HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - July 19, 2011 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL
SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2011
A. Roll Call by City Clerk
An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held
Tuesday, July 19, 2011, commencing at 7:00 a.m.
Present: Council Member Hansen, Council Member Katzakian, Council Member Nakanishi,
Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce, and Mayor Johnson
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Bartlam, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Johl
B. Topic(s)
B-1 Discuss Changes to the Purchasing Policy and Settlement Authorities (CM)
City Manager Bartlam provided a brief introduction regarding the purchasing policy revisions.
Deputy City Manager Jordan Ayers provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding proposed
purchasing policy revisions. Specific topics of discussion included an overview, centralized versus
decentralized purchasing, current purchase order limit of $500, comparison purchase order
numbers from other communities, purchase order limit proposal at $2,500, current quote
requirements for $500, proposed quote limit to $2,500, comparison quote numbers from other
communities, formal bid limit currently at $20,000, proposed formal bid limit at $30,000,
comparison formal bid numbers from other communities, current department head and city
manager levels at $5,000 and $20,000, proposed department head and city manager levels at
$10,000 and $30,000, comparison levels from other communities for authority levels, reporting
requirements, Cal Card usage, Cal Card rebates, Cal Card proposal to expand usage with
detailed approval process, professional services for exemptions, and current and proposed
settlement authority.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Ayers stated the numbers from Tracy vary because the
purchase order limit is based upon the nature of the good.
In response to Council Member Hansen, Mr. Ayers stated the challenge with the quote process is
getting vendors to respond in a timely manner, especially with smaller dollar amounts.
In response to Myrna Wetzel, Mr. Ayers stated the lowest bid and best value are both used in
purchasing.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Ayers stated that, with respect to utilizing multiple vendors,
staff would need to be cognizant of the market and good comparable sources.
In response to Council Member Hansen, Mr. Ayers stated quotes are generally obtained via
telephone, email, and on line.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Ayers stated staff could look at a rotation for vendors to
ensure multiple vendors are being used so that the business is spread throughout the community.
In response to Council Member Hansen, Mr. Ayers stated currently there is no competitive quote
requirement for under $500, verbal quotes are required for $500 to $1,000, written quotes are
Continued July 19, 2011
required for more than $1,000, and the proposal is to have written quotes for over $2,500.
In response to Council Member Katzakian, Mr. Bartlam stated the overall cumulative purchasing
costs are monitored based on the need for the material and storage of the same.
Mayor Johnson and Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce briefly discussed current and proposed
authority limits for department heads and the city manager, as well as the timing and process
associated with receiving the goods.
In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Bartlam provided a brief overview of internal
controls based on how much money is spent, industry perspective and trust in the staff, and the
City not having a history of issues.
In response to Council Member Hansen, Mr. Bartlam reviewed the departmental budget
expenditure and savings process, stating at the end of the fiscal year he is more concerned about
the bottom line rather than individual line items. Mr. Ayers stated personnel versus operational
costs vary by department and the total salary and benefits for the City are in the $30 million to
$35 million range.
In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Bartlam stated the City Manager currently reviews
all purchases through the approval process and it would be up to Council if it ever wanted to
allow a city manager to delegate that responsibility to another position.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Ayers stated Cal Card usage can be limited through vendor
type and classification controls. Mr. Bartlam stated the professional services agreement process
also has the dollar amount controls so that anything over $20,000 still comes to Council.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce, Mr. Ayers stated the settlement authority is a
separate and stand-alone proposed policy from the purchasing policy.
Council Member Nakanishi requested a personnel time and cost savings analysis in regard to the
proposed recommendations.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce and Council Member Hansen, the following
employees spoke in regard to their experience with the purchasing process: Rob Lechner, Wally
Sandelin, Steve Dutra, Randi Johl, Charlie Swimley, Kari Chadwick, and Liz Kirkley.
Ed Miller spoke in regard to having a general departmental credit card rather than credit cards
that are issued to specific individuals in a department.
C. Comments by Public on Non-Aaenda Items
None.
D. Adjournment
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 a.m.
ATTEST:
Randi Johl
City Clerk
N
AGENDA ITEM $ 4001
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TM
AGENDA TITLE: Discuss Changes to the Purchasing Policy and Settlement Authorities
MEETING DATE:
PREPARED BY:
July 19, 2011
Deputy City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss changes to the Purchasing Policy and Settlement
Authorities.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Council adopted the current Purchasing Policy in August 2005,
establishing a centralized purchasing organization. In January
2010, the Council approved department reorganizations that
decentralized the purchasing functions within the City. At that time, staff advised the Council that the
Purchasing Policy would be revisited to reflect the new departmental structures.
The City has operated under the decentralized purchasing model for the past year. A number of
proposed changes to the Purchasing Policy are before the Council today for discussion. As City staff has
reduced, the need to be more efficient is very apparent. Recommendations regarding certain limits within
the Purchasing Policy are driven by the efficiencies that will be gained by adding flexibility to our
purchasing processes. Staff has weighed the increased flexibility against the inherent risks in arriving at
our recommendations, which were developed following a survey of nearby cities to determine
comparable levels of authority.
Finally, staff is seeking input regarding proposed changes to the delegation of authority to settle workers
compensation and liability claims. Staff surveyed other agencies that participate with us in the California
Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA) as to the level of settlement authority for designated
positions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
FUNDING AVAILABLE
JAfja
Staff efficiencies are expected if greater flexibility is granted.
Not applicable.
Jordan Ayers
Deputy City Manager
PPRal
Konradt Bartlam, City Manager
Purchasing Policy
Revisions
City Council Shirtsleeve Session
July 19, 2011
Overview
■ Centralized vs. Decentralized
■ Purchase Order (PO) Limit
■ Quote Limit
■ Formal Bid Limit
■ City Manager/Department Head Limit
■ Cal Card Usage
■ Professional Services
0 Settlement Authority
V,
Centralized vs. Decentralized
■ Current policy adopted 2005 establishing
centralized purchasing system
■ Moved to decentralized system in July 2010
■ Need clean-up of existing policy to reflect
change
3
PO Limit
■ Currently, all purchases over $500 require a
m
■ Also, require staff to obtain 3 quotes for such
purchases
Very time consuming
Costs/benefits
4
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Stockton
$5,000
Tracy
Various
ecommendation
recom
Quote Limit
■ Currently, require verbal quotes for
purchases between $500 and $999
Written quotes required for purchases over
$1,000
■ In practice, most staff are obtaining written
quotes for purchases over $500
7
Sacramento
not allowed
$25,000
Stockton
not allowed
$57000
Tracy
not allowed
$107000
Quote Limit - Recommendation
■ Staff recommends
■ No verbal quotes allowed
■ Written quote limit of $2,500
0
Formal
Currently require formal
$20,000
purchases
10
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Stockton
$30,000
Tracy
$50,0001
11
Formal Bid Limit -
recommends
Formal
ecommen
$30,000
12
City Manager/Department Head Limit
■ Current signature limits are:
Department Heads - $5,000
City Manager - $20,000
■ All items over $20,000 come to Council for
approval
13
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Stockton
$30,000
$30,000
Tracy
1 $5070001
$1070001
14
CM/DH Limits - Recommendation
■ Staff recommends
City Manager - $30,000
Engineering Department Heads (PW & EUD) -
$15, 000
Other Department Heads - $10,000
15
Reporting
■ Currently
Report purchases between $5,000 and
$20,000 to Council quarterly
■ Proposed
Continue reporting purchases to Council
quarterly based upon the newly adopted limits
16
Cal Card Usage
■ Currently, 11 Cal Cards issued
■ 9 Department Heads
■ Buyer
■ Purchasing Technician
■ All have a single transaction limit of $500 with
a monthly limit of $5,000 to $15,000
■ Primary purpose is for training and travel
expenses
■ Also used for operating expenses under $500
per transaction
17
Cal Card Rebates
■ City earns rebates in three ways
Prompt payments
Average transaction amount
Volume of transactions
■ 2010/11
Purchases -
$146,576
■ 2010/11
Rebates - $1,185
18
Cal Card Proposal
■ Expand the number of cards issued, the usage and
the limits
■ Authorize City Manager to approve issuance of cards
■ Cards Issued
Expand to include first line supervisors
Estimate of 15 to 20 additional cards
■ Usage
Expand to include supplies regularly purchased and
any purchase below PO limits
■ Limits
Revise to match PO/bid limits
19
Cal Card Approval Process - Current
■ Cardholder reviews monthly statement
■ Assembles receipts for each transaction
■ Signs monthly statement
■ Forwards to City Manager for approval
■ Forwards to Finance for payment
20
Cal Card Approval Process - Proposed
■ Cardholder reviews monthly statement
■ Assembles receipts for each transaction
■ Signs monthly statement
■ Forwards to Department Head for approval
■ Forwards to City Manager for approval
■ Forwards to Finance for payment
■ Allow one exception for lack of receipts
■ Remove card on second exception
21
Cal Card Proposal Impact
■ Increase the number of cards issued
■ Simplify staff ability to get what they need in a
timely manner
■ Significantly reduce number of checks written
■ Increase revenues
22
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23
Professional Services
■ Expand the definition of those services
exempt from bidding requirements
■ Laboratory and materials testing, aerial
photography, construction management,
computer technology consulting
■ Develop a separate Purchase Order type for
professional services in lieu of a Professional
Services Agreement
24
Settlement Authority
■ Authority to settle general liability and
workers comp claims
■ Current limits
■ City Manager - $20,000
■ City Attorney - $5,000
■ Former Risk Manager - $5,000
■ While City Manager has $20,000 contract
authority, claims settlement over $5,000 has
gone to Council for approval
25
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Roseville
$50,000
$50,000
Stockton
$30,244
$30,244
$30,244
Sunnyvale
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
26
Settlement Authority -
Recommendation
■ Staff recommends
■ City Manager - $25,000
■ City Attorney - $25,000
■ Risk Manager - $10,000
27