MEZZETTA

G. L. Mezzetta, Inc. (Mezzetta) sued the City of American Canyon (City) for breach of oral and written contract, inverse condemnation, and civil rights violations after the City allegedly failed to honor its agreement to provide Mezzetta with a connection to a wastewater discharge system that could accept Mezzetta’s high salinity wastewater. The trial court ultimately sustained the City’s demurrers without leave to amend as to all causes of action and Mezzetta now challenges the trial court’s rulings. In the published portion of this opinion, we shall affirm the trial court’s order as to the oral contract cause of action because we find that the relevant statutory provisions preclude the City from entering into oral agreements. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we shall affirm the trial court’s order as to all other causes of action.

Factual Background

The facts pleaded in Mezzetta’s complaint and first amended complaint are as follows. Mezzetta is a leading producer of pickled and roasted peppers, olives, and condiments. Mezzetta moved its processing plant to the City based on a 1995 agreement—primarily verbal—between Mezzetta and the City’s manager and…