DIVERSITY UTILIZATION BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

MBE/WBE - Minority Owned and Women Owned Businesses
March 28, 2018, 4 pm, County-City Building 4th floor
Present: Councilwoman Karen White, Councilman Tim Scott, Common Council Attorney Bob Palmer, Director of Public Works Eric Horvath, Purchasing Michael Schimt, Diversity Officer Christina Brooks, City Clerk Kareemah Fowler
Appointees Present: Ms. Cheryl Ashe, Mr. Jonathon Gonzalez
Absent: Jas Alexander
Need to fill appointee vacancy from the Chamber of Commerce

Last meeting was held 2015. There was a 2 year dormant period with no meetings.
There were 6 standing recommendations from a June 2013 meeting:
* Accept additional certifications from 2 agencies
* Expand ordinance #10081-11 to include local minority owned and women owned businesses
* Insert "Good faith efforts" into Section 14.5-3(e)(6)
* Change reporting relationship with Diversity Compliance Officer
* Change the title of the Diversity Officer
* Recommend Personnel & Finance Subcommittee Chair as a liason
Motion by Rev. Breckenridge and 2nd by Sam Centellas, vote 5-0

* Ms. White - Need to review the Ordinance and 6 point summary
* Ms. Brooks - 
  Dirverstiy Purchasing Report
  Outreach Events
  Disparity Study
  Legislative Intent & Compliance
  Make recommendations to the City
  Need to eliminate barriers
  Training and outreach
  Handbook changes
  Simplicity for the City to buy
  Mentoring
  Need department procurement forecasts
  Will look at those that are $50K or more per purchase
  State/Federal guildlines for Disparity Study - Hired someone to do this in April
* Mr. Horvath says strengthening the "Good Faith Effort" and helping them get bonds would help
  Bidding in for Public Works and Direct Purchasing are different processes
  Need to also look at Sub-contractors
* Mr. Gonzalez will look at outreach to the Latino Chamber

* There are currently 16 certifiying agencies online that range from free to $300
* They must be recognized by the State of Indiana
* Need to have been in business for a certain number of years, show payroll records, I9's, licenses, bonding and tax records

PURCHASING:
* $101,702,744.20 of purchasing in 2017
* 5,715 Purchase Orders
* $773,120 or 0.76% were Minority Owned Businesses
* $1,122,451 or 1.10% were Women Owned Businesses
* Combined this was $1,895,000 in 2017 which is 1.86%, or .06% improvement over 2016
* 1,349 registered vendors, 4 are Minority and 20 were Women Businesses, but many were not from this area - California, Illinois, Colorado, etc.
Ms. Ashe - There needs to be more emphasis on local businesses

CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Mr. Brown commented at a Council Meeting says it needs to be easier for people to get permitted by the Building Department

MICHIANA OBSERVER COMMENTS:
* Need to be more "Green/Environmental" purchases to give us a better future
* Upfront materials and carrying costs can often be an obstacle to small businesses who do not have working capital or time to go through certification
* Also track Union Labor that is local
* Document how this is tracked with Parks building directly with their own building permit and not bidding out
* Both SCORE and SBA counseling is available for small businesses on Wednesday Mornings at 9 am at 101Co3 in Mishawaka after the weekly networking meeting

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