This Item was presented to Council at the December 12, 2022 Work Session as a written briefing. The Garland Parking Enforcement program has been in place for approximately three years. Over that time, the amount of unpaid parking tickets has increased and created a need for the City to contract with a third-party Collections agency. The City uses Collections Agencies for other delinquent fees and fines. State law specifically authorizes a City to enter into an agreement with third-party Collection Agencies related to parking tickets, and allows the agency to collect up to thirty percent of the unpaid parking ticket amounts. The law requires the additional collected amount only be used to compensate the Collection Agency.
Recommendation/Action Requested and Justification
Council is requested to approve the attached ordinance which clarifies the City's ability under State law to send unpaid parking tickets to a third-party Collection's Agency and allow that Agency to collect an amount up to an additional thirty percent of any unpaid parking fees.
