HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/17/2022 Item 6b, Elke - Staff Agenda CorrespondenceCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Council Agenda Correspondence
DATE: May 17, 2022
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Brigitte Elke, Finance Director
VIA: Derek Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Item 6b – Update to Financial Management Manual Section 202 – Purchasing
Policy
Staff received the following request clarifications, regarding sections to the update and this
memorandum serves to clarify questions that have come up for item 6b – Update to Financial
Management Manual Purchasing Policy.
Staff would like to also clarify that extensive edits were made to the 2018 Purchasing Policy
(Resolution 10888), and staff provided Council with a summary of the changes and a redlined
version (Exhibit F) of the changes for review. Unfortunately, staff did not provide the final
redline version which is now linked below.
Redline Changes - Purchasing Policy 2018 v. 2022 Update.docx
Due to the large number of administrative changes made, staff provided a summary of the
changes to assist Council in reviewing each modified section. (Agenda report p. 1181)
Clarification to Change to Approval Thresholds
The recommendation is to reduce the applicable purchase types from five (5) to three (3) to
increase process and system efficiencies while maintaining fiduciary control. Furthermore, the
approval thresholds are recommended as follows:
Item 6b – Staff Agenda Correspondence Page 2
APPROVAL THRESHOLDS General Services & Consulting
Combined to ‘Professional Services”
Item 6b – Staff Agenda Correspondence Page 3
Local Preference
Based on the information provided in the Council Agenda Report that highlights best practices
recommended by professional organizations such as Government Finance Officers Association,
International City and County Managers Association, the Council of State Governments, and the
National Institute of Government Procurement, staff does not recommend Council adopt a local
preference policy beyond what is currently in Municipal Code 3.24.060E
Sections Added
The City Manager directed staff to review the City’s contract templates and applicable insurance
requirements. This review resulted in the addition of section 255 and 274 to the purchasing
policy to provide a comprehensive purchasing guide.
Staff is not asking for Council action on the sections but provided the summary information for
this significant addition to the policy that further implements best practices and fiduciary control.