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Discussion ensued relating to specifics for the RFP. It was noted that these specifics could not <br />be put in the RFP until we received the information from the Met Council. <br />City Administrator Ulrich summarized that it would be a standard bid with an alternative if the <br />City provides all the equipment. That way we can cost that out. We can look at the used bus <br />market. <br />Councilmember Look felt that it shouldn't have taken that long for the Met Council to get this <br />information back to us. He stated he is not in favor of purchasing busses. Once we get our rail <br />station, we do not want to keep operating our bus. We can look into it but he did not want to <br />burn a lot of time with this. He noted he does want to move ahead with the RFP. <br />Director of Public Works Olson stated we have two more six -month extensions we can ask of <br />First Transit and they cannot really raise prices. They may think they are the only RFP and bid <br />higher. We put ourselves in an unusual situation. We may get additional bids. <br />Councilmember Jeffrey suggested you could make the effective date 12 months out. It's public <br />data but what they paid is what they paid but the start date is critical. We should craft the date to <br />get us through two extensions. <br />Councilmember Elvig was pleased about the comment about the ridership dropping when the rail <br />station comes. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated that his problem is waiting for the Met Council and asked why <br />we are going about it this way. He did not want to buy anyone equipment — just have them turn <br />in their bids. <br />Mr. Olson stated he would just like to have clarification. Is the direction to have the start date of <br />October 1, 2011, or sooner than that with the potential of closure. <br />Councilmember Dehen inquired what the RFP response was in Forest Lake to which Mr. Olson <br />replied one. <br />Mr. Ulrich stated we are just in this until we have a train so we need to send the message we are <br />not in the bus service permanently — only until the train arrives. We need to look at how this <br />message is relayed. October 2011 is when we hope to have construction. <br />Councilmember Look asked if staff has talked to them about extending. <br />Mr. Olson stated he thought they would. <br />Councilmember Look suggested having an RFP just done locally and if it came in higher, maybe <br />we could lock them down to a couple of extensions. He felt there was a lot of value in working <br />relationships too. <br />City Council Work Session / September 7, 2010 <br />Page7of9 <br />