On August 3, 2018, the City issued RFP #2018-204 in respect of the redevelopment of the Sailfish ballfields, with proposals due on September 12, 2018. The City received four proposals. The selection committee ranked the proposals with the two top ranked firms making presentations to a joint meeting of the City Commission, Community Redevelopment Agency and Community Redevelopment Board on November 26th 2018.
Paragraph 1.6 of the RFP states that respondents shall not contact any member of the selection committee, City employee or City elected official during this solicitation process.
Paragraph 4.1 (H), Terms and Conditions; states, All prospective Contractors are hereby cautioned not to contact any member of the Stuart City Commission, the City Manager, the City Attorney (except to discuss grievance matters) or any member of the selection committee. All questions and contacts must be made through the Procurement Office. Attempts to lobby or persuade through other channels will result in disqualification.
The purpose of the "cone of silence" is to prevent lobbying by a prospective candidate prior to the presentations. However, in the present matter, there are two "Respondents" which gave presentations to the Commission as well as a "prospective contractor" (the current licensee of the property). In most cases, the cone of silence is lifted after the City Commission meeting as an award has taken place. For all intents and purposes, the cone of silence served its intended purpose by remaining in effect until November 26, 2018.
At its regular meeting on November 26th 2018, the City Commission approved a motion to table the decision for a period of 90 days. In order to maintain fairness to all parties, it is in the best interest of the City to end the cone of silence effective January 14, 2019.