HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2026-44 - Amendment to Ch. 4.08 "Authority of the City Manager and City Staff to Contract"ORDINANCE NO. Z.0ZG -q4
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS AMENDING SECTION 4.08.010, TITLED
"AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF TO
CONTRACT," OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND
RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Georgetown (the "City") routinely procures goods and services
necessary to provide municipal services and carry out public purposes; and,
WHEREAS, state law authorizes local governments to use certain cooperative purchasing
programs, including programs established under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 271,
Subchapter D and Subchapter F, to promote efficiency, economy, and compliance with
competitive procurement requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown (the "City Council") desires to
delegate authority to the City Manager or the City Manager's designee to make purchases and
execute contracts through such cooperative purchasing programs when the purchase or contract is
authorized by state law and sufficient funds have been appropriated and are available in the
adopted budget; and,
WHEREAS, The City enters into many contracts, agreements, and similar documents that
are routine in nature or are for certain categories or types of items that have already been approved
through the budgeting process, and the City Manager and his or her designee should be authorized
to negotiate and enter into these contracts and documents, in accordance with the guidelines
established herein, in the interest of efficiency of administrative governmental operations in the
City; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council further desires to clarify and update authority for approving
change orders to City contracts after legislative changes to prior statutory language governing
change -order dollar limits; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that delegating contracting and change -order authority
for budgeted items, when authorized by state law, will promote efficient municipal operations
while preserving the City Council's authority over appropriations and policy direction.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS:
Section 1. The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was in all things conducted
in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.
Ordinance No.: Ana '% - H 4 Page 1 of 5
Description: Amendment to Chapter 4.08
Date: T(
Section 2. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby
found and declared to be true and correct and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly
made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim.
Section 3. Chapter 4.08, "Authority of the City Manager and City Staff to Contract," is
amended to read as follows:
"Section 4.08.010. — Delegation of contracting authority
A. Except as specifically provided herein, all contracts, including claim and lawsuit
settlement agreements, to which the City is a party shall be approved by the City Council
prior to execution. This Section may not be construed to delegate authority to approve or
execute, without City Council action, any contract, contract amendment, change order or
other legal instrument that is required by State Law to be approved by the City Council.
B. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager or the City Manager's designee
to approve and execute the following by administrative action without further City Council
action:
1. A contract for expenditures in the City Council approved budget for which the contract
amount does not exceed the amount which requires compliance with state competitive
procurement laws, provided that all such contracts and expenditures are in compliance
with the City's annual budget and the City's fiscal and budgetary policy.
2. A change order to a contract required by state law to be procured through either
competitive bid or competitive sealed proposal that increases or decreases the contract
price by $50,000.00 or less, provided that the original contract price may not be
increased by more than 25 percent, and provided that a change order may only make
necessary changes to plans or specifications after the performance of the contract has
begun or increase or decrease the quantity of goods or services.
3. A contract for the purchase of goods or services through local purchasing programs and
cooperative purchasing programs that the City has been approved to be a participant
of, provided that the funding for the contract is appropriated in an approved budget.
4. A contract amendment to a contract not required by state law to be procured through
competitive bid or competitive sealed proposal modifying the scope of services and
increasing or decreasing the contract price by $100,000.00 or less, provided that the
original contract price may not be increased or decreased by more than 25 percent of
the original contract price.
5. A change order or contract amendment modifying a contract originally approved
pursuant to Subsection 4.08.010.B.1., provided however that the total contract price as
amended cannot exceed $100,000.00.
Ordinance No.: a 0 2 % �{ t{ Page 2 of 5
Description: Amendment to Chapter 4.08
Date:
6. The exercise of a renewal option, if the expenditure required during the renewal term
is $100,000.00 or less.
C. The City Manager may delegate authority granted under this Section to the extent allowed
by this Code, the City Charter, or State law. The City Manager may make rules and
procedures, which are not in conflict with this Code, the City Charter, or State law,
concerning the form and substance of administrative actions necessary for the contracting
and change order process.
D. All contracts or expenditures in excess of the amount that requires compliance with the
state competitive procurement laws must be approved by the City Council, even if they
are included in the City Council -approved budget, except as otherwise provided in
Subsection 4.08.010.13.3.
E. If a method of procurement other than competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed
proposals is allowed by law, the City Manager or designee shall have the authority to
determine whether to use an alternative method of procurement. If the City Manager or
designee is considering using a method other than competitive sealed bidding, the City
Manager or designee shall make such determination before notice is given. If the
competitive sealed proposals requirement applies to the contract, the City Manager or
designee shall consider the criteria described in State Law to determine the best value for
the City.
F. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Attorney to approve an agreement for
outside attorney legal services for $100,000.00 or less provided that sufficient funds have
previously been appropriated by City Council. Any other agreement for outside attorney
legal services must be approved by Council."
Section 4. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or
circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or
application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.
Any portion of this Chapter that is not being amended by this ordinance shall remain valid and in
full force.
Section 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to
attest. This Ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect in accordance with the
provisions of the Charter of the City of Georgetown.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON FIRST READING ON THE 25TH DAY OF
AUGUST 2026.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON SECOND READING ON THE $DAY OF
SEPTEMBER 2026.
Ordinance No.: ZC) 2-(0 yy Page 3 of 5
Dcscription: Amendment to Cha er 4.08
Date: ip�yv� i4%�p,2(p
ATTEST:
CITY OF GEORGETOWN
Robyn Den lore, City Secretary J sh chroeder, ayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Skye Wsson, 6ity Attorney
Ordinance No.: Ap2(o — tj 4 Page 4 of 5
Dcscription: /Amend��m,,en"t to Chapter 4.08
Date: g5 fZW Wv OeX'A.,2OL(o
Ordinance No.:.2O2 G- 4 4 Page 5 of 5
Description: Amendment toChapter4.08
Date: gaz(o
CHAPTER 4.08 AUTHORITY OF CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF TO CONTRACT
Sec. 4.08.010. Delegation of contracting authority.
A. Except as specifically provided herein, all contracts, including claim and lawsuit settlement agreements, to
which the City is a party shall be approved by the City Council prior to execution. This Section may not be
construed to delegate authority to approve or execute, without City Council action, any contract, contract
amendment, change order or other legal instrument that is required by State Law to be approved by the City
Council.
B. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to approve and execute the following by administrative
action without further City Council action:
A contract for expenditures in the City Council approved budget for which the contract amount does
not exceed the amount which requires compliance with state competitive procurement laws, provided
that all such contracts and expenditures are in compliance with the City's annual budget and the City's
fiscal and budgetary policy.
2. A change order to a contract required by state law to be procured through either competitive bid or
competitive sealed proposal that increases or decreases the contract price by $4950,000.00 or less,
provided that the original contract price may not be increased by more than 25 percent, and provided
that a change order may only make necessary changes to plans or specifications after the performance
of the contract has begun or increase or decrease the quantity of good and services.
3. A contract for the purchase of goods or services through local purchasing programs and cooperative
Purchasing programs that the City has been approved to be a participant of provided that the funding
for the contract is appropriated in an approved budget.
43. A contract amendment to a contract not required by state law to be procured through competitive bid
or competitive sealed proposal modifying the scope of services and increasing or decreasing the
contract price by $100,000 or less, provided that the original contract price may not be increased or
decreased by more than 25 percent of the original contract price.
54. A change order or contract amendment modifying a contract originally approved pursuant to
Subsection 4.08.010.B.1., provided however that the total contract price as amended cannot exceed
$100,000.00.
6-. The exercise of a renewal option, if the expenditure required during the renewal term is $100,000.00
or less.
C. The City Manager may delegate authority granted under this Section to the extent allowed by this Code, the
City Charter, or State law. The City Manager may make rules and procedures, which are not in conflict with
this Code, the City Charter, or State law, concerning the form and substance of administrative actions
necessary for the contracting and change order process.
D. All contracts or expenditures in excess of the amount that requires compliance with the state competitive
procurement laws must be approved by the City Council, even if they are included in the City Council -
approved budget, e:,c(:uL u:, theiwisc u1uvideU u) Subsection 4.08.010.B.3.-
E. If a method of procurement other than competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals is
allowed by law, the City Manager or designee shall have the authority to determine whether to use an
alternative method of procurement. If the City Manager or designee is considering using a method other
than competitive sealed bidding, the City Manager or designee shall make such determination before notice
is given. If the competitive sealed proposals requirement applies to the contract, the City Manager or
designee shall consider the criteria described in State Law to determine the best value for the City.
The City Council hereby authorizes the City Attorney to approve an agreement for outside attorney legal
services for $100,000.00 or less provided that sufficient funds have previously been appropriated by City
Council. Any other agreement for outside attorney legal services must be approved by Council.
Secs. 4.08.011, 4.08.012. Reserved.
CHAPTER 4.08 AUTHORITY OF CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF TO CONTRACT
Sec. 4.08.010. Delegation of contracting authority.
A. Except as specifically provided herein, all contracts, including claim and lawsuit settlement agreements, to
which the City is a party shall be approved by the City Council prior to execution. This Section may not be
construed to delegate authority to approve or execute, without City Council action, any contract, contract
amendment, change order or other legal instrument that is required by State Law to be approved by the City
Council.
B. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to approve and execute the following by administrative
action without further City Council action:
1. A contract for expenditures in the City Council approved budget for which the contract amount does
not exceed the amount which requires compliance with state competitive procurement laws, provided
that all such contracts and expenditures are in compliance with the City's annual budget and the City's
fiscal and budgetary policy.
A change order to a contract required by state law to be procured through either competitive bid or
competitive sealed proposal that increases or decreases the contract price by $3-050,000.00 or less,
provided that the original contract price may not be increased by more than 25 percent, and provided
that a change order may only make necessary changes to plans or specifications after the performance
of the contract has begun or increase or decrease the quantity of good and services.
3. A contract for the purchase of roods or services through local purchasing, programs and cooperative
purchasing programs that the City has been approved to be a participant of, provided that the funding
for the contract is appropriated in an approved budget.
45. A contract amendment to a contract not required by state law to be procured through competitive bid
or competitive sealed proposal modifying the scope of services and increasing or decreasing the
contract price by $100,000 or less, provided that the original contract price may not be increased or
decreased by more than 25 percent of the original contract price.
54. A change order or contract amendment modifying a contract originally approved pursuant to
Subsection 4.08.010.B.1., provided however that the total contract price as amended cannot exceed
$100,000.00.
65. The exercise of a renewal option, if the expenditure required during the renewal term is $100,000.00
or less.
C. The City Manager may delegate authority granted under this Section to the extent allowed by this Code, the
City Charter, or State law. The City Manager may make rules and procedures, which are not in conflict with
this Code, the City Charter, or State law, concerning the form and substance of administrative actions
necessary for the contracting and change order process.
D. All contracts or expenditures in excess of the amount that requires compliance with the state competitive
procurement laws must be approved by the City Council, even if they are included in the City Council -
approved budget, except ds otherwise pruvided Subsection 4.08.010.B.3..
E. If a method of procurement other than competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals is
allowed by law, the City Manager or designee shall have the authority to determine whether to use an
alternative method of procurement. If the City Manager or designee is considering using a method other
than competitive sealed bidding, the City Manager or designee shall make such determination before notice
is given. If the competitive sealed proposals requirement applies to the contract, the City Manager or
designee shall consider the criteria described in State Law to determine the best value for the City.
The City Council hereby authorizes the City Attorney to approve an agreement for outside attorney legal
services for $100,000.00 or less provided that sufficient funds have previously been appropriated by City
Council. Any other agreement for outside attorney legal services must be approved by Council.
Secs. 4.08.011, 4.08.012. Reserved.