Item Coversheet

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA COMMUNICATION
AGENDA DATE:September 26, 2017
SUBJECT:

Authorize the City Manager to Execute Contracts for $50,000 and Greater for Professional Services and Delegate Signatory Authority to a Parks and Recreation Designee to Execute Contracts for an Amount Less than $50,000, as Provided in the Approved 2018 Budget for The Courses at Watters Creek for an Annual Amount of $307,500.

STAFF RESOURCE:

Tim Dentler, Director, Parks and Recreation

Carrie Cessna, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation

ACTION PROPOSED:

Authorize the City Manager to Execute Contracts for $50,000 and Greater for Professional Services and Delegate Signatory Authority to a Parks and Recreation Designee to Execute Contracts for an Amount Less than $50,000, as Provided in the Approved 2018 Budget for The Courses at Watters Creek for an Annual Amount of $307,500.




BACKGROUND

This item serves the same purpose as the previous item, but is intended for contracts at The Courses at Watters Creek rather than Parks and Recreation General Fund Contracts.

 

One of the greatest benefits of the city's new administrative software system, Tyler Munis, is the increased functionality it provides.  Specifically, the city is now able to better track data that is entered into the financial system including expenses, revenues and contracts related to professional services. Tracking expenses to comply with state legislation regarding thresholds is now more effective and more transparent in the new system.

 

As a result of this increased functional capacity, certain efficiencies have been identified such as streamlining authorization for professional services contracts.  By designating signatory authority to the City Manager to execute all contracts that end up exceeding $50,000 over the course of a fiscal year, Council will not have to be burdened with approving multiple professional services contracts that may or may not ever exceed $50,000 for total amounts that have previously been authorized by Council in the budget. Furthermore, this will ensure that services provided to our patrons by those professional service providers are not interrupted while awaiting City Council action.

 

The Courses at Watters Creek utilizes professional service providers such as independent contract instructors for golf instruction. Historically these services are fee based with the City paying the contract vendor either a percentage of revenue or hourly rate for services rendered. Revenues received cover expenses paid, but it is often a challenging exercise to predict the total amount of revenues that may or may not be generated by those vendors over the course of a fiscal year. This makes proper management of the contracts and tracking of the expenses that much more important.  In Tyler Munis, this data can now be better tracked for managing contracts and ensuring compliance with state legislated expenditure thresholds.


BUDGETARY IMPACT

The Projected Expense of $307,500 is based on Projected Revenue of $410,000 for the fiscal year. Expenses and Revenues are budgeted for and approved by the Allen City Council in the 2018 Adopted Budget.


STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute contracts for $50,000 and greater for professional services and delegate signatory authority to a Parks and Recreation designee to execute contracts for an amount less than $50,000, as provided in the approved 2018 budget for various programs at The Courses at Watters Creek for an annual amount of $307,500.


MOTION

Authorize the City Manager to execute contracts for $50,000 and greater for professional services and delegate signatory authority to a Parks and Recreation designee to execute contracts for an amount less than $50,000, as provided in the approved 2018 budget for various programs at The Courses at Watters Creek for an annual amount of $307,500.