SR-212-003 (6)
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Santa ~1onlca, cwornia, t1arch 3, 19816 -r
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Council
MAR 1 0 1981
TO:
FROM:
Mayor and Clty
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Methods to increase partlclpatlon In the Senlor Citizens
Utllity Tax Rebate Program as per City Councll mlnutes of
February 11, 1981.
INTRODUCTION
ThlS report provldes City Council with the varlOUS methods used by
staff to notlfy senior cltizens about the Utility Tax Rebate Program.
BACKGROUND
Varlous mediums, such as radio, newspapers and the City's Seascape,
are utlllzed as well as notlces posted on bulletln boards at various
Recreation Centers, libraries, and Senlor Cltizens' Centers to notify
senlor citlzens about the Utillty Tax Rebate Progran. Appllcatlon
forms for utillty tax rebate are available at the above locatlons.
These forms are also avallable at the varlOUS utility cOMpanies!
offi ces.
As stated In the lnformational letter of April 22, 1980, the utlllty
companles mall thelr bllls on a reglonal basls. It would be an im-
possible task to separate Santa Monica City from the regional system
and insert Utllity Tax Rebate notlces in thelr bllllngs.
The Clty of Santa Monlca Water Department bllls on a bl-monthly billing
cycle, but the Water Department contends that three-fourths of thelf
blllings are to absentee owners, WhlCh means that the rebate notices
with the water bllls would be ineffective.
Attached is a memo from Ann Shore, City Clerk,statlng that the County
voter reglstratlon computer tape would not be an effective tool to
use for preparing the list of addresses for notifying senior citizens
of the Utillty Tax Rebate Program.
Jack Hutchison, Director of Transportation, states that posters
notlfYlng senior citizens of the Utility Tax Rebate Program can be
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Mayor and~Y Councll
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March 3, 1981
posted on the publlC service notice area of the buses. The cost
of 100 nosters 11 inches by 28 inches wlll be approximately $100.
The only other m~thod not used to notify senior citizens about the
Utility Tax Rebate Program is the dlrect ma1ling approach. McKowen
Mailing Service, the firm that mails out the City1s Seascape quarterly,
will prlnt the flyer, fold and label, and deliver to the post office
at a cost of $2,000. The non-profit presorted bulk rate for 47,000
pleces would cost $1,504. The flyer should be mal led by the middle
of Aprll 1981, prior to the start of the rebate prograM in May, 1981.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Recommend that the City Manager negotiate and execute a contract
with McKowen Mallinj Servlce not to exceed $2,000.
2. Recommend that the City Councll appropriate $3,504 from unappro-
priateu surplus tu Account 01-224-000-000-411 to pay for this
ma ill ng.
Prepared by:
Kay Watanabe
Attachements:
3
INFOR~tATION
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Santa Monica, cal~nia, December 15, 1980
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TO: Mayor and Clty Council
FRQ~1: City Staff
SUBJECT: Report on Senior Cit1zens Utillty Tax Rebate Program
Introduction
This report provides C1ty Counc11 with the various methods used by staff to
notify senior citizens about the Utility Tax Rebate program. The cost of
notifying the senior citizens is negligible.
Background
Various mediums, such as, radio, newspapers and the C1ty'S Seascape are
util1zed as well as notices posted on bulletin boards at various recreation
centers, libraries and sen10r citizen centers, about the Utility Tax Rebate
program.
In 1980, 1400 refund checks were issued totaling $20,916. In 1979, 1,306
refund checks were 1ssued tota11ng $17,8320920 In 1978,1,000 refund checks
were issued totaling $15,412 and in 1977,1,100 refund checks were issued
totaling $15,0030
The only method not used to notify senior citlzens about the Utility Tax
Rebate program is the direct mailing approacho Direct mailing to approximately
35,000 hou~eholds would cost $3,500 (lO~ post cards)~ This mailing could be
done in April, 3 or 4 weeks before the May-June refund periodo
Prepared by: K. Watanabe
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