San Antonio council approves multiple contracting packages for lead abatement, lot cleanup and habitat biology

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio City Council on Feb. 28 approved a set of contracting packages to address lead hazards, clear blighted vacant lots, secure vacant structures and hire a biologist for the South Edwards Plateau habitat conservation plan.

Council approved the measures during its regular meeting after presentations by Neighborhood and Housing Services and Development Services staff. The contracts are intended to address public-health risks from lead, reduce blight and secure structures that pose safety or code-compliance problems, and to provide biological services tied to a regional conservation plan.

Neighborhood and Housing Services Director Verónica González told the council the lead-abatement package would contract certified firms to remove lead hazards as part of the city’s Healthy Homes program. The proposed procurement covers an initial two-year term with three one-year renewal options. The office reported seven responses, six proposals evaluated, and recommended six qualified firms; the estimated value presented to the council was $6.5 million for the initial term and options as described. González said contractors would be required to follow applicable state regulations and to be certified for lead-hazard work.

Mike Shanas, director of Development Services, presented two separate packages for property-maintenance work. The first would place nine vendors on a list to perform vacant-lot cleanup and related abatement work. Shanas said the package covers an initial one-year term with four one-year renewal options and the office presented an estimated total of about $3.2 million over the contract period, equivalent to roughly $640,000 per year. He said the city notifies a large pool of vendors and selects multiple contractors so that small and large jobs can be distributed across firms.

Council members questioned the range of evaluation scores for vendors on the vacant-lot list. One councilmember noted several recommended firms scored in the 40s out of 100 and asked whether the city should approve all nine at once. Shanas and other councilmembers said smaller firms may be able to handle small parcels and that the city will remove or decline to renew contractors that perform poorly. The council asked staff to return later with performance history and contract outcomes to build confidence in future procurement decisions.

Shanas also presented a separate package of five contractors to secure and protect vacant structures, including boarding, debris removal and graffiti abatement. The package carries an estimated total of $4,239,150 over the contract period (about $847,830 per year for a one-year initial term plus four one-year options). He said the work is paid from the city’s general fund and that contractors are paid after work is inspected and accepted.

On a different agenda item, staff presented a contract to hire a biologist to support the South Edwards Plateau habitat conservation plan. The contract was described as an initial one-year term at $340,000 with five one-year renewal options, totaling an estimated $2,040,000 over six years. Staff said the plan is regionally funded and that some funds come from county partners; the single bidder that met requirements was recommended.

All four contract packages were moved, seconded and approved by the council during the meeting. Several councilmembers said they supported the measures while asking for stronger post-award monitoring and clearer reporting on contractor performance.

Votes at a glance

- Lead-hazard remediation: Approve procurement to establish six qualified firms for lead abatement; initial two-year term with three one-year renewal options; estimated value presented $6.5 million. Motion passed.

- Vacant-lot cleanup: Approve procurement to establish a list of nine vendors for lot cleanup; initial one-year term with four one-year renewal options; estimated total ~ $3.2 million ($640,000/year). Motion passed.

- Structure protection and cleanup: Approve procurement to establish five vendors for boarding, debris removal and related services; initial one-year term with four one-year renewal options; estimated total $4,239,150 (~$847,830/year). Motion passed.

- South Edwards Plateau biologist: Approve procurement for biological services supporting the habitat conservation plan; initial one-year term at $340,000 with five one-year renewal options; estimated total $2,040,000 across six years. Motion passed.

Context and next steps

Staff said the city will assign work from awarded lists as projects arise, pay vendors after inspection and may remove or decline to renew contractors who do not meet performance standards. Council members asked for a future report on contractor performance under the prior contract cycle and said they wanted follow-up on vendor utilization and price differences among recommended firms.

No motions failed on these items; council members voted to proceed with the procurements and approved the measures during the Feb. 28 meeting.