Committee approves $2.875 million joint-venture sidewalk-replacement contract after debate on minority participation and site maps

The Public Health and Safety Committee voted to send a three-year, $2,875,000 joint-venture contract for sidewalk replacement to formal session with a recommendation to approve after extended questioning about scope, urgency and minority participation.

Luan Counts, Group Executive of Construction and Billing Operations, told the committee the contract will replace “over 5,000 flags” across the city and that the administration would supply a location map and address list. Counts said the work responds in part to damage tied to prior demolition activity and to contractors who were unable to finish final site work.

Member Waters pressed for details on the joint venture’s minority partner. Sandra Stahl, Chief Procurement Officer, said the contract pairs Major Contracting Group with a minority partner identified in the agenda as Georgi (listed in materials as Georgi Concrete / Georgie). Stahl cautioned she did not want to “misspeak” about vendor status and said the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) would provide a memo listing bidders and any self-identified minority firms.

Why it matters: Committee members said repair of damaged sidewalks is needed both to eliminate hazards and to clear properties for sale to interested buyers. Members also noted this contract represents an opportunity for minority business participation; some members urged OCP to increase targeted outreach and support for smaller minority firms to form joint ventures.

Key details and staff explanations: • Scope and timing: Counts said the contract covers replacement of flags left damaged after demolition; she committed to provide a map of sites before the end of business on the day of the meeting and said the administration preferred a vote at the next business day’s formal session. Counts described the repairs as “sensitive” because damaged flags had delayed property sales.

• Contractor performance and funding holdback: Counts and committee staff explained that the city typically retains $2,500 in site-finalization funds per parcel to ensure required sidewalk repairs are completed before final payment. Some demolition prime contractors failed to complete sidewalk repair, prompting the city to bundle the concrete work into a separate contract to attract bidders able to handle the larger volume.

• Minority participation: Member Waters asked which firm is the minority partner. OCP staff said vendors self-identify and form joint ventures when bidding; OCP can conduct additional outreach but cannot unilaterally designate a minority subcontractor. The vice chair asked that the procurement report include the list of bidders and any self-identified minority firms.

Vote and objections: The motion to approve 6.4 and send it to formal session passed with one objection recorded by Member Waters. The item was “approved, sent to formal with the recommendation to approve,” and Member Waters entered an objection on the record.

Next steps and follow-up items requested by the committee: • OCP to provide a map and address listing of the roughly 5,000 sidewalk flags to be replaced (staff committed to deliver a map that day). • OCP to provide a list of contractors who failed to perform the sidewalk work tied to earlier demolition contracts. • OCP to provide documentation on outreach and bidder self-identification so members can see which minority firms bid.

Ending: Committee members signaled support for the contract’s public-safety rationale while asking OCP to improve outreach and transparency about minority participation; the contract moves to formal session for final approval.