The city council may provide by ordinance for the issuance of warrants in payment of the cost and expense of any local improvement, payable out of the local improvement district fund. The warrants shall bear interest at the rate of not to exceed eight percent per annum and shall be redeemed either in cash or by local improvement bonds for the same improvement authorized by ordinance.

All warrants against any local improvement fund sold by the city or issued to a contractor and by him sold or hypothecated for a valuable consideration shall be claims and liens against the improvement fund against which they are drawn prior and superior to any right, lien or claim of any surety upon the bond or bonds given to the city by or for the contractor to secure the performance of his contract or to secure the payment of persons who have performed work thereon, furnished materials therefor, or provisions and supplies for the carrying on of the work. (Ord. 84 § 8, 1961)