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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/02/2011 Work Session CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS Kayo: C ;,, 1.. Peterson Councilmembers Roheri A. Williams 590 40 Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421 - 3878 (763)706 - 3600 TDD (763) 706 - 3692 Bruce Na i 11R kr Tmnmeru Diehm Visit our website at: www.et:colunibia- heights.n¢n.us !)mm Sc hnn,, City Manager Wulter 1?. l eh.vi ADMINISTRATION NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING * * * * * * * * * * ** to be held in the CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS as follows: Meeting of: COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL Date of Meeting: MAY 2, 2011 Time of Meeting: 7:00 P.M. or immediately following the EDA meeting Location of Meeting: CONFERENCE ROOM 1 Purpose of Meeting: WORK SESSION 1. Development of a new City Web Site 2. Charter amendment ordinances a. Local improvements and special assessments b. Purchases and contracts The City of Columbia Heights does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in all City of Columbia Heights' services, programs, and activities. Auxiliary aids for handicapped persons are available upon request when the request is made at least 96 hours in advance. Please call the City Clerk at 763- 706 -3611 to make arrangements. (TDD /706 -3692 for deaf or hearing impaired only) COLUMBIA HEIGHTS - CITY COUNCIL LETTER Meeti Meeting r.f• - M ay Q (11 1 ng Ji. i.iu 1, ') 'J i i Discussed at work session of May 2, 2011 AGENDA SECTION: ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER'S NO: Administration APPROVA / L ` ITEM: Developing a new City BY: Web Site Committee BY: Web Site i 2 DATE: Apr1.28, �Ol l DATE: NO: Background: The City of Columbia Heights' current website was upgraded and slightly enhanced approximately eight years ago. This was done as a low budget enhancement. The result of this was a significant clean up from what the website had been previously. However, as it was done low budget, it left us with a website that is very difficult to manage and very time consuming to make changes or updates because of the structure and programing language that was used. A simple task, such as drawing a box around an item or section of information involves basic programing defining where each line of the box should start and end. This has made keeping the website up -to -date, providing a user friendly appearance, and timely information virtually impossible. City Wide Image Committee: The City Wide Image Committee, as part of their overall goal to improve the image of Columbia Heights, has reviewed the City's current website and made recommendations for enhancing it and improving the City's image. With these recommendations, the IS department did a significant amount of investigation and research into the most cost - effective, long term solution for developing and maintaining a website that would be easy to manage, and departments could maintain their own sections and do upgrades. The IS department is recommending CivicPlus as the most cost - effective solution. With that recommendation, the Image Committee and Division Heads reviewed several of CivicPlus's city websites as well as the structure that they use for making updates and maintaining a website. From that review it was the consensus that CivicPlus provided a good cost - effective solution. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends entering into a contract with CivicPlus for a total redo of our current website and to provide software that will easily and cost effectively manage our website. The first year projected set- up cost to totally redo the site would be $31,537 including the first year of maintenance. After that, CivicPlus would provide ongoing updates and software enhancements for an annual fee of $3,000 plus 5% for inflation. The first year cost for developing a website for Top Valu Liquor would be $3,100. The 2011 budget includes $50,000 in General Fund Contingencies that could be used for this project. Another alternative is to appropriate funds in the Cable TV fund for this project. In the past, most of the city's website expenses have come from the Cable TV fund. A second motion has been included that would appropriate funds in the Cable TV fund for this expense. Recommended Motion: Move to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to enter into an agreement with CivicPlus for the development of a new city website and provide ongoing supportive services, based on their proposal of March 16, 2011. Recommended Motion: Move to appropriate $35,000 in the Cable TV fund to cover the first year expenses of developing a new city website. COUNCIL ACTION: City of Coiumbia Heights New Website Development Costs Based on Civic Plus proposal of March 16, 2011 Draft copy for discussion at the May 2, 2011 Work Session. Civic Plus Website development and support/hosting costs Establish Web Site's Focus Phase 1: Analysis and Timeline Development $1,524 Phase 2: Website Design $4,370 Phase 3: Navigation Architecture Development $385 Phase 4: Modules and Site Setup $1,549 Phase 5: Content Development 100 pages/500 suppoting elements $3,374 Phase 6: Test and Review, Establish Future Expectations $1,313 Phase 7 : 3 Days of On-Site Training for 10 employees $5,890 Phase 8: Go-Live and Project Review $762 Phase 9: Marketing (registration with all major search engines) $250 Phase 10: Ongoing Consultation Included Mobile Website Detection and Browsing Included Google Language Translation Included SSL Setup and Hosting-CivicPlus Purchases Included Blog Share Facebook Twittter Integration On-Site Strategic Planning (2days of meeting with up to 12 departments) $4,560 Post-Training Option (Three month follow up and review) $4,560 Subtotal for development and deplotment $28,537 First Year Annual Support, Maintenance and Hosting Fee $3,000 $31,537 Projected 5 Years Minimum Cost Inflation factor 5% Cost Year 1 Included above Year 2 150.00 $ 3,150.00 Year 3 158.00 $ 3,308.00 Year 4 165.00 $ 3,473.00 Year 5 174.00 $ 3,647.00 Total five year cost $45,115 Average annual cost $9,023 Setup Top Valu Liquor Web Site Website Design $2,500 First Year Annual Support, Maintenance and Hosting Fee $600 First Year Annual Support, Maintenance and Hosting Fee $3,100 CITY COUNCIL LETTER Work Session of: May 2, 2011 AGENDA SECTION: ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER'S NO: CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL ITEM: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO BY CHARTER COMMISSION BY //:" 1 4 4 AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 8, DATE:4-25-11 DATE: SECTIONS 75 through 86, LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS and ORDINANCE NO. , AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 6, SECTION 56, PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS NO: The Charter Commission has been reviewing various sections of the charter for some time now. In discussions with the City Attorney, the Charter Commission members have held two readings on above mentioned chapters and sections. The City Attorney is recommending that Sections 75 through 86 be deleted and replaced with one new sentence in Section 75 to be in compliance with State Statutes, The Charter Commission has held numerous discussions on Chapter 6, Section 56, Purchases and Contracts, in regard to the dollar amount that the City Manager is able to spend without council approval. After these discussions, it has been decided to update the amount of the City Manager's spending limit without council approval as it stands at this time, which is $15,000. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Move to waive the reading of the Ordinance Nos. and , there being ample copies available to the public. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Move to schedule the second reading of Ordinance No. , being an ordinance amending Chapter 8, Sections 75 through 86, of the Charter of the City of Columbia Heights to May 23, 2011. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Move to schedule the second reading of Ordinance No. , being an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Section 56 of the Charter of the City of Columbia Heights to May 23, 2011. COUNCIL ACTION: ORDINANCE NO. BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8, SECTIONS 75 THROUGH 86 OF THE CITY CHARTER OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PERTIANING TO LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS The City of Columbia Heights does ordain: Section 1:Chapter 8, Sections 75 through 86 of the Charter of the City of Columbia Heights which currently reads as follows to wit: LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS Section 75. POWER TO MAKE LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS. The city of Columbia Heights shall have the power to lay and construct, extend, relay and repair, and maintain, directly by day labor, or by contract, pavements, curb and gutters, sidewalks, sewers, water mains, electric conduits, and any and all other local improvements in or under the streets, alleys and public places in the city. Section 76. POWER TO LEVY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. The power of the city of Columbia Heights, under the conditions of this charter specified, to provide by any lawful method for the payment of the whole or any part of the cost of any local improvement by special assessments upon the property specially benefitted thereby, shall not be denied, and the city of Columbia heights shall possess this power as fully as any other city in the state. The amount assessed to be property specially benefitted, to pay for such local improvements, shall not, however, exceed the amount of the benefits received by such property. Section 77. LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS, HOW MADE. The council shall have the power to undertake local improvements by resolution passed by four -fifths of its members. The council shall make such local improvements upon petition of not less than fifty percent of the resident owners of the real estate to be assessed therefore as shown by the records in the office of the register of deeds of Anoka County. The council may thereupon assess the cost of such improvement, or any portion thereof, against the property specially benefitted by such improvement. When the council shall determine to make any improvements described in this chapter, it shall cause an estimate of the cost of such improvement to be made by the city manager. In no case shall the amount specially assessed for any one year exceed fifty percent of the last total full valuation of all the real estate within the benefitted area as shown on the assessor's books by the assessment last made. In computing the value of the real estate, all improvements are to be excluded. In computing the above mentioned fifty percent, outstanding and unpaid special assessments against the property in the benefitted area shall be considered part of such fifty percent. After such estimate is made, the council may proceed at once to assess the estimated cost thereof, against the property to be benefitted thereby, in proportion to the benefits to result thereto. The above fifty percent shall not be construed as limiting the council in spreading assessments on the individual properties. In making such assessment roll, the council shall describe each parcel of land assessed and state the amount assessed against the same, and shall state the name of the owner thereof as far as known to the council, but any mistakes in or omission of such owners name shall in no way affect such assessment. If the work is completed before any assessment is made or if the amount assessed shall be insufficient to complete the work, the council, after the completion of such work, shall make a final assessment to pay the same. To defray the expenses of such improvement, the city may, acting through its council, by ordinance, issue its certificates of indebtedness in such amount as may be necessary. Such ordinance may be passed as an emergency ordinance. Such certificates of indebtedness shall be payable in annual installments as nearly equal in amount as conveniently may be, over a period not exceeding ten years from their date, shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed six percent per annum, payable annually or semi - annually, which interest may be evidenced by appropriate interest coupons and shall be in such form and denominations, all as the council shall by ordinance determine and shall be signed by the mayor and city manager and countersigned by the city Treasurer. Such certificates of indebtedness may be used in making payment on contracts for the improvements for which the assessments are made or may be sold for cash for not less than par value thereof, and the proceeds credited to the Permanent Improvement Fund and used for paying for said improvements. Monies received from said assessments shall be used to pay said certificates of indebtedness and if the monies received from such assessments are insufficient to meet the payment of the principal and interest of said certificates of indebtedness, the council shall provide monies for the payment of the same. The amount of such certificates of indebtedness at any time outstanding shall not be included in determining the city's net indebtedness under the provisions of this chapter. (Ordinance No. 1551, passed August 25, 2008) Section 78. APPEAL FROM ASSESSMENT. Any party interested in any property assessed under this chapter may appeal from such assessment to the district court of Anoka County, within thirty days after the publication of the notice of confirmation thereof by the council. Such appeal is hereby declared to be the exclusive way in which such assessment can be revised, modified, amended or annulled. Section 79. NOTICE OF APPEAL. Said appeal shall be made by filing a written notice with the city clerk, stating the party appeals to the district court from the assessment, and containing a description of the property of the appellant so assessed, and the objection of the appellant to the assessment, and by filing with the clerk of the district court within ten days thereafter, a copy of the notice of appeal. In case of an appeal, the council shall cause a copy of the assessment roll to be made and filed with the clerk of the district court within ten days from the time of the service of the notice of appeal. In case the return so made to the district court shall in any respect be defective, or insufficient, the court may require a further return to be made. The cause shall be entered by the clerk of the district court in the name of the person taking the appeal against the city as an "Appeal from Assessments," and it may be brought on for hearing by either party, the same as other cases of the district court. Section 80. TRIAL OF ASSESSMENT APPEAL. Such appeal shall be tried by the district court without a jury, at a general or special term, without pleadings other than as above stated. Upon such trial, the appellant can make no other objections to the assessment than those stated in the notice of appeal, but the court may, in its discretion, permit such notice to be amended in this respect at any time. The court shall hear such competent evidence as may be offered by either party, and may revise, correct, amend, reduce, or confirm the assessment appeal from, or make such new assessment so as to avoid errors complained of. The assessment roll shall, when confirmed by the council, in all cases, whether on an appeal, or otherwise, and in all courts, be prima facie evidence of the validity of all proceedings up to, and including the confirmation of the assessment. Disbursements, but no statutory costs, may, in the discretion of the district court, be allowed upon an appeal from assessments as in other civil cases, but the judgment entered therefore against the city shall be a separate judgment and paid out of the general fund of the city. From the determination of such appeal by the district court, either party may appeal to the supreme court of the state. (Ordinance No. 1086, passed June 11, 1984) Section 81. RE- ASSESSMENTS. If an assessment shall be set aside by the district court for any cause, jurisdictional or otherwise, the council shall proceed in like manner as herein required in relation to the first assessment; provided, however, that if the assessment as to any parcel of land shall not be appealed from, or shall not have been set aside by the court, the council, in any subsequent assessment or re- assessment, may omit the pieces or parcels of land as to which the first assessment shall have been paid. As often as an assessment, or re- assessment, against a piece or parcel of real estate, assessed for any local improvement, is set aside, the same shall be re- assessed until said property shall have paid its proper proportionate share of the benefits accruing from said improvement. Section 82. PLAN OF ASSESSMENTS. Whenever the council shall determine to make any local improvements, the cost of which may lawfully be assessed against the benefitted property, it shall determine and designate in a general way the character and extent of such improvement and the materials to be used, and thereupon it shall order a careful estimate to be made by the city manager of the cost of such improvements, together with a list of the several lots and parcels of land fronting upon and adjacent to such proposed improvement which the city manager deems benefited thereby, and the names of the owners of the several parcels, as nearly as can be ascertained. After receiving such estimates the council shall determine what property will be benefited by such local improvement, and shall thereupon publish in the manner provided by this charter a list of all such property, with the names of the owners so far as the same can be ascertained, or in lieu of such list, a designation of the benefited district by giving the boundaries thereof, together with a notice of the time and place when and where all persons interested may appear and be heard by the council with respect to benefits and to the proportion of the cost of the improvement to be assessed against their property. If the council determines to proceed with such improvement, it shall estimate and fix the cost thereof and shall and assess and levy such proportion or amount of such cost upon benefited property in its proportion as it may deem the same benefitted; and for such purpose shall adopt an assessment roll in such form as it may determine, and fix the time when payments may be made. The lien of such assessment shall attach to all property assessed as of date of adoption of the assessment roll by the council. (Ordinance No. 1086, passed June 11, 1984) Section 83. PAYMENT OF ASSESSMENTS. The council may provide for payment in a lump sum or in annual installments for a period of not over thirty years, and it shall provide for extending payments over a period of years if so requested in the property owners' petition. All interest charges and miscellaneous costs shall, if not previously paid, be included in the tax bill for the last installment of such assessment. The council shall provide by ordinance a uniform rule as to the number of years over which payments for various local improvements shall be extended. (Ordinance No. 1392, passed June 14, 1999) Section 84. PENALTY FOR DELINQUENCY. Each assessment or installment not paid within the time fixed for payment by the council shall be deemed delinquent and a ten percent penalty shall be added. Section 85. CERTIFIED TO AUDITOR. In each year the council shall cause to be made a certified statement of the several pieces of land against which assessments have been made and are delinquent, describing the land affected and giving the amount of the assessment with penalties added, which certified statement shall be filed with the county auditor of Anoka County, on or before the tenth of October each year. It shall be the duty of the county auditor to extend assessments with penalties, as shown by such certified statement, upon the tax rolls of the county for taxes of the particular year in which the assessment is filed, and the same, for each year ending October 15th, shall be carried into the tax becoming due and payable in January of the following year and shall be enforced and collected in the manner provided for the enforcement and collection of state and county taxes under and in accordance with the provisions of the general laws of the state, except that in court proceedings to enforce the collection of taxes, no defense as to the validity of any such assessments shall be permitted. Such assessments, if not paid, shall become delinquent and be subject to the same penalties and the same rate of interest as the taxes for state and county purposes under the general laws of the state. Section 86. COUNTY TREASURER COLLECTOR FOR CITY. All assessments with penalties and interest thereon paid to the county treasurer shall belong to the City of Columbia Heights, and shall be turned over to the city treasurer in the manner provided in this charter and by law. IS HEREWITH AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: Section 75. POWER TO MAKE LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS. The city of . • • - _ . • - .. . and construct, extend, relay and repair, and maintain, directly by day labor, or by contract, pavements, curb and gutters, sidewalks, sewers, water mains, electric conduits, and any and all other local improvements in or under the streets, alleys and public places in the city. The council shall have the power to undertake local improvements and assess the cost of such improvements or any portion thereof, against any property specially benefitted by such improvement. Any such improvements and any assessments thereunder, shall be in accordance with the general laws of the State of Minnesota. Section 76. POWER TO LEVY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. The power of -- - : - - : , • _ - he whole or any part of the cost of any local improvement by special assessments upon the property specially bcnefittcd thereby, shall other city in the state. The amount assessed to be property specially benefitted, to pay for such local improvements, shall not, however, exceed the amount of the benefits received by such property. Section 77. LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS, HOW MADE. The council shall lave- -the power to undertake local improvements by resolution passed by four fifths of its members. The council shall make such local improvements upon petition of not less than - - e resident owners of the real estate to be assessed therefore as shown by the records in the office of the register of deeds of Anoka County. The council may ....... . . ... property specially benefitted by such improvement. When the council shall determine to make any improvements described in this chapter, it shall cause an estimate of the cost of such improvement to be made by the city percent of the last total full valuation of all the real estate within the benefitted area as shown on the assessor's books by the assessment last made. .. .. .. . .. . .... result thereto. The above fifty percent shall not be construed as limiting the council in council shall describe each parcel of land assessed and state the amount assessed against the same, and shall state the name of the owner thereof as far as known to the council, but any mistakes in or omission of such owners name shall in no way affect such assessment. make a final assessment to pay the same. ordinance, issue its certificates of indebtedness in such amount as may be necessary. Such ordinance may be passed as an emerge - .. - - • . - indebtedness shall be payable in annual installments as nearly equal in amount as conveniently may be, over a period not exceeding t- - - .. : -- - -' :. -, • . interest at a rate not to exceed six percent per annum, payable annually or semi annually, which interest may be evidenced by appropriate interest coupons and shall be in such form and denominations, all as the council shall by ordinance determine and shall be certificates of indebtedness may be used in making payment on contracts for the improvements for which the assessments are made or may be sold for cash for not less than par value thereof, and the proceeds credited to thc Permanent Improvement Fund be used to pay said certificates of indebtedness and if the monies received from such assessments are insufficient to meet the payment of the principal and interest of said same. The amount of such certificates of indebtedn $s at any time outstanding shall not be included in determining the city's net indebtedness under the provisions of this Section 78. APPEAL FROM ASSESSMENT. Any party interested in any property assessed under this chapter may appeal from such assessment to the district court of '- - : • - - , • , - . - A." , :. , after the publication of the notice of confirmation thereof by the council. Such appeal is hereby declared to be the exclusive way in which Section 79. NOTICE OF APPEAL. Said appeal shall be made by filing a written • • . . .. . c assessment roll to be made and filed with the clerk of the district court within ten days from the time of the service of the notice of appeal. In - . .. - ...... . city as an "Appeal from Assessments," and it may be brought on for hearing by either party, the same as other cases of the district court. Section 80. TRIAL OF ASSESSMENT APPEAL. Such appeal shall be tried by thc district court without a jury, at a general or special term, without pleadings other than as • -- - • tatcd in the notice of appeal, but the court may, in its discretion, permit such notice to be amended in this respect at any time. The court shall hear such competent evidence as may be offered by either party, and may revise, correct, amend, reduce, or confirm the assessment appeal from, or make such new assessment so as to avoid errors complained of. The assessment roll shall, when confirmed by the council, in all cascs, whether on an appeal, or otherwise, and in all courts, be prima facie evidence of • - • - - • - - _ • . : . : • . e confirmation of the assessment. . • : : • :: - • :: - • : -- • • --ents as in other civil cases, but the judgment fund of the city. From the determination of such appeal by thc district court, either party 1984) Section 81. RE ASSESSMENTS. If an assessment shall be set aside by the district court for any cause, jurisdictional or otherwise, the council shall proceed in like manner as herein required in relation to the first assessment; provided, however, that if the assessment as to any parcel of land shall not be appealed from, or shall not have been set aside by the court, the council, in any subsequent assessment or re assessment, may omit the pieces or parcels of land as to which the first assessment shall have been paid. As often as an assessment, or re assessment, ag • .: • - : :. - - - . . - _ for any local improvement, is set aside, the same shall be r- . - :. .'::: :- shall have paid its proper proportionate share of the benefits accruing from said improvement. Section 82. PLAN OF ASSESSMENTS. Whenever the council shall determine to careful estimate to be made by the city manager of the cost of such improvements, together with a list of the several lots and parcels of land fronting upon and adjacent to names of the owners of the several parcels, as nearly as can be ascertained. After receiving such estimates the council shall determine what property will be benefited by such local improvement, and shall thereupon publish in the manner provided by this ascertained, or in lieu of such list, a designation of the benefited district by giving the to the proportion of the cost of the improvement to be assessed against their property. If - - - : : -- • - • 444' . • ay deem the same benefitted; and for such when payments may be made. Thc lien of such assessment shall attach to all property assessed as of date of adoption of the assessment roll by the council. (Ordinance No. 1' .. 1:• Section 83. PAYMENT OF ASSESSMENTS. The council may provide for payment - ' : - • • : - 'nterest charges and miscellaneous costs shall, if not previously paid, be included in the tax bill for the last installment of such assessment. Thc council shall provide by ordinance a uniform rule as to the number of years over which n r 4 1999) Yuooi. � Section 84. PENALTY FOR DELINQUENCY. Each assessment or installment not paid within the time fixed for payment by the council shall be deemed delinquent and a ten percent penalty shall be added. 1 • 1 • • been made and are delinquent, describing the land affected and giving the amount of the auditor of Anoka County, on or before the tenth of October ach year. It shall be the duty of the county auditor to extend assessments with penalties, as shown by such certified statement, upon the tax rolls of the county for taxes of the particular year in which the assessment is filed, and the same, for each year ending October 15th, shall be be enforced and collected in the manner provided for the enforcement and collection of state and county taxes under and in accordance with the provisions of the general laws of the state, except that in court proceedings to enforce the collection of taxes, no defense as to the validity of any such assessments shall be permitted. Such assessments, state. Section 86. COUNTY TREASURER COLLECTOR FOR CITY. All assessments with penalties and interest thereon paid to the county treasurer shall belong to the City of . ... .. .... in this charter and by law. Section 2: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after ninety (90) days after its passage. First Reading: Second Reding: Date of Passage: Offered by: Seconded by: Roll Call: Gary L. Peterson, Mayor Patricia Muscovitz, City Clerk/Council Secretary ORDINANCE NO. BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, SECTION 56 OF THE CITY CHARTER OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PERTAINING TO PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS The City of Columbia Heights does ordain: Section 1: Chapter 6, Section 56 of the Charter of the City of Columbia Heights which currently reads as follows, to wit: PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS. The city manager shall be chief purchasing agent of the City. All purchases and contracts on behalf of the City shall be made by the City Manager, but subject to the approval of the City Council whenever the amounts of such purchases or contracts exceeds $3,000. Said amount may be amended by a simple majority of the Council by resolution. All contracts for the conveyance of any real estate by the city shall be signed by the Mayor and the City Manager on behalf of the City and shall be executed in the name of the city. IS HEREWITH AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS. The city manager shall be chief purchasing agent of the City. All purchases and contracts on behalf of the City shall be made by the City Manager, but subject to the approval of the City Council whenever the amounts of such purchases or contracts exceeds $3-,-00-0 $15,000, the current amount set by the council. Said amount may be amended by a simple majority of the Council by resolution. All contracts for the conveyance of any real estate by the city shall be signed by the Mayor and the City Manager on behalf of the City and shall be executed in the name of the city. Section 2: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after ninety (90) days after its passage. First Reading: Second Reading: Date of Passage: Offered by: Seconded by: Roll Call: Gary L. Peterson, Mayor Patricia Muscovitz, City Clerk/Council Secretary