City of Pueblo Reaffirms Integrity of Bath House RFP Process Following Public Remarks

PUEBLO - At the Monday, May 12 City Council meeting, a representative of Friends of City Park used the public forum to express frustration with the City's decision not to award a management agreement for the City Park Bath House facility to their organization. The City of Pueblo acknowledges the group's disappointment but stands by its transparent and competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which was applied fairly and consistently to all offerors.

The proposal from Friends of City Park, while rooted in community interest, did not meet several of the RFP's core requirements. Among the most significant issues, the proposal explicitly sought historic designation for the facility-something clearly prohibited in the RFP and previously rejected by City Council. It also failed to meet building code requirements for restroom capacity and proposed shifting maintenance and operational responsibilities to City staff, contrary to the RFP's stated intent.

"We made it clear from the outset that this project required a self-sustaining, code-compliant, and independently operated solution," said Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes. "Despite the clear language in the RFP, Friends of City Park knowingly submitted a proposal that didn't meet those standards."

While the City encourages thoughtful and collaborative community-led initiatives, this particular project was intended to create an attractive community amenity from a facility that would be renovated, operated, and maintained by a third-party under a proposed facility use agreement. The RFP was issued to identify a partner who could take full responsibility for restoring and operating the bath house without additional burden to City taxpayers.

Mayor Heather Graham added, "We welcome public input, but we also have a responsibility to ensure every proposal is evaluated fairly. The process was open, the criteria were clear, and the outcome was based on merit. We're not going to rewrite the rules after the fact, especially because of the lack of financial guarantee in order to complete the project."

The bathhouse, constructed during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) era, has suffered from significant structural issues related to groundwater infiltration and unstable soil conditions. These issues, combined with the need for modern amenities and ADA accessibility, led to the City's decision to seek updates to the bathhouse to serve future generations.

While grassroots efforts of the community are welcome and encouraged to preserve the bathhouse facility, adherence to the requirements of the RFP are essential for the responsible operation and ongoing maintenance of the building. The City of Pueblo maintains over 1.5 million square feet of building footprint across the City, striving to minimize the total lifecycle cost of all facilities operated under its care while implementing long-term solutions that benefit the broader Pueblo community.