This past May, the Council approved a new purchasing policy. Staff is requesting two additional stipulations be included within the policy to ensure appropriate purchasing procedures are followed.

The first stipulation prohibits employees from making personal purchases with personal funds utilizing a wholesale club membership purchased by the city.  Wholesale warehouses such as Sam's Club and Costco allow members to make purchases for both business and personal uses.  However, given membership cards are purchased with city's public funds, employees are not entitled to purchase personal items with personal funds.

The second stipulation prohibits employees from personally benefiting from a city contract, membership, account or any other vendor relationship.  For example, utilizing or mentioning a city's business account to receive better pricing for personal purchases. 

The purchasing policy is not designed to cover all purchasing situations or regulations.  However, reducing any ambiguity within the policy ensures the city's assets are protected and the highest ethical standards are maintained.