042020 Virtual Study Session Mins Adopted or
u
t us a
South Carolina's Riverfront
MINUTES OF APRIL 20, 2020
Robert A. Pettit, Mayor
J. Robert Brooks, Councilmember
Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember
Fletcher L. Dickert, Councilmember
David W. McGhee, Councilmember
Eric H. Presnell, Councilmember
Kevin W. Toole, Councilmember
ORDER OF BUSINESS
VIRTUAL STUDY SESSION
The virtual study session for the City Council meeting of the City of North Augusta of April 20,
2020, having been duly publicized, was called to order by Mayor Pettit at 6:00 p.m. using
GoToMeeting online conferencing software and streamed online for public viewing at the City
Facebook page: "City of North Augusta— Public Information" and City YouTube page: "City of
North Augusta Public Information" and adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
Per Section 30-4-80(e) notice of the meetings by email was sent out to the current maintained
"Agenda Mailout" list consisting of news media outlets and individuals or companies requesting
notification. Notice of the meetings was also posted on the outside doors of the Municipal Center,
the main bulletin board of the Municipal Center located on the first floor, and the City of North
Augusta website.
Members present were Mayor Pettit, Councilmembers Brooks, Carpenter, Dickert, McGhee,
Presnell, and Toole.
Also in attendance were Rachelle Moody, Interim City Administrator; Kelly F. Zier, City
Attorney; Cammie T. Hayes, Director of Finance and General Services; Thomas C. Zeaser,
Director of Engineering and Public Works; Ricky Jones,Manager of Information Technology and
Sharon Lamar, City Clerk. The members of the public and the media were provide access to the
meeting via video live-streaming.
ITEM 1. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Items on the April 20,2020 Council
Agenda- Council Discussion
Minutes of Study Session of April 20,2020
Interim City Administrator, Rachelle Moody, led Council's discussion of the April 20, 2020
meeting agenda. Tom Zeaser, Director of Engineering and Public Works, answered questions
about the location of the Lynnhurst Drainage Improvement Project in Resolution 2020-15 and the
planned scope of the project.
ITEM 2. FINANCE: Status of Utility Charges and Taxes Issued by the City of North
Augusta—Council Update
Rachelle Moody, Interim City Administrator, shared with Council the status of utility charges and
taxes issued by the City. Comparisons were made between the first quarter of 2019 and the first
quarter of 2020. Cammie Hayes, Director of Finance and General Services, assisted in answering
Council's questions,as well. Councilmember Carpenter asked if payment information is available
at the front of the Municipal Center so that citizens know how they can make their payments since
the building is currently closed to the public. Ms. Moody stated the information is posted near the
front doors—citizens may deposit their payments in the drive-up drop box in the parking lot, may
mail their payment, or may use the City's website on-line payment portal. There was a consensus
of Council to support some type"hardship"program for citizens who may be struggling financially
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Hayes explained that the City already had such program in
place. Ms. Moody added the City staff is working internally to prepare for assistance.
Councilmember Carpenter stated the City must consider the payment history of customers.
Councilmember Brooks supports extending the tax payment deadline. Kelly Zier, City Attorney,
cautioned the City should seek the advice of Bond counsel to ensure the allowance of reduction of
fees, etc.
Please see ATTACHMENT #2 for the notes shared by Ms. Moody.
APP' ED THIS 'DAY OF Respectfully submitted,
Akterkti ,YitirX4eLt,
L' Sharon Lamar
Robert ' . Pettit, Mayor City Clerk
ATTACHMENT #2
Status of Taxes, Fees and Utility Payments for the City of North Augusta
I. Utility Payments
• Payments made for actual water and wastewater consumption by customer and
standard recycling, sanitation, stormwater and street light service provided to customer
• No change in utility payment due dates required by City (rolling billing cycles)
• Per governor's executive order, City will not shut off utilities for non-payment during
current state of emergency
• If customers do not pay utility bill on time, the standard $7 late fee is charged
Utility payment data (as of 4/17/20):
3/25/19 billing 3/25/20 billing Difference
5,432 bills 5,505 bills 73 more bills
1,009 past due 1,410 unpaid (Due 4/20) 401 potential increase in past due
157 disconnect list
3/11/19 billing 3/10/20 billing Difference
7,213 bills 7,339 bills 126 more bills
959 past due 1,157 past due 198 more bills past due
115 disconnect list 524 still late (would have 409 increase in disconnect list
been disconnected)
Notes:
• Total amount currently past due by customers: $71,340
• Total customers at risk for service interruption 829
C .
• Average 900 courtesy calls for late bills each cycle each month
• Average 250-300 on disconnect list 1 to 2 days prior to cutoff
• Average disconnect list 175 customers
• 2020 budgeted delinquent fees total $277,000
II. Property Tax Payments
• Payments made on real and personal property owned by customer
• No change in property tax payment due dates required by City (due date is May 1)
• If customers do not pay on time, the standard 15% penalty plus delinquent statement fee
will be charged
by 3/31/19 General Fund by 3/31/20 General Fund Difference
24% collection rate 35% collection rate 11% higher to date in 2020
Notes:
• Taxes currently being collected are for the 2019 tax year
• Large mortgage company tax remittances already received for 2020
• Average 1,200 delinquent property tax notices annually.
• Average penalties collected annually total $67,000
• Properties with unpaid taxes may be sold at tax sale in November; customers have six
months to remit payment and penalty before possible tax sale
1 0
April 20, 2020 City Council Study Session, page 1
Status of Taxes, Fees and Utility Payments for the City of North Augusta
III. Accommodations Tax Payments
• Payments submitted by hotels and other places of accommodation to City based on 3%
tax paid by customers for their accommodations charge (pass-through payment)
• No change in accommodations tax payment due date (due date is the 20th of the month)
• If remitters do not pay on time, the standard 5% per month penalty will be charged
February Tax 2019 February Tax 2020 Difference
# remitters 16 # remitters 17 1
# late 0 # late 0 0
Note: If payment is remitted to City on time, a 2% discount on the tax due is applied
IV. Hospitality Tax Payments
• Payments submitted by prepared food providers to City based on taxes paid by
customers for food/drink purchased (pass-through payment)
• No change in hospitality tax payment due date (due date is the 20th of the month)
• If remitters do not pay on time, the standard 5% per month penalty will be charged
CFebruary Tax 2019 February Tax 2020 Difference
# remitters 107
# remitters 95 (12)
# late 5 # late 1 (4)
Note: If payment is remitted to City on time, a 2% discount on the tax due is applied
April 20, 2020 City Council Study Session, page 2