LOS ANGELES : Council Panel Opposes New Bidding on Parking Contract

Troubled by the appearance of favoritism in an earlier competition, a key Los Angeles City Council committee urged Friday that the Airport Commission drop plans to reopen bidding for a multimillion-dollar parking lots contract.

The action by the council’s Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee marked the latest controversy stemming from the commission’s decision to reopen competition for a contract to manage parking at Los Angeles International, Van Nuys and Ontario airports. Originally, commissioners overlooked a company recommended by staff and moved to award the coveted contract to a firm whose partners include a longtime ally of Mayor Tom Bradley. But after airport staff raised questions about that firm’s partnership arrangement, the commission decided to throw out all proposals and invite new bids for the contract.

On Friday, however, the committee recommended that the commission use the same companies and proposals already submitted for the contract. To do otherwise, committee members said, would raise further questions about the handling of the contract.