City public works and purchasing staff gave an extended briefing on contract administration, unit‑price contracts and quantity variances, explaining why change orders and measured‑work payments are common on public‑works projects. Staff described how unit pricing (for items such as curb, sidewalk and asphalt by unit) produces flexibility to adjust quantities in the field and to get more work done when bids and budgets allow.The briefing reviewed the city's supplementary contract conditions (which set criteria for when a quantity variance becomes a change‑order negotiation) and the thresholds used for approvals: staff cited internal guidance that treats cumulative quantity variances above certain percentage thresholds as the point for negotiation or elevated approvals, with a $500,000 threshold calling for council review of large known changes. Purchasing and AP staff said they have drafted clarifying language for a revised purchasing policy that will explicitly include the quantity-variance definitions and approval thresholds; they plan to preview the proposed policy at the council’s first December work session and then return it to council for formal action.The council discussion emphasized that council members primarily focus on dollar impacts rather than units of measure and requested clearer, dollar‑based reporting when projects approach change‑order thresholds. Staff said inspectors and progress estimates are the routine mechanism for identifying trends in quantities so adjustments can be managed and documented.