The City Commission voted on two consent‑agenda items after debate over whether the city manager should have authority to approve future renewals without returning to the dais. Both motions passed 3–2, with Commissioners Duval and Petro dissenting.

Commissioner Duval pulled two consent items for discussion: a contract award for an advanced water meter system to Ferguson Enterprises (agenda item 25‑17‑20) and an award for outsourced mowing services to NDLLC doing business as Natural Designs Landscaping (agenda item 25‑25‑85). Duval said he supported the initial awards but objected to language he said would allow future renewals or extensions to be approved by the city manager rather than by the commission. “I just don't believe that the commission should be giving up its right to vote on the… the renewal,” Duval said.

Interim City Attorney Golan and City Manager Fletcher explained the city’s practice and legal framework. Golan noted the charter requires contracts to be approved by the commission but that contracts sometimes include limited authority for the city manager to approve non‑price extensions or to agree to amendments that do not change price. Fletcher said the standard practice was to allow the city manager to agree to extensions where the price does not change and to approve amendments to preserve efficient operations while returning substantive price changes to the commission.

Commissioner Langdon asked whether the contracts included escalation clauses; Golan identified a 3% annual limit after the first five years for the water meter contract and said any increase beyond that would have to come back to the commission. Several commissioners said they had supported earlier delegation changes to avoid a large volume of routine renewals being placed on the commission docket; others said they were uncomfortable giving up oversight on renewals even if price‑change guardrails exist.

Despite the disagreement, the commission approved the Ferguson Enterprises advanced meter contract (motion by Vice Mayor Emery, seconded by Commissioner Langdon) by a 3–2 vote, and approved the outsourced mowing services award to Natural Designs Landscaping (motion by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emery) by a 3–2 vote. In both cases Commissioners Duval and Petro voted no. The mowing contract award was for an amount not to exceed $127,132 and authorized the city manager to approve future renewal terms as written in the staff report.

What’s next: staff will execute the contracts consistent with commission direction. Commissioners asked staff to return to the commission if renewals would change price beyond the approved guardrails and to provide procurement and escalation details for future contract items when requested.