Except as herein provided, all purchase orders or contracts of any nature, for labor, services or work, and all purchases of materials, equipment or supplies, involving amounts in excess of $20,000, made by or on behalf of the city, shall be let by free and open competitive bidding after advertisement, to the lowest responsible bidder.
(A) Exception. Contracts shall not be subject to the competitive bid requirements of the city, which by their very nature are not adapted to award by competitive bidding, such as, but not limited to:
(1) Contract for services of individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill wherein the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part in the services to be performed.
(2) Contract for materials, supplies, parts or equipment which are available only from a single source.
(B) Emergency purchases/contracts. In the instance of an emergency affecting the public health and safety, or similar situations in which the City Council expressly finds that the best interest of the city would be best served, the City Council may authorize the letting of a contract without competitive bidding, but only by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the City Council.
(C) Mayoral power. Except as hereafter provided in divisions (C)(1) and (2) below, the Mayor is expressly authorized by the City Council, without further Council approval, to make by or on behalf of the city, purchase orders or contracts of any nature, for labor, services or work and to purchase materials, equipment or supplies, involving amounts not in excess of $5,000.
(1) Emergency. In the event of a life-threatening emergency affecting public health or safety, the Mayor is expressly authorized by the City Council, without further Council approval, to make by or on behalf of the city, purchase orders or contracts of any nature for labor, services and to purchase materials of any nature equipment or supplies involving amounts not in excess of $10,000.
(2) Approval of Alderpersons. If authorized in writing by four Alderpersons, the Mayor is expressly authorized by the City Council, without further Council approval, to make by or on behalf of the city, purchase orders or contracts of any nature for labor, services and to purchase materials of any nature, equipment or supplies involving amounts not in excess of $20,000. This section shall not be used in combination with any other section to make expenditures in excess of $20,000 or to spend in excess of $20,000 with any single vendor within a fiscal year.
(3) Reports. Any expenditures made pursuant to divisions (C)(1) and (2) above shall be reported in writing to the full City Council at the next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting.
(4) Excuse. Nothing set forth in this division (C) shall excuse the city from planning its purchases of goods and services in advance or from making such purchases in bulk when possible.
(1977 Code, § 3-6-5) (Am. Ord. 94-33, passed 11-28-1994; Am. Ord. 95-1, passed 1-23-1995; Am. Ord. 2001-22, passed 4-9-2001; Am. Ord. 2001-23, passed 4-23-2001; Am. Ord. 2003-12, passed 7-28-2003; Am. Ord. 2013-15, passed 8-12-2013; Am. Ord. 2014-35, passed 10-14-2014; Am. Ord. 2022-05, passed 4-11-2022)