Chapter IX.
CONTRACTS

Section 1.  Formal Rules by Ordinance

The Council shall establish by ordinance formal rules regulating the purchase by contract of goods and services by the City. Such ordinance shall specify the conditions pursuant to which competitive bidding shall be required and those conditions under which other means of procurement may be used. Such ordinance cannot be enacted under an emergency clause.

Section 2.  Preparation

All contracts shall be drawn or reviewed under the supervision of and approved as to form by the City Attorney. Such contracts shall be in writing, executed in the name of the City of Litchfield Park, Arizona, by the Mayor or City Manager, or their designee, except as may be otherwise provided either by this Charter or by state law, and must be attested to and maintained by the City Clerk.

Section 3.  Contracts for Improvements, Services, and Purchases

A.    Any equipment, material, or supplies to be purchased, or services to be obtained for or on behalf of the City, or contract to be awarded for any City improvements, shall be awarded under such rules, regulations, and ordinances as the Council may adopt.

B.    The City, at its discretion, may reject any and all bids.

Section 4.  Transfer and Sale of Property

The City Manager may transfer to or between offices, departments, and agencies, sell at public auction, or by other reasonable means dispose of surplus or obsolete supplies, materials, and equipment, subject to such regulations as the Council may prescribe. Sale of City-owned land parcels must be approved by Council ordinance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City shall maintain ownership of the La Loma Homestead property and preserve it as a social, cultural, and historical amenity benefiting the City and community of Litchfield Park and honoring the legacy of Paul W. Litchfield.

Section 5.  Fraud and Collusion

Any member of the Council or any officer or employee of the City who shall be convicted of fraud, collusion, or any similar criminal offense related to the award of any City contract shall be terminated or removed from office.

Section 6.  Avoidance of Fraudulent Contracts

If at any time it shall be found that the person or entity to whom a contract has been awarded, or any agent thereof, colluded with any party for the purpose of procuring the contract or preventing the award of the contract to another, the contract shall be null and void and the City shall advertise for new bids thereon; provided, however, that in the case of public works or improvements, the Council may provide for the work to be performed by the City under the direction of the City Manager.

Section 7.  Notice for Bids

Notice for bids must be published not less than 14 days prior to opening of bids. This does not affect procurements of professional services, emergency procurement, or procurement subject to other exemptions as provided for in the City Code.