After a two-week review of a contentious contract for parking at Denver International Airport, the new aviation manager on Thursday sent a memo asking the Denver City Council to affirm the airport’s original selection.
“I believe the questions raised have been satisfactorily answered and do not warrant other actions to be taken,” Kim Day said in her memo.
She asked the council to vote Monday on her recommendation that the $85 million contract go to Cleveland-based Standard Parking.
The contract runs for five years with two possible one-year extensions.
She said that if the council rejects her recommendations, the airport will put the contract out for another round of bids or take over the parking operations and run it with city employees.
Two weeks ago, Day asked for a delay in consideration of the contract after several council members expressed unease over the airport’s choice. She said that as the newly hired aviation manager, she had not had time to review the contract.
The contract has generated concern among parking employees and labor officials who fear switching contractors could cause employees to shoulder more health care costs.
Jack Ricchiuto, Standard’s executive vice president, had criticized a closed-door meeting council members Chris Nevitt, Paul Lopez and Doug Linkhart had him attend last week with labor officials. Another councilman, Charlie Brown, has said the meeting left the perception that the three council members were trying to meddle with the original contract.
Day said her review found no reason for concern over a “large variation” in the annual management fees by competing bidders. The current operator, Ampco System Parking, submitted a $1.3 million annual management fee. Standard has proposed a much lower annual fee of $510,000.
Day asked the council to extend Ampco’s contract for six months. She said the six-month extension was needed to give the airport some flexibility and allow for a smooth transition.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
