The policy was approved during a July 2 Frisco City Council meeting and would only apply to the city’s already-budgeted, non-controversial items typically found on council’s consent agenda.
Terms to know
The consent agenda is a list of typically 10-30 items and can be approved altogether with one vote during council meetings without discussion. Non-controversial items can include contract approvals, equipment purchases and items unanimously approved by Frisco’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Two-minute impact
The city manager purchasing power is only for non-controversial items that were already budgeted for and planned by the city, such as routine maintenance or facility contracts, according to meeting documents.
Frisco had been operating under a similar policy for items costing less than $50,000 for the past seven years, according to meeting documents. As the city, and inflation rate, has grown, so has the number of consent agenda purchases:
“We think [the updated policy] will impact about 60 items a year based on the last six years’ averages,” said Daniel Ford, Frisco’s Director of Administrative Services.
The city will still be able to bring the $100,000 items to council for further discussion if necessary, Ford said. Situations that would put the item back on council’s agenda include:
- If anyone, including participating bidders, raise concerns about the vendor or selection process
- If the purchase includes a high-profile item or larger policy discussion
Multiple Dallas-Fort Worth area cities, including Plano, Allen, Denton and Richardson, also follow the same $100,000 purchasing policy, according to a meeting presentation.
“We will not be establishing a new precedent,” Ford said.
Anything else?
Raising the city manager’s purchasing power will expedite the purchases and reduce the administrative burden on city staff, according to meeting documents.
“We feel like it would benefit city council so you can focus on what’s important on the agenda,” Ford said.
