Consent - Joe Huss, Finance Director/Asst. City Manager
Title
Title
Update and Approve the City’s Purchasing Policy
end
Executive Summary
The city’s purchasing policy is constructed pursuant to the city’s charter and the Uniform Municipal Contracting Law as found in Minnesota Statutes chapter 471, section 345 (MN Statutes 471.345). The policy is being amended to include specific reference to MN 471.345.
Background
Blaine’s charter directs that “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. § 471.345, as amended.” As currently written, the policy includes specific dollar amounts that were in effect in 2018 and were not updated when the legislature last updated MN Statutes 471.345 in 2021. Thus, the charter and the policy are not aligned. The proposed amendments would bring the policy in conformance to the charter by removing specific dollar amounts and referencing 471.345 as the city’s policy. Removing specifics in place at the time of the policy’s updates will eliminate ambiguities and ease administration of the policy as well as remove the need to update the policy each time the Minnesota Legislature amends the authorizing statute.
Strategic Plan Relationship
This amendment supports the strategic priority of Financial Stability and the initiative to revise financial policies as required.
Board/Commission Review
None required.
Financial Impact
No financial impact.
Public Outreach/Input
None required.
Staff Recommendation
By motion, approve the amendments on the attached draft purchasing policy.
Attachment List
Updated draft purchasing policy.