(a) The City Manager shall be responsible for the purchase and sale of all City property.
(b) Comparative prices shall be obtained for the purchase or sale in amount not in excess of three thousand dollars of all materials, supplies, and public improvements, except (1) in the employment of professional services and (2) when the City Manager shall determine that no advantage to the City would result.
(c) In all sales or purchases in excess of three thousand dollars, (1) the sale or purchase shall be approved by the Council, (2) sealed bids shall be obtained, except that where the Council shall determine by unanimous resolution of those present at the meeting that the public interest will be best served by joint purchase with, or purchase from, another unit of government, and (3) shall comply with the requirements of Section 13.2. No sale or purchase shall be divided for the purpose of circumventing the dollar value limitation contained in this section. The Council may authorize the making of public improvements or the performance of any City work by any City agency, without competitive bidding.
(d) Purchases shall be made from the lowest qualified bidder meeting specifications, unless the Council shall determine that the public interest will be better served by accepting a higher bid, sales shall be made to the bidder whose bid is most advantageous to the City. In any case where a bid, other than the lowest, is accepted, the Council shall set forth its reasons therefor in its resolution accepting such bid.
(e) All purchases and sales shall be evidenced by written contract or purchase order.
(f) The City may not sell any park, cemetery, or any part thereof, except in accordance with restriction placed thereon by law.
(g) The City may not sell, exchange, or lease any real estate or any interest therein, except by the affirmative vote of five or more members of the Council.