44] rest will be used for

[28:48] services. So about 1.7 million

[28:49] for services in one year

[28:56] during a one-year time term.

[28:59] >> know that just want to is

[29:00] still correct. But she said

[29:01] thing, pine organizations, you

[29:05] guys get a This. So I want to

[29:11] make sure you said one point

[29:13] 1.9 for for 2 years now for a

[29:14] one year time period. And we

[29:15] switch to call this like the

[29:17] city to neighbor program will

[29:18] be administered just like

[29:19] neighbor neighbor, but with a

[29:22] different funding, sources say

[29:23] is they want one that and I

[29:23] think I heard is that like

[29:24] y'all get don't feel

[29:26] comfortable. Taking 750,000

[29:27] direct?

[29:28] >> Yes, just to be clear it

[29:30] clarity that 7.50, was without

[29:31] any administrative support.

[29:33] That is basically absorbing

[29:35] the current capacity said the

[29:39] partner said they would be

[29:41] able administer without any

[29:44] additional support, anything

[29:44] over that we would need at

[29:47] least that 10 to 15%. That

[29:53] makes

[29:54] >> Say I have some type of

[29:56] software where you talk with

[29:57] each other.

[30:00] >> And

[30:03] >> a family could only apply.

[30:04] >> One time and a certain

[30:09] amount of. 6 months.

[30:14] >> Once a year, what does that

[30:15] look like? So I kind of take

[30:18] that under this city to

[30:19] neighbor program. It would be

[30:19] $1000 in household can and can

[30:20] get within a year.

[30:23] >> So they could potentially

[30:23] come one or 2 different times

[30:25] that they needed to. And keep

[30:27] in mind, that's just under

[30:27] this program. So you can still

[30:29] go to parks and rec community

[30:30] services potentially for some

[30:32] other assistance. And then

[30:32] maybe there's another program

[30:33] out there that that's

[30:34] something take advantage of

[30:36] the need to. But if maximum of

[30:37] $1000 during the term of the

[30:43] city neighbor program

[30:44] >> and to the chair also at

[30:44] what we would we would

[30:49] recommend, you know, obviously

[30:50] more flexibility provide the

[30:51] easier, the more opportunities

[30:53] to get dollars out the door as

[30:54] well. I know partner, Jewish

[30:55] Family Community Services

[30:58] indicated that even the

[31:00] average $650 utility bill can

[31:02] sometimes be $1000 or because

[31:05] in individuals are.

[31:08] >> You maybe.

[31:09] >> They had a payment plan

[31:11] that did not. They didn't

[31:13] complete. There's an

[31:15] additional fee. And so

[31:16] sometimes there's a cut off

[31:18] service. Plus, maybe an

[31:20] additional fee to even just

[31:21] get their their lights turned

[31:23] back on and to help them

[31:25] remain stable. So even some

[31:27] flexibility there would help

[31:28] because some of these bills

[31:30] MAY actually be because it'll

[31:32] be more than the average

[31:33] utility bill because it

[31:37] includes late fees shut off

[31:39] reinstatement all of the above

[31:39] and

[31:40] >> and under neighbor to

[31:41] neighbor. There is means

[31:42] testing. I think it's 80%. Am

[31:46] I? At the very least there

[31:46] still it's helping the

[31:48] households in need. Does that

[31:52] number not make you talking to

[31:53] So again, by the time they

[31:56] come to us. The bill is 2

[32:02] months. And to get them

[32:04] started almost like a new

[32:04] slate.

[32:07] >> Until they get themselves

[32:08] or if they can, again, if

[32:14] they're online. And income,

[32:16] that MAY not be able to pay

[32:22] for the next months. And Aiken

[32:25] says that I don't know $1000

[32:26] is going to be enough. Now,

[32:27] one of the things I do know

[32:29] that has I don't know the name

[32:34] of program, but it's it's You

[32:35] prove they pay a certain

[32:38] amount of money a month and at

[32:42] the end of the year. There is

[32:42] a difference. I mean, I don't

[32:45] know if we can even consider

[32:45] that.

[32:46] >> To kind of help people way

[32:48] you you pay right? Let's say

[32:52] we get the slate clean. And if

[32:52] it's if individuals that are

[32:55] having. Continuous problem,

[32:57] paying their j a that we put

[33:00] them on that monthly plan with

[33:04] a pay $400 a month. And then

[33:05] at the end of the year of this

[33:09] still an issue. Can this money

[33:11] help with that given people

[33:14] more than one option? To try

[33:16] to pay take care of their

[33:17] bills.

[33:17] >> And through the chair to

[33:18] COUNCILWOMAN Pittman, thank

[33:21] you. For the opportunity to

[33:24] speak. We have several

[33:25] customer support opportunities

[33:27] options for customers. They

[33:31] can extension. They can have a

[33:32] pay arrangements. They can do

[33:33] my way. They can do my budget.

[33:35] That's what you're speaking

[33:36] about. Where at level lies

[33:38] their payments for over the 12

[33:38] month period and they can pay

[33:43] it like that. The I think the

[33:44] biggest that I want to mention

[33:49] is that.

[33:51] >> before our customers find

[33:55] themselves in a bad situation.

[33:58] >> They need to be make

[33:58] contact with with their

[34:01] utility services where we can.

[34:04] Get, you know, provide the

[34:06] gateway for support through

[34:09] our partners that are the ones

[34:13] that look find ways to help

[34:14] our our citizens that are that

[34:15] are in need. That has to

[34:17] happen. But I also want to

[34:20] mention alluded to this. They

[34:22] do a great job, helping all of

[34:24] our partners do a wonderful

[34:27] job. Once they get voucher

[34:29] once they get some sort

[34:30] confirmation that they're

[34:33] going to get dollars. There

[34:36] are powers not turned off

[34:36] those calm. Those

[34:40] conversations are had between

[34:41] the provider and the utility.

[34:45] They get a voucher so that

[34:48] stops any enforcement activity

[34:50] from happening. And sometimes

[34:50] it takes 30 to 45 days for

[34:54] those things to to get moving.

[34:56] But it stops that enforcement

[34:56] process because we know that

[35:01] there's a dollar attached to

[35:02] pay that individual that

[35:04] individual cost their their

[35:07] payment also wanted to provide

[35:09] a follow. The and Gaffney Jr

[35:12] comment last week. He wanted

[35:13] to know about the number of

[35:16] individuals that are behind

[35:18] and their payment. I didn't

[35:19] have that of realty available

[35:20] to me. And I wanted to have

[35:21] accurate information for him.

[35:27] So. Just some level setting.

[35:29] 85% of our residential

[35:30] customers pay their current

[35:32] bill within that 0 to 30 day

[35:38] period. 12% pay before 60 day

[35:45] pass to Marc. And 97% of

[35:48] customers have paid by the 60

[35:52] on the by day, 60 on average.

[35:55] So we like to focus on the 61

[35:59] data ninety-day bucket because

[36:00] we realize that once that debt

[36:02] starts to occur is harder and

[36:03] harder to collect at that

[36:04] point. And customers spent

[36:07] start having multiple bill. So

[36:11] now if your your your point,

[36:12] COUNCILMAN Gaffney, the 61 to

[36:15] 90 day period where we pass

[36:18] too. It's 9,381 residential

[36:24] customers. 9,000. 381

[36:28] residential customers. Days.

[36:34] 91 to 120 this 3,300 and 87.

[36:35] That number goes down because

[36:38] people start paying their bill

[36:39] or they get some support

[36:41] assistance to get put on

[36:41] payment arrangement. All of

[36:45] the things start to happening.

[36:46] But even with that, I want to

[36:49] make sure that we understand

[36:51] that they get disconnection

[36:54] warnings. They 37, they 42,

[36:56] they get phone calls about the

[37:00] bill needing to be paid

[37:02] multiple 3 auto calls attempts

[37:03] to reach the customer. All

[37:04] subsequent days. So there's a

[37:08] lot of things happen long

[37:09] before it gets to the point

[37:14] where we're making a cut on on

[37:15] their electricity long before

[37:17] it gets there. Just wanted to

[37:22] mention that piece. And just

[37:24] one more question, this So if

[37:25] someone can't

[37:26] >> make their payment by the

[37:29] extension. And maybe, you

[37:34] know, something comes up. What

[37:35] can't do you all still make

[37:36] like a second extension or

[37:40] what? What? What is?

[37:42] >> So is is it's a variable

[37:42] thing that, you know, we work

[37:44] with our customers. Is 100%

[37:46] fact. We work with our

[37:50] customers. We want to keep the

[37:51] hair electric their water on

[37:52] just as much as they want to

[37:54] keep it on. And we find ways

[37:56] to try to help our customers

[37:58] out, which is the reason why

[38:01] in the big scheme, the bigger

[38:01] number of customers that jta

[38:04] has to service. That number

[38:06] that I mentioned to is

[38:09] relatively small, although

[38:10] there's a concern the number

[38:10] is not as big as one MAY

[38:12] think.

[38:15] >> And in the marketing. What

[38:17] are know? You used to have

[38:21] month the. And I'm sorry I

[38:24] wasn't here last week. Zavala

[38:25] just I just want to get about

[38:26] 20 minutes. Have been the last

[38:28] question about marketing to

[38:31] make sure because a lot of the

[38:31] people that that are in that

[38:32] small percentage that you

[38:40] mention they MAY not be a

[38:40] >> middle-class individuals,

[38:43] right? Some China because a

[38:44] lot of times those individuals

[38:48] proud to ask for help

[38:52] understand so, you know, is if

[38:53] you all still have that

[38:55] brochure like in the monthly

[38:56] bill, the U.S. Still do that.

[39:00] So a lot of folks on the bill.

[39:02] >> 67% of our folks are now

[39:04] using the We do have it on our

[39:07] website. We market every day

[39:08] with our call advisors we to

[39:09] have call advisors that get

[39:12] over 50,000 calls a month. And

[39:13] you know, people call in about

[39:14] their bill and things of that

[39:17] nature ways to save and all

[39:18] the different opportunities

[39:20] that we have. And I will

[39:21] simply say this to you. Love

[39:23] to get you over there to kind

[39:24] of get to do some of that. So

[39:24] you can see some of the

[39:27] additional things that we do.

[39:28] But on senior day, you know,

[39:31] those dollars that we get from

[39:31] the neighbor to neighbor

[39:34] program truly goes to our

[39:35] seniors, Catholic Charities as

[39:36] an amazing job, getting those

[39:39] dollars out. We had over 658

[39:44] seniors that came through fy

[39:45] 26 over 127 seniors got

[39:49] support of about 67 $1000

[39:52] along with energy audits,

[39:53] efficiency audits, all sorts

[39:58] of activity over 20,000 audits

[40:01] that were correctional a

[40:01] 5,700. And 26 audits. Energy

[40:03] and water efficiency audits

[40:08] were done and 2026 so there's

[40:10] a lot happening getting done

[40:12] if our customers reach out to

[40:13] us, we're able to find ways to

[40:16] help them.

[40:20] >> We start this program.

[40:21] We've able to have all of the

[40:22] agencies that we're

[40:27] considering today on your the

[40:28] mill Levy that would have you.

[40:30] We will work with our partners

[40:32] like we get papers. Make sure

[40:36] >> that those agencies are at

[40:36] the bottom where they can

[40:39] calling it some additional.

[40:41] >> The chair, whatever comes

[40:42] out of the meetings and

[40:43] whatever help that we can

[40:44] provide. From standpoint, we

[40:48] will do that, ok? That's thank

[40:50] you. COUNCILMAN Know your

[40:50] finance questions are great

[40:52] and information vitally

[40:53] important right now. I want

[40:54] make sure that all of us are

[40:54] comfortable with with what

[40:55] emergency legislation we MAY

[40:59] push because we need 13 votes.

[40:59] So so if the if the $1000

[41:02] doesn't feel right, I just

[41:03] feel like that was a pretty

[41:06] pretty good number. You know,

[41:07] 6.50, cents to be the average.

[41:09] I just kind of look at some of

[41:10] our colleagues and I feel like

[41:11] more than 1000 light. Rub them

[41:14] the wrong way. I just want

[41:16] make sure we're using it not

[41:17] to mention are still other

[41:17] outlets. People go to outside

[41:18] of these programs that work up

[41:24] to. Sydney you 1200. That's

[41:32] just you know, hospital in a

[41:36] to the recommended I just feel

[41:39] like going up extra.

[41:40] >> Somebody that might have

[41:43] worked with me that there's

[41:44] Ivan. But but I just want to

[41:45] reiterate what what I'm

[41:48] expecting that to file. And

[41:52] emergency legislation. So it's

[41:53] going to be filed by Wednesday

[41:55] and go through the cycle

[41:56] immediately thereafter, would

[41:59] be 400,000 for Parks and rec

[42:00] committee services for their

[42:04] utility assistance program.

[42:05] And that's 2, you know,

[42:07] 200,000 for your 100,000 per

[42:08] year to because they can they

[42:08] can take that all without

[42:10] hiring new people. So that's

[42:10] those are dollars immediately

[42:12] go out to people right now.

[42:14] Then the rest goes to United

[42:16] Way. This new program city to

[42:19] neighbor United Way would you

[42:20] know we would do 200,000 for

[42:20] administrative services that

[42:24] they would. Work with there.

[42:24] Additional partners to make

[42:25] sure that if they need to pay

[42:28] out. More to Joe Services

[42:31] desk. Member else took head

[42:35] next it. Half an fte that can

[42:36] do that. Have to work with our

[42:37] auditors to make sure they're

[42:40] telling us that. And that

[42:42] would leave 1.7 million of the

[42:43] 1.9 million to go directly

[42:45] into services for one year.

[42:46] And we find out how fast they

[42:48] go through those dollars. Keep

[42:50] in mind, they do have some

[42:52] dollars now, right? So it's

[42:52] not like they're starting, but

[42:53] nothing they do have the

[42:54] ability to pay out at this

[42:56] moment. We are giving them

[42:58] urgency, support and that

[42:59] would known as the city to

[42:59] neighbor program different

[43:01] from the neighbor to neighbor

[43:02] program. That United Way does

[43:03] directly, you know, under

[43:07] under city code. Just any

[43:08] major questions on that. Do

[43:10] you want to and Philip is

[43:12] looking to me like I'm crazy

[43:12] today. Provide the information

[43:16] correctly. Any questions from

[43:18] from folks up here and our

[43:19] concerns and our thoughts and

[43:26] or desires to change anything.

[43:27] Does it? Does it feel like

[43:28] this is a good way to get the

[43:29] dollars out fast? And we have

[43:34] Mary spotless. Don't rain on

[43:36] my parade. On your parade. I'm

[43:37] just here to remind you about

[43:37] a couple of other parameters

[43:38] that we talked about. You

[43:41] briefly mention 80% and mine.

[43:42] >> There's been some

[43:42] discussion about what the

[43:43] maximum dollar amount per

[43:44] account Holder household would

[43:46] be. We've talked about 1000

[43:46] Councilmember Pittman

[43:50] mentioned 1200. You also

[43:51] addressed the potential of

[43:53] advancing some for some

[43:56] amounts up to maybe 25% so

[43:57] that there was some additional

[43:58] funding on hand rather than

[44:00] having to do true

[44:02] reimbursement, starting at the

[44:03] beginning. So you MAY just

[44:04] want to talk about that, too,

[44:05] as well. Said you're correct.

[44:06] And I think we are going to

[44:09] change it to 1200 as the max

[44:09] for household. And I did say

[44:10] because when we discussed with

[44:12] United Way and their partners.

[44:13] >> It said, look, you know,

[44:14] it's a lot to ask of us, as

[44:19] you know. Just start to start

[44:20] spending dollars and then come

[44:21] back to the city monthly for

[44:24] reimbursements. They were

[44:25] asking for 25% of the dollars

[44:25] up front so they can start

[44:27] doing their hiring. Start

[44:27] doing. The administration

[44:29] administrators work

[44:30] immediately as does everyone

[44:33] feel comfortable in that. And

[44:33] that? Thank you, Mary, for

[44:39] Keeping Me Honest are there

[44:40] any other thoughts, questions

[44:41] or concerns? I do if you

[44:42] comment cards and it did kind

[44:43] of want to get to. And I think

[44:46] we have time to. Any other

[44:46] thoughts. And I know your

[44:47] first meeting, COUNCILMAN And

[44:49] I'm so grateful you're here

[44:50] because you probably have a

[44:52] lot of residents that that.

[44:53] Could use some assistance. I

[44:55] know pretty much all of our

[44:57] districts have a lot of folks

[45:00] and luckily era was here last

[45:00] time as well. He's got a lot

[45:01] of residents and the only 2

[45:02] area that I know need

[45:04] assistance Dr more than

[45:05] anything before we kind of

[45:08] public comment. We're going

[45:09] we're going to give everyone 2

[45:13] minutes each try to stay

[45:13] within that. If you go a

[45:14] little bit over, you know what

[45:16] happened? Lauren has been come

[45:17] on up after that is Suzanne.

[45:22] Seth. Followed by Deborah

[45:22] Thompson, all by Reverend

[45:29] Meyer. Go ahead. MISS Has been

[45:30] name and address for the

[45:35] record. Getting area.

[45:36] >> The rain has been my

[45:41] addresses on file. So

[45:42] Jacksonville needs to fix

[45:43] utility costs and not just

[45:45] help to pay the bills

[45:46] assistance treats the symptom,

[45:49] not the cause. The 2 million

[45:51] dollars in deserves this

[45:52] council members to propose

[45:53] would help some families catch

[45:55] up this year. But Jay, a cfo

[45:56] has already saved. Another

[46:00] rate hike is coming in 2027.

[46:02] 28 each year the gap gets

[46:04] bigger and needs more relief.

[46:05] Money. If the city does not

[46:06] deal with the rate, it's

[46:07] committing to bailouts every

[46:13] year. Paying twice in f in

[46:16] fiscal year 2026 days and

[46:17] about 179 million to the

[46:19] city's general fund, including

[46:23] a one-time 40 million increase

[46:24] counting franchise fees and

[46:25] the public service tax. The

[46:29] total is about 348 Million. A

[46:30] freight cares fund the city

[46:31] through their bills. I'm in

[46:32] the city sends a small share

[46:36] backed as assistance. That's

[46:38] not relief, Laurie or limiting

[46:40] the city's take from jta would

[46:40] reach every household right

[46:43] away. The Biden is going

[46:45] faster than families can

[46:48] absorb it seems of Temple

[46:48] first electric rates are up

[46:51] more than 6%. Water and sewer

[46:54] rates are up 8%. That's the

[46:55] second increasing about a year

[46:59] and a half getting bills of

[47:00] about $500 when the expected

[47:04] 100 to $200 and United Way's 2

[47:06] in one line took more than

[47:08] 4600 calls from didn't Duval

[47:11] residents in a year with only

[47:12] 7 staff, a small assistant

[47:16] assistance. One cannot keep up

[47:16] with building the

[47:17] infrastructure. Does that mean

[47:18] this is going to be a

[47:19] permanent program or what are

[47:22] we doing? Assistance leaves

[47:23] out the working families who

[47:28] are just above the cut-off

[47:30] relief programs have come have

[47:31] income limits, paperwork and

[47:32] wait times and the and the

[47:34] reach. People who know how to

[47:36] apply seniors on fixed

[47:37] incomes, working families and

[47:38] small businesses that do not

[47:40] qualify, still pay the full

[47:41] high rate addressing the

[47:44] rates, protect everyone's

[47:45] assistance on the needs to

[47:47] help people who want

[47:48] assistance. Only help people

[47:50] who manage to get through the

[47:51] process. This city has

[47:53] leverage so we should use it.

[47:57] Jay, a supposedly is owned by

[48:00] The City Council approves its

[48:01] contribution agreement before

[48:01] approving more rate hikes will

[48:02] paying for big projects like

[48:06] the 1.5 billion new power

[48:07] plant cancer can independent

[48:09] review of spending. Thank you

[48:11] very much. I could go on.

[48:12] >> Now I know you side try to

[48:15] get to everyone. Here at 5 in

[48:16] the staffers of stuck around a

[48:21] long day today. This app go

[48:22] ahead 2 minutes. Hillary one,

[48:25] thank Council member

[48:26] >> And Gaffney, everyone else.

[48:26] My name is cc and sap. My

[48:29] address is on record. I'm here

[48:32] with the Sierra Club and with

[48:34] Duvall affordable, Clean

[48:38] Energy Coalition

[48:38] >> you know, I'm really

[48:42] concerned about I appreciate

[48:43] the fact that we're talking

[48:46] about some solutions. But, you

[48:47] know, as a former trauma

[48:47] nurse, we've got a s#

[48:47] #

[48:48] #

[48:49] chest wound here and we're

[48:51] trying to put a Band-Aid on

[48:54] it. I'm not really sure why we

[48:55] the rate payers are bailing

[48:56] out our public utility. Not

[49:00] sure about that. So we need

[49:00] immediate intervention to help

[49:04] people pay bills, short-term

[49:04] remedy. So this doesn't

[49:06] continue to happen. Month

[49:08] after month. And a long-term

[49:12] plan for j j's electricity,

[49:13] energy decision-making. Does

[49:14] anybody in this room actually

[49:15] know how makes decisions? I

[49:20] would love to understand that.

[49:22] So no disconnections and

[49:23] remove the disconnect. Notice

[49:24] from the required

[49:26] qualification for assistance.

[49:28] We've heard that it's a long

[49:29] process. There's several

[49:31] emails and text messages just

[49:34] connects. Take 3 days and

[49:36] energy. Bill assistance

[49:40] sometimes take 30 to 45 days.

[49:41] So some short-term remedies,

[49:41] free energy audits and

[49:44] programs to help weatherize

[49:45] homes. That's great. If you

[49:48] own a home and if you're a

[49:50] renter, not really sure what

[49:51] you do because some of the

[49:54] slum lords in this town are

[49:55] not coming. Put insulation and

[49:57] Addicks a new windows in for

[50:00] you. So what are we doing for

[50:02] renters and education on time

[50:03] of use rates. We need come. A

[50:05] community advisory Council for

[50:10] j a we the rate payers all of

[50:11] this is being done on our

[50:15] backs. We deserve a seat at

[50:16] the table where energy

[50:17] decisions are being made. We

[50:19] don't have that. Refuses to

[50:21] give us that they make these

[50:22] decisions. We get 3 minutes

[50:25] that public comment. Nobody

[50:27] response. We need a forensic

[50:28] internal audit and financial

[50:29] adjustments to maintain or

[50:32] even reduce rates. We need to

[50:33] meet people where they are. We

[50:35] need to figure out renewable

[50:38] energy and we need a long-term

[50:40] plan. It's great that we're

[50:40] talking about the short-term

[50:41] solution. Lorene brought up a

[50:43] bunch of good points. Is this

[50:46] going to be an annual thing?

[50:47] But does that look like I

[50:50] don't know, but we need a

[50:51] long-term plan. Jay is

[50:53] currently conducting a secret

[50:54] energy planning process called

[50:56] Integration Resource plan. And

[50:57] we need a seat at the table.

[50:58] Thank you very much. Deborah

[51:00] Thompson.

[51:04] >> Followed by Reverend Meyer.

[51:06] And to the credit of our last

[51:08] public a lot of the comments

[51:09] are brought up. They brought

[51:11] up in the past. Also franchise

[51:12] fee discussion has been

[51:12] something that's been brought

[51:14] up in the past 2 years. It Go

[51:15] ahead and share and to all of

[51:18] the COUNCILMAN In visitors.

[51:19] >> My name is Deborah Thompson

[51:23] I work with Environment and

[51:25] Climate Justice Committee for

[51:27] the naacp. And I've also

[51:30] worked low and moderate income

[51:30] families, refugees and other

[51:31] people on fixed incomes for

[51:35] more than 30 years. It is very

[51:37] difficult to budget and work

[51:38] with an individual to do

[51:39] financial Any other program

[51:41] that you might put out here to

[51:45] fall into a situation to where

[51:45] and electric bill is higher

[51:49] than the House. No. It is a

[51:50] very difficult situation to

[51:53] work with families single

[51:56] paired families with more than

[51:57] 2 children in a home.

[51:58] Sometimes that is not at

[52:02] minimum housing code which

[52:03] allows electric bill to be

[52:05] higher in many cases,

[52:08] especially during the winter.

[52:09] So our appeal to you today is

[52:12] to look far again, like a

[52:14] long-term strategy are to work

[52:15] with individuals in these low

[52:16] and moderate income to put

[52:18] them on a fixed rate. So the

[52:22] Fed rate is not so that the

[52:24] bill is not escalating on a

[52:26] monthly basis because over a

[52:29] period of time, it is just

[52:30] very difficult for a single

[52:30] parent family on a fixed

[52:33] income are unstable income.

[52:34] Meanwhile, families on and

[52:39] stabled incomes. Those

[52:40] incomes, fluctuating with

[52:43] part-time jobs, 2, 3 jobs in

[52:45] some instances. So that is

[52:46] very difficult. So we'd like

[52:47] for you to put a human side to

[52:51] the things that you do. We as

[52:52] citizens all the time, do not

[52:54] understand operations of

[52:55] business and those things are

[52:59] being pushed on individuals

[53:00] that have nowhere with all nor

[53:02] do they have anything to fight

[53:03] with. So we're asking you to

[53:06] help us help them. I'm also a

[53:07] helper and a provider for

[53:11] small. Low and moderate income

[53:12] families as well. This

[53:13] refugees to come into our

[53:15] country and it is very

[53:17] difficult to work with with

[53:19] escalating electric bill,

[53:21] which is a necessity in this

[53:23] day and time. Thank you. Thank

[53:26] you, ma'am. Lastly, Reverend

[53:33] DR. Russell Meyer. Remember

[53:34] you, MR. Chair Council

[53:36] members.

[53:39] >> My address is on record. I

[53:41] am also the pastor of Saint

[53:41] John's Lutheran Church. An

[53:45] historic Springfield. We have

[53:49] 100 year old building. I have

[53:50] 100 year-old house and I would

[53:54] dare say that.

[53:56] >> Most of the people who fall

[53:58] into arrears more than 60 days

[53:59] or in older homes, they need

[54:03] energy efficiency. I

[54:05] appreciate you recognize the

[54:07] emergency. The emergencies not

[54:08] going away. It's a permanent

[54:09] feature. You can just check

[54:13] the temperature records. I say

[54:15] a prayer every day prayer. I

[54:19] think many of you probably say

[54:21] as well one line and that

[54:22] those forgive us our debts as

[54:25] we forgive those indebted to

[54:29] us. I want to know why we're

[54:30] bailing out the oil and coal

[54:35] industry. Why are we moving

[54:37] toward energy? That actually

[54:40] is affordable and renewable

[54:40] and clean. Why we putting

[54:43] poison in the air and then

[54:45] saying to our most vulnerable

[54:46] people. Oh, by the way, we're

[54:49] going to shut you off when we

[54:51] have the means. We have the

[54:54] resources to help people in

[54:56] their homes as you move

[54:59] through this process, please

[55:03] move to a true solution. The

[55:04] city can work with j. You can

[55:08] create a financing program in

[55:10] which every single family

[55:13] household homestead it or not

[55:18] can qualify for a alone that

[55:18] would be paid back over

[55:19] amortization on tax bills.

[55:22] Lean. Is there whether there

[55:27] are a renter or homeowner that

[55:30] property could brought up to

[55:30] date with energy efficiency.

[55:33] You have the audit. Sanjay ea.

[55:34] There are ways of solving this

[55:37] problem to make these high

[55:38] rates go away and make housing

[55:42] affordable and livable 4. The

[55:43] people who are most vulnerable

[55:46] in our society city. We should

[55:50] not be asking the most burden

[55:51] to carry the heaviest burden.

[55:53] I ran the numbers. 3%. That's

[55:57] roughly 14,000 households

[55:58] based upon what jta says, the

[56:05] residential clientele is. We

[56:08] can't afford that side of

[56:09] 180 billion dollars we can

[56:09] afford to fix the problem

[56:10] here. Evrod with real

[56:12] solutions. I would just like

[56:16] to conclude by saying we're

[56:17] better than where we are.

[56:18] Let's be better in what we do.

[56:20] Thank you, Reverend. That's

[56:21] all the public on this. We

[56:24] only this one. I did want to

[56:26] ask one quick question is

[56:27] really quick going to be a co

[56:29] introducing? Thank you,

[56:29] appreciate that.

[56:30] >> Last time we did have a

[56:32] number of public commenters

[56:33] come up and speak about how

[56:36] their bills were tough times.

[56:36] Have we address the issues of

[56:37] those individuals who came by

[56:40] the last of this meeting as

[56:41] Make sure.

[56:41] >> chair chair, thank you for

[56:45] that. We did the very next day

[56:46] we spoke to the individuals

[56:47] that had concern about their

[56:50] bill. And we were able to take

[56:55] care of that. There was some

[56:56] understanding issues there

[56:59] that we were able to clear up

[57:00] and most times. That's what we

[57:03] find issues that maybe they

[57:04] just don't understand

[57:05] something and they just need

[57:06] someone to walk them through

[57:07] it. But we did. Energy

[57:08] efficiency audit went out

[57:10] there and to care that piece

[57:11] that was good, that customers

[57:14] in a good place and the any

[57:15] other customer that had a

[57:16] concern. We were able to take

[57:18] care of them.

[57:19] >> And I did call the one

[57:21] gentleman who was a veteran

[57:22] himself called on the very

[57:23] next day. He sat on the phone

[57:25] with ga right now. Thank you

[57:26] for your help. So I am

[57:28] grateful that no weapon up one

[57:29] other thing because I think

[57:30] this is important. We have

[57:31] what we call in our 3 program

[57:35] that this council in 20 23,

[57:37] it's called Repair, restore

[57:38] for resiliency program that

[57:41] started off on the east side.

[57:44] >> It's going in and

[57:45] retrofitting hvac systems and

[57:48] then weatherization program in

[57:48] the area that's extended

[57:55] through 2, 3, 2, 202 9.

[57:57] >> That that will sunset the

[58:00] end of the year and close to

[58:01] 70 homes over in those areas.

[58:03] Those that cause I just

[58:04] mentioned.

[58:07] >> We'll have a better air

[58:10] better weatherization. All of

[58:10] that. So just want to mention

[58:13] that we work with the city and

[58:15] others to try to encourage.

[58:17] Thank you, doctor, and to make

[58:19] that we this is an emergency

[58:21] bill for an emergency purpose.

[58:22] The issues that have been

[58:23] brought up to date have been

[58:23] brought up another times about

[58:24] kind of the long-standing

[58:25] where are we with?

[58:26] >> Energy utilization. What

[58:28] can we do better? Those are

[58:28] those are conversations that

[58:31] we will have. For right now.

[58:32] We're trying to make sure that

[58:35] as we have incredibly high

[58:36] inflation, incredibly high gas

[58:37] prices. This is a way that we

[58:41] can support working families

[58:42] right now. Definitely would

[58:45] like to close this out.

[58:46] >> I'm extremely thankful.

[58:47] Thankful and committed and

[58:48] flew my colleagues at the end

[58:49] the day. I mean, I know this

[58:52] will be, you know, this just

[58:53] this is this is long-term face

[58:55] it in the day. I just want to

[58:55] be able say we did something

[58:56] for right now. We'll get back

[58:59] to the drawing maybe in a few

[59:00] weeks to try to come up with a

[59:01] learned also solution. But

[59:02] I've been they hope discuss

[59:05] Todd type of relief right now.

[59:06] That's what I have affordable

[59:06] housing crisis. And hopefully

[59:08] they kind of that. It didn't

[59:09] is that we could do that say

[59:12] some also. So thank you to my

[59:13] colleagues, a little full of

[59:13] in a close pass the

[59:14] traditional hopefully is get

[59:15] people keep people multi

[59:19] street. So thank you. I

[59:20] appreciate it. So we look

[59:22] bringing this bill before you

[59:23] hopefully looking at 13 bills.

[59:26] I mean the 13 votes that we

[59:27] need and a couple of

[59:39] appreciate game come out.

[59:43] >> one basket. So once I got

[59:46] on now, that would that really

[1:00:01] would dead arrival.

Council Member Public Meeting | Re: JEA Utility Assistance Program Brief

Agenda

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