HomeMy WebLinkAboutExplanationApril 16, 2013
Explanation
On June 17, 2003 the City Council, by resolution number 2003-88 approved the creation of a
database that was used to transfer the collection of sewer service fees to the County of San Diego
Tax Rolls. Each year since we have created a similar database that is delivered to the County of San
Diego Assessor's office for this reason. This Resolution and Third Amended Agreement will
provide similar Sewer Billing, Tax Roll Administration and financial services for Fiscal Year 2013-
2014. If approved Atkins North America, Inc., (Atkins) will provide these services at the same rate
of compensation and at the same terms as stated in our present agreement through June 08, 2014.
The cost of these services shall not exceed the contract amount, of $45,867 without prior written
approval from the City. This Third Amendment to the current contract will increase the overall
agreement amount, between the City of National City and Atkins to $137,601. This Amendment is
allowed under Section 6 of the agreement, (Length of the Agreement) and will be funded through
the Wastewater Division's contract services account number 125-422-222-299.
This agreement will provide continued assistance with annual administration of our sewer service
billing. This will include the updating of any changes that may have occurred to the customer
database. These changes will be matched with the Sweetwater Authority's water accounts as well
as the County Assessor's information and the associated charges from these changes will be
applied. Atkins will then prepare a list of these changes for Council approval subsequent to a
public hearing. Once approved, a sewer billing data tape will be provided to the County
Assessor's office for their review, approval, and implementation.
This agreement will also include database review, tracking reports and other services required to
match Sweetwater Authority's meter data, County Assessor information and/or National City's
records. In addition, Atkins staff members will respond to customer phone calls, written inquiries
and assist City staff to respond to billing questions.
This amendment will allow sufficient time to interface with Sweetwater Authority, compile the
needed data from City departments and their staff, build a compatible database, perform quality
control review, (Q&A) prepare for a public hearing, and then perform a second round of Q&A
with County staff to insure the billing data is accurate prior to going on the tax rolls. These tasks
must be preformed in a timely manner to insure that all information is delivered to the County
prior to their mandated deadlines.
Staff believes that because of Atkins' intimate knowledge of National City's Sewer billing matrix
and database format that they are best qualified to provide the City consultant services to
accomplish this task within the deadlines set by the County Assessor. Should the City fail to
meet the County's deadline National City will not be allowed to use the County's Tax Roll as a
vehicle to deliver our Sewer Service billing and the City could lose sewer service fee revenue.