Council votes to raise staff purchasing threshold to $25,000; requests monthly reports for six months

The La Habra Heights City Council on July 28 voted to move forward with an ordinance amendment to raise staff signing authority for goods and services from $10,000 to $25,000 and requested monthly reporting on purchases for the first six months after the ordinance takes effect.

Staff said the current $10,000 threshold, set in 2007, often forces council action on routine maintenance and small capital needs and can delay repairs (for example, guardrail and park repairs). The city manager and council members discussed examples in which lower thresholds had slowed repairs and argued a higher threshold would improve operational efficiency. Several council members said they supported a $25,000 threshold, noting comparative practice among neighboring agencies.

Council members asked for oversight safeguards. One council member requested monthly reports for six months summarizing items approved under the new threshold so council can evaluate whether the change is working as intended; staff agreed to provide the report series. The city attorney noted that the ordinance must be amended through first and second readings and that changes take effect 30 days after final adoption.

The council moved to amend the municipal code (Chapter 2.10.30) to raise the purchasing limit to $25,000, with a companion procedural direction for monthly reporting for six months after the ordinance is final. The motion carried. Council members said they would review the reporting results at a later meeting and retain the option to revisit the ordinance.