1989-09-06 CC MinutesCITY OF FARMERS BRANCH
CITY COUNCIL
CONTINUATION OF REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 6, 1989
CONFERENCE ROOM
MANSKE LIBRARY
3:00 P.M.
The following members of the City Council were present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
Councilmembers
Dave Blair
Jeff Binford
Bob Phelps
Calla Davis
Bill Moses
Ron Pyle
The following members of the City Administration were present:
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
J
L
City Attorney
City Secretary
City Engineer
Director of Finance
Public Information Officer
Recording Secretary
Richard L. Escalante
John Burke
John Boyle
Ruth Ann Parish
Jerry Murawski
Doug Vanderslice
Donna Huerta
Brenda Anderson
Mayor Blair reconvened the continuation of Item D.10 of the
September 5, 1989, City Council Meeting at 3:04 p.m. on
September 6, 1989. The meeting was tape recorded.
D.10 CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 89-099 AWARDING A PROPOSAL
FOR TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND COMPUTER CABLING FOR
THE NEW CITY HALL AND OTHER LOCATIONS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE
ACTION.
Mayor Blair stated the explanation was part of public record
and he would not need to read again. He stated the Council
wanted to look into the proposals for the telephone
communication system and computer cabling in more detail to
make a more intelligent decision. Mayor Blair stated there
were two issues to consider in making the decision. (1)
Technical requirements of proposal (2) Strength of companies
involved. If corporate strength is a big factor, Bell South
would have to be considered also. Mayor Blair opened the
meeting to discussion by Council.
Mayor Blair recognized Councilman Pyle who asked Jim Sinopoli
if there was any difference between the Centel and Southwestern
Bell proposals except cost or service ability.
Vol. 56, Page 122
Mayor Blair recognized Jim Sinopoli, consultant OTM
Engineering, who explained the original bid from Southwestern
Bell was for a voice mail larger than required. OTM went back
to Southwestern Bell and asked them to reduce cabling to the
same as the other proposals and to have the same number of
outlets. Mr. Sinopoli explained four of the bidders (including
Southwestern Bell and Centel) bid identical Northern Telecom
equipment.
Mr. Sinopoli addressed the question of service ability. In the
proposal, a maintenance and service report were required.
These were used to determine the number of technicians
available within a thirty mile area and the workload.
Councilman Pyle
Bell, -~o explain
Mayor Blair recoi
proposal.
Councilman Moses
reflected in the
asked Jim Fuchs, representative Southwestern
their service and maintenance information.
jnized Mr. Fuchs who explained their service
questioned if Southwestern Bell's change was
prices provided to Council.
Mr. Sinopoli stated yes.
Councilman Moses stated if the equipment and service are the
same, then price is the only difference.
Councilmember Davis questioned Mr. Sinopoli as to difference in
original bid and bids now.
Mr. Sinopoli stated the big difference was due to the deletion
of the microwave system.
Mayor Pro Tem Binford summarized the comparisons of AT&T,
Centel and Southwestern Bell. He stated Southwestern Bell is
approximately $20,000 more than Centel and AT&T is
approximately $17,000 more than Southwestern Bell. Mayor Pro
Tem Binford stated his experience in dealing with phone systems
has led him to choose a system installed and serviced by the
same vendor. He stated this can alleviate the problem of
vendors pointing fingers at one another when there is a problem
and not taking responsibility. He stated the difference
between Southwestern Bell and Centel averages to about $300 a
month on the third party lease/purchase. Mayor Pro Tem Binford
said this is a very important part of our serving our citizens.
Mayor Blair recognized City Manager Richard Escalante. Mr.
Escalante stated the servicing of the lines would be through a
third party vendor. Southwestern Bell does not service the
City Hall phones at this time.
Vol. 56, Page 123
Mayor Pro Tem Binford stated he would not want to put the City
through the risk of having a service problem and it not be
handled promptly due to vendors not taking responsibility.
Southwestern Bell and Centel responded to questions of service
and response time.
Mayor Blair recognized Carolyn Spilker, representative
Southwestern Bell, who stated after reviewing the line item
proposals of Centel and Southwestern Bell, she stated
corrections in their bid that would reduce the cost by $18,260.
Mr. Sinopoli was asked to respond to that. He stated the bids
were reviewed extensively and were bid the same way. He did
not feel the corrections were there.
Mr. Escalante stated as a matter of policy Council needs to be
concerned with the basic documents and proposals.
Clarifications were requested when needed for factual
transmittal of change without anyone knowing how it would
affect the bottom line.
Councilman Phelps stated that if we do not take the advice of
our consultants, this situation could be faced on every bid
presented to Council.
Mayor Blair stated the consultants have reviewed and evaluated
the entire procedure. Then Staff went back and looked at cost
more. To overlook Bell South's bid and go with Southwestern
Bell, there must be a real overriding situation.
A motion by Councilman Pyle, a second by Councilman Phelps, was
made to adopt Resolution No. 89-099 awarding a proposal for
telephone communication system and computer cabling for the new
City Hall and other locations to Centel in the amount of
$276,003. The motion carried with a vote of four to one, "for"
Councilmembers Moses, Phelps, Davis and Pyle, "against" Mayor
Pro Tem Binford.
A motion by Councilman Phelps, a second by Councilmember Davis,
all voting "aye", adjourned the meeting at 3:55 p.m.
Mayor Dave Blair
City Secretary
Vol. 56, Page 124