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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.C 01/08/2007CITY OF PETAL[J117A, CALwORNIA AGENDA BILL &C January 8, 2007 Agenda Title: Resolution To Increase City's Fee For Payment Made From An Account Meeting Date: With Non -Sufficient Funds to Reflect City Costs January 8, 2007 Meeting Time: © 3:00 PM ❑ 7:00 PM Categorv: ❑ Presentation ® Consent Calendar ❑ Public Hearing ❑ Unfinished Business ❑ New Business Department: Director: Contact Person: Phone Number: Admin Services Steven Carmichael Steven Carnnichael 778-4352 c Cost of Proposal: Account Number: Additional revenue to compensate for actual fees to City for bounced checks NIA Amount Budgeted: Name of Fund: NIA NIA Attachments to Agenda Packet Item: Resolution Approving Fee Increase Summary Statement: The City has had a non -sufficient funds fee of $10 for over 15 years. Staff is recommending increasing the fee to $35 due to increased costs. Currently, the City pays Wells Fargo $25 for each bounced check we process which means the City is losing $15 per check. In addition, staff has to complete seven different manual operations to void payment of a check. These individual, manual entries take approximately 20 minutes for each check. Salary and benefits for a Finance Staff person exceeds $30 per hour. Consequently, adding a $10 processing fee to the hank fee should cover the City's actual costs. Recommended Citv Council Action/Su22ested Motion: Approve Resolution raising the fee for payment made from an account with non -sufficient funds to $35. Re riewed by Admin. Svcs: Dir- Reviewed by City Attornev: Approved by City Manager: r1/ Date: ) Z� 14 l 06 Date: Date: CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA JANUARY $, 2007 AGENDA REPORT FOR Resolution to Increase City's Fee for Payment Made From An Account With Non - Sufficient Funds to Reflect City Costs 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City has had a bounced check fee of $10 for over 15 years. Staff is recommending increasing the fee to $35 due to increased costs. Currently, the City pays Wells Fargo $25 for each bounced check we process which means the City is losing $15 per check. In addition, staff has to complete seven different manual operations to void payment of a check. These individual, manual entries take approximately 20 minutes for each check. Salary and benefits for a Finance Staff person exceeds $30 per hour. Consequently, adding a $10 processing fee to the bank fee should cover the City's actual costs. 2. BACKGROUND: The City Council has approved three five year banking contracts without raising the bounced check fee to cover City's cost. Consequently, the large increase is proposed to cover the City's future cost based on projected bank fees for 2007. 3. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Leave fee at $10 and continue to make a gift of public funds to citizens who bounce Checks. 2. Adopt a different amount for proposed fee. 4. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: City would receive reimbursement for it's cost of between $1,500 and $2,500. 5. CONCLUSION: City is not collecting the cost it incurs for doing business. City Council has directed staff to be sure all costs the City incurs in doing business be reimbursed. Modifying this cost of doing business is one small way of accomplishing that goal. 6. OUTCOMES OR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS THAT WILL IDENTIFY SUCCESS OR COMPLETION: This would help towards the performance measure of increasing City revenues. 7. RECOMMENDATION: Approve Resolution increasing fee. 5:lagenda112-1 9-06 bounced check fee increase INA RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FEE FOR PAYMENTS MADE WITH NON -SUFFICIENT FUNDS WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma requires a fee for payments made from an account with nom -sufficient funds; and WHEREAS, the City does not fully recoup its costs related to non -sufficient funds check processing by keeping the current charge; and WHEREAS, it is important for the citizens to pay the cost the City incurs for doing business. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the fee for payment made to the City from an account with non -sufficient funds is amended as follows: NON -SUFFICIENT FUNDS FEE - $35.00 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions inconsistent with this resolution are Hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. 13