Small‑business owners press city procurement on responsiveness; staff promise follow‑up

During public comment, several business owners described breakdowns in procurement follow‑through: missed pre‑bid conferences, unanswered emails and inconsistent contact points. Dana Campbell Latimer described repeated outreach that went unanswered, pressing the city for a promise of better backend support and clearer procurement help for applicants. "THERE WAS A PRE‑CONFERENCE CALL AND NO ONE FROM THE CITY SHOWED UP," she said, describing an experience that left firms uncertain about bid processes.

City procurement leaders acknowledged the problem and pledged to follow up directly with affected firms after the event, offering on‑site assistance for certification and procurement questions. The procurement director and staff committed to improving internal processes and to meet privately with attendees who documented missed outreach to help restore trust and clear routes to opportunities.