Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/198837
Sarasota News Leader October 25, 2013 Page 44 They also asked that the North Port City Commission provide them a scope of services for long-term management of Warm Mineral Springs within 90 days of the date of their letter. Chairwoman Carolyn Mason signed the letter on Oct. 23. Moreover, they agreed unanimously with a motion by Commissioner Joe Barbetta that the City of North Port's new solicitation for a short-term operator could be an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), a Request for Proposals (RFP) or any other legally authorized competitive process. That was incorporated into the letter. If the City Commission pursued only another request for bids, as it did during the summer, the county commissioners said they feared a protracted shutdown of the resort, which has been closed since June 30 when the lease with Cypress Lending Inc. ended. They also heard from North Port City Attorney Rob Robinson that if the recommended winner of the recent bid process — WMS Sarasota Management LLC — chooses to submit another proposal without a change in its corporate makeup, it will not be considered for a new bid award. We can't do anything … until potentially there is a new election in the City of North Port that changes that [board makeup]. But that's up to the citizens of North Port to make that decision. They may agree with those three people to say, 'We want it to be a park.' Charles Hines Vice Chairman Sarasota County Commission A welcome sign greeted visitors to the North Port resort. Photo by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons Robinson made it clear that, under North Port's procurement guidelines, WMS Sarasota Management would not be deemed a responsible bidder because it failed to execute the contract the City and County commissions awarded it in September and it never provided the required bond as stipulated in that contract. He agreed that an ITN process would be "a way to deal with that issue." In an email exchange last week with North Port City Manager Jonathan Lewis, Alexander Berkovich — the personal attorney for WMS Sarasota Management principal Dr. Grigory Pogrebinsky — sought an extension of the period of the short-term contract from 12 months to 24, writing, "[M]y client does not see a realistic opportunity for at least recouping in 12 months substantial costs (including marketing and 24% revenue fee to the City and the County) of the operation that would start from the standstill position since the Springs' facilities are empty and the Springs has been closed for months."