Council member challenges expenditure of $375,000 for city furniture

An open contract for $375,000 worth of office furniture over the next three years proposed by city staff took fire as Councilmember Claudia Billde la Peña questioned the consent calendar expenditure.

City finance director Candis Hong, whose name was on the report presented to the council on Sept. 23, was asked why the furniture was from "top-of-the-line furniture companies" and not cheaper.

"Was there not any furniture that is as efficient and less expensive?" Bill-de la Peña asked.

The city staff recommended the council award the modular office furniture and installation contract to Purchase Planners Group and McAllister Office Pavilion for three years with two one-year options, not to exceed $75,000 per year for each of the two companies. Services would be requested as needed with no single work order to exceed $30,000.

"Certainly there must be other companies out there where the quality is pretty decent, and it would be much more costeffective," said Bill-de la Peña.

"The decision was made 15 years ago when we moved in this building to have that type of furniture," Hong said.

Staying with the same type of furniture the city already has, Hong said, would be more costefficient, since replacements would fit in with the original designs.

Bill-de la Peña seemed to disagree with the need for consistency.

"Now would be a good time to look into different options that would be less expensive," Bill-de la Peña said.

The vote was 4-to-1 in favor of the furniture, with Bill-de la Peña voting against it.

The consent calendar is supposed to be items- usually expenditures- that require no discussion, according to city rules.

After the meeting, spokesperson Andrew Powers said no actual money was spent—the council just locked in prices for items they might need over the next three years. The city isn't required to purchase anything unless it's needed it at city hall, the libraries or the municipal center.

Those facilities were furnished back in the 1980s, Powers said.

"This office furniture is not luxury office furniture—it's durable. It includes desks, chairs, cabinets and tables that last forever," he said.

Sometimes furniture is rearranged, something wears out or breaks, someone new is hired or something needs to be arranged ergonomically. The city might need a new piece or two to add to what they already have, Powers said.

"It saves more in the long run to be able to use what we already have," he said.