The Sutherland City Council on Aug. 11 approved guidelines to determine financial hardship under Ordinance 1,100 and adopted Resolution 2025.13 to establish an initially refundable filing fee for hardship waiver appeals related to the city's public-safety fee.

Finance Director Tammy Trowbridge said staff recommends adopting the same income standards and documentation used by comparable programs, specifically an annual income at or below 60% of the state median income and the same supporting documents used by Oregon Housing and Community Services, LIHEAP, UCAN, Avista and Pacific Power programs. The city attorney and staff characterized the proposal as providing consistent qualification criteria and a standardized application.

Under Section 3.18070 of Ordinance 1,100, the city manager is authorized to determine hardship on a case-by-case basis under council-approved guidelines. Staff said the filing fee set by Resolution 2025.13 is refundable if an applicant demonstrates financial necessity and secures the requested relief. During discussion, a councilor asked whether the resolution set a specific fee; meeting participants noted the resolution as presented establishes the fee but the transcript record does not specify a numeric amount set at this meeting.

A motion to approve the attached financial-hardship guidelines and application for Ordinance 1,100 passed on a roll-call vote. The council then moved and passed Resolution 2025.13 establishing a filing fee for the hardship waiver application; staff and a councilor noted the fee is intended to cover processing costs and to be fully refundable where applicants meet the criteria.

Council discussion emphasized outreach to let residents know the program exists; staff said information will be posted on the city's new website, included in the city newsletter and communicated through local media. A councilor clarified the program applies to individuals, not businesses. No further administrative rules, fee amount or appeal timeline were specified in the meeting record.

The formal actions recorded were adoption of the hardship guidelines and approval of Resolution 2025.13 to establish the refundable filing fee. Staff will publish the application, guideline sheet and instructions for applicants.