The Board of Public Works was created to coordinate public works projects, to award construction contracts on behalf of the City, and to approve contractor's bills. The Board also ensured that prevailing wages were paid on City projects. The Board was originally establish by the 1890 City Charter as a citizen group. The Charter of 1896 reorganized the Board and thereafter its members included the superintendents of City departments directly involved in public works. The Board was abolished by City Charter amendment in 1992 and its functions were assumed by the Department of Administrative Services.