Chapter 5.90
LOW-INCOME RELIEF PROGRAM
Sections:
5.90.010 Kirkland universal low-income relief program.
5.90.020 Definitions.
5.90.030 Administration.
5.90.040 Qualification.
5.90.050 Discounted utility rates and fees.
5.90.060 Discounted pet license rates and fees.
5.90.070 Vehicle fee rebate.
5.90.080 Discounted business license rates and fees.
5.90.010 Kirkland universal low-income relief program.
The purpose of the city of Kirkland universal low-income relief program is to promote more affordable living in the city and create a more equitable community through reductions of or rebates for certain city fees and charges. (Ord. 4868 § 2, 2023)
5.90.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
“Director” means the director of the finance and administration department.
“Low-income household” means one or more adults and their dependents whose gross income does not exceed eighty percent of the median household income for King County, adjusted for household size.
“Low-income resident” means a person residing within the city of Kirkland whose gross income does not exceed eighty percent of the median household income for King County. (Ord. 4868 § 3, 2023)
5.90.030 Administration.
(a) The finance and administration department shall be responsible for implementing this chapter and the universal low-income relief program.
(b) The director shall have the authority to issue such rules and administrative procedures as may be necessary to implement this chapter. (Ord. 4868 § 4, 2023)
5.90.040 Qualification.
(a) All applications for participation in any low-income relief program or claims for rebate under this chapter shall be submitted on a form approved by the director and accompanied by that documentation required by the director to establish eligibility. Applications or claims for rebate under this chapter must include a certification by the applicant or claimant that, under the penalty of perjury, all information provided in the application or claim is true and correct.
(b) The director may require the applicant or claimant to provide those documents the director deems necessary to establish proper proof of income level, which may include but not be limited to copies of their federal income tax return for the previous year, Social Security benefits statement or award letter, or similar documentation.
(c) The city, in its discretion, may require any applicant or claimant paying a discounted rate or receiving a rebate under this chapter to produce updated proof of qualification at any time during the period of qualification.
(d) A qualified low-income household paying a discounted low-income relief rate or a qualified low-income resident receiving a low-income relief rebate must promptly notify the city if the applicant or claimant no longer meets the criteria for receiving the qualified low-income discount rate or rebate. (Ord. 4868 § 5, 2023)
5.90.050 Discounted utility rates and fees.
(a) Qualified low-income households residing in a single-family residential unit that are directly billed by the city as a customer will be charged the following water, sewer, and garbage rates user rates:
(1) Water. Fifty percent of the basic charge (includes two hundred cubic feet of water consumed) as set forth in Table 15.24.020, and the full amount of the water consumption charge as set forth in Table 15.24.020.
(2) Sewer. Seventy-five percent of the single-family residential rate set forth in Table 15.24.070.
(3) Solid Waste. Sixty percent of the rate set forth in Section 16.12.030(1)(A).
(b) Qualified low-income households residing in a multifamily residential unit with utility costs itemized in their rental agreement or rental bill are eligible to receive a rebate for applicable city-owned utilities based on the utility payment amounts specified in their rental agreement or bill.
(c) Qualified low-income households residing in a multifamily residential unit with utility costs included in the rental amount are eligible to receive a rebate for applicable city-owned utilities based on the residential unit size in accordance with the following table:
|
|
Monthly Rebate (in dollars) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Unit Type |
Water |
Sewer |
Garbage |
|
Studio |
9 |
9 |
10 |
|
1 Bedroom |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
2 Bedroom |
12 |
12 |
10 |
|
3+ Bedroom |
14 |
14 |
10 |
(d) All claims for rebate under this section must be submitted within six months following the month for which the rebate is requested. A qualified low-income household may submit multiple rebate requests together. (Ord. 4868 § 6, 2023)
5.90.060 Discounted pet license rates and fees.
(a) The pet license fee established by Section 8.09.130 charged to a qualified low-income resident for an altered pet shall be discounted by the full cost of the license.
(b) The pet license fee established by Section 8.09.130 charged to a qualified low-income resident for an unaltered pet shall be discounted up to the cost of an altered pet license fee.
(c) The transfer license fee established by Section 8.09.130 charged to a qualified low-income resident shall be discounted up to the cost of an altered pet license fee. (Ord. 4868 § 7, 2023)
5.90.070 Vehicle fee rebate.
(a) A qualified low-income resident may request a fixed amount rebate of the city-imposed vehicle fee established by Ordinance O-4834, or a successor ordinance under Chapter 19.22, by submitting an application at the specified time and must have personally paid the city-imposed vehicle fee.
(b) The fixed amount rebate shall be twenty dollars.
(c) All claims for rebate must be filed within the vehicle license period for which the rebate is requested.
(d) Such rebates will not be paid from any funds that would be in violation of Chapter 82.80 RCW. (Ord. 4868 § 8, 2023)
5.90.080 Discounted business license rates and fees.
The basic license fee for the annual business license issued under Chapter 7.02 to be charged to a qualified low-income resident shall be fifty percent of the basic license fee established by Section 7.02.120. No discount shall be applied to the applicable revenue generating regulatory license fee. (Ord. 4868 § 9, 2023)