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Colfax accepts clean FY2023-24 audit; council raises manager spending cap and advances sidewalk ordinance
Summary
Auditors issued a clean opinion on Colfax—s fiscal 2023-24 financials; council accepted the report, approved raising the city manager—s single-purchase authority to $25,000, and introduced a revised sidewalk repair and maintenance ordinance that includes a 90-day repair window, extension options and a tax-roll payment option.
The Colfax City Council received and accepted the city—s fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, financial audit after Richardson & Company issued an unmodified (clean) auditor—s opinion.
"Overall, the city's financial condition has continued to improve," Ingrid Scheiplein, managing partner at Richardson & Company, told the council, adding that combined fund revenues exceeded expenses by about $1.3 million and that the general fund had roughly $3.7 million in unrestricted reserves. Scheiplein reported the sewer enterprise fund also increased reserves, reaching about $3.2 million, and noted the city's only long-term debt consists of a state loan for sewer upgrades with a balance reported around $6.2 million.
Council then considered two items that will affect city operations. First, council approved by vote an amendment to the city procurement policy to raise the city manager—s single-purchase authority from $10,000 to $25,000, with the manager pledging to notify the mayor and mayor pro tem on substantial non-emergency purchases. Second, the council opened a noticed public hearing and then introduced and waived the first reading of a revised sidewalk repair and maintenance ordinance.
Planner Kathy Pease summarized changes made after prior council input: the city increased the repair timeline from 60 to 90 days, added allowance for property owners to request extensions and clarified that repairs could include grinding and other partial fixes rather than requiring replacement of entire sidewalk segments. "We updated the ordinance to address those concerns," Pease said. She also confirmed staff added language allowing property owners to opt to have repair costs included on their property tax roll as a payment method.
Public comment produced a range of views. Resident Steve Harvey argued longstanding city responsibilities for sidewalks and urged the city to accept responsibility for damage caused by city trees; staff responded that the ordinance explicitly indemnifies owners from damage attributable to city trees or city equipment while laying out circumstances where owners are responsible. Business owners and residents said they want clearer public notification and more outreach about changes to responsibilities.
Council voted to introduce the ordinance and waive the first reading, with staff directed to bring final ordinance language back for adoption in a later meeting. The audit acceptance and amendment to the procurement policy were approved in separate unanimous votes.
