CCMIN031913 - Laserfiche WebLink

noted that while there was initially significant public concern regarding this matter, much of this was related to concerns that the change in vendor was intended to reduce or minimize the children's theatrical programming," and said this is completely inaccurate. She reported that over 200 community members signed a petition and over 50 residents spoke personally in support of the SF Shakes contract. She said this is not a situation where the Council must deliberate between contrasting desires of the community, noting that not one individual has spoken in favor of the recommendation. She asked the Council to reject the Commission's recommendation and reopen the RFP process. Kristin Werder said the minutes of the Civic Arts Commission are a poor representation of what actually transpired and that residents were both admonished and minimized. She stated that they were told at the meeting that the Commission had already reached its decision and it would be a breach of process to consider further public comment. She also stated that only four Commissioners voted on the recommendation, two of whom were attending their first meeting as Commissions. She said that City has failed in its promise to award the contract to the most qualified vendor for the following reasons: BACT has been established for 9 years, SF Shake for over 30; BACT reaches 22,000 individuals annually, SF Shakes over 150,000; BACT produces theater for children by adult actors, SF Shakes produces theater by children. Furthermore, she said the City's RFP is an exact replica of the very program that SF Shakes designed and has run successfully. She also noted that SF Shake offers the same range of programs described by Ms. Andrade-Wax, but those are outside the scope of what was asked for. She said that a great audition does not always make for a great performance and asked the Council to reject the recommendation and reopen the RFP process. Tina Wagner said she also felt admonished for speaking about SF Shake as family. She described the accounting of her comments at that meeting as watered down and said her main point, which is that SF Shake has created an outstanding program that they should be allowed to build upon rather than replaced by a vendor that simply interviewed better, was not heard. Replacing SF Shake with BACT will cost the community unnecessary time and resources and quite likely the public's good opinion. She reported that one Commission member reported at that meeting that a decision had already been made and therefore the public's feelings could not be considered. She said this is not reflected in the Minutes and encouraged the Council to review the audio recording. She asked the Council to reopen the RFP process. Karen DeBaca Martens said her intent had not been to address the Council as Vice-Chair of the Civic Arts Commission, however, they she felt the public's comments warranted clarification. She said she served as one of the two members on the screening committee and that the process was conducted no differently than other RFPs for the City. She said a tremendous number of parents were broken hearted that SF Shakes had not received the contract based upon what were their own personal criteria, but that the Commission attempted to look at it from the perspective of what was best for all children. The Commission felt that BACT's educational programs were particularly outstanding, and never suggested at any point that SF Shake is not also a wonderful and reputable company. She said the acrimony referred to was in response to a number of negative comments regarding BACT, whose representatives were in the audience and that the Commission attempted only to minimize any undue negativity. She said the Commission followed the RFP and public processes to the letter and made a decision based on what it believes to be in the best interests of the community as a whole. Mr. Fialho explained that the screening committee process is a common process, especially in the community services department and similar in nature to subcommittees that are employed by the Council to review various things related to City policy, programs and activities. While he did not wish to diminish the comments received from the public, all of which are valid and significant, he said the Civic Arts Commission is not typically tasked with controversial issues or managing meetings like that already referred to. He suggested that some comments were made unintentionally or perhaps even misinterpreted but said this did not devalue the process that staff and the Commission followed in indentifying the vendor that would best support the goals of the community. He explained that when Pleasanton first selected SF Shakes over 10 years ago, they did not follow a vendor process. Staff City Council Minutes Page 8 of 13 March 19, 2013