For City Council Meeting October 14, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Introduce for First Reading, Ordinance No. 1705 Amending the Municipal Code Chapter 2.48 - Purchasing, Section 2.48.200 - Purchasing Process to Update the Bidding Thresholds for Public Works Contracts Consistent with California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act; and (2) Authorize the City Manager or Their Designee to Execute all Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff requests that the City Council:
1) Introduce for first reading of an ordinance to amend the Municipal Code Chapter 2.48 - Purchasing; Section 2.48.200 - Purchasing Process to update bidding thresholds for public works contracts consistent with the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act; and
2) Authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND:
With Resolution No. 7777, adopted September 28, 2021, the City Council adopted the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCA) set forth in Public Contract Code section 22000 et seq. with respect to awarding contracts, or through force account, to perform public projects. In accordance with the CUPCCA, the City may utilize the Act’s procedures when contracting for public projects, or in its sole discretion, when contracting for maintenance work, or for any other work that is not otherwise considered a public project.
On October 12, 2021, the City adopted Ordinance No. 1662 amending Chapter 2.48 of the Rialto Municipal Code, including section 2.48.200, which establishes the bidding thresholds for public works contracts.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
In 2021, when Ordinance No. 1662 was adopted, the CUPCCA had the following thresholds, which were reflected in the Rialto Municipal Code at section 2.48.200:
(a) As established pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22032(a), sixty thousand dollars or less: by force account, negotiated contract, or purchase order.
(b) As established pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22032(b), two hundred thousand dollars or less: by informal public project bidding procedures.
(c) As established pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22032(c), over two hundred thousand dollars: by formal public project bidding procedures.
These thresholds are periodically increased. In 2024, the CUPCCA was amended to increase the thresholds, effective January 1, 2025. As such, staff is recommending that the Council adopt the proposed Ordinance to increase the thresholds identified in the Municipal Code to reflect the new thresholds in the CUPCCA as follows:
1. As established pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22032(a), seventy-five thousand dollars (<$75,000) or less: By force account, negotiated contract, or purchase order.
2. As established pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22032(b), two hundred and twenty thousand dollars (<$220,000) or less: By informal public project bidding procedures.
3. As established pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22032(c), over two hundred and twenty thousand dollars (>$220,000): By formal public project bidding procedures.
The proposed amendments will raise the purchasing limits to help streamline the procurement process for the City, recognizing increases in the cost of materials and services, while maintaining an appropriate level of transparency and accountability.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed actions do not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(b), a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Adopting the proposed Resolution complies with Rialto General Plan Guiding Principle 3:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the ordinance and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
There is no impact to the Operating Budget
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Adopting the Ordinance as proposed will have no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Approval of this action does not require a Business License application and payment of a Business License tax.