City of Sedro-Woolley amends procurement policy

SEDRO-WOOLLEY - The city Sedro-Woolley has changed its procurement policy to allow staff to quickly take advantage of grant opportunities.

The change allows staff to apply for grants, then seek City Council approval before entering into grant agreements or contracts.

The City Council unanimously approved the policy change at its May 27 meeting.

"This allows staff more flexibility and are able to react to more short-term grant opportunities," Public Works Director Bill Bullock said. "This no longer requires staff to get council permission to apply for a grant, but when we apply for a grant and receive a successful grant application or grant award, then we come back to council prior to execution of any grant."

The city's previous procurement policy was adopted in 2022. It required city staff to obtain council permission before applying for grants with a $50,000 or greater match.

This limited the ability of staff to react quickly to grant opportunities.

The new policy allows staff to apply for grants without prior council approval, and requires council approval only for successfully awarded grants with a match of over $50,000.

"So following a successful grant application, we would come before council and present the match that was required for that grant obligation, and also what our funding status is and how we are going to meet that grant matching obligation," Bullock said.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 7:06 AM.