City of Columbus - File #: 3372-2018

• File #: 3372-2018
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 11/26/2018
• In control: Economic Development & Small and Minority Business Committee
• On agenda: 12/10/2018
• Final action: 12/13/2018
• Title: To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. for conducting a disparity study; to authorize the transfer of $25,000.00 between Departments within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $12,200.00 from the Electricity Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $77,600.00 from the Water Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $87,000.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $23,200.00 from the Storm Sewer Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the Street Construction Maintenance Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/13/2018	1	ACTING CITY CLERK	Attest
12/12/2018	1	MAYOR	Signed
12/10/2018	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
12/10/2018	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass

Explanation

BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD for a disparity study. The disparity study will analyze city procurement operations to determine whether there is a disparity between the availability of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MBE/WBEs) and the city's utilization of those businesses. The last disparity study was conducted over a decade ago and Columbus has seen a tremendous amount of growth since then. The findings of this study will guide and inform ODI's work to ensure fairness, equity, and inclusion in the city's procurement practices. This modification is necessary to add additional funds to the contract to provide for an additional data review period to ensure the validity of the underlying data and the resulting conclusions prior to the issuance of a final report.

Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd is a nationally recognized African American owned consulting firm that has conducted disparity studies for numerous cities throughout the country. They have conducted more than 134 studies which represent roughly 30 percent of the disparity studies completed since Croson was decided on January 23, 1989.

FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $250,000.00 collectively from the Electricity Operating Fund, the Water Operating Fund, the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund, the Storm Sewer Operating Fund, the Street Construction Maintenance Fund, and the General Fund with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD for the modification to the disparity study contract. Previous ordinance 0075-2017 authorized $435,275.00 for the disparity study. Total for both ordinances is $685,275.00.

Emergency action is requested so that the disparity study can be finalized as soon as possible.

Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, L...