Sec. 372. Competitive Proposals Preferred.

   Except as otherwise provided by ordinance, in all cases where bids are not required by the Charter, competitive proposals or bids shall be obtained as far as reasonably practicable and compatible with the City’s interests. In all cases, a public record of these proposals and agreements shall be kept. The right to reject any and all proposals or bids shall be reserved in all cases.

Sec. 373. Long Term Contracts; Approval by Council.

   Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, no board, officer or employee shall make any type of contract, as specified by ordinance, obligating the City or any department to make or receive payments of money or other valuable consideration for a period longer than such period as provided by ordinance, unless such contract shall have been first approved by the Council. The ordinance shall set a time period for review by the Council, and may further define what constitutes a term of more than the specified period. If the Council does not approve the contract, the Council shall not modify the contract, but shall return it to the contracting authority for reconsideration and resubmission to Council. This section shall not apply to contracts entered into with the United States government, or other governmental agencies, or as specifically authorized in Sections 605 through 607.

Sec. 374. Contract or Direct Employment.

   Whenever any board, officer or employee is given authority in the Charter to construct any public work or improvement, that authority shall include the right to proceed either by contract or by the direct employment of labor and purchase of materials, in accordance with the Charter.

Sec. 375. Prequalification of Bidders.

   Nothing in this Article shall prevent the prequalification of bidders in accordance with criteria provided by ordinance if the process is clearly described in the bid specifications or request for proposals, and the contracting authority makes a written finding that utilization of such process would benefit the City.

Sec. 376. Change Orders.

   Upon the award of any contract, the contracting authority may delegate the approval of change orders to a department employee, but that delegation shall specify the dollar amount that can be approved without further authorization by the contracting authority.

Sec. 377. Prevailing Wage.

   The provisions of California Labor Code Section 1770 et. seq. regarding prevailing wages on public works and related regulations, as now existing and as may be amended, are accepted and made applicable to the City, its departments, boards, officers, agents and employees.

Sec. 378. Living Wage.

   The City shall require that a living wage be provided to the employees of those doing business with the City in a manner to be prescribed by ordinance.