City to send service contracts out for bid

City staff has asked for direction from the Sisters City Council regarding upcoming public-service contract expirations and whether they wanted to extend several of them or initiate new requests for proposal (RFPs).

The City attorney, insurance agent of record, and audit services require three-year contracts with the option for one two-year extension. The City engineer contract for two years does not have an option for extension. The building inspection services contract is for two years with the possibility of one two-year extension.

Councilor David Asson voiced his opinion that in the spirit of openness with the community, all expiring contracts should be put out for bid, not exercising the extension option on any of them. Councilor Nancy Connolly, in checking with other cities, found many that put contracts out to bid for sure every five years, usually signing the contract for three years with one two-year extension possible.

City Manager Andrew Gorayeb said that in the interest of best practices, all the contracts this time should require an RFP.

City attorney, insurance agent, and City engineer contracts expire in June/July 2015. The current auditor will complete the 2014/15 fiscal year. Building inspector services contract expires December 31, 2015.

The City Council interviews applicants for the City attorney contract. For the other contracts, special committees are formed to review RFPs.