HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-28 CC Meeting Handout Municipal Legal Services
September 27, 2011
Mayor & City Council
City of Centerville
1880 Main Street
Centerville, Minnesota 55038
RE: Letter Of Understanding
Terms for the limited operation of the Municipal Ticket Payment Program
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am writing this letter to memorialize the operational components of the Test Phase of the
Municipal Ticket Payment Program. I am seeking permission from the Centerville City Council
to conduct a limited operation of the Program for citations issued by the Centennial Lakes Police
Department. Here are the criteria for this limited operation:
• The purpose of the test phase of the Program is to collect data to determine the feasibility
of the Program. If the Program permanently continues, we will use data collected during
this phase to define the scope of the Program, and to create operational policies and
procedures.
• The City has no obligation to use the Program after this test phase.
• The scope of the test phase of the Program would be limited to 100 citations issued by the
Centennial Lakes Police Department. These citations would be for petty misdemeanor
moving violations. Each citation would be sequentially issued in any of the three Cities
served by the Department.
• The test phase would end after the arraignment date for all citations has passed. This
period would be approximately 45 to 60 days from the issuance of the first citation.
• The City would authorize my firm to collect fees from those who use the Program. These
fees would be collected through the Program's website and processed by a merchant
services provider (the Intuit Company). The City would be responsible for processing
fees charged by Intuit. Intuit will deduct 3.69% from each transaction. Our firm will
forward the remainder of the Program fees for all three Cities participating in the program
to the City of Circle Pines.
• Mr. Sweeney and I will determine the amount of the Program fees for each offense, after
consultation with each City Council. The fees will be uniformly charged for each offense
processed by the Program.
• For cases occurring in Centerville, the Program will direct all prosecution functions for
handling by my firm, and the Program website will bear the name, "Centerville
Violations Bureau."
510 First Avenue North, Suite 610, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Tel: (612) 333 -6513 Fax: (612) 333-3821
• The Program is operated by Municipal Legal Services. This is a wholly owned entity of
the law firm of Smith & Glaser, LLC.
• My firm's services for operating the test phase of the Program are free. If the City
continues using the Program after the test phase, my firm would then negotiate
compensation based on the scope of the Program.
I look forward to the successful implementation of the Municipal Ticket Payment Program. I am
available to answer questions or discuss the Program.
Very truly yours,
to
K :.GI.
Attomey At Law