Can anyone on city council spell: ETHICS?????

Let's look at this example of the city council showing a total disregard for ethical bidding practices, as well as spending over $300,000 on a higher bid with a less qualified (according to city staff)  service provider.

How it happened:

The city is going to build a baseball park that was approved by the voters.  The city wants to hire a construction manager to oversee construction and assure that the project is completed on time and at the cost allocated for the project.

A bid was posted for the service.

Seven companies submitted bids.

City of Laredo staff rated the companies based on cost, ability to complete the project, and past experience in building baseball fields.

The number 1. ranked (by Laredo city staff)  bidder was Bartlett and Cocke from San Antonio.  Their bid around $600,000.

Read their own words about themselves:

For over 50 years, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors has been on the cutting edge of commercial construction. As the largest commercial building contractor in San Antonio, Texas, we are one of the most qualified firms with a reputation of timely completion, a commitment to safety, honoring warranty services, financial stability and prompt payment that is unequaled. We are experts in CM-at-Risk, Design-Build and Bid services.

Our foundation is our people and their proven ability to build the best possible project for the greatest possible value. Many of our employees, skilled craftsmen, officers and shareholders have been with us for over 20 years. Because we are employee-owned and well managed financially, many of our employees are motivated to stay with us throughout their careers.

The number 7, repeat number 7 ranked (by city staff) was Leyendecker Construction.  Their bid was around $1,200,000.

I could find no self description of their company, as they have no web site, at least that I could locate.  However, they are a locally owned and operated construction company that does all types of construction throughout Laredo.  They have done projects for both school districts,  the city and county.  I have not heard of any serious complaints about their company.  As far as I know they are a good company and capable of doing the job they bid for.

However, Leyendecker has not built any professional baseball fields, nor manged that type of construction.  Bartlett and Cocke built the Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, Tx. home of the AA San Antonio Missions. 

This, along with the bid amount must be why the city staff ranked Bartlett and Cocke number 1, and for whatever reasons, Leyendecker was ranked number 7.

Now what happens next is beyond words.  And no, this is not fiction.

On April 7th, the city has a council meeting with only one item on the agenda:

IV. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Discussion with possible action regarding the selection of the construction manager

at risk for the future baseball stadium to be constructed in the immediate vicinity of

the Laredo Entertainment Arena, and any related matters.

It has been reported to me that Bartlett and Cocke had representatives at this meeting.  I am not sure which other bidders were present. 

In the 15 minutes that the meeting lasted, repeat, in the 15 minutes that the meeting lasted, the city council approved Leyendecker Construction for the job of construction manager for the sum of around $920,000.  That is $320,000 higher than the NUMBER 1 selection made by city staff based on several criteria.

So, what happened (and I am not sure if this was during the meeting) was that Leyendecker was allowed to change their bid to a reduced price and was awarded the contract.  Bartlett and Cocke, nor any of the other bidders was allowed to re-submit any bid changes whatsoever.

So, we the taxpayers are now going to pay somewhere around $320.000 more for the ballpark, all in the name of keeping a "local" company in charge of construction. 

And to make things only more murkey is the fact that Leyendecker Construction has contributed cash to several city councilmans campaigns (again not  illegal but what about ethical).  And also, that Mike Garza does a lot of business with Leyendecker through the school district (again not illegal).

Not only did Laredo taxpayers get taken for a ride, but the companies that were at the "15 minute" meeting got no input, no comments.  All they got was a look at one of the most UNETHICAL city councils in Texas.  What the Laredo city council did, while not illegal, will harm this city for years to come. 

What vendor in their right mind will want to bid on a Laredo project when they know that the city council only cares about themselves, and their special relationships, forgetting all ethical behavior on bid projects.

The real loser is not Bartlett and Cocke, but the citizens of Laredo who win the future will now have fewer choices when we ask for bids on projects.  We will pay more for projects.  You can bet on it.

Mike Garza was right, $15 million in 15 minutes.  What a waste.