TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application for Merchant Account and Agreement-CH/Check Services, Merchant Processing Application and Agreement, CardConnect Merchant Services Program Terms and Conditions, Service Fee Addendum and Affidavit of Identity-Government Employee, to Allow the Public to Safely Process Electronic Payments for Police Department Services Through the Citizen Services Portal.
Recommended Action
Approve the Application for Merchant Account and Agreement-ACH/Check Services, Merchant Processing Application and Agreement, CardConnect Merchant Services Program Terms and Conditions, Service Fee Addendum, and Affidavit of Identity - Government Employee, to allow the public to safely process electronic payments for Police Department services through the Citizen Services Portal.
Background Information
The North Port Police Department (NPPD) provides numerous services through its Citizen Services Portal. The NPPD would like to obtain an additional feature that would allow the public to pay for record requests, parking tickets and alarm bills online at any time.
MuniciPAY is a merchant services electronic payment processing company specifically designed for government entities, and CardConnect, its gateway, is compliant with all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) guidelines. NPPD will not store or transmit any sensitive cardholder data, and the MuniciPAY platform can be fully integrated using NPPD’s ProPhoenix software.
Under the Agreements, the customer will be able to pay online using Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, debit and electronic check. All processing fees will be passed on to the customer so that there is no cost to the City to provide this service. There is, however, the potential for the City to incur the rare chargeback or dispute fees.
The following rates and fees would be applicable and displayed for the customer’s acceptance at the time of payment:
Credit and Debit card fee rate: 2.65% or $3.00 minimum
ACH (electronic check): $1.50 per transaction
MuniciPAY would batch pay the City every two days i.e., Monday payments would be deposited in the City account on Wednesday. Authorized City personnel would have access to MuniciPAY’s online account to monitor transactions, run reports, etc.
The Application for Merchant Account and Agreement-ACH/Check Services, Merchant Processing Application and Agreement, CardConnect Merchant Services Program Terms and Conditions, Service Fee Addendum, and Affidavit of Identity - Government Employee have been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan
Good Governance: Provide convenient, modern, and technologically advanced municipal services to both internal and external customers.
Financial Impact
Revenue account: 01-0000-331-20-00
Adding a merchant service account to the North Port Police Department’s Citizen Services Portal would not create any financial burden to the City of North Port and would provide an additional benefit to the public by allowing online payments for records requests, parking tickets and alarm billing.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Application for Merchant Account and Agreement
2. Merchant Processing Application and Agreement
3. CardConnect Merchant Services Program Terms & Conditions
4. Service Fee Addendum
5. Affidavit of Identity - Government Employee
6. Division of Corporations - Municipay - Active Status
7. Division of Corporations - CardConnect - Active Status
Prepared by: Christopher Morales, Deputy Chief of Police
Department Director: Todd R. Garrison, Chief of Police