Coalinga Municipal Code Ch. 16 Covid-19 Pandemic Emergency

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— For so long as there is a proclaimed State of Emergency in effect within the City of Coalinga due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth regulations governing the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency within the City of Coalinga.

(Ord. No. 837, eff. 4-16-2020)

(a) The City shall not discontinue utility service to any customer for reason of nonpayment and no late fees or interest shall accrue. Any customer whose utility service has been shut off or terminated for nonpayment shall have service restored for the declared emergency, without any reconnection charges.

(b) Non-essential City services may be suspended.

(c) As of March 19, 2020, there shall be instituted a price and rate freeze on consumer goods and lodging facilities which may have limited availability as a result of an emergency or disaster situation. No person or business shall charge a price greater than ten (10) percent above prices for such goods as of March 19, 2020.

(d) All City owned parks are closed.

(e) Rent deferral, eviction moratorium, and foreclosures.

(1) No residential tenant in the City shall be evicted due to loss of income related to a business closure, loss of hours or wages, layoffs, or out-of-pocket medical costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(2) Commercial landlords in the City are hereby prohibited from evicting commercial tenants for nonpayment of rent with respect to tenants whose businesses are subject to this section or are otherwise closed, voluntarily or by order, to prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19.

(3) A tenant must notify their landlord they cannot pay rent due to a COVID-19 related impact. Within one week of this notice, the tenant must provide documentation or other objective information that they cannot pay rent. Tenants will have up to six (6) months after the termination of the emergency declaration to repay any back due rent.

(4) This eviction moratorium shall be in effect through April 30, 2020 and may be extended by the Council for additional thirty (30) day periods, so long as the City's proclamation of local emergency is in effect.

(5) Residents and businesses should not face foreclosure as a result COVID-19. Lenders are encouraged to provide a forbearance agreement for up to six (6) months for borrowers impacted by COVID-19, without impacting the borrower's credit.

(6) City staff shall apply for all available state and federal funding related to the COVID-19 emergency.

(Ord. No. 837, eff. 4-16-2020)