Title
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE UPGRADED UTILITY BILLING AND FINANCIAL ANALYTICS SOFTWARE FROM SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC.; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Brief Description: City staff is requesting approval to purchase upgraded Utility Billing Software, which will allow the City to have Utility Billing on the same platform as the Accounting and Payroll functions. Staff is also requesting permission to purchase an Analytics Suite which will allow the budget process to be completed within the software, as opposed to the current method of using Excel spreadsheets.
Body
Legislative History
None.
Purpose & Explanation
The City’s current utility billing software is more than 20 years old and does not allow the City to provide all the options and information it would like to offer its customers. Upgrading to the VIP Utility Billing module with SSI will allow the City to offer more detail on customer bills and a portal where customers can get up-to-date balance information and make payments. In addition, the City would like to purchase the Analytics Suite in VIP. This module will assist in the budgeting process by allowing department managers to enter their budget requests directly into the accounting software instead of using Excel spreadsheets. The cost to purchase and implement these two modules is as follows:
Utility Billing Upgrade: $21,350
Analytics Suite: $34,500
Total Cost: $55,850
Moving forward with this upgrade is a significant cost savings when compared to purchasing Munis ERP Software from Tyler Technologies at a cost of $533,445. However, the following features included in Munis will not be part of SSI.
• The ability to combine commercial broadband billing with water and electric and give customers one combined bill.
• A human resources and talent management module.
• A Public Works work order module that interfaces with utility billing.
• An inventory management module.
• An internal document management module.
• Payroll time management.
City staff will continue to look at solutions for these issues through improvements to current software or additional stand-alone software.
Timing Considerations
Upon authorization to proceed by City Council, the administration will upgrade its software with SSI. The current project timeline is projected below.
Module Start Date Live Date
Budget Analytics 3/1/2019 4/1/2019
Utility Billing 3/1/2019 10/1/2019
Fiscal Impact
X Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends that City Council approve this Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with SSI to upgrade the current utility billing software and add the budget analytics module.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Jeff Knoblauch, Assistant City Manager - Finance Director
Brian Griffith, Director - Management & Budget