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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0228.092"I d :1 I - April 23, 1992 HONORABLE CITY COlJNCIL Palo Alto, California CONTRACT lITH CREDIT BUREAU OF PALO AL_TO --AtnIrORIZlt.TION FOR cJlANGE ORDER AND BUDGET AKENDM~ ORDINANCE MeMbers of the Council: Report in Brief' staff recommends Council approval of the attached Budget Amendment Ordinance for $14, 000 with credit Bureau of Palo Alto to pay for additional collection s.c=rvice assistance to the City. Council approved the present collection service contract in June 1989 for one year_ with the option to extend the contract for two additional one-year terms (CKR:299:9). The contract was approved for $40,000. with one-fourth of the current contract year remaining, 96 percent of the availal::le budget dollars has hsen expended by the contractor, resulting in a need for a~ditional funding. Background The City contracted with credit Bureau of Palo Alto in July ~989 for collection assistance in the manage~ent of delinquent account receivable invoices 'CMR:299~9). staff identified an increase in collection activity caused by: 1) an increase in collection amounts due to inflation; 2) an increase in the difficulty of collection of overdue bills; and 3) the tr-ansfer of other city departments" collections to the Finance Department. Staff also re_cognized the immedii!te. Deed for assistance 'With collection management of paramedic bills. CliR:228:92 L - staff explained that collections ",re a r:ompetitive business and firms tend to work harder 'With competition. staff recorn:mended contracting with t\ltlO vendors ~ ar.c t.his reconimendation 'Was approved by Council. The Council-approved contract of $40,000 was appor­ tioned bet'Ween Credit Bureau of Palo Alto for $30,000 and Profes­ sion~l Recove~y Systems of San Jose for $10,000 (C~~:367:7). Each vendo= has a separate contract numberi th~~efore, funds cannot be interchanged. "I'his request is for additional funding for the Credit Bureau of palo Alto cont~act only. The requested funding will cover administrative costs for the remainder of the current contract, which expires June 30, 1992. Staff is presently in the process of issuing an Invitation to Bid for collection service vhich .... ill cover the next three-year period. The Credit Bureau of palo Alto has worked diligently at f 11lfilling the City's objectives to recover maximum revenue from delinquent accounts; to have a collection process which is conducted within the highest legal and ethical standards; and to take action in a timely manner on all accounts referred for collection. Each firm is paid a percentage of the revenue it recovers. A stringent and successful collection effort by the Credit Bureau of Palo Alto, combined with the efficient and effective management of paramedic invoices b}' City staff., has significantly increased recovery of outstanding debt. As d result~ the initial $30,000 appropriation, which recovered $85,000 in revenue, has been exhausted. To compensate the Credit Bureau vf Palo Alto for additional collec­ tions services through 3une 3D., ~992, the City needs to increase the appropriation by '$14,000. to cover estimated aCb.inistrative costs through the end of the contract. The additional cost 'Will be more th2lln offset. by the additional revenuoe Which the City anticipates 'W;;'.!.l be collected by Credit Bureau of Palo Alto --approxi1tIately $40, 000. staft Re_commendation staff recommends 1) council approval of the attached Budget Amendment Ordinance in the amount of $14,000 for the contract 'With Credit Bureau of Palo Alto; and 2) authorization for the City Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute one or more change orders to the contract 'With Credit Bureau of Palo Alto, the value of all of which change orders shall not exceed $14,000. CHR, 228,92 2 ... - Re~pactfully su~mitted, AUf'.i-Iii-If!(. ~-.J~CE WHITE Revenue Collections supervisor Attachment Related Staff Reports: =:367:7 CMR:299:9 J - ORDINANCE NO~ ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF P_\LO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1991-92 TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO THE TREASURY DIVISION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR COLLECrrON ASSISTANCE WITH THE CREDIT BUREAU OF FALO ALTO WHEREAS, pursuant to the p~ovisi¢ns of Section 12 of Article III o~ the Charter of the City ct Palo Alto, the Council on June 24, 1991 did adopt a budqet for fiscal year 1991-92; and WHEREAS, the City contracted with the Cr'!!dit Bureau of palo Alto ("Credit Bureau W} in July 1989 for collection assistance in the management of delinquent account receivable invoices; and WHEREAS, the credit Bureau has worked oiligently with the City to recover delinquent accounts and has successfully increased recovery for outstanding debt; and WHEREAS, one-quarter of fiscal year 1991-92 remains, but the allowable funds under the contract with the credit Bureau have been expended; and WHEREAS, an additional appropriation is necessary to increase the e~~enaitures under the contract with the Credit Bureau t~rough June 30, 1992; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto aoes ORO~IN as follo~s: SEC'l'!QN 14 The sum of $14,000 is hereby appropriated to Contr.act Services in the Revenue CoJlection program of the Finance Oepartment and the Reserve for Capital Projects is correspondingly reduced. SECTION 24 This transaction will reduce the Reserve to $5 1 440,695 as of March ~1, 1992. ~CTIQN J 4 The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby finds that the enactment of this ordinance is not a project under the California EnviroJUllental Quality ,Act and, there!ore l no environmen­ tal impact assessment is necessary. SECTION 4. Municipal Code, aaoption. As provided in Section 2.04.375 of the Palo Alto this ordinance shall become effective upon INTRODUCED AND PASSED: A'iES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST: city Cleek APPROVED AS TO FORM: Sr~ Asst. City Attorney-­ APPROVED: City Manaqer Director of Finance • APPROVED: \