Granite Falls council adopts purchasing procedures manual, authorizes administrative updates

The Granite Falls City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to adopt a new Purchasing Procedures Manual that standardizes purchasing thresholds, formal/sealed bidding processes, small works roster administration, prevailing wage requirements for public works, emergency and sole-source purchases, and cooperative purchasing governed by RCW 39.34.

City Manager Jeff Balentine presented the manual and explained key elements including department and City Manager authority, thresholds for non-public-works and public-works contracts, prevailing wage considerations and cooperative purchasing options. Councilmembers raised concerns and discussed the manual during the presentation. Councilmember Tom FitzGerald moved to approve the Purchasing Procedures Manual and to authorize the City Manager to make administrative updates as required by changes in federal, state or local law or to correct clerical errors; Councilmember Bruce Straughn seconded. The motion passed 4–0 (AYES: FitzGerald, Glenn, Griggs, Straughn).

The adopted manual assigns contracting thresholds and clarifies documentation and reporting requirements; it also instructs staff on how to administer small works roster processes and when prevailing-wage rules apply to public-works contracts. The City Manager is authorized to make subsequent administrative updates without further council action when those updates are limited to legal compliance or clerical corrections.