Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council sends Longfellow skate park contract to committee after questions about timetable and bids
Summary
Lorain City Council debated awarding the Longfellow Skatepark contract amid concerns about design changes, limited bids and potential loss of nearly $500,000 in CDBG funding if the project is rebid; the council voted to send the matter to the parks committee for further review.
Lorain City Council on Monday debated whether to authorize a contract for the Longfellow Skatepark project and ultimately voted to send the item to the parks committee for more review.
Several council members pressed the administration about the procurement process and the project timeline. "It could potentially jeopardize the timeline," Matt Kuzhen, director of building, housing and planning, told the council when asked whether rebidding the work would risk meeting federally required spending deadlines. Kuzhen said almost $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are tied to the project and that rebidding could put the November 1 spending deadline at risk.
Residents and advocates also weighed in before the council took up the item. Albert Jacobs, a resident who said he contacted multiple skate‑park firms, asked the council to "keep pressure on these companies" and warned that only two bids arrived on time. "ORC says we gotta take the lowest bid," Jacobs said, adding that the city still needs to ensure a high‑quality product.
Councilmembers sought more detail on vendor experience and design changes from the original concept. One councilmember said the revised plans appear to omit ramps and other features earlier promised to users, and asked for a committee hearing so the public and park users could review the design. A staff member noted that Spohn Ranch — a recognized skate‑park builder — is listed as a major subcontractor and would perform much of the technical work.
Members also asked whether rebidding would expose the city to protests or legal claims; administration officials said rebidding has happened before and can prompt legal challenges but they were not presenting this as the preferred option. Councilmember discussion repeatedly returned to whether a short delay to allow public input would endanger grant deadlines.
After debate, the council voted to send the Longfellow Skatepark contract to committee for additional review and public input. Council leaders said the parks committee chair will schedule the meeting and the public was invited to attend; a meeting was announced for April 27 at 5:30 p.m. to further consider the project.
Next steps: the parks committee will review the contract, vendor qualifications and design changes and report back to the full council.
