REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 20, 2016
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: JERRY L. SCHUBER, SR., Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities, Water Division
BY: BRIAN REAMS, Revenue Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities, Billing and Collection
SUBJECT
Title
B. Actions Related to Retaining of Consultant for Automated Billing Paying Services:
1. Approve the City Manager's determination that Consultant is uniquely qualified
2. Approve a consultant services agreement with First Billing Services for a total fee of $13,000 per month for Electronic Billing Payment Presentation Services and up to$14,630 per month for Optional Print Services for City of Fresno utility customers (Citywide).
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Approve an agreement with First Billings Services to provide electronic utility payment services and optional print services for the City of Fresno.
2. Authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee to sign agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities seeks Council approval of a professional consultant services agreement with First Billing Services to provide ongoing support and maintenance of all the Electronic Billing Payment Presentation (EBPP) services including presentation of bills on the agent and customer computer portals.
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno wants to expand its electronic payment processing capabilities and to control, minimize or eliminate costs associated with these services, particularly the costs associated with the acceptance of credit or credit/debit cards. In October 2014, as part of Phase I of this process, the City entered into an exclusive Agreement with Heartland Payment, Systems, Inc. (Heartland) to process all City of Fresno credit card payments and to enable the use of the service fee model. This model provides for the card processor (Heartland) to charge the customers a fee for t...
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