Durham council approves $7.7 million Motorola radio tower contract after suspending rules
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Summary
Durham City Council voted during its work session to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. for radio tower site additions and relocation (CIP CB032) and to adopt a budget ordinance adding funds, after suspending rules to meet a Feb. 15 bid deadline.
Durham City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. for radio tower site additions and relocation (CIP CB032), with a not-to-exceed amount of $7,716,701.30, after suspending the normal rules to allow immediate consideration of the expiring bid.
City Manager (speaker 2) told council the bid proposal expires Feb. 15 and asked that the rules be suspended and the item be considered at the work session to capture potential cost savings. “Due to time constraints of the bid proposal for this item, which expires on February 15, council is being asked to suspend the rules and vote during today's work session to allow the purchase of the radio tower before the bid expires,” the city manager said.
Council Member Baker moved to suspend the rules and later moved the motion to authorize the city manager to execute the Motorola contract; Council Member Cook seconded. The motion and the companion budget ordinance (Ordinance No. 16555 to add funding to CIP CB032) were recorded as carrying unanimously. The city clerk read the consent agenda and identified the radio tower item for separate consideration prior to the vote.
The action authorizes both the contract execution and a budget amendment to add the required funding for the project. Staff said moving the item forward now could recognize cost savings tied to meeting the bid deadline.
The council did not provide a line-by-line procurement contract in the public discussion; the motion and the budget ordinance number were recorded in the meeting minutes. The item was presented as urgent because of the pending bid deadline; council approved immediate action. The city manager indicated staff will proceed with contract negotiation and execution consistent with the authorization given by council.
What happens next: staff will negotiate and execute the contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. and implement the ordinance amendment to fund CIP CB032. Any further contract details, including line items and contract exhibits, will be reflected in the executed agreement and subsequent staff reports.