Charter

Section 1211. CONTRACTS ON PUBLIC WORKS.

Except, as hereinafter expressly provided, every contract involving an expenditure of more than $15,000 for the construction of improvement (excluding maintenance and repair) of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks and playgrounds, and each separate purchase of materials or supplies for the same, where the expenditure required for such purchase shall exceed the sum of $15,000, shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after notice by publication in the official newspaper by two or more insertions, the first of which shall be at least ten days before the time for opening bids.

The City Council may reject any and all bids presented and may read vertices in its discretion.  After rejecting bids, or if no bids are received, or without advertising for bids if the total amount of the contract or project is $30,000 or less, then the City Council may declare and determine that in its opinion, the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees, or that the materials or supplies may be purchased at a lower price in the open market, and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total members of the City Council, it may proceed to have said work done or such materials or supplies purchased in the manner stated, without further observance of the  provisions of this Section.  Such contracts may be let and such purchases made without advertising for bids, if such work or the purchase of such materials or supplies shall be deemed by the City Council to be urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health or property, and shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the total members of the City Council.

The limitations as provided in this Section may be increased by adoption of a resolution by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total members of the City Council provided, however, that such increase shall not be greater in percentage than the percentage change in the construction cost index of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area as reported by the Engineering News-Record from the effective date of this section to the date of the change.

Projects for the extension, construction or improvement of any public utility system operated by the City or for the purchase of supplies or equipment for any such project or any such utility may be accepted from the requirements of this Section by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total members of the City Council.