Also, included in the ordinance is an escape clause in case the contractor cannot find enough local people with the needed skills to work on a project. The contractor will have made the required "good faith effort" to hire local residents if it has done six or more recruitment strategies outlined in the staff report.

Some of the strategies include advertising the position on a city public works jobline that will be created, helping residents complete job application forms and advertising the jobs in newspapers, on job boards and in public places.

Even if the contractor does not hire locally or meets the requirements for trying to recruit, it will still be allowed to complete the project, according to the ordinance.

But the contractor will be labeled an "irresponsible bidder," which will reduce their chances of receiving future contracts. The city is required to hire the lowest bidder for Public Works projects, but it can pass up the low bid if the city has labeled the contractor an "irresponsible bidder," Meredith said.

Meredith plans to make a presentation on the ordinance and then have city staff tweak it for the next 30 days, he said. He hopes the council will pass it by December.

He said it is part of his plan to help Galt residents during the economic recovery.

"I don't expect a lot of opposition on the council. All of us share a goal of helping the city recover as much as possible," Meredith said.

Councilwoman Barbara Payne said she believes the council should consider it, but she has some concerns.

In the past, Payne said the city sometimes has trouble getting enough contractors to bid on the city's jobs. She is worried the ordinance could reduce the number further.

She also wonders what would happen to Galt contractors' ability to get jobs elsewhere if every city adopted an ordinance like this.

Clare also was worried about the level of local employment Meredith proposed. He said sometimes contractors have to bring in outside workers who have the specific skills needed for the project.

"The goal would be nice if we could help employ people who are unemployed, but the skills we are having people bid on are pretty specific," Clare said.

The council will further discuss the idea at tonight's meeting at 7 p.m. in Galt City Hall, 380 Civic Drive.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/citybuzz.