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Evanston committee approves Fire Station 3 concrete-repair contract amid concerns over RBO implementation
Summary
The Administration & Public Works Committee approved a contract with Ramirez Group LLC for structural concrete repairs at Fire Station No. 3, 3–1, after members raised questions about whether the city's new Responsible Bidders Ordinance had been applied to the bid.
The City of Evanston Administration and Public Works Committee voted 3 to 1 on July 28 to award a contract to Ramirez Group LLC for structural concrete repairs at Fire Station No. 3.
Committee members raised repeated questions about whether the city's Responsible Bidders Ordinance (RBO), which the committee and council had approved in late May, had been incorporated into the bid documents. Council Member Kelly said the ordinance "would be implemented upon passage" and noted the ordinance was approved May 27 and "signed by Daniel Biss on May 30." Legal counsel responded that the city's law and purchasing departments were still updating bid templates to include RBO requirements and that the updates would appear in future RFPs and bids; counsel said the effort had taken "a little bit longer than we anticipated" but was "very imminent." Council Member Kelly voted no and explained she expected the RBO to be applied immediately to procurements.
The committee record shows the bid packet did not include information about whether Ramirez Group LLC operates an apprenticeship program; staff said that information "was not included in the bid packet" and that the city did not request that detail for this solicitation. Committee members also noted that the awarded contractor is based out of Indiana, which meant the city's five-mile preference could not be applied.
The motion to approve the contract was made by Council Member Kelly and seconded by Council Member Ailes. The roll-call vote recorded Council Member Davis as "Aye," Kelly as "No," Ailes as "Aye," and Chair Nuzma as "Aye," producing a 3-to-1 outcome in favor of the award.
Staff described the RBO update to procurement documents as imminent and said the city would include the required RBO language going forward; committee members requested a specific timeline and proof the updated template had been posted before awarding future contracts. No action to rescind or reopen the Ramirez contract was taken at the meeting.
The committee handled the item as a formal contract award; there were no additional directives to staff recorded other than the request for timely completion of RBO updates.
The committee adjourned the item and moved on to other business.
