ORD 97-29 COLLECTION AGENCYORDINANCE NO. 97-29
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington, authorizing the
use of a collection agency to collect funds owed to the City and a fee for
the use of collection agency services; and adding a new section 1.28.047
to the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, from time to time, the City is owed funds which must be collected; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City
to use a collection agency to collect funds owed to the City which the City cannot otherwise
collect; and
WHEREAS, recent legislation authorizes the City to charge a reasonable fee, payable by
the person owing funds to the City, to the outstanding debt for the collection agency fee incurred
by the City; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASHINGTON,
DO ORDAIN as follows:
Section 1.
as follows:
A new section 1.28.047 is added to the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code
1.28.047 Use of collection agency authorized.
A. In addition to all other remedies for collecting amounts owed to the City, the City
may use the services of a collection agency to collect amounts owed to the City for
services provided by the City pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section. If the
City uses a collection agency to collect amounts owed to the City, in addition to the
outstanding d~bt, the debtor shall pay a fee in an amount established by resolution for
the collection agency fee incurred by the City.
B. To use the services of a collection agency to collect amounts owed to the City,
the City must have evidence that the City sent the debtor a written bill for the amount.
C. If an amount owed to the City is not paid within 60 days of the date on which the
amount becomes due, the director of finance may send written notice, by regular or
certified mail, to the debtor at the debtor's last known address according to the City's
records. The notice shall state the amount owed to the City, the amount of any
applicable interest and penalties, that the City may use the services of a collection agency
to collect amounts owed to the City if the amount owed to the City, together with any
applicable interest and penalties, is not paid in full within 30 days of the date of the
notice, and that if the City uses the services of a collection agency, the City shall charge
the debtor a fee in the amount established by resolution.
D. If the amount owed to the City, together with any. applicable interest and
penalties, is not paid in full within 30 days of the date of the notice, the City may use
the services of a collection agency to collect the outstanding amount owed to the City,
any applicable interest and penalties, and the collection agency services fee.
Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective five days after its passage, approval, and
publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council this 18th day of September, 1997.
APPROVED by the Mayor this/~ff/'day of September, 1997.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
~$USAN P. KAS~ER, C i~/~y Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ANDREW W. MARON, Mayor Pro tempore
ROD P. KASEGUMA, City Attorney
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: August 15, 1997
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: September 18, 1997
PUBLISHED: September 24, 1997
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 29, 1997
ORDINANCE NO. 97-29