City of Columbus - File #: 0305-2009

• File #: 0305-2009
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 2/20/2009
• In control: Judiciary And Court Administration Committee
• On agenda: 3/30/2009
• Final action: 4/1/2009
• Title: To authorize the City Attorney to renew contracts with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., to authorize the City Attorney to expend up to Four Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars from the Collection Fees Fund for services rendered pursuant thereto, and to waive the competitive procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes ($450,000.00) and to declare an emergency.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/1/2009	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
3/31/2009	1	MAYOR	Signed
3/30/2009	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
3/30/2009	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
3/9/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
3/5/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/5/2009	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
3/4/2009	1	City Clerk's Office	Sent back for Clarification/Correction
3/3/2009	1	ODI DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
3/3/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/3/2009	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
3/3/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
3/2/2009	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
3/2/2009	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
3/2/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/2/2009	1	EBOCO Reviewer	Sent for Approval
2/27/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
2/27/2009	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
2/27/2009	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
2/27/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
2/25/2009	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval

Explanation

Background: The accounts receivable collection program within the City Attorney's Claims Section has been ongoing since 1996. At that time, the City Attorney interviewed firms with experience in government accounts receivable and chose Scoliere and Associates (now known as Linebarger, Goggin, Blair & Sampson LLP, and later, Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. to provide these services. These firms have done excellent work for the City over the ensuing years.

This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to renew the current contracts with the above referenced collection firms for one year.

The renewal is especially significant this year in light of related legislation passed by this Council on February 23, 2009 (0130-2009) which authorized the imposition of a fee for collection services on delinquent debtors. As our current providers of collection services, Linebarger and Capital are in possession of the City's files and have ongoing payment plan relationships with several City debtors who will be "grandfathered" in before the April 1,2009 effective date for the imposition of the new fee. Maintaining our current relationships with our collection firms will provide a smooth transition as we move forward with this new program.

Fiscal Impact: This contract is self-funding. Fees are currently paid out of monies collected by the firms. As the imposition of the collection fee comes on line, the City will recoup more of its debts and the debtor will pay for the service of the collection agencies. 100% of monies collected are remitted to the City, invoices from the collection agencies are paid monthly from funds collected.

Title

To authorize the City Attorney to renew contracts with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP and Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., to authorize the City Attorney to expend up to Four Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars from the Collection Fees Fund for services rendered pursuant thereto, and to waive ...