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Bus-bench contractor protests sudden termination of award; urges council to use contract extension
Summary
Creative Outdoor representative Jerry Presley told the council the city unexpectedly cancelled the RFP award and terminated the long-running bus-bench contract; he asked the council to use a six-month contract extension to conduct due diligence rather than terminate service immediately.
Jerry Presley, who identified himself as president of U.S. operations for Creative Outdoor (owner of Metropolitan Systems), told the council the company had operated Lake City's bus-bench program since about 2001 and held an existing contract extended for six months to allow the city to complete an RFP. Presley said the July 20 council agenda item, presented as an award, was unexpectedly used to terminate the award and cancel the existing contract.
Presley asked the council to use the six-month extension called for in the contract to perform due diligence and review relevant information rather than canceling service immediately. He described efforts his company made to modernize bench infrastructure and said Lake City had been used as a model for small communities. He concluded by encouraging the council to make decisions that reflect the community’s interests and to get any information to the dais in advance.
Council response: The mayor thanked Presley, and the council did not take immediate action during the meeting beyond hearing the public comment. Presley’s remarks raised procurement and transition questions the council may ask staff to address in follow-up.
