Mayor Linda Gorton today announced two public meetings seeking input into the City’s disparity study. The study is assessing and identifying disparities that may affect disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by minorities and/or women when doing business with the City.
“We want to ensure that our purchasing process is fair, and that we do whatever we can to encourage these businesses to participate in city business,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. The disparity study is one of the recommendations made by the Commission on Racial Justice & Equality to help end systemic racism in the community.
The Zoom meetings are set for:
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
zoom.us/j/96237285758?pwd=UElXaEJlL0J4WHR5RWFKSTN2THFmdz09
Meeting ID: 962 3728 5758
Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
zoom.us/j/98349771764?pwd=TGlXb2hZU1pKV05UUDdPYzZjRHBqdz09
Meeting ID: 983 4977 1764
Attendees will have an opportunity to share any comments and first-hand experiences about doing business in the local marketplace, and working with the City. Feedback from the public meetings will be used in the study’s analysis.
The study is analyzing city expenditures from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020 to determine the percentage of dollars the City spent with disadvantaged business enterprises, and businesses owned by minorities and/or women.
The study will also access the percentage of dollars those businesses might expect to receive based on their availability to perform specific types and sizes of contracts.
The study’s consultants, BBC Research & Consulting, will review marketplace conditions to determine whether there are barriers that make it difficult for disadvantaged businesses or businesses owned by women and/or minorities to compete for city business.
The final report is expected to be completed in the summer of 2022.
