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Council declines to agendaize public-sponsored downtown RFP request
Summary
Council considered a public-sponsored 030 by Council Member Park seeking an agenda item on downtown RFP/RFQ selection committee reorganization and consultant hiring; the council discussed procurement risks, recusal conflicts and existing staff procurement work and the motion to agendaize failed to achieve a majority.
Council Member Park moved to agendaize a council policy 030 submitted by members of the public asking for an item to discuss reorganization of the downtown RFP/RFQ selection committee and hiring of consultants to support the process. The mayor recused herself and Vice Mayor Gonzalez temporarily presided; Vice Mayor Gonzalez and another member later recused themselves for conflicts related to downtown property interests.
City Manager Javon Grogan explained staff had issued a broader bench RFP for planning and housing consultants that closed in early April, received more than 30 responses, and that staff already committed to preparing a downtown‑specific solicitation to ensure downtown needs (form‑based code, economic analysis, etc.) are met. Council members debated whether a public 030 is the correct mechanism to shape procurement or whether it risks influencing a competitive process. Legal staff cautioned about procurement fairness and potential bid‑protest risk if selection criteria or committee composition were tailored outside a competitive process.
Park argued the 030 mechanism exists to let the public request such public consideration without months of preparation and that the community sought a forum to express priorities for the downtown RFP. Opponents said staff already planned a downtown RFP and cautioned that public input is best channeled through the procurement process to avoid disadvantaging bidders.
A motion to place the 030 on a future council agenda was seconded but failed to receive the votes required to be added to the calendar. Staff said it will continue the downtown procurement work already under way and will report progress as part of upcoming strategic or priority updates to council.
