La Center council repeals procurement code and adopts procurement manual following audit recommendation

La Center on Oct. 23 repealed its municipal-code procurement and contracting provisions and adopted a new procurement manual to govern purchasing, bidding and contract procedures.

Public works director Tracy Coleman told the council the change implements a state audit recommendation that policy and procedural detail not be embedded in municipal code. Coleman said staff compiled the manual by consulting Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) guidelines and comparing peer city policies; multiple staff members and subject-matter experts contributed to the draft.

Ordinance 2024-13 repealed the procurement language in Chapter 3.20 of the municipal code; Resolution 2024-480 adopted the public procurement and contracting manual that will govern how the city solicits bids, purchases goods and contracts professional services. Coleman said the manual will be updated when state or federal rules change and that updates will be presented to council with redlined changes.

The council approved the ordinance and the resolution by roll calls (ordinance) and voice vote (resolution). During public comment a resident asked whether moving procedures out of code reduced public oversight; staff said the manual would be adopted by council and that substantive changes would be returned to council for approval.

Council members said the work reflected many staff hours and multiple reviews. The change takes effect immediately; staff said it should simplify future updates to procurement rules without repeated municipal-code amendments.