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Council moves ordinance to raise competitive-bidding threshold to full council
Summary
Staff proposed amending Codified Ordinances section 161.03 to raise the competitive bidding threshold from $75,000 to $150,000 to reflect inflation and speed procurement. Council moved the measure to full council for consideration.
City staff asked council on March 17 to move an ordinance (25-005) amending section 161.03 of the codified ordinances to increase the competitive-bidding threshold from $75,000 to $150,000.
Development/finance staff told council they had reviewed five years of contracts and found dozens of purchases and contracts that approached or exceeded the current threshold. Mr. Peebles (presenting staff) said the change would speed procurement and reduce the number of contracts that must be returned to council for approval. He noted the threshold was last set in 2011; with a 3% annual escalator the equivalent would be roughly $115,000 today.
Council discussed pros and cons. Supporters said a higher threshold reduces administrative delays for routine purchases and reflects market-price changes; critics raised concerns about oversight and maintaining transparency for large contracts. Council had no further debate and the chair moved Ordinance 25-005 to full council for final consideration.
No final vote on the ordinance was taken on March 17; staff will present the ordinance for full council vote at a later meeting.
