FOOD PACT DELAYED FOR BIDDING PROBE.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

The first long-term concession agreement for Sherman Oaks Castle Park in the Sepulveda Basin ran into problems Wednesday as a key city panel said the Recreation and Parks Department's bidding process may need an overhaul.

``Every time I see a contract from the Parks Department, it seems like there's a problem with it,'' Councilman Tony Cardenas said after the council's Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee declined to recommend any contract approvals for the park's arcade and food concessions.

``It just seems that something is wrong over there. We are supposed to have independent panels looking at these and making recommendations, and I'm not sure it is being done in the most professional fashion.''

The matters were sent to the full City Council for consideration Friday, but Cardenas said he wants to delay a vote on the final contract so a complete review can be done.

Recreation and Parks officials said the Parks Commission has already asked for a study of how bidding procedures can be improved.

Most of the dispute Wednesday involved the proposed transfer of the food concession from Burrito King, which has been at the facility for more than 13 years, to Monterey Concessions Group.

Julian Montoya of Burrito King said the bidding process did not give credit for all he has done over the years and there was no justification for changing the operation.

Councilman Tom LaBonge said he was concerned about the change, particularly after Montoya helped the city revive the miniature golf course in 1993.

``It just seems to me we ought to take that into consideration when we have someone who volunteered to help the city,'' LaBonge said.

But parks officials said their scoring system ranked Monterey higher and the new concession group offered higher revenues for the city.

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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