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Council directs staff to rebid West Davis Corridor aesthetic project after contractor won't honor breakout costs
Summary
After the awarded bidder declined to honor the breakout of items the council had requested, Syracuse City Council directed staff to rebid the West Davis Corridor aesthetic improvements project focusing on signs, bison sculptures and limited landscaping and to solicit more bidders with a shorter bid period.
Syracuse City Council reopened discussion of the West Davis Corridor aesthetic improvements project after the contractor originally awarded the work said it would not honor the bid if the city removed certain items from the package.
City staff explained the contractor said its mobilization costs had been spread across items the council later pulled from the bid (notably landscaping and bouldering). Because that changed the economics for the contractor, it declined to honor the prior breakout. Council considered two options: renegotiate with a higher price or rebid a pared package.
Council directed staff to prepare a rebid that narrows the scope to the key elements the council intended to fund: signage, the bison sculptures and limited landscaping around the signs (including a specified short buffer of native seed/matted turf around sign areas). Councilmembers recommended a shorter bid period and proactive solicitation of additional bidders rather than relying solely on open notice.
Staff and council discussed price signals: staff referenced an itemized cost for the bison sculptures in the original bid package of about $198,000. Councilmembers suggested staff also reach out to local metalworkers and sign artists to solicit interest and possible lower-cost options. The project team will proceed with a rebid and return to the council if costs exceed available funding.
