Committee advances dozens of blight‑remediation, demolition and service contracts; paratransit IVR also sent on for approval

At its Jan. 8 meeting the Buildings, Housing, and Permits Committee moved a long list of contracts and resolutions to the full City Council with recommendations to approve, covering blight remediation, emergency demolitions, trash‑out contracts, public‑safety protective gear and a paratransit phone system.

Key items the committee forwarded to formal council action included:

- Blight remediation and hazardous material abatement contracts: Hamrick (contract discussed as agenda item 5.2) for $6,000,000; MWV Environmental (5.4) $6,000,000; City Abatement Services (6.13) $6,000,000; and SC Environmental (5.16) $6,000,000. These contracts are city‑funded to abate hazardous regulated materials at residential and commercial sites.

- Emergency demolition contracts: Multiple emergency demolition contracts were advanced (items 5.3, 5.7–5.14, 5.25–5.28 and others) for properties across the city. Individual contract amounts ranged from roughly $13,000 to $95,000 depending on the site; contractors named included Sal and Bean Trucking & Excavating and DMC Consultants.

- Trash‑out and clean‑up contracts (bond funded): A series of one‑year “proposal and trash‑out” contracts (items 5.15–5.24 and 6.11–6.12) covering grouped properties were sent to the full council with recommendations. Contracts and groups cited amounts from roughly $74,000 to $125,000.

- Public‑safety gear and mobile field force equipment: A contract for protective riot suits and related equipment (item 5.6) totaling $34,000 and personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts (item 6.17) were forwarded for approval.

- Paratransit interactive voice response (IVR) software: The committee forwarded contract 6006868 (agenda item 6.22) for an IVR system with Ecolane, a one‑time amount of $125,000, which the Department of Transportation said will automate outbound calls, reduce call‑center wait times and allow riders to cancel trips in advance.

What the committee did procedurally: Most items were advanced “to formal new business with a recommendation to approve,” meaning the committee voted or voiced no objection to forwarding them to the full City Council. Several items were removed from the agenda when staff reported they had already been completed or were otherwise resolved (for example, item 5.26 removed as privately demolished). A few items were scheduled as bring‑backs for further review in two or three weeks.

Public comment: Dozens of callers during public comment addressed various city matters — including support and opposition to solar projects, concerns about transit and homelessness, and requests for neighborhood investment — but those remarks were not formal committee actions and were heard before the committee took up the agenda.

Next steps and transparency: The committee’s recommendations will appear on the City Council’s formal agenda; final contract awards and ordinance actions require council approval. Several committee members urged administration staff to continue outreach to council colleagues before the council vote so members have time to review lengthy contract documents.