(A) Except as provided in subsection (D) of this section, every project involving an expenditure of City monies of more than the amount specified in Section 20162 of the Public Contract Code of the State of California, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended for the construction or improvement of public buildings, works, drains, sewers, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and streets (exclusive of projects for resurfacing, maintenance, and repair of streets) shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder after notice by publication in the official newspaper by one or more insertions the first of which shall be at least ten (10) calendar days before the time for opening bids.

(B) All bids shall be accompanied by either a certified or cashier’s check, or a bidder’s bond executed by a corporate surety authorized to engage in such business in California, made payable to the City. Such security shall be in an amount not less than that specified in the notice inviting bids or in the specifications referred to therein, or if no amount be so specified then in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate amount of the bid. If the successful bidder neglects or refuses to enter into the contract, within the time specified in the notice inviting bids or specifications referred to therein, the amount of the bidder’s security shall be declared forfeited to the City and shall be collected and paid into its general fund and all bonds so forfeited shall be prosecuted and the amount thereof collected and paid into such fund. The Council may reject any and all bids presented and may readvertise at its discretion.

(C) The Council, after rejecting bids or if no bids are received, may declare and determine that, in its opinion, based on estimates approved by the City Manager, the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by at least four (4) affirmative votes of the Council and containing a declaration of the facts constituting such urgency.

(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any project involving the expenditure of City monies by the City for public works in cooperation with a developer or subdivider for oversized facilities or such cooperative extension or replacement of mains and appurtenances. For those projects the City shall have the authority to make funds available to the cooperating developer or subdivider through a Reimbursement Agreement as established by Council ordinance or resolution.

(E) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Charter to the contrary, the City may perform maintenance-related projects using a unit price contract for all necessary labor, materials, and equipment provided such contracts are secured on a competitive basis as otherwise required by Public Contract Code Section 20128.5. The City Council shall establish by ordinance, guidelines for the award and use of such unit price contracts, and may set an amount below which the City Manager may award such contracts.

(F) Notwithstanding any provision of this Charter to the contrary, public projects, as defined by the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, Sections 22000 et seq. of the Public Contract Code, of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or less may be let to contract by informal procedures as set forth in Sections 22032 et seq. of that code. The City Council shall establish by ordinance guidelines for the use of such contracts.