The cost of any public work or improvement for the purposes of this chapter shall be the aggregate of all amounts to be paid for labor, material and equipment on one continuous or interrelated project where work is to be performed simultaneously or in close sequence; provided, that the cost of water services and metering equipment furnished in the course of water service installation from the utility-owned main to and including the meter box assembly shall not be included as a part of the aggregate cost as provided herein. The breaking down of any public work or improvement into units, or accomplishing any public work or improvement by phases, for the purpose of avoiding the minimum dollar amount prescribed in this chapter, is contrary to public policy and is prohibited. (Ord. M-3129 §2 (part), 1994)