Charter

Section 1110 Contracts on Public Works.

Every project for the construction or improvement of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks or playgrounds, and every purchase of supplies or materials for any such project, when the total expenditures required for the project exceed One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000), or such lesser amount as may be established by ordinance, shall be let by the City Council by contract to the lowest responsible bidder after notice by publication in the official newspaper by one or more insertions, the first of which shall be at least ten days before the time for opening bids. This formal bid dollar amount may be adjusted annually for inflation pursuant to an index specified by City Council resolution. Projects for the maintenance or repair of such facilities are excepted from the requirements of this paragraph if the City Council determines that such work can be performed more economically by a City department than by contracting for the doing of such work.

All bids shall be accompanied by either a certified or cashier’s check, or a bidder’s bond executed by a corporate surety authorized to engage in such business in California, made payable to the City. Such security shall be in an amount not less than that specified in the notice inviting bids or in the specifications referred to therein, or if no amount be so specified then in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate amount of the bid. If the successful bidder neglects or refuses to enter into the contract, within the time specified in the notice inviting bids or in the specifications referred to therein, the amount of his or her bidder’s security shall be declared forfeited to the City and shall be collected and paid into its general fund, and all bonds so forfeited shall be prosecuted and the amount thereof collected and paid into such fund.

The City Council may reject any and all bids presented and may re-advertise in its discretion.

The City Council, without advertising for bids, or after rejecting bids, or if no bids were received, may declare and determine that, in its opinion, based on estimates approved by the City Manager, the work in question may be performed better and more economically by the City with its own employees or the supplies or materials may be purchased more economically on the open market, and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by at least five affirmative votes of the Council may proceed to have said work done or said supplies or materials purchased in the manner stated, without further observance of the provisions of this Section. Such contracts likewise may be let without advertising for bids, if such work or supplies or materials shall be deemed by the City Council to be of urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health or property, and shall be authorized by resolution passed by at least five affirmative votes of the Council and containing a declaration of the facts constituting such urgency.

The City Council shall have the power to establish standards, procedures, rules or regulations in order to implement the provisions of this section. (As amended by amendments effective April 28, 1966, June 6, 1974, November 4, 1986, and December 20, 2010)