§ 30-3. Program administration – In general.

(a) Nature of City's role.

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore:

(1) serves only as a PACE Loan Program sponsor, facilitating the repayment of clean energy loan obligations through the City's property tax billing system; and

(2) is not at any time liable for any clean energy loan obligation authorized by this subtitle.

(b) Selection of Administrator.

Subject to the approval of the Board of Estimates and to any applicable requirements imposed by or adopted under City Charter Article VI, § 11 {"Procurement"}, the Finance Director, in consultation with the Baltimore City Office of Sustainability, shall contract for a Program Administrator, either:

(1) by expanding the scope of an existing municipal contract vehicle;

(2) through a competitive procurement process;

(3) by using an existing Administrator contracted through a cooperative purchasing agreement of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments; or

(4) by entering into an agreement with a private entity to administer the PACE Loan Program.

(c) Program expenses.

(1) Costs.

(i) The administrative costs of the PACE Loan Program shall be borne by the property owners participating in the program, and the share of administrative costs applicable to an individual clean energy loan shall be included in the loan's financing agreement.

(ii) These administrative costs may not exceed the actual expenses incurred by the City to administer the program.

(2) Fees.

The City may charge property owners who participate in the PACE Loan Program the following, non-financeable fees:

(i) a reasonable application fee; and

(ii) recording fees associated with participation in the Program.