A. Except when otherwise authorized herein or by VMC 2.12.080 or 3.05.030, or Chapters 39.04 and 39.28 RCW relating to emergency public works or other applicable general state law as now enacted, or as hereafter amended, all public works and improvements shall be done by contract. Such contracts shall be awarded pursuant to public notice and call for competitive bids. Provided, that small works and limited public works may be done pursuant to VMC 3.05.330; and provided further, that the city may have public works performed by city employees during any biennial budget period which are cumulatively equal to a dollar value which does not exceed 10 percent of the total public works construction budget of all city departments, including any amount in a supplemental public works construction budget and any amount of public works that the city has a county perform under RCW 35.77.020 for that biennial budget period. In addition to the biennial percentage limitation, city employees will not perform such public work whenever the estimated cost of such public work or improvement, including the cost of labor, materials and supplies, equipment and applicable Washington State and local sales tax, will exceed the sum of $150,000 if more than a single craft or trade is involved with the public works project, or $75,500 if a single craft or trade is involved with the public works project or the public works project is street signalization or street lighting. A “public works project” means a complete project as defined in VMC 3.05.241.

B. When any emergency requires the immediate execution of such public work, the city shall comply with the provisions of RCW 35.22.620(6), 39.04.280, and VMC 2.12.080 as now or hereafter amended. The director or designate shall within two weeks following award of an emergency public work contract enter into the public record written findings of the existence of an emergency. Entry into the public record may be by written report to the city manager and city council, posting on the city website or such other means as are practicable under the circumstances.

C. Notice of call for bids shall be given by posting thereof in a public place in the city and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the city once each week for two consecutive weeks. The deadline for receiving bids shall be not less than 13 days from the date of first publication; except that notice by publication may be given in the manner authorized by RCW 39.28.020(5)or other general state law when applicable. Provided, that prior to notice of call for bids, the director of public works, at their discretion, may require any and all potential bidders interested in bidding on a public works project to participate in a prequalification process. The prequalification process shall be to ensure that each such bidder(s) has the means, plans, equipment and experience to bid and complete the project. The director of public works is authorized to, and shall, develop written procedures for the administration of such prequalification process. (Ord. M-4417 § 18, 2023; Ord. M-4173 § 22, 2016; Ord. M-3960 § 15, 2010; Ord. M-3129 § 2, 1994)