Enterprise & Labor Relations Committee approves several contracts, refers Guidehouse amendment back to staff

The Minneapolis City Enterprise & Labor Relations Committee on April 13 voted to approve several contracts covering claims management, digital payments, building automation and architecture and engineering services, and accepted the low bid for the Prospect Park water tower restoration. The committee referred a proposed contract amendment with Guidehouse back to staff for further work.

Chair Linea Palmisano, presiding, said the Paymentus Corporation contract (Item No. 2) will "open up and have more options for payment services in our city," adding that the platform will include modern payment methods. "I felt like we were always a little bit behind the ball and this gets us right up to speed," Palmisano said.

Why it matters: the omnibus approvals move forward multiple vendor contracts that affect how residents pay city fees, how the city maintains and automates buildings, and the schedule for City Hall office renovation work. Several of the items authorize professional services or extensions that affect ongoing capital and operations programs; the proposed Guidehouse amendment was not finalized and was sent back to staff for more work.

What the committee approved and referred: Palmisano read nine items into the record. The committee approved contracts or contract amendments for: claims management and subrogation services with Claims Management Resources (Item 1); an enterprise payment platform with Paymentus Corporation (Item 2); two separate vendors for building automation system service and maintenance (Items 3 and 4); an amendment with West Publishing for online legal research services (Item 5); architectural and engineering consulting with HDR Architecture (Item 7); additional architectural and engineering services with Wold Architects for Phase 3 of the City Hall office renovation project (Item 8); and acceptance of the low bid for the Prospect Park water tower restoration (Item 9). The committee referred Item 6, a proposed contract amendment with Guidehouse, back to staff for additional work and review.

Motion and vote: Chair Palmisano moved to approve Items 1–5 and 7–9 and to refer Item 6 back to staff; a committee member seconded the motion. The committee voted by voice; a chorus of ayes was recorded and Chair Palmisano declared the motion carried. The six members recorded present at roll call were: Council Member Vetaw, Council Member Shaffer, Council Member Chavez, Council Member Chughtai, Vice Chair Whiting and Chair Linea Palmisano. No votes of opposition or abstentions were announced on the record.

What was not specified: the committee did not provide dollar amounts, vendor contract terms, or funding source breakdowns for the contracts during the public portion of the meeting, and the Guidehouse amendment was not discussed in detail beyond the decision to return it to staff for further work.

The committee adjourned following the vote.