Committee forwards nine vacant-lot abatement contracts to council after members raise concerns over low-scoring vendors

The San Antonio Audit Committee voted Feb. 28 to proceed with scheduling nine contracts for vacant-lot abatement services, a core function of the Development Services Department that staff said supports clearing, mowing and trash removal on city lots where owners do not maintain property.

Mike Shannon, Director of Development Services, told the committee the recommended set of nine vendors is designed to give the city flexibility to address about 1,200 vacant-lot abatements annually. The caption for the item stated an estimated total value of $3,298,660 for an initial one-year term with four one-year renewal options.

Councilman John White (referred to in the transcript as Councilman White) expressed concern about several recommended vendors that scored poorly in the evaluation matrix. "I can't be in support of that," White said on the record, pointing to vendors that received scores in the 40s and one that scored very low on experience and plan categories. Shannon and procurement staff responded that the applicant pool included a range of firms, from small, newer companies suited to small lots to larger firms for bigger projects; staff said performance provisions allow the city to remove underperforming contractors mid-contract or decline renewal.

Councilman Courage and other members said they understood the need for multiple vendors to avoid long delays when only one or two contractors are available. Committee members asked staff to publish vendor names and allow councilmembers to review vendor histories before council action.

Despite the objections, the committee voted to forward the nine recommended contracts to City Council; the committee vote recorded Councilman White as opposing and the remaining committee members as voting in favor.