Item No: 4.C.1.
Meeting Date: November
26, 2012
From: William
Spinelli, Finance Director, CPA
Subject: Resolution
approving an agreement with Amscot Corporation for the provision of payment,
collection and remittance of customer utility bills
for use by the Department of Finance
Staff Recommendation:
Staff
recommends approval of the contract with Amscot Corporation to provide an
additional location for customers to make in-person utility payments.
Analysis:
The
service allows individuals who prefer to make payments in person to take
advantage of Amscot's convenient hours and locations. All Amscot branches are
open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Roughly one-third of Amscot's branches
are open 24 hours a day; the balance open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 or 10 p.m.
Amscot has been collecting bill payments and
traffic fines since 2005. Today, Amscot takes traffic fines and court payments
for clerks of the court in Orange, Brevard, Hillsborough, Polk, Pinellas and
Manatee counties. Amscot also acts as a bill payment agent for utilities and
local governments such as the city of Bartow, Lakeland Electric, Kissimmee Utility
Authority, Orlando Utilities Commission, TECO, Progress Energy and Bright
House.
The
City currently provides for in-person utility bill payments at City Hall
located at 501 West Meadows Street, Leesburg Florida. City Hall currently is the only location for
customers to make in-person utility payments.
The City’s goal is to provide additional customer convenience by
contracting with a firm that has multiple locations and extended hours for
acceptance of in-person utility payments.
The City would like to enter into an Agreement
with Amscot Corporation to act as an independent agent of the City as an
alternative means for residents to pay their monthly utility bills. Amscot Corporation owns and operates neighborhood
financial services retail stores throughout the State of Florida. Utilities customers who wish to pay bills in
person may visit any of Amscot's 174 branches, located in 15 counties.
Customers need only to bring in their payments and a record of their bill.
Amscot charges a $1.50 convenience fee for the service. Amscot collects and
aggregates the funds and automatically transfers them into the utilities'
accounts.
Staff will look
into both Money Gram and Fidelity Express in the near future, which provide
similar services throughout the industry.
Leesburg,
Florida - 34748
|
|
1100
W NORTH BLVD |
Hours: |
|
|
10300
US HWY 441 #3 |
Hours: |
Options:
1. Approve the contract with Amscot Corporation;
or
2. Such alternative action as the Commission may
deem appropriate
Fiscal Impact:
City
Staff recommends transaction fees be paid by the customers utilizing the
service.
Submission Date and Time: 11/21/2012 7:11 PM____
|
Department: ______________________ Prepared
by: ______________________ Attachments: Yes____ No ______ Advertised: ____Not Required ______ Dates: __________________________ Attorney
Review : Yes___ No ____
_________________________________ Revised 6/10/04 |
Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance Dept. __________________ Deputy
C.M. ___________________ Submitted
by: City Manager ___________________
|
Account
No. _________________ Project
No. ___________________ WF No.
______________________ Budget ______________________ Available
_____________________ |
RESOLUTION NO._______________
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH AMSCOT CORPORATION FOR THE PROVISION OF PAYMENT, COLLECTION AND
REMITTANCE OF CUSTOMER UTILITY BILLS FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:
THAT the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby
authorized to execute an agreement with Amscot
Corporation whose address is 600 North Westshore Boulevard, Suite 1200, Tampa
Fl 33609-1117, a copy of which is attached hereto and made part hereof, is
authorized and approved in its entirety or in a form substantially similar thereof. The term of the Agreement shall be for a
three-year period, and may be renewed on the same terms and conditions for two
additional one-year periods.
THAT
this resolution shall become effective immediately.
PASSED
AND ADOPTED by the City
Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the _26th____
day of _November___ 2012.
__________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
City Clerk