* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024 5:30 P.M. TEAM ROOM, COMMUNITY CENTER 2407 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ] [00:00:03] ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CALL THIS, UH, WORK SESSION WITH BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL. ORDER. UH, IT IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 5:31 PM UH, WE ARE IN THE, UH, IT SAYS TEAM ROOMS. THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED TEAM ROOMS. MM-HMM . OKAY. TEAM ROOMS, BAYTOWN COMMITTEE CENTER. UH, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. AND SO FIRST WE WILL HAVE, UH, FIRST ITEM IS DECISION COMMENTS. I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. NO. IF NOT, MA'AM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT [a. Discuss the addition of a processing fee to all credit card payments made for fees, fines, cost, or other charges. ] ITEM, WHICH IS DISCUSS THE ADDITION OF A PROCESSING FEE TO ALL CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS MADE FOR FEES, FINES, COSTS, OR OTHER CHARGES. OKAY. UM, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE MENTIONED, UH, OUR CREDIT CARD FEES DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR. WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS INFORMATION, AND THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO EQUIP YOU WITH THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. UM, THIS DECISION WILL INVOLVE WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE US TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT STATE, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO BRING THIS BACK TO YOU IN A FUTURE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING. BY THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE AIM TO FACILITATE A WELL-INFORMED DISCUSSION AND ALLOW YOU TO DECIDE THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE CITY. THIS IS OUR CURRENT STATE. BASED ON THE LAST THREE YEARS, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 59% FROM 21 TO 2022, WHICH WAS A RESULT OF A CHANGE IN OUR MERCHANT PROVIDER. THE INCREASE FROM 2022 TO 2023 WAS 9.3%. AS YOU CAN SEE, UTILITY BILLING IS OUR BIGGER, UH, OUR BIGGEST, UM, CREDIT CARD PROCESSOR. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE PLANNING AND THEN PARKS. IF THIS MATTER, IF THIS IS A MATTER YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE, WE ASSUME THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BREAK EVEN, OR AT LEAST COME CLOSE TO IT, WHICH WOULD BE TO CHARGE A FLAT, CHARGE A FEE THAT IS CLOSE TO THE FI, THE FY 23 COST OF $424,000. THE OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL WOULD EITHER BE TO IMPOSE A PERCENTAGE, WHICH WOULD BE CALCULATED BASED ON THE AMOUNT OR A PERCENTAGE THAT'S BASED ON A FLAT RATE, WHICH MEANS THAT REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF THE TRANSACTION, IT IS JUST A FLAT FEE. THE PERCENTAGE BASED ON THE CURRENT TRANSACTIONS WOULD BRING IN $465,000, WHICH IS A 1.75%, AND THE FLAT RATE OF $2 WOULD BRING IN $435,000. THE CURRENT TRANSACTIONS IS 217,000 FOR THE CITY AS OF FY 23. THIS IS A COMPARISON OF THE CITY'S IN OUR SURROUNDING AREA. THE PERCENTAGES RANGE FROM 2.3% TO 4%, AND THE ONLY CITY THAT IS CHARGING A FLAT RATE IS MOUNT BELLEVUE FOR A DOLLAR AND 25 CENTS. AND IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER, STAFF RECOMMENDS 1.75%. AND THE EXAMPLE PROVIDED A $25, UH, CHARGE FOR A REGISTRATION FEE WOULD BRING IN 44 CENTS. AND OR IF IT WAS A FLAT RATE, A $25 REGISTRATION FEE WOULD BRING IN, UH, A $2 CHARGE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDER ATTENTION, AND I'M GONNA PASS THIS ON NOW TO CAROL. ALL RIGHT. UM, SO AS Y'ALL DISCUSSED IN YOUR RETREAT, MOVING INTO THIS ROOM AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE, UH, HAVE BETTER CONVERSATIONS FOR OUR WORK SESSIONS. UM, SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THAT OUT. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KIND OF WALKED THROUGH SOME OF THIS BEFORE, WE USED SOME OF THIS IN OUR, UH, RETREATS AND STUFF, BUT JUST, I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER NECESSARILY EXPLAIN WHY WE DO THIS. UM, SO HAVING TO FACILITATE THE CONVERSATION, IT LETS US TAP INTO REALLY DIFFERENT THINKING MODELS TO BRING THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO THE CONVERSATION, TO REALLY OPEN UP THAT CONVERSATION, MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THOSE PERSPECTIVES ON THE TABLE SO THAT YOU CAN WALK THROUGH. AND THE GOAL IS USUALLY ALWAYS TO GET TO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS OR WHAT'S THE DECISION. AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL SAT IN ROOMS BEFORE AND GONE ROUND AND ROUND IN CIRCLES WITH CONVERSATIONS, AND WE NEVER REALLY GOT ANYWHERE. WE JUST REHASH THE SAME CONVERSATION OVER AND OVER. AND SO THAT IS ALSO WHAT, UH, THE FACILITATED CONVERSATION HELPS WITH IS TO TRY AND GUIDE THAT CONVERSATION SO THAT WE MOVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO GET TO KIND OF WHAT'S THAT DECISION OR THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS CASE. SO, UM, SO WITH THAT, JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT IF YOU WANT THERE TO FLIP BACK TO ANY OF THE SLIDES, UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT FOR YOU. UM, AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT MEANT IN ANY WAY TO, UH, CONVERSATION. THIS SHOULD HELP FACILITATE CONVERSATION. SO DON'T GET TOO LITERAL ABOUT [00:05:01] THE THINGS. UM, SO ANYWAY, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS PRESENTED AND JUST KIND OF THINKING THROUGH THAT, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU HEARD THAT CONCERNED YOU OR CAUSED YOU TO RAISE YOUR EYEBROW ABOUT? UM, I MEAN, I'LL TELL YOU, I KNOW YEAR, YEARS AGO, UM, BEFORE I WENT ON AUTO PAY FOR MY WATER BILL, UM, I REMEMBER I WAS JUST GONNA PAY ONLINE. YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO. WELL, AT THE TIME YOU COULD DO, BUT I REMEMBER THE FEE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE AN $80 WATER BILL, BUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE A $9 FEE. AND I, I CERTAINLY THOUGHT THAT WAS EXCESSIVE. I, THE, THE, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY THE PROCESSOR WE HAD AT THE TIME, WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM. I THINK WE WENT AND SUBSIDIZED SOME OF THOSE PAYMENTS FOR SOME OF OUR CITIZENS AT ONE TIME. 'CAUSE I FELT LIKE I, I THINK IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO PAY ABOUT EIGHT, $9 FOR AN 80 $90 WATER BILL. UM, AND SO I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH THAT KIND OF THAT DISCUSSION YEARS AGO. UM, BUT I THINK WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED OR SENT TO US, UM, I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS, IS IT, IS IT LEGAL FOR US TO ABSORB THE FEES? RIGHT? BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT, THEN IT MAKES A DECISION EVEN EASIER, I GUESS. UM, AND THEN MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE FOR, SINCE UTILITY BILLING SLASH PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THEIR WATER BILL, LET'S SAY FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, IF THEY'RE ON AUTO PAY, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY FEE 'CAUSE IT'S ASSOCIATED TO A BANK ACCOUNT. IS THAT CORRECT? SO I DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS, RIGHT? THESE GUYS? NO, THAT'S FINE. WELL, BEFORE THE LEGAL UH, ANSWER, I WILL SAY THAT NOW THAT WE ARE OFFERING CURR CREDIT CARDS, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FEE. RIGHT? AND SO RIGHT NOW IT WAS CHECKS, BUT NOW WE'RE DOING BOTH. SO, SO MY, YEAH, SO MY QUESTION IS IF IT'S A REOCCURRING CREDIT CARD YES, WHICH IS FINE, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE, THE USER, IT'S A USER FEE. I MEAN, IT'S CONVENIENT FOR THE USER AND SO I THINK THEY SHOULD SEE WE'RE LOOKING AT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE CITY IS INCURRING. ALL THE CITIZENS OF BAYTOWN ARE INCURRING EVERYBODY'S FEET TECHNICALLY, RIGHT? YEAH. AND SO, I MEAN, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S THE TRUE CASE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS, AND I KNOW, I KNOW INDIVIDUALS HAVE THEIR, THEIR RESERVATIONS ON, YOU KNOW, GIVING THEIR BANK ACCOUNT TO MUNICIPALITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT TOO. YOU CAN ALWAYS PAY IN PERSON. YOU CAN PAY FOR 50 CENTS, YOU CAN GO TO FOOD TOWN. BUT, UM, MY THING WAS I DO WANT TO TRY TO GO AND, AND, AND, AND HAVE PEOPLE GET ON AUTO PAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IF THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. BUT I WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO BE, TO BE CHARGED IF THEY ARE, IF IT'S AN ACTUAL BANK ACCOUNT, A CH OR WHATEVER FOR THE CREDIT CARD. AND THAT'S THE DECISION THEY'RE MAKING. MY, BASED OFF THE INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED, I WOULD SAY I DON'T THINK THAT WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PASS THIS ON TO THE USER. THAT'S, THAT'S MY TAKE MR. MAYOR. UM, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT SUBSIDIZING THIS COST. UM, AS I THINK ABOUT IT, I HAVE A HARD TIME COMING UP WITH A PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR EATING THESE COSTS. OF COURSE. THAT'S, THAT'S THE TEST. WE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE BEFORE WE CAN SPEND ANY MONEY. AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THESE ARE CHARGES THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMERS FOR USING THOSE CARDS, RIGHT? YEAH. I I I KNOW THAT YOU RIGHT NOW AND BAYTOWN, YOU CAN'T GO TO A LOCAL, UM, SCHOOL SPORTING EVENT WITHOUT BUYING A TICKET ONLINE. AND YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FEE FOR THE CREDIT CARD. AND THAT'S JUST A, SO AS MUCH AS I DON'T LIKE HAVING TO PASS IT ON, TO ME IT IS WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE. IT'S THE WORLD WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW. IT'S THE NORM AND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ENTIRE, WELL, IT'S EVERY YEAR. I MEAN IT'S EVERY YEAR. SO YEAH. AND I THINK, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, UM, WE HAD SUSPENDED THE FEES DURING COVID, UM, TO KIND OF HELP ALLEVIATE, UM, SOME OF THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE UP FOR, UM, DOING AWAY WITH THE SUSPENSION. AND THEN, UM, DURING COVID WE HAD DECIDED, I THINK CHARLES WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP, UM, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HOLDING OFF AND SUSPENDING THEM. BUT I HONESTLY DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO KEEP DOING THAT. AND, AND I WOULD THINK COUNCILWOMAN THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE AN, AN EVENT IF THERE WAS AN EVENT WHERE WE FEEL LET'S TRY TO DO AS, DO, UM, ACTIVITIES, UH, TO HELP OUR CITIZENS LIKE IN THAT, IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION, CERTAINLY THEN WE, WE, WE WILL STILL HAVE THAT OPTION, RIGHT? YEAH. BUT I THINK FROM A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY STANDPOINT AND MAYBE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO INCUR THOSE COSTS. AGREE. BUT ANY OTHER, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD SOMETHING YES. THREE QUESTIONS, A REGISTRATION FEE, UH, THAT WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE. SO LET'S SAY LIKE WE WE'RE NOT GONNA DO A REGISTRATION FEE. NO, NO, NO. THAT [00:10:01] WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE. IF SOMEONE WAS TO PAY $25 FOR SOMETHING, THAT'S WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR A CREDIT CARD. OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT SEARCH REGISTRATION FEE, ALL TRANSACTIONS OR JUST CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS. CREDIT CARDS. OKAY. SO THAT'S THAT QUESTION. AND THEN THE PROPOSALS I SAW WE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE MORE THAN WE'RE SPENDING. WELL RIGHT NOW WE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MORE THAN WE'RE SPENDING. WELL THE, THE THING IS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAPPEN DEPENDING ON, THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHAT OUR CHARGES ARE GONNA BE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MM-HMM . AND SO THAT'S WHY WE TRIED TO CHOOSE THE LOWEST OF THE PERCENTAGE BECAUSE IT'S GONNA FLUCTUATE BASED ON TRANSACTIONS. YEAH. AND IT IS BASED ON THE TRANSACTIONS. SO YOU'RE ESTIMATING THERE'S GONNA BE MORE TRANSACTIONS TO THE 4, 6, 5 AT 1.75. 'CAUSE IF IT'S JUST PER CREDIT CARD CHARGE, WE'RE BASICALLY CHARGING WHAT WE'RE PAYING, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO WE PAY A 1.75% FEE FOR THE CREDIT CARD. MM-HMM . I AGREE TOTALLY. WE NEED TO PASS THAT BACK ON BECAUSE LEGALLY WE SHOULD BE THE 1.75 IS WHAT WE CALCULATED TO BECOME CLOSE TO THE 424,000. SO IF YOU WANTED US TO USE A PERCENTAGE THAT WAS SLIGHTLY LOWER TO ENSURE WE DON'T GO OVER, WE COULD DO THAT AS WELL. WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE WE PAY WHEN SOMEBODY USES A CREDIT CARD? WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE WE, BUT OUR PERCENTAGES CHANGES. IT VARIES. SO IT'S NOT, THAT'S MY QUESTION. LIKE WHY CAN'T WE MAKE IT THAT PERCENTAGE? BUT WHY DO WE HAVE A VARYING PERCENTAGE? BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON VOLUME. SO WHEN WE'RE USING OUR MERCHANT PROVIDER, THEY TIERED GET A VOLUME OF IT'S TIERED ON TRANSACTIONS. SO THAT WOULD BE AN AVERAGE PERCENTAGE. THERE'S, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE THAN TIME. WHY WOULD WE CHARGE MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING IF IT'S A FLOATING FEE AND YOU IT, SO EVERY YEAR WE COULD ADJUST IT, ADJUST THAT PERCENTAGE BASED ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS AND COSTS. YES SIR. TO GET AN THAT'S PROBABLY ALL WE CAN DO IS KIND OF LIKE I AGREE WITH THAT. YES SIR. IF, IF THERE IS AN OVERAGE, WE JUST, WE ADD THAT AND WE PUT IT INTO THE CALCULATION FOR THE BUDGET YEAR. THAT'S, YEAH. AND THAT'S FINE. OKAY. THOSE ARE THE ONLY THREE QUESTIONS I ANY CONCERNS? ANYBODY ELSE? JACOB, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO CONCERNS? NO. ANY, ANYTHING THAT YOU PARTICULARLY LIKED THAT YOU HEARD THAT WAS GOOD NEWS OR MADE YOU NOT YOUR HEAD? I DUNNO IF IT'S ALL GOOD NEWS. I MEAN, I, I I, I WILL SAY I DON'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY TIME YOU ADD A FEE, IT'S STILL THE END USER. OUR CITIZENS FEEL LIKE, OKAY, IT'S THE CITY MAKING MONEY AND WE'RE NOT, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE CHOOSING 'CAUSE WE ARE GIVEN THE OPTION TO DO AUTOPAY FREE. THERE'S NO CHARGE FOR THAT IF IT GOES TO A BANK ACCOUNT. SO IN LIEU OF THAT THEN, THEN THE USER IS MAKING A INFORMED DECISION AT THIS POINT THAT I'M GONNA PAY 1.75 OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR. MM-HMM . IT'S FAIR AND LEGAL AND THAT'S THE DECISION I HAVE TO MAKE. RIGHT. SO YEAH. SO I DON'T WANNA GET WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU NEED FROM US, I GUESS IS THE QUESTION AT THIS POINT. YEAH. ARE THERE ANY IMPLICATIONS THAT YOU NEED TO DISCUSS? I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING Y'ALL HAVE TO TELL US. BESIDES WHAT HE SAID. LIKE WE WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO GO AND FUND FIVE. WELL, BASICALLY EVERY CITIZEN, EVERY USER PAYS THAT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR SOMEONE ELSE. IN A SENSE, ALL OUR CITIZENS THAT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE ARE, WE'RE NOT PAYING, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE PAYING IT. 'CAUSE WE AS TAXPAYERS WE ARE, WE ARE ALL ABSORBING THAT. YOU KNOW. SO I'D LIKE TO, I MEAN, MY ONLY QUESTION, AND THIS IS INFORMATION I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR UTILITY OR WATER BILL USERS ARE ON AUTO PAY OR OUR AUTO ON AUTO PAY. AND THEN OUR, I GUESS, I MEAN WE HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT UM, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE ARE AT LEAST PAYING BY CREDIT CARD? AND THEN I GUESS IN, I MEAN IS THIS GOOD DATA FOR US TO HAVE? HOW MANY ARE PAYING IN PERSON? HOW MANY PAY THIRD PARTY IE THROUGH TOWN KROGER OR SOMETHING ELSE? IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD THAT DATA POINT, BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN MAYBE PROMOTE MORE OF THE AUTOPAY AND THE BENEFITS FROM IT. YES. OKAY. WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION UNTIL Y'ALL CALLED ALL THIS. YES. OKAY. OTHER INFORMATION THAT'S NEEDED. I, I THINK THAT THAT WAS, THAT COMES FROM, YEAH. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED US TO KNOW IN ORDER TO MAKE A DECISION? BUT I, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A GENERAL, UM, CONSENSUS OF COUNSEL IF IN AGREEING THAT WE HAVE THE PASSES ONTO THE USER. OKAY. OKAY. DO Y'ALL NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION? I HAVE ONE OTHER THING. I WAS JUST, I MEAN I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE 1.75%, BUT JUST SOMETHING MAYBE WE COULD LOOK INTO A LITTLE BIT IS, UM, OTHER UTILITIES I PAY OR BILLS OFFER A DISCOUNT FOR LIKE SIGNING UP FOR PAPERLESS BILLING. UM, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK INTO WHAT THE COST, WHAT WE'RE SPENDING ON SENDING OUT PAPER BILLS AND IF SOMEONE'S [00:15:01] WILLING TO OPT OUT OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM A DOLLAR OFF. I, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S WORTH PER PERSON, BUT REDUCING THAT WORKLOAD AND THEN PASSING THE COST BACK SO IT GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE A LITTLE BIT. WE'RE NOT ALWAYS JUST ADDING, WE'RE GIVING 'EM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE. UM, SOME, I MEAN SOME ARE PAPERLESS BILLING, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOUNT. SOME ARE, IF YOU SET UP AUTOPAY YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOUNT BECAUSE THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AVOIDING THE FEES AT THAT POINT. BUT I DON'T KNOW, THERE MAY BE A LEGAL ISSUE. I WOULD, BUT I'M CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, IF WHAT WOULD, UH, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? NO, I I WOULD AGREE COUNCILMAN YEARS AGO, I MEAN WHEN WE WENT FROM THE OLD CARDBOARD, YOU REMEMBER THE, THE HALVES, THAT LITTLE PERFORATED STUFF AND WE WENT TO THE, THE BILLING, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS ABOUT $2 A MONTH PER USER BEING MAILED OUT, INVOICE FOLDED, ALL THAT. AND SO I'M WITH YOU, UH, I'VE ASKED THAT QUESTION BEFORE, UM, WHERE IF, AND NOW THE SYSTEM HAS CHANGED. I MEAN THIS IS A LONG TIME AGO NOW. IF, IF SOMEONE OPTS INTO AUTOPAY, I BELIEVE THEY, I I HAVE NO PROBLEM 'CAUSE WE'RE ALREADY PAYING IT. LET'S SAY IT'S $2 THAT ARE GETTING THE, THE MAILER AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM AT LEAST SPLITTING THAT, THAT REDUCTION AND, AND HAVING TO MAIL SOMETHING OUT TO SOMEBODY AND SAY YOU GET X AMOUNT, WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT IS, YOU GET X AMOUNT FOR GOING AUTO PAY AND THEN, UH, IF YOU WANT PAPERLESS BILLING, THEN YOU GET AN ADDITIONAL X AMOUNT. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A BENEFIT THAT, I MEAN WE JUST GOTTA BE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH OUR UTILITY BILLING. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION. SO BECAUSE WE USE THE BACK OF THE UTILITY BILL TO , YOU KNOW, INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS, FOR THOSE THAT OPT OUT OR GO PAPERLESS, UM, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SEND THEM ANY OF THOSE MESSAGES THROUGH EMAIL OR DOES THAT ALREADY HAPPEN OR? I I, I THINK THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS NOW COMING WRONG IS IF YOU, YOU CAN GO IN THE NEW WATER BILL SYSTEM WHEN YOU SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT AGAIN, UM, YOU GET YOUR BILL AS, AS COUNCILMAN SAID, YOU GET THE E-BILL WITH EVERYTHING THAT THAT IS ON THE PRINTED BILL. GOT IT. FRONT AND BACK, WHICH IS THE INFORMATION THAT SOME CITIZENS GET AND READ. SO THEY, THEY GET IT. I'M SURE IT'S PROBABLY PDF, BUT THEY GET IT. BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. YEAH, YEAH. IT IS EITHER A DIGITAL OR PAPER VERSION AND THE, BUT THERE, I MEAN OTHER THAN THE OTHER CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE FOR COMMUNICATION, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE YOUR OPTIONS. YEAH. BUT IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE PROCEEDING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE PAPERLESS BILLING. OF COURSE. IT'S AN, I MEAN IT'S, EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANNA DO THAT. YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? I MEAN, I DON'T, WE DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF COUNSEL HAS ANY MORE QUESTIONS. I, I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW? YEAH, I MEAN I THINK IT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M GOOD. , IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? SO I'LL, YOU NEED TO KNOW. NO, I WILL SAY THERE IS MORE RESEARCH TO BE DONE BASED ON THE VERBIAGE OF WHAT WE CALL THE FEE. BECAUSE IF YOU CALL IT A CONVENIENCE FEE, YOU HAVE TO BELONG TO UM, LIKE OUR SERVICE FEE, I SHOULD SAY. YOU HAVE TO BELONG TO THE PROGRAM OF MASTERCARD, VISA AND AMERICAN EXPRESS. AND THEY DICTATE THE RULES OF THAT PROGRAM. IF WE DO A SURCHARGE, THE SURCHARGE IS FOR ANY ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT. SO BASICALLY WE COULD SAY THAT OUR TRADITIONAL PAYMENT METHOD IS CASH, SO WE CAN CHARGE THIS FEE FOR ANY ALTERNATIVE METHOD, WHICH IS WHAT I'M HEARING IS CREDIT CARD FEES WOULD BE THAT ALTERNATIVE METHOD, RIGHT? AND SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR, OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON OUR RESEARCH AND MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO BE DISCUSSED. I, I GUESS MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE WHEN DO WE THINK IS THE BEST TIME TO TARGET THIS? I GUESS ROLL I GUESS, YEAH. ROLLOUT OF SAYING WE'RE NO LONGER GONNA SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER DATE WE NO LONGER GONNA SUBSIDIZE THIS. UM, IF IT WAS ME, I'M LOOKING AT JAY TO SEE WHAT HE IS GONNA SAY, . UM, I WOULD, FOR ME, I MEAN WE COULD DO IT WHENEVER, BUT TO ME, WHEN WE ARE MAKING CHANGES LIKE THIS, IT GIVES TIME. IF WE GIVE TIME AND WE DO IT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHEN YOU'RE CHANGING RATES AND YOU'RE CHANGING THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. YES. INSTEAD OF JUST MID-YEAR. SO THAT'S, SO WE'LL SAY OCTOBER ONE. THAT WAY IT GIVES A LOT OF TIME FOR PREP. IT GIVES MORE PUBLIC, IT GIVES TIME FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO PUT INFORMATION OUT. IT GIVES THE FINANCE TEAM AND THE LEGAL TEAM TO DO ALL THE RESEARCH. IT GIVES Y'ALL A FEW TIMES TO GO THROUGH IT IF YOU NEED TO AGAIN AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT POP UP AND THAT WAY IT'S NOT RUSHED AND PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT IT WAS, UH, A THOROUGH PROCESS BEFORE IT WAS ADOPTED AS WELL. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, SO I'M ASSUMING OCTOBER 1ST IS THE TARGET VERY GOOD. AND MAYOR INDICATED IN WHATEVER WE DO, WE NEED TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXTRA CHARGE. IT'S NOT AN EXTRA FEE. WE'RE SIMPLY COVERING OUR COST BECAUSE IT'S INAPPROPRIATE [00:20:01] FINANCIALLY AND AND LEGALLY, LEGALLY FOR US TO SUBSIDIZE THAT. YES. AND, AND 'CAUSE I'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL CALLS ON IT AND ONCE YOU EXPLAIN THE, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL AND THE, THE POTENTIAL COST THE INDIVIDUALS I SPOKE TO WENT WELL, I GUESS THAT MAKES SENSE. I STILL DON'T LIKE IT, BUT IT MAKES SENSE. OKAY. THAT, IF IT MAKES SENSE, THAT'S GOOD. I'M GOOD. I I WOULD SAY, UH, WITH COUNCILMAN, UH, POWELL'S SUGGESTION, COULD WE AT LEAST GET AN IDEA OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING PAPER BILLS MM-HMM . AND WHAT DOES THAT COST RIGHT NOW? IN A SENSE PER USER, PER MONTH. AND, UH, I'LL BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN SOME TYPE OF REDUCTION OR INCENTIVE FOR GOING TO AUTOPAY AND OR RECEIVING A PAPER BILL. I MEAN A, A EMAIL OR WHATEVER AND NO, NO LONGER A PAPER BILL IN THE MAIL. WOULD Y'ALL WANT ANOTHER WORK SESSION OR DO Y'ALL FIND BRINGING IT BACK IN COUNCIL SESSION WITH PROPOSED COORDINATES? YEAH, I THINK JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE DISCUSSED. POTENTIALLY WORK SESSION COUNCIL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I THINK WE HAVE OUR DIRECTIONS. ALRIGHT. WANT ASK ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, THEN THIS MEETING IS DONE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.