Committee recommends addendum with BSNA to add integrated payment processing; council questions data ownership and fee caps

The committee voted to recommend that city council approve an addendum to the city's BSNA software agreement to add integrated payment processing, with Stripe serving as the payments processor and BSNA providing customer service and compliance duties.

Public works director Phil Kler told the committee BSNA expanded its ERP product to incorporate payment processing and that the city negotiated a statement-of-work and clarifications of responsibilities. "Stripe serves as a processor, but BSNA handles the customer service, technical support, and compliance obligations for the city," Kler said. Staff proposed the city initially absorb convenience fees to encourage online payments and earlier revenue collection.

Alderman Lockett pressed staff for estimates of annual convenience-fee costs and asked whether the city could negotiate a cap or a maximum annual increase to protect against rising fees. He also raised questions about data ownership and retention, noting the city wants to retain resident contact information while not receiving sensitive credit-card data. Kler said staff would follow up with the city attorney and BSNA to clarify data-retention terms and the relationship with Stripe.

The committee moved to recommend approval of the addendum (motion by Alderman Lockett); the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote (transcript records "I" with no roll-call tally). Councilors requested staff return with clarified contract language on fee caps and data ownership before or during the council approval process.