Chino Hills council introduces ordinance to widen competitive-bidding exceptions and update limits

Chino Hills’ City Council on Nov. 12 moved to introduce an ordinance that would add exemptions to the city’s competitive-bidding rules and raise bidding thresholds to match forthcoming state changes.

Assistant City Attorney Wendy, presenting the staff report, told the council the changes are intended to “assist in achieving efficiencies” and would add subsections to the municipal code to exempt technology, public-entertainment and instructor-services contracts from competitive bidding. She also said the ordinance would amend chapter 3.2 to incorporate new public-construction contract and formal-bidding limits tied to recent state legislation referenced in the meeting as “AB 2,192,” which staff said becomes effective Jan. 1, 2025.

The council had no substantive questions during the presentation. A council member moved to introduce the ordinance and another council member seconded; the motion passed unanimously, allowing staff to return with final ordinance language and any conforming administrative-policy updates.

Why it matters: The change is designed to let the city use alternative procurement methods for certain services that staff considers specialized or time-sensitive. Staff said the proposed administrative-policy updates to Contract Compliance (section 8.1) would provide additional flexibility in securing services.

What’s next: By introducing the ordinance the council approved its formal introduction; the item will return for subsequent readings and a final vote once staff completes the ordinance text and associated policy edits.

Attribution notes: Summaries and direct quotations are taken from the staff presentation delivered by Assistant City Attorney Wendy and the council’s proceedings; the motion to introduce the ordinance and the unanimous vote were recorded in the meeting transcript.