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Committee defers vote on major solid-waste contract after members raise competition concerns
Summary
The Rules Committee deferred action for two weeks on a sizeable solid-waste contract amid concerns about contract length and limiting competition; members requested follow-up meetings with procurement and the vendor.
The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee on Sept. 2 deferred consideration of a proposed solid-waste contract to coincide with the Neighborhoods Committee meeting in two weeks after several members said they wanted more time to review procurement and competition issues.
Council members said the contract’s intended duration and extension provisions — and the potential effect on market competition — require further review. "I still struggle with a full 10 years of a contract when our idea for the original legislation was to do away with the rate review process to hopefully set the condition to engender more competition," Council Member Ron Salem said. "If that 6 year extension, which takes it to 10 years, weren't there ... maybe that's a happy medium." Salem said he supported delaying the vote to allow more discussion.
Council Member Mike Gay said his concern is that the contract, as drafted, can be too large and too centralized for many local vendors to bid. "…bringing it down to where there are smaller projects that some local businesses can get involved and participate…" he said, urging consideration of alternatives that would increase competition.
Committee members and staff said Waste Pro — the incumbent contractor mentioned in committee discussion — has been performing services and that the deferral is intended to provide staff time to bring more information and to give council members and neighborhoods additional time to evaluate alternatives. The committee chair announced the item would be deferred for two weeks to align with Neighborhoods Committee discussion.
No final committee vote on the contract was taken; the item was deferred for further review and a future vote. Committee members said staff, the vendor and procurement officials will be asked to meet with council offices before the item returns.
