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Business groups urge pause of downtown master‑plan update; commissioners ask staff for procurement and process briefings
Summary
The Argus Foundation and business groups urged the commission to halt the downtown master‑plan update and restart procurement next fall, citing transparency and process problems; commissioners asked staff to bring the procurement record and ad hoc committee process to the next available agenda for review and to explain timing and evaluation details.
Members of the Argus Foundation and downtown business groups told the commission the downtown master‑plan update procurement and ad hoc committee process lacked transparency and sufficient baseline review, and urged a full restart after a new city manager has settled in.
Christine Robinson of the Argus Foundation asked the commission to “reset entirely” and restart procurement in the fall, arguing that only one candidate remained in the selection pool after earlier steps and that the ad hoc committee had not adequately reviewed the existing downtown master plan before drafting new consultant objectives.
Commission discussion focused on two matters: the procurement process itself and the ad hoc committee’s work product. City procurement staff explained the solicitation and evaluation steps, saying an evaluation panel rated proposals and two vendors had withdrawn before interviews, leaving one finalist who advanced to negotiations. Staff said the evaluation committee could have declined to select the remaining vendor and re‑advertise, but the committee rated the remaining firm as acceptable. Procurement staff also noted that procurement rules prevent lobbying and require a limited period of confidentiality while competitive negotiations proceed.
Several commissioners asked staff to return with documentation for the ad hoc committee process and for the procurement steps. The city attorney and procurement chief said they would report back at the next available meeting with what could be released publicly while respecting procurement rules. The commission asked staff to provide copies of the ad hoc committee minutes, the procurement selection criteria, and a timeline that shows when and why vendors dropped out.
No procurement contract was approved at the meeting; staff said negotiations were ongoing and that any contract would come to the commission for approval before execution. Commissioners who support pausing the process said they wanted time for the new city manager to review materials and for more stakeholder outreach; others urged proceeding carefully so the city does not lose momentum on downtown planning.
