REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:David Mann, Acting City Attorney
Date:June 10, 2025
Subject:Amendment to Section 3.08.065 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Increasing the Amount of the City Manager’s Contract Authority to $50,000 Recommendation
Introduce by title only and waive further reading of AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 3.08.065 OF THE LAKE ELSINORE MUNICIPAL CODE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACT AUTHORITY TO $50,000.
Background
Section 3.08.065 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code authorizes the City Manager to enter into contracts for the purchase of supplies or equipment or contracts for personal, professional, consultant and maintenance services where the amount of such contract does not exceed $30,000. This limit was last increased in 2014.
Discussion
The proposed amendment to Section 3.08.065 will increase the City Manager’s contract authority from $30,000 to $50,000.
With the passage of more than 10 years since the last update to Section 3.08.065, the City’s population continues to grow along with the City’s budget as the City strives toward delivering necessary services to the community. Moreover, inflationary increases, particularly in the last five years, have been significant. Accordingly, the proposed increase in the City Manager’s authority aligns well with those metrics.
City Manager’s Contract Authority
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The nearby cities of Temecula and Murrieta have already adjusted the authority granted their City Managers. In 2022, Temecula increased its contract value limitation on the City Manager’s authority to $100,000. Murrieta similarly increased its limit to $75,000 in 2021.
The proposed increase will also lead to modest but material staff-level efficiencies by not necessitating the preparation of City Council staff reports for contracts less than $50,000 along with the concurrent efforts in agendizing and approving such staff reports (noting that all contracts will continue to be reviewed and administered regardless of the amount). In summary, the increase will shorten the City Council’s consent item agenda.
Fiscal Impact
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with this action although some time savings by City staff is expected.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Ordinance
City Attorney's Office