HomeMy WebLinkAbout4800 Ordinance - Amending PMC 3.60.040 Debit & Credit Card Acceptance
Ordinance – Amending PMC 3.60.040 Debit/credit card acceptance - 1
ORDINANCE NO. 4800
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING PASCO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3.60.040
DEBIT/CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE.
WHEREAS, the City Council supports efforts to modernize and expand customer payment
options by allowing credit and debit card payments for City services, promoting convenience and
accessibility for residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the acceptance of credit and debit card payments across City departments is
expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce cash handling risks, and enhance overall
customer service; and
WHEREAS, card processing fees assessed by financial institutions and payment networks
impose a significant cost burden on the City when offering electronic payment options; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to recover a portion of these processing costs through the
implementation of surcharges, service fees, or convenience fees on credit and debit card
transactions, in accordance with applicable card network rules and legal requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to adopt a
transparent, fiscally responsible, and legally compliant framework for applying surcharges, service
fees, or convenience fees on designated credit and debit card transactions, in order to recover
payment processing costs while maintaining equitable access to services.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. PMC Section 3.60.040 Debit/credit card acceptance is hereby amended and
shall read as follows:
3.60.040 Debit/credit card acceptance
(1) City departments and divisions may accept payment by credit or debit card if
approved by the city manager.
(2) A surcharge fee shall be added to payments made by credit card. The surcharge
shall not exceed the actual cost of acceptance and shall be set administratively by
the Finance Director in accordance with applicable laws and card network rules.
(3) The Finance Department shall take such action that may be necessary to comply
with card issuer rules and legal requirements, including, without limitation, notice
and disclosure requirements.
Ordinance – Amending PMC 3.60.040 Debit/credit card acceptance - 2
(4) The city manager is authorized to execute agreements that may be required for
acceptance of payments by credit or debit card and implementation of the
surcharges, service fees, and convenience fees imposed by this section.
(5) The charges and fees imposed by this section do not apply to prepaid cards.
(6) The city manager may waive surcharges, services fees, and/or convenience fees
in cases where hardship or administrative inconvenience would result.
(7) The city staff may refund overcharges in such a manner as approved by the city
manager.
Credit cards will be accepted as payment for all billed charges, related payment
processing charges and all charges incurred at the Sun Willows Golf Course, City
View Cemetery and through the Recreation Division. Credit cards will not be
accepted for permits, licenses, taxes, and other fees where payment is required
before service, license or permit is provided. Debit cards are accepted for all fees,
permits and licenses whether billed or not. [Ord. 4161, 2014; Code 1970 §
3.112.050.]
Section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word
of this ordinance should be held to the invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or word of this ordinance.
Section 3. Corrections. Upon approval by the city attorney, the city clerk or the code
reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including scrivener’s errors
or clerical mistakes; reference to other local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulation s; or
numbering or referencing of ordinances or their sections and subsections.
Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take full force and effect five (5) days
after approval, passage and publication as required by law.
Ordinance – Amending PMC 3.60.040 Debit/credit card acceptance - 3
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, on this 17th day of
November, 2025.
_____________________________
David Milne
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ___________________________
Debra Barham, MMC Kerr Ferguson Law, PLLC
City Clerk City Attorneys
Published: _____________________________ Sunday, November 23, 2025