The City Administrator shall be responsible for city purchasing. Competitive prices for all purchases and public improvements shall be obtained, and the purchase made from, or the contract awarded to the lowest competent bidder deemed to be in the best interest of the City. On the recommendation of the City Administrator or department head and four-fifths Council approval, the bid requirement may be waived for the following reasons: 1) emergency purchases, 2) purchase of used equipment, 3) one-of-a-kind equipment or merchandise, 4) specialty services. However, formal sealed competitive bids shall be obtained in all other transactions involving the expenditure of more than the amount determined annually by City Council formal resolution in May of each year, and the transaction evidenced by written contract submitted to and approved by the Council; provided that in cases where the Council indicates by formal resolution upon the written recommendation of the City Administrator or department head that it is clearly to the advantage of the City to contract without competitive bidding, it may so authorize. Such purchasing without competitive bids should, however, be limited to the above exceptions and shall be established by ordinance. The Council may also authorize the making of public improvements or the performing of any other city work by any city department or agency without competitive bidding. No contract shall be made with any person, firm or corporation in default to the City.
(Amendment Approved at the General Election of November 2, 2010)