City Contracts Watch
City of Huntington Park, CA
City of Huntington Park, CA
WatchOurCity.com emphasizes that it becomes a matter of special concern to
citizens when officials seemingly conspire with one another to circumvent
Formal Bid Procedures for city services as set forth in the Municipal Code to
benefit special interests and not the general good.
City contracting procedures are in place to ensure that the most competent and
reliable companies provide the best service to the city at the most competitive
price and ensures that Public funds are spent responsibly, for the general
interest and not to benefit special interest, friends or campaign contributors.
City Officials, employees, and agents of the City having official responsibility for
a procurement transaction have high ethical responsibilities to meet.
citizens when officials seemingly conspire with one another to circumvent
Formal Bid Procedures for city services as set forth in the Municipal Code to
benefit special interests and not the general good.
City contracting procedures are in place to ensure that the most competent and
reliable companies provide the best service to the city at the most competitive
price and ensures that Public funds are spent responsibly, for the general
interest and not to benefit special interest, friends or campaign contributors.
City Officials, employees, and agents of the City having official responsibility for
a procurement transaction have high ethical responsibilities to meet.
WatchOurCity.com reminds City elected officials that the most neediest of our
residents - mothers and their young children, along with our senior citizens and
special needs residents - depend on city provided services such as was the free
door-to-door Dial-A-Ride program.
Council Members Ed Escareño and Mario Gomez, members of the City's
Transportation Committee, recommended to award a Transportation Service
Contract of approximately $4 million over 3 years to Oldtimers Foundation and
Fiesta Taxi who were the highest bidders and the least qualified, according to
an independent consultant hired by the city.
The decision by Escareño and Gomez, as well as the rest of Council Members to
disregard recommendations by city staff and an independent consultant, will
cost the city at least $22,000 more than the highest qualified low bidder.
residents - mothers and their young children, along with our senior citizens and
special needs residents - depend on city provided services such as was the free
door-to-door Dial-A-Ride program.
Council Members Ed Escareño and Mario Gomez, members of the City's
Transportation Committee, recommended to award a Transportation Service
Contract of approximately $4 million over 3 years to Oldtimers Foundation and
Fiesta Taxi who were the highest bidders and the least qualified, according to
an independent consultant hired by the city.
The decision by Escareño and Gomez, as well as the rest of Council Members to
disregard recommendations by city staff and an independent consultant, will
cost the city at least $22,000 more than the highest qualified low bidder.
Abstract of Meeting Minutes,
Huntington Park City Council,
February 2, 2004.
Regular Meeting 47.114 February 2,
2004
Mayor Escareño opened oral
communications, indicating that this
was the time for anyone in the
audience to address the City Council
on any matter of City business.
Brian Hunt, President of Diversified
Paratransit Inc., thanked City Council
for the opportunity to serve the City.
Mr. Hunt stated that he will do all that
is necessary to make a smooth
transition.
Dave Daley, Chief Operating Officer of
Southland Transit Inc., addressed his
concerns to City Council regarding the
transit services Ad-Hoc committee’s
recommendation. Mr. Daley addressed
his displeasure to City Council
regarding the Request for Proposals
(RFP) process for transit services.
Robert Rodriguez, Chief Operating
Officer of Oldtimers Foundation,
stated that the Oldtimers Foundation
is qualified and ready to provide the
transit services for the City of
Huntington Park.
Victor Caballero, representing Fiesta
Taxi, stated that he appreciates the
opportunity to service the City and
that it is an honor to work with the
Oldtimers Foundation.
Mayor Escareño called for any other
oral communications, and hearing
none, declared oral communications
closed.
…………………………………………………………
…
City Manager Korduner requested
discussion and/or action regarding
the following Transit Services:
demand response, fixed route, and
Pacific Boulevard’s Shuttle. Victor
Caballero, representing Fiesta Taxi,
stated that they service other cities
and have no complaints. Alicia
Martinez, resident, addressed City
Council to find out what will happen to
the transit service in the City. Robert
Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer of
Oldtimers Foundation, informed City
Council that vans will be provided to
disabled residents.
Martin Gombert, the City’s
transportation consultant, stated that
he evaluated all written proposals
from each firm, spoke to their staff,
and took tours of the facilities.
A Diversified Paratransit Inc.
employee asked City Council what
will happen if residents cannot afford
the new transportation fee.
Motion by Gomez, seconded by
Hernandez, to approve the following:
1) award a three (3) year contract to
the Oldtimers Foundation to operate
the Fixed Route & Pacific Boulevard
Shuttle and Fiesta Taxi to operate
Demand Response Services; 2) that
Oldtimers Foundation Inc. continue to
operate the two (2) vans currently in
use; and 3) to continue services with
Diversified Paratransit on a month-to-
month basis for no more than 60
days, carried as follows: Ayes: Vice
Mayor Noguez, Council Members
Hernandez, Gomez, Loya, and Mayor
Escareño; Noes: None; Absent: None.
Regular Meeting 47.115 February 2,
2004
Huntington Park City Council,
February 2, 2004.
Regular Meeting 47.114 February 2,
2004
Mayor Escareño opened oral
communications, indicating that this
was the time for anyone in the
audience to address the City Council
on any matter of City business.
Brian Hunt, President of Diversified
Paratransit Inc., thanked City Council
for the opportunity to serve the City.
Mr. Hunt stated that he will do all that
is necessary to make a smooth
transition.
Dave Daley, Chief Operating Officer of
Southland Transit Inc., addressed his
concerns to City Council regarding the
transit services Ad-Hoc committee’s
recommendation. Mr. Daley addressed
his displeasure to City Council
regarding the Request for Proposals
(RFP) process for transit services.
Robert Rodriguez, Chief Operating
Officer of Oldtimers Foundation,
stated that the Oldtimers Foundation
is qualified and ready to provide the
transit services for the City of
Huntington Park.
Victor Caballero, representing Fiesta
Taxi, stated that he appreciates the
opportunity to service the City and
that it is an honor to work with the
Oldtimers Foundation.
Mayor Escareño called for any other
oral communications, and hearing
none, declared oral communications
closed.
…………………………………………………………
…
City Manager Korduner requested
discussion and/or action regarding
the following Transit Services:
demand response, fixed route, and
Pacific Boulevard’s Shuttle. Victor
Caballero, representing Fiesta Taxi,
stated that they service other cities
and have no complaints. Alicia
Martinez, resident, addressed City
Council to find out what will happen to
the transit service in the City. Robert
Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer of
Oldtimers Foundation, informed City
Council that vans will be provided to
disabled residents.
Martin Gombert, the City’s
transportation consultant, stated that
he evaluated all written proposals
from each firm, spoke to their staff,
and took tours of the facilities.
A Diversified Paratransit Inc.
employee asked City Council what
will happen if residents cannot afford
the new transportation fee.
Motion by Gomez, seconded by
Hernandez, to approve the following:
1) award a three (3) year contract to
the Oldtimers Foundation to operate
the Fixed Route & Pacific Boulevard
Shuttle and Fiesta Taxi to operate
Demand Response Services; 2) that
Oldtimers Foundation Inc. continue to
operate the two (2) vans currently in
use; and 3) to continue services with
Diversified Paratransit on a month-to-
month basis for no more than 60
days, carried as follows: Ayes: Vice
Mayor Noguez, Council Members
Hernandez, Gomez, Loya, and Mayor
Escareño; Noes: None; Absent: None.
Regular Meeting 47.115 February 2,
2004
| Council Members Ed Escareño and Mario Gomez form the Transportation Committee. A contract worth nearly $4 million dollars for a three-year period to operate the city’s transit system was awarded during the February 2, 2004 Council Meeting. Council Members Ed Escareño and Mario Gomez chose to recommend the highest cost bidders, being also the least qualified and the most expensive transit companies, which provides the least service to residents. .......... BID RESULTS: 1. Southland Transit of Baldwin Park BEST QUALIFIED, LOWEST BID. 2. Diversified Paratransit of Huntington Park SECOND LOW BIDDER. 3. Fiesta Taxi of Gardena THIRD. 4. Oldtimers Foundation of Huntington Park – FOURTH AND LEAST QUALIFIED. ......... City staff recommended Southland Transit as the most qualified transit company. An independent transportation consultant, whom the city contracted with and paid several thousands of dollars for his services to review and evaluate bids, also recommended Southland Transit as the most qualified transit company. The independent transit consultant rated the Oldtimers as the LEAST qualified to provide Transit Service. The Oldtimers and Fiesta Taxi combined bids is approximately $22,000 more than the low bidder Council Members Ed Escareño and Mario Gomez rejected the recommendation of professional city staff and the highly paid independent consultant. |
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| Recent City Contracts See what a typical City Contract looks like ....... Dial-A-Ride City Attorney |
New Dial-A-Ride and fixed-route bus line to
be in operation April 18 in Huntington Park.
Wave Community Newspapers
By Arnold Adler, Staff Writer 12.MAY.04
HUNTINGTON PARK — Dial-A-Ride via taxi and
the city's first fixed-route bus system are
expected to begin April 18, according to Vivian
Garcia, assistant to City Manager Greg
Korduner.
The City Council approved the new system in
February but there was previously no specific
starting date.
The new system will include:
- Dial-A-Ride service to be offered by Fiesta
Taxi. The rides will be available seven days a
week, 24 hours a day, to any part of the city
and 10 medical sites outside the city, Garcia
said.
A new telephone number will be announced to
make pickup appointments. Until then,
residents may use the current number.
Diversified Paratransit will continue its current
free service to all ages until the new system
starts.
However, the new home pickup service will be
limited to senior citizens and the disabled. able-
bodied residents, including children who
currently are eligible for Dial-A-Ride, will be
required to use a fixed-route bus.
The cost will be 25 cents per one-way trip.
Vouchers of 10 tickets may be purchased in
advance, Garcia said.
- The Oldtimers Foundation, based in
Huntington Park, will provide minibuses for the
fixed-route service and a free shuttle along the
city's main shopping area, Pacific Boulevard
from Florence Avenue to Slauson Avenue.
The fixed-route system will offer a bus in each
direction on a major street every 30 minutes,
Garcia said.
That fare will be 50 cents per one-way trip.
Specific routes are to be announced later.
Exact hours of operation of the fixed-route and
Pacific Boulevard shuttle have not yet been
determined as of last week, Garcia said.
In selecting Fiesta and the Oldtimers, the
City Council Feb. 2 rejected
recommendations made by a transit
consultant and city staff, which
recommended Southland Transit of Baldwin
Park as the most qualified to provide
transportation, with Diversified Paratransit
second, Fiesta third and the Oldtimers the
least qualified.
Korduner said the new service, provided by
Fiesta and the Oldtimers, will cost the city
$3.9 million over the length of the three-
year contract.
Southland's bid for the three services was
about $22,000 less than the combined Fiesta
and Oldtimers cost.
Council members Ed Escareño and Mario
Gomez, who comprise the Transportation
Committee, said they wanted to give the
local group support.
They noted that Oldtimers provides fixed-route
services in Cudahy, Bell, and South Gate."
be in operation April 18 in Huntington Park.
Wave Community Newspapers
By Arnold Adler, Staff Writer 12.MAY.04
HUNTINGTON PARK — Dial-A-Ride via taxi and
the city's first fixed-route bus system are
expected to begin April 18, according to Vivian
Garcia, assistant to City Manager Greg
Korduner.
The City Council approved the new system in
February but there was previously no specific
starting date.
The new system will include:
- Dial-A-Ride service to be offered by Fiesta
Taxi. The rides will be available seven days a
week, 24 hours a day, to any part of the city
and 10 medical sites outside the city, Garcia
said.
A new telephone number will be announced to
make pickup appointments. Until then,
residents may use the current number.
Diversified Paratransit will continue its current
free service to all ages until the new system
starts.
However, the new home pickup service will be
limited to senior citizens and the disabled. able-
bodied residents, including children who
currently are eligible for Dial-A-Ride, will be
required to use a fixed-route bus.
The cost will be 25 cents per one-way trip.
Vouchers of 10 tickets may be purchased in
advance, Garcia said.
- The Oldtimers Foundation, based in
Huntington Park, will provide minibuses for the
fixed-route service and a free shuttle along the
city's main shopping area, Pacific Boulevard
from Florence Avenue to Slauson Avenue.
The fixed-route system will offer a bus in each
direction on a major street every 30 minutes,
Garcia said.
That fare will be 50 cents per one-way trip.
Specific routes are to be announced later.
Exact hours of operation of the fixed-route and
Pacific Boulevard shuttle have not yet been
determined as of last week, Garcia said.
In selecting Fiesta and the Oldtimers, the
City Council Feb. 2 rejected
recommendations made by a transit
consultant and city staff, which
recommended Southland Transit of Baldwin
Park as the most qualified to provide
transportation, with Diversified Paratransit
second, Fiesta third and the Oldtimers the
least qualified.
Korduner said the new service, provided by
Fiesta and the Oldtimers, will cost the city
$3.9 million over the length of the three-
year contract.
Southland's bid for the three services was
about $22,000 less than the combined Fiesta
and Oldtimers cost.
Council members Ed Escareño and Mario
Gomez, who comprise the Transportation
Committee, said they wanted to give the
local group support.
They noted that Oldtimers provides fixed-route
services in Cudahy, Bell, and South Gate."
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TRANSPORTATION SERVICE CONTRACTS
| "These cities still function in a relative vacuum....often the government officials aren't checked by anyone...and its almost as if its ripe for corruption" -Gregory Rodriguez, Senior Fellow, New American Foundation, Wave Community Newspapers |
