3.08.050 Bidding requirements - public projects.
   (A)   $60,000 or less. Public projects of $60,000 or less may be awarded by the director of the department responsible for the project, or his or her designee, pursuant to § 3.08.040, by any alternative procedure.
   (B)   $60,001 - $75,000. Public projects of more than $60,000, but less than or equal to $75,000 may, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or the Act, be awarded by the Assistant City Manager, the Director of Public Works or the Director of Utilities pursuant to the public project informal bidding procedure.
   (C)   $75,001 - $100,000. Public projects of more than $75,000, but less than or equal to $100,000 shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or the Act, be awarded by the City Manager pursuant to the public project informal bidding procedure.
   (D)   More than $100,000. Public projects of more than $100,000, but less than or equal to $200,000 may, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or the Act, be awarded by the City Council pursuant to the public project informal bidding procedure. Public projects of more than $200,000 shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or the Act, be awarded by the City Council pursuant to the public project formal bidding procedure. If all bids received are over $200,000, the City Council may, with the approval of a four-fifths vote of those members present and without following the public project formal bidding procedure, award the contract in an amount not exceeding $212,500 to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, so long as the City Council also determines that the city’s cost estimate for the project was reasonable.
   (E)   City Engineer review of plans and specifications. The City Engineer shall review and approve the working details, drawings, plans, and specifications prepared for every public project which may affect the design or operation of public improvements and which may bring into question the city’s liability for dangerous conditions of public property.
   (F)   City Council review of plans and specifications. The City Council shall review and approve the working details, drawings, plans, and specifications prepared for every public project of more than $100,000.
   (G)   Award. Contracts for public projects of $60,000 or less, if awarded, may be awarded in the best interests of the city. Contracts for public projects of more than $60,000, if awarded, shall be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. If two or more bids are the same and the lowest, the authorized contracting party may accept the one it chooses.
   (H)   Dollar limits and change orders or amendments. The dollar limits indicated herein shall apply to the original contract and to any amendments or change orders. To this end, therefore, unless an exception provided in § 3.08.130 below applies, any contract amendment or change order which would increase the contract amount above any threshold stated herein shall comply with the requirements applicable to the increased contract amount. For public projects awarded by the City Council, unless a lower or higher amount is stated in the City Council staff report for the project or directed by the City Council, the City Manager or his or her designees shall have authority to approve contract amendments or change orders up to the lesser of either $100,000 or 10% of the original contract amount.
   (I)   No bid splitting. The city shall not split a project, work, service, or purchase into smaller projects, works, services, or purchases for the purpose of avoiding any bidding or contracting requirements of this code.
(Ord. 3358 §1, 2023; Ord. 3280 §1, 2018; Ord. 3105 §1, 2011; Ord. 3097 §1, 2011; Ord. 2790 §2 (part), 2005.)