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Council asks city attorney to draft donation-acceptance resolution for gifts over $50
Summary
Council directed the city attorney to draft a formal resolution requiring council approval for cash or tangible donations valued at $50 or more and to clarify past practice; staff will present a draft for formal adoption.
Council discussed recent donations accepted by departments and whether council approval should be required before the city accepts monetary or tangible donations above a specified threshold. Councilmembers cited prior practice under previous administrations that required council approval for such donations and requested clarity and a written policy.
Legal counsel recommended a formal resolution requiring council approval for donations above the local threshold used in practice (staff cited $50), and suggested a simple, transparent resolution that records donor, amount or item and purpose so there is an auditable record. “I would like to see anything over 50 approved by council,” legal counsel said, noting state law and gift policy considerations.
Council asked whether the rule would be retroactive for recent donations that departments accepted; staff discussed a February example in which new mattresses were donated to a fire station but did not fit. Council moved to have the city attorney draft a resolution setting a clear threshold (discussed at $50) and formal acceptance process. The motion passed. Staff and legal counsel will present the draft resolution for council adoption in a future meeting.
