City administration told the committee on Jan. 12, 2026, that it is actively evaluating electronic invoicing products that would allow vendors to upload invoices and bank details for faster, more traceable payments. The Director said staff have sat through demos, expect to choose a vendor within one to two weeks and conservatively estimate a six‑to‑eight month rollout if the product is selected and funded.

Council members framed the effort as part of a broader push to speed payments, reduce the burden on nonprofits that front event costs, and address discrepancies between council and administration reporting on neighborhood/discretionary funds. Councilman Richard Starr and others urged the administration to ensure pre‑encumbrance and contract certification steps are completed so passed legislation becomes a usable payment path in the accounting system.

Administration gave an example of prior modernization: DocuSign reduced average contracting time in the city from “6 to 8 weeks” to about “8 or 9 days,” and staff said they expect similar operational gains from a well‑integrated invoicing product. The Director said final budget and contract details will be presented during budget hearings.

No specific budget line for the invoicing product was assigned during the meeting; staff said they would return to budget hearings with cost information and proposed funding sources. Councilmembers stressed any new system must preserve encumbrance, supporting documentation and internal controls before payments are released.