Council applies local preference to bid for police vehicles

Applying the city's local preference policy, the Yuma City Council Wednesday awarded a contract to a Yuma dealership for the purchase of several police vehicles.

Without discussion, the council awarded a bid to Bill Alexander Ford Lincoln for the purchase of 11 fully equipped vehicles at a cost of $412,051 for use by the Yuma Police Department. A Mesa dealership actually had the lowest bid of $37,137 per car. But by applying the local preference to Alexander's bid of $37,459 per car, the Yuma dealership was awarded the contract.

In February, the Yuma City Council adopted an ordinance that authorizes a 5 percent local preference to businesses located within the city when bidding to provide municipal improvements, materials, equipment, supplies, construction and professional services. The action followed approval by city voters of an amendment to the Yuma City Charter to authorize the local preference.

The policy had been sought for some time by business leaders who appealed to the city to provide a competitive edge to local businesses when bidding on municipal contracts, particularly during the economic downturn.

The contract with Alexander authorizes the purchase of additional vehicles as needed for the same price over the next 12 months, depending on the availability of funds.

Bid packages were distributed to 19 vendors, including two local businesses. Five bids were received, including the one local bid from Alexander.

In other action, the council authorized a pre-annexation development agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad Co. for property at 2441 E. Gila Ridge Road. The property currently is developed with a warehouse. The new owner intends to develop railroad worker shift change offices and showers there, which will require additional water utility connections.

The council deferred action until January on another request for a pre-annexation development agreement, this one by Centro Cristiano Aqua Viva for property at 12677 S. Avenue 3 1/2 E. The property currently is being developed with a church and the owner intends to connect to city water service to provide fire protection.

Councilman Paul Johnson, participating in the meeting telephonically, raised a concern that the property might be in the high noise zone for Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and Yuma International Airport and therefore not an allowable use.

Jennifer Albers, principal planner for the city, responded that she didn't have a noise contour map with her but believed the property is in a zone where a use such as a church would be allowed with additional noise attenuation.

When Johnson remained concerned about the issue, Councilman Cody Beeson moved to defer action on the resolution until the council's next meeting.

That meeting will be Jan. 16, preceded by a work session on Jan. 15. Earlier, the council had voted to cancel its meetings for the first week in January, which would have fallen on the New Year's holiday.