Official language
Compare the Charter language
Measure U is a proposed amendment to Section 61 of the Porterville City Charter. Read the current section, the official ballot question, and the City’s published description of what the amendment would do.
This page quotes official sources. It does not substitute campaign commentary for the City’s documents. If a City or County file differs from a summary on this site, the official file controls.
Current Section 61
Competitive bidding written into the Charter
The existing Charter section is titled “Competitive Bidding For Contract Work For Erection, Improvement And Repair Of Public Buildings, Etc., Where The Amount Is In Excess Of Five Thousand Dollars.”
“When a required expenditure exceeds five thousand dollars, it shall be contracted for and let to the lowest responsible bidder after notice.”
“As used in this section public project means a project for the erection, improvement and repair of public buildings and works; work in or about streams, embankments, or other work for protection against overflow; street sewer work except maintenance or repair; furnishing supplies or materials for any such project, including maintenance or repair of streets, sewers or water lines.”
“The council may reject any or all bids presented and may, at its discretion, readvertise for other bids, or, the council may, after rejecting bids, determine and declare by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of all of its members that the work in question may be more economically or satisfactorily performed by day labor, or the labor or materials purchased at a lower price in the open market and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect it may proceed to have the same done in the manner stated without further observance of the foregoing provisions of this section.”
“The notice inviting sealed bids shall set a date for the opening of bids; the first publication shall be at least ten (10) days before the date of the opening of the bids; shall be published at least twice not less than five (5) days apart in the official newspaper selected by the council.”
“In case of a great public calamity, such as an extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic or other disaster, the council may, by resolution passed by a vote of four-fifths (4/5) of its members, determine and declare that the public interest or necessity demands the immediate expenditure of public money to safeguard life, health, or property, and thereupon they may proceed without advertising for bids or receiving the same, to expend, or enter into a contract involving the expenditure of any money required in such emergency, on hand in the city treasury and available for such purpose.”
Source: Porterville City Charter, Section 61, as published in the City of Porterville Charter Review Committee agenda packet dated May 2, 2025 (AmLegal export). An amendment note in that text states that the first paragraph was amended April 6, 1971 by increasing the amount from $2,500 to $5,000.
Proposed Section 61
Official ballot question and City description
Measure U would repeal and replace Section 61. The official ballot question and the City’s published summary are below. Open the impartial analysis and Resolution No. 59-2026 for the complete official files.
Official ballot question
“Shall the City Charter be amended to authorize the City Council to determine whether public works, maintenance, repair, improvement, and construction activities are performed by City forces, through contracts, or through agreements with other public agencies, and to authorize the City to establish purchasing and contracting procedures?”
Source: City of Porterville, November 3, 2026 Ballot Measure Information.
City of Porterville published summary
The City states that Section 61 currently “generally requires public projects exceeding $5,000 to be competitively bid and contains specific bidding procedures and requirements.”
Under the proposed amendment, “those specific competitive bidding requirements and procedures would no longer be established by the Charter.” The City “would be authorized to perform improvement, replacement, repair, maintenance, and construction work using City forces without being required to contract for such work and could also contract with other public agencies.” The City “would be authorized to establish standards, procedures, rules, or regulations relating to the purchasing of goods, property, or services.”
Source: City of Porterville public information describing Measure U, as reported from the City’s Know Your Ballot materials and consistent with the official ballot question. Review the City Clerk page and the official PDFs below for the complete proposed Charter wording.
Impartial Analysis (PDF) Resolution 59-2026 (PDF)
Read the impartial analysis on this site · Read Resolution 59-2026 on this site
Official election information
Go to the source documents
City of Porterville
Official November 3, 2026 ballot measure information, including the Measure U ballot question and related City documents.
Open the City Clerk pageCity election information
Porterville election information, including links used by the City for official voter materials.
Open election informationTulare County Registrar of Voters
County election administration, voter registration, and official election information.
Open Tulare County ElectionsVote Yes on Measure U
November 3, 2026. Local control of public works and procurement.