Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to establish and implement the policy for the City of Columbus’ new minority and women-owned business and small local business enterprise programs. The policy is based on the results of the City’s 2019 Disparity Study completed by Mason Tillman and Associates and accepted by Columbus City Council July 31, 2019. (Resolution # 0220X-2019). Based on the findings of the study, in collaboration with City Departments and external stakeholders, the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion shall establish and implement race-gender neutral and race-gender specific program remedies.
Title
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to establish and implement race and gender neutral and conscious program policies based on the findings and recommendations of the City of Columbus' July 2019 Disparity Study.
Body
WHEREAS, On July 31, 2019, Columbus City Council accepted the findings of the City of Columbus 2019 Disparity Study and the conclusions regarding minority and women-owned business enterprises and requested the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to develop an implementation plan to address the disparities found within the Study; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the direction of City Council, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with City Departments and external stakeholders, reviewed and prioritized the recommendations of the study; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion thereby developed a series of policy recommendations as delineated in an Executive Summary (attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference) based upon the Disparity Study conducted by Mason Tillman and Associates; and
WHEREAS, as an outcome of this process, the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion presents the following race and gender neutral policies for implementation that include, but are not limited to:
• Small Local Business Enterprise Program;
• Sheltered Market Program;
• Project Unbundling Policy; and
• Small Contracts Bond Waivers.
WHEREAS, as an outcome of this process as specifically supported by the results of the Disparity Study, the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion presents the following race and gender specific policies for implementation that include, but are not limited to:
• MBE/WBE Goals
• Professional Services Incentives
• Construction Bid Discounts
• Goods and Services Bid Discounts
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to authorize the Director to establish and implement race and gender neutral and conscious program policies, NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized to establish and implement policy changes to establish a race and gender neutral program, as well as, a race and gender specific program.
SECTION 2. That there is hereby created for the City of Columbus the new MBE/WBE and SLBE programs and the accompanying program policies, as further described in the attached Executive Summary, are hereby adopted.
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.