California Code, Public Contract Code - PCC § 20393

At the time specified in the notice, the board shall publicly open all bids received and shall award the contract for the work to the lowest responsible bidder, unless the board finds that the bids are too high, and that the work can be done more cheaply by day labor.  In such case, the board shall reject the bids and order the work to be done by the road commissioners in whose districts the work is situated.  In any case, the board may reject all bids and advertise for new bids in the manner specified in this article.  The board may provide, by resolution, that the bids be opened, examined, and declared by an officer designated in the resolution.  Any such resolution shall require that the bids be opened at a public meeting called by the officer and that the results of the bidding be reported to the board at a subsequent regular board meeting.  The notice inviting bids shall state the time and place of the public meeting and the name of the designated officer.