Commission asks public works to add bid-count column to CIP template; presentation tentatively scheduled

The Budget and Finance Commission asked the public works department to add a column showing the number of bids received to the commission’s capital improvement program (CIP) template and scheduled a staff presentation for a future meeting.

A commissioner who drafted a CIP template told the commission the table would help the group assess variability in contractor responses and unit-cost drivers. “If only one contractor bids, then, obviously, we need to dig into what they’re charging,” the commissioner said, and requested a new column to show the number of bids received. Staff confirmed they had shared the template with Jesse Reyes in Public Works and that Reyes would likely add additional detail and present project numbers at a forthcoming meeting, tentatively in August or September.

The commission moved to table the continued-items agenda and bring the CIP template discussion forward at the next meeting so commissioners could review any revisions before the public-works presentation. The motion to table and bring the item back passed by voice vote.

No contract awards or budget approvals were made. Commissioners said the additional bid-count column should show only the number of bidders, not bidder names, to preserve procurement confidentiality while giving the commission visibility into market competition for projects.

Public Works staff and the commission agreed to coordinate on the template revisions and return the item for discussion prior to action at a future meeting.