Unless otherwise specially ordered by the city council, the city engineer shall have supervision of the work of construction of all sidewalks constructed on the public streets of the city. If, in the opinion of the city engineer, the provisions of this chapter are not being complied with and such a sidewalk is being constructed but is not being constructed in the manner provided by this chapter, the city engineer shall so notify the contractor or the person having charge of the work of construction and may require any work not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter to be torn out and removed and replaced under their direction. (1957 code § 8.12.070.)