ADMINISTRATION - Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk
Title
SECOND READING
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, ADMINISTRATION OF CITY AFFAIRS, SECTION 6.05, PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS, OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BLAINE
Background
Over the past few years the Charter Commission has held several discussions surrounding increasing the expenditure limit for purchases and contracts for the City Manager as they felt the current amount is outdated and should be increased. Below is a summary of this topic's timeline:
08-10-09 Charter Commission unanimously recommended increase to $50,000
09-03-09 Public hearing held on proposed increase to $50,000
09-17-09 Council voted 6-1 to approve increase; not unanimous so amendment failed
Council directed the Charter Commission to review and propose a reduced amount, "possibly half" of the proposed amount
01-28-13 Charter Commission discussed proposed increase; amount not determined
11-18-13 Charter Commission unanimously recommended increasing limit to $25,000
04-14-15 Direction re-affirmed unanimously to increase limit to $25,000
05-21-15 Proposed amendment scheduled for public hearing and first reading
06-04-15 Proposed amendment scheduled for second reading
At the April 14, 2015, annual Charter Commission meeting, the Commission unanimously voted to approve increasing the expenditure limit for purchases and contracts by the City Manager from the current amount of $10,000 to $25,000 and directed staff to bring the item forward for public hearing and Council consideration as outlined in Statute. A public hearing was held on May 21 and first reading of the ordinance was introduced. Second reading and adoption is being presented at this time.
Recommendation
Hold second reading and adopt the proposed ordinance. The vote must be unanimous and would become effective 90 days after passage and publication.
Body
THE CITY OF BLAINE DOES ORDAIN: (Added portions are underscored and deleted portions are shown in brackets with overstrike.)
Chapter 6, Administration of City Affairs, Sec. 6.05, Purchases and Contracts, of the Charter of the City of Blaine is amended to read, as follows: (added portions are underscored and deleted portions are shown in brackets with overstrike).
Sec. 6.05. Purchases and contracts.
The city manager shall be the chief purchasing agent of the city. Contracts for the sale or the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment or the rental thereof, or the construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of real or personal property shall be made in accordance with the Uniform Municipal Contracting Law, Minn. Stat. ยง 471.345, as amended. If the amount of the contract is estimated to be [ten] twenty thousand dollars ([$10,000.00] $20,000) or less, the contract may be made by the city manager. All other purchases and all other contracts shall be submitted to the council for approval. All contracts, bonds and instruments of any kind to which the city is a party shall be signed by the mayor and the city manager on behalf of the city and shall be executed in the name of the city.
INTRODUCED AND READ in full the 21st day of May, 2015.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 4th day of June, 2015.