(a)    Eligible projects.  The city manager may authorize the following public improvement projects to follow the administrative public improvement process set forth in this section; provided that, no tax bills will be issued for the project and the project does not require the exercise of the power of eminent domain:

    

    (1)    Construction, upgrade or relocation of electric distribution lines less than sixty-nine (69) KV that is estimated to cost less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00);

    (2)    Water and electric production facility expansion projects estimated to cost less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00);

    (3)    Sanitary sewer projects estimated to cost less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00);

    (4)    Storm water utility public improvement projects estimated to cost less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00);

    (5)    Any project estimated to cost less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00).

    (b)    Interested parties meeting.  The administrative public improvement process shall begin by appropriate city staff holding at least one meeting with interested parties to explain the basic concept of the proposed project and receive comments and suggestions. City staff shall make reasonable efforts to notify those most likely to be interested in or affected by the project, of the time and place of the interested parties meeting.  Staff, when feasible shall attempt to personally contact by telephone or in person, the owners of property abutting the proposed public improvement to advise the property owners of the nature of the proposed improvement and the time and place of the interested parties meeting.

    (c)    Report to council.  If, following the interested parties meeting, the city manager determines that the project should follow the administrative public improvement process, the manager shall report that determination to the city council at a council meeting.  The city council may direct the city manager to follow the standard public improvement process set forth in Sec. 22-71.  Unless directed to follow the standard public improvement process, the city manager may have plans and specification for the improvement prepared.

    (d)    Authorization to proceed.  The city manager may authorize the purchasing agent to call for bids and execute a contract for the improvement.

    (e)    Bidding.  The purchasing agent shall advertise for bids in the same manner as bids for supplies, material, equipment or services are advertised under chapter 2 of this code.  The advertisement shall advise bidders that the city reserves the rights to reject any and all bids.  All bids shall be accompanied by a certified check or bid bond with corporate surety, satisfactory to the purchasing agent, for five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid.  Bids submitted without such check or bid bond shall not be considered.

    (f)    Contract.  The purchasing agent may reject any or all bids or may award the contract to the bidder that is, in the judgment of the purchasing agent, the lowest and best bidder.

    (g)    Bonds.  The contractor on a public improvement project costing more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) shall give to the city performance and payment bonds, with corporate surety, satisfactory to the purchasing agent, each in an amount not less than the contract price.

    (h)    Acceptance of improvement.  When the improvement has been completed, the city official charged with responsibility for the improvement shall report to the city manager whether the work has been completed according to the contract, plans and specifications.  Upon determining that the improvement has been properly completed, the city manager shall accept and approve the work.