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Council questions vehicle purchases and city‑manager purchasing authority; staff says purchases were budgeted
Summary
Councilmembers pressed staff Feb. 18 about recent vehicle purchases and whether local vendors had an opportunity to compete; staff said purchases were budgeted and sometimes made through cooperative contracts rather than local RFPs.
Councilmembers used the purchasing report on Feb. 18 to question recent vehicle purchases and the limits of city‑manager purchasing authority.
Councilmember Gutierrez reviewed a purchasing report that listed several vehicle acquisitions for police and other departments, including payments to Diversified Leasing (2025 Honda Odyssey and 2025 Honda Pilot), DWWCT LLC (2023 Nissan Altima) and National Auto Fleet (2024 Ford F‑150 police vehicle). She asked why local vendors had not been given an RFP opportunity. Finance Director Stephanie Sikma and City Manager Paulina Morales explained that purchases shown on the report were executed under the city manager’s authority but still must comply with purchasing policy and the adopted budget. Staff said many department vehicle purchases are funded from specific (non‑general) funds — for police vehicles, often forfeiture or special funds — and that procurement may use cooperative contracts or piggyback agreements rather than a local RFP when permitted by policy.
Councilmembers asked for a future staff report showing budget line details for the accounts used to purchase those vehicles and for documentation about the procurement path used (piggyback/cooperative contract vs. formal solicitation). The Finance Director said staff would return with those fund‑by‑fund details at the next meeting.
Separately the Council approved a report (item 6) that included rejection of two unawarded RFPs; the motion passed by roll call 5–0. Councilmembers reiterated interest in a “shop local” approach where feasible, but staff noted some grants and cooperative contracts restrict local‑only sourcing.
