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Public commenter urges RFP process reform and asks Ormond Beach to join legal challenge to SB 180
Summary
A resident criticized the city's recent health‑benefits broker request‑for‑proposal process as influenced by conflicts of interest and urged the commission to select a lower‑cost vendor; the speaker also urged the city to join a coalition opposing Florida Senate Bill 180.
During the meeting's public‑comment period, Elena Craft, who identified herself as a local nonprofit cofounder and former professional with RFP experience, criticized the city's recent request‑for‑proposal process for selecting a health‑benefits broker. Craft said she observed commissioners with "clear conflicts of interest" influencing discussion toward a vendor that staff did not recommend and that would charge nearly double for similar services.
"What occurred was something I have never seen before in a professional setting," Craft told commissioners. She urged the commission to "raise the bar and ensure that conflicts of interest, real or perceived, cannot shape the outcome of future RFPs." She asked the commission to select the broker "that will provide high quality services at half the cost."
Craft also urged the commission to join other Florida cities and counties opposing Senate Bill 180 (SB 180), telling commissioners SB 180 "strips local control, weakens flood protections, and benefits developers at the expense of residents." She said cities and counties were forming a coalition and asked Ormond Beach to join a lawsuit opposing the law.
Craft additionally asked the commission to address professionalism after she said a commissioner mocked a community member and cofounder of a local nonprofit. She requested an apology and "that we hold ourselves to higher standards of respect and civility."
Why this matters: The remarks raise concerns about procurement transparency and local positions on pending state legislation that local speakers say affects flood protections and local control. The commission did not take immediate formal action on the speaker's requests during the meeting; Commissioners later discussed SB 180 in other business and directed staff to consult with the city's legislative representative on next steps.
Sources: Public comment by Elena Craft at the Ormond Beach City Commission meeting, Aug. 19, 2025; subsequent commission discussion on SB 180.
