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Murrieta Council OKs Introduction of Ordinance Letting City Manager Speed Fleet Purchases Within Budget
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to amend procurement rules so the city manager may execute purchases of multiple fleet vehicles (no single vehicle over $100,000) when the purchases are within the adopted budget, aiming to address lead-time and availability issues for specialized vehicles.
Murrieta — The City Council introduced an ordinance April 1 that would amend the purchasing code to allow the city manager to execute purchases of multiple fleet vehicles when no single vehicle exceeds $100,000 and the aggregate is within the adopted budget.
Background and rationale: Finance Director Javier Carcamo told council prolonged procurement processes and industry inventory shortages have made it difficult for staff to secure public-safety and other fleet vehicles using traditional formal bids. "Staff recommends an update to the city's purchasing code, granting the city manager the authority to purchase fleet vehicles when the cumulative amount exceeds $100,000, provided that no single vehicle exceeds $100,000 and the purchases align with the adopted budget," Carcamo said.
Local-dealer preference and safeguards: Council asked how the change would affect local dealers. Staff said informal-bid protocols would remain and that local dealers would be contacted first when vehicles are available; the city's local-vendor preference (up to 3% price allowance) would still apply. Council discussed potential caps on aggregate purchases and the importance of annual budget oversight as a check on authority.
Vote and next steps: The council voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance No. 16-25 to amend Chapter 3.08 of the Murrieta Municipal Code; the ordinance will return for a subsequent hearing and adoption vote per standard ordinance procedures.
