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Council rejects proposal to solicit marketing consultant; members cite incoming administration and lack of figures
Summary
A motion to advertise for marketing consultant proposals and authorize a professional-services agreement failed 2'— after council members said the item should wait for the new administration and questioned the absence of cost figures; city staff said the item merely solicits proposals, not a contract.
Youngstown City Council voted on Nov. 19 against placing an ordinance authorizing the Board of Control to advertise for proposals and enter a professional-services agreement for a marketing consultant.
The measure failed 2–4. Councilmembers Davis and Ray voted in favor; Councilmembers Hughes, Kelly, Turner and White voted against it.
Council debate centered on timing and fiscal detail. Councilwoman Turner and Councilwoman White urged delaying the solicitation until the new administration takes office Jan. 1 so the incoming leadership could review results and set priorities. Councilman Hughes pressed for cost figures, noting the ordinance asks city staff to solicit proposals but does not include a price estimate.
City staff member Kyle explained to the chair that the item would solicit proposals and a study and that the city was "not prepared to actually enter in any agreement" at this time. Kyle said, "We are actually asking companies to actually submit proposals to actually do a marketing on our behalf and a study. We are not prepared to actually enter in any agreement. That's why there is no figure identified..." (paraphrased from transcript). That explanation did not change the council's vote.
The council recorded the roll-call votes as follows: Davis, yes; Hughes, no; Kelly, no; Ray, yes; Turner, no; White, no. With the failure of the motion, staff may still pursue procurement steps at a later date if council directs it in a future session.
