Council Lets Disney Skip Bidding Process
The City Council has amended an agreement with Walt Disney Co., allowing the company to make improvements in the city’s resort area without going through the typical bidding process.
The city had agreed earlier that Disney would manage construction of several public improvement projects, including a $90-million parking garage for the new Disney theme park and expanded Convention Center; a pedestrian street bridge; and the relocation of power transmission lines.
The amendment will allow Disney to make the improvements itself.
City Atty. Jack L. White said competitive bidding would be of no advantage to the public in this case. Disney, he said, has agreed to cover any cost overruns and has guaranteed completion of the improvements and the second Disney theme park by June 30, 2001.
The city earlier this week sold more than $510-million in bonds to finance improvements in the tourist area and the Convention Center expansion. White said the Convention Center expansion will be open for bidding.
--BY JOHN POPE, DEBRA CANO AND KIMBERLY BROWER
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