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BACKGROUND The City's current billing software, Billstar, was installed by the City over 17 years ago and is designed around an outdated technology platform that the City has outgrown as the complexity of the billing system has increased. There are several core functions such as billing report flexibility and backflow administration that have no integration into the software, resulting in a significant loss of unrecovered billable expenses and work flow inefficiencies. In addition, because there are very few people able to support this very outdated software, the City cannot guarantee the level of reliability and sustainability that is required for such a critical application. SELECTION PROCESS In November of 2009, the City circulated a request for proposal (RFP) for an automated Utility Billing /Management software application that would meet both the City's current and future utility billing and technological needs. These needs included a system that would integrate all aspects of utility services, including account maintenance, billing and collection; interface with AMR (automated meter reading system), service order processing and a cash register /payment interface. Additionally, the City desired to implement newer technologies and processes such as: browser based client software and web based access for our customers to their utility accounts. Finally, the data base architecture of the system needed to be capable of running on a relational database (Microsoft SQL 2005 or newer) and the new software needed to include the integration of desktop productivity tools for reporting and analysis (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite). The City received 13 responses to its RFP and four companies were selected for further consideration based on their proposals. During January and February individual presentations and demonstrations by each of these companies occurred with a selection committee consisting of City staff members from IT, City Manager's Office, Utility Billing and the Operations and Services Department. The four vendors were then narrowed down to three finalists that facilitated a detailed hands -on demonstration with representatives from Utility Billing that will actually be using the software. Continental Utility Solutions, Inc. (CUSI) UMS.net utility billing software proved to be the clear winner of the three finalists based on their software being extremely user friendly, intuitive and it has the most advanced integration platform and technological management tools of the three finalists. The software will provide the City with all the necessary features and functionality needed to operate efficiently and effectively for many years to come. Also, CUSI's implementation process for converting the City's current utility billing system from our existing outdated software is specifically designed to be more comprehensive and will allow the City to minimize the risks inherent in a conversion process. CUSI has a large customer base of over 800 clients (80 in California) that use this software. This will allow them as a company to provide the City with strong technical support, availability and allow them to customize where necessary the standard features of their system to the City's operation. Page 2 of 3