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>> CLERK: CHAIR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> PELÁEZ: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE MEETING.
WE HAD A MEETING ON OCTOBER OCTOBER 31.
DEBBIE PREPARED THE MINUTES. >>
A SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES, AYE.
NUMBER 21 -- NUMBER 21 A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SBEDA ORDINANCE. WE HAVE A VERY SMART LAWYER IN THE ROOM WHO I THINK WILL BE APPRECIATIVE FOR ME SAYING SOME OF THE REASONS WE ARE AMENDING THIS ORDINANCE ARE LEGAL IN NATURE AND MANY OF US MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS. SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS MAY NOT GET ANSWERS IN AN OPEN MEETING, SOME WILL REQUIRE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO INVOKE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO THAT WE CAN GO TALK OFF LINE WITH OR ATTORNEY TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
PLEASE DON'T BE OFFENDED IF THE ATTORNEY TOPPED AND SAID WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT. SO WITH THAT, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING A LITTLE ABOUT SBEDA ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TODAY. BEFORE WE KICK OFF, I WANT TO PROVIDE A QUICK HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF THE 2023 DISPARITY STUDY BECAUSE THAT IS PHASE 1 OF THE PROCESS YOU ADOPTED IN AUGUST AND NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO PHASE 2. THE RETURN OF THE IS A DADE ABOUT ORDINANCE IS PROMOTE THE USE OF SMALL AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET AREA.
THE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN THE EARLY '890S BUT IT'S BEEN AMENDED MOAT NOTABLY IN 2010 AND 2016 AND WE'RING ABOUT TO BE RECOMMENDING SEE TWEAKS IN A LITTLE BIT. THIS IS A RECAP OF HOW FAR WE'VE COME. AS YOU SEE IT WAS 10%, BUT OUR LATEST STUDY HAS US UP TO 53 PERCENT.
THIS IS A GOOD APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON AGAINST OTHER COMMUNITIES. REALLY BENCHMARKING OTHER TEXAS CITIES BUT ACROSS THE NATION AS WELL.
DISPARITY RATIOS ARE THAT NORMALIZING WAYS TO MEASURE YOURSELF BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S AVAILABILITY IS DIFFERENT SO WE MAY HAVE 25% BUT ANOTHER COMMUNITY MAY HAVE 10.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE AT 100% PARITY.
THEY UTILIZE 10%, THEY WOULD BE AT 100.
OF ALL THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS TEXAS, ONLY TWO EVEN MEET THAT MARK, US AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND YOU WILL SEE WHERE A WHOLE 100 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THEM AND PROUD OF THAT FIGURE AS WELL.
JUST TO RETAP, AS A REMINDER WE HAVE TO DO THIS LEGALLY.
YOU HAVE TO GENDER CONSCIOUS ELEMENT TO IT.
THERE'S TWO TESTS. THE FIRST IS DISPARITY.
AND THE SECOND TEST YOU HAVE TO TAILOR THE STUDY FINDINGS ON THE PROGRAM YOU IMPLEMENT.
THE FINDINGS SAID THE SBEDA PROGRAM HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, HOWEVER THOSE WEREN'T SPREAD ACROSS ALL GROUPS. THEY FOUND MULTIPLE DESPAIR FIST FOR MINORITY OWNED WOMEN, SALES RATES, PAIRIAL RATES, ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND ALL THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THAT. THIS IS A QUICK RECAP OF THE CHART REGARDING THE DIFFERENT FIRMS WE MEASURE.
AVAILABILITY IN MARKETPLACE, HOW MUCH WE PAID THEM AND IF WE MET THE GOAL. IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CHART AND LOOK AT M/WBE, ABOUT 25% EXIST IN THE SAN ANTONIO MSA TAILORED TO WHAT THE CITY BUYS.
WE PAID 53% OF OUR DOLLARS TO THAT GROUP.
THERE ARE SOME ROWS WHERE YOU WILL SEE A COMBINED NEGATIVE 1.4% DEFICIENCY SO THERE'S DEFINITELY ROOM TO GROW. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS. WHAT GUIDED US THROUGH THIS
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PROCESS. WE HAD THREE GOALS.THE FIRST THE STUDY DID RECOMMEND CONTINUANCE OF THE PROGRAM. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD GIVEN ALL THOSE MARKETPLACE DISPAY ADVERTISE, BUT THERE ARE STRATEGIC ADJUSTMENTS WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING AND THOSE ARE NARROWLY TAILORED TO THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY. GUIDED BY COLETTE HOLT AND OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL. SO WE HAVE, OF COURSE, LOOKED AT PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND TOOLS AND PROCESSES. LAST WE CONTINUE TO HEAR IN GENERAL DOING BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC ENTITIES IN THE THE IS IS DIFFICULT, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE IT LESS COMPLICATED TO ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE AND LET FOLKS KNOW HOW IT CAN BETTER HELP THEM SO THEY CAN JOIN THE PARTY. VENDOR, WHO EVEN CAN GET BENEFITS FROM THIS PROGRAM. CURRENTLY WE REQUIRE TWO DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
THE FIRST IS FIRMS HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AS A SMALL BUSINESS. AND SECOND, THEY HAVE TO BE LOCATED BY HEADQUARTERS OR SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS PRESENCE IN OUR SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN AREA, BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
THE FIRST CHANGE WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS RELATED TO THAT CERTIFICATION PROCESS. CURRENTLY BUSINESSES WILL PROVIDE THEIR BUSINESS TAX REPORTS.
THE FEDERAL THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS AND SO LONG AS THAT BUSINESS TAX RECORDS FALL BELOW THAT STANDARD THEY GET CERTIFIED AS A SMALL BUSINESS.
WE WANT TO GO FURTHER. WE WANT TO ADD A PERSONAL NET WORTH STANDARD. THOSE TAKING ADVANTAGE ARE THOSE CALLED ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
THEY ARE NOT INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY ON THEIR OWN.
THIS ALIGNS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM WHICH HAS A CURRENT STANDARD OF 1.32 MILLION.
AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT MOVING FORWARD, BUT BE MINDFUL OF THE PAPERWORK OF HOW MUCH EXTRA THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT SO LOOKING INTO AN AATTESTATION PROCESS.
THEY HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN OUR SAN ANTONIO MSA.
AGAIN, THERE'S TWO WAYS YOU CAN MEET THAT.
IS FIRST IS HEADQUARTERED. THE NEXT IS SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS PRESENCE. THAT FIRM MAY HAVE A HEAD QUARTERS OUT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS BUT THEY HAVE AN OFFICE HERE AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR AND 20% OF EMPLOYEES WORK OUT OF THE SENATE OFFICE.
THEY GET BENEFITS JUST LIKE A HEAD QUARTERED FIRM WOULD.
THE REMAINING 96% ARE HEADQUARTERED IN OUR MSA.
AFTER LISTENING TO EXTENSIVE FEEDBACK, WE ARE RECOMMENDING WE LIMB TONIGHT THAT PROVISION.
THIS WOULD JUST MEAN HEAD QUART EVERYDAY FIRMS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SBEDA ELEMENTS MOVING FORWARD.
WE REACHED OUT TO MORE THAN 1,000 PARTICIPANTS AND NEAR 70% AGREED YEAH, THESE BENEFITS PROBABLY SHOULD JUST GO TO FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN AREA. ON HOW MUCH DOLLARS WE PAY TO SMALL MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, WE TRIED TO PUT CHARTS UP TO HOW THAT IMPACT COULD RESULT IN UTILIZATION FIGURES AND THE FIRST CHART LOOKS BETWEEN FY 21 AND 23 AND TAKES AN ANNUAL AVERAGE. HOW MANY OF THESE FOLKS THAT QUALIFY DO WE PAY. ABOUT 1.8% OF ALL UTILIZATION THAT COMES THROUGH OUR DOOR.
IF WE REMOVE THIS PROVISION, ABOUT 50% WOULD STICK WITH SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE FIRMS BECAUSE THEY WON CONTRACTS WITHOUT SBEDA BENEFITS. IT WAS A LOW BID CONTRACT, FOR EXAMPLE. WE DID FIND INSTANCES WHERE NEARLY 40% WOULD IN FACT GO BACK TO HEADQUARTERED FIRMS HERE. WE THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE AND SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY HAD INDICATED THEY WANTED THROUGH THAT SURVEY. THE NEXT THING IS MORE OF AN INTERNAL PROCESS, BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND THAT'S HOW WE SET SBEDA TOOLS ON OUR CITY SOLICITATIONS.
JUST QUICK HISTORY, THE SBEDA ORDINANCE HAS ABOUT NINE TOOLS, A RACE AND GENDER NEUTRAL MANNER AS WELL AS RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS MANNER.
RACE AND GENDER NEUTRAL MEANS IT'S ELIGIBLE TO ANY CERTIFIED SMALL BUSINESS LOCATED IN OUR MSA.
RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS, YOU HAVE TO ALSO BE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED. EVEN THOUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THE ORDINANCE, WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE, WE RECOMMEND TOOLS
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TO BE APPLIED TO CITY CONTRACTS.IT GOES IN FRONT OF A WHOLE ENTIRE GOAL SETTING COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF CITY STAFF, US, OF COURSE, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT BUYING THE GOOD OR SERVICE, AND THEN THERE ARE SOMETIMES CITIZENS WHO CAN VOTE ON THINGS OVER $3 MILLION. WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO ELIMINATE THAT GOAL SETTING COMMITTEE AND ALLOW THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO SET THOSE TOOLS ON PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHY ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THIS SLIDE. WE LOOKED AT THREE FISCAL YEARS, FY 21 THROUGH 23 AND ABOUT 550 SOLICITATIONS CAME THROUGH OUR OFFICE. NEVER ONCE DID A TOOL RECOMMENDATION CHANGE. IF WE RECOMMENDED A CONTRACTING GOAL, NEVER DID THE COMMITTEE COME BACK AND SAY YOU SHOULD ELIMINATE THAT CONTRACTING GOAL.
SEVEN OUT OF THE 550 THEY DID CHANGE THE TOOL WEIGHT.
WHEN I SAY CONTRACTING GOALS, WE CAN APPLY THEM UP TO 40%. IT'S BASED ON DATA INDICATORS. WE MAY COME AND SAY THIS CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE A 30% GOAL, THE GOAL SETTING COMMITTEE MAY SAY THAT SHOULD HAVE A 20% GOAL.
BUT THEY'VE ONLY DONE THAT EXCEPT EVEN OUT OF THE 552 TIMES. WHAT THAT RESULTS IS PROJECTS -- AS WE GATHER VOTERS AND TRYING TO GET ALL THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURES DONE ON EACH OF THESE PROJECTS, AND IT ALSO RESULTS IN OUR STAFF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DO MORE OUTREACH AND LETTING FOLKS KNOW THINGS ARE MANY COULD GO OUT THE DOOR AND PREPARE BECAUSE MANY TIMES THEY NEED AS MANY DAYS AS POSSIBLE TO GET THEM OUT THE DOOR.
THE COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THEY STILL VERY MUCH HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER EVERYTHING IN THE SBEDA ORDINANCE AND MEETING THE GOALS EACH AND EVERY MONTH. NOW LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE TOOLS. SO FAR ACTUAL TOOLS, THERE'S NINE OF THEM EARLIER, ONE OF THEM WE WANT TO MAKE SOME ADDITIONS TO. WE WANT TO MODIFY IT A LITTLE BIT. AND THOSE ARE OUR CONTRACTING PROGRAMS. THE ONES THAT REQUIRE UP TO 40% OF MAYBE A SMALL BUSINESS OR MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS BE USED ON A PROJECT.
THERE WAS ONE GROUP MISSING AND WE WANT TO ADD THEM, EMERGING SMALL WHISPER SURPRISES.
FIRMS ONE-FOURTH THE SIZE OF A SMALL BUSINESS AS DEFINED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
IF A CERTAIN INDUSTRY HAS A STANDARD OF ONE MILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESS, THEN EMERGINGS WOULD ONLY QUALIFY IF THEY ARE 250,000 OR LESS. THESE FIRMS BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALL HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ON CITY PROJECTS.
SETTING GOALS FOR THEM WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GET ON, GAIN EXPERIENCE, GROW AND HOPEFULLY PARTICIPATE ON LARGER ONES DOWN THE ROAD. WE THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD ADDITION TO BUILD THAT PIPELINE OF FIRM.
THERE ARE SOME TOOLS WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO DIAL BACK ON, AND IN THE GUIDING CASE LAW THAT HAS OVERSEEN THIS PROCESS FOR A WHILE NOW. SO ONE OF THOSE TOOLS WE'RE RECOMMEND TO GO DIAL BACK ON THE MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED PRIME EVALUATION POINTS. KEEP IN MIND WE STILL WANT TO MAINTAIN THE RACE AND GENDER NEUTRAL VERSION OF THOSE POINTS, THE SBE POINTS.
KEEP IN MIND WE CAN'T APPLY TO THESE POINTS TO ALL CITY PROJECTS. WHOEVER IS THE LOWEST BIDDER PRETTY MUCH WINS. BUT WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS DIE-BACK WOULD MEAN.
-- DIAL-BACK WOULD MEAN. WE PERFORMED A CONVERSION EXERCISE. WHEN THINGS ARE PRESENTED THEY HAVE EVALUATION MATRIXES, WE CAN EASILY SEE HOW THEY ARE SCORED. WE LOOKED OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AND SAID WHERE DO WE APPLY THESE RACE CONSCIOUS POINTS. WHAT WE FOUND IT RESULTED IN 153 AWARDS AND HE THEY GOT ABOUT $350 MILLION.
THE INCOMES EXERCISE WAS WHAT HAPPENS IF WE CONVERTED ALL THESE RACE CONSCIOUS POINTS TO RACE AND GENDER NEUTRAL. WHAT WE FOUND WAS PAIRLY POSITIVE. 148 OF THE 153 WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS WOULD HAVE STILL WON AND ALSO WOULD HAVE RETAINED 90% OF AWARD VALUE.
THE FIVE FIRMS THAT WOULD HAVE LOST WOULD HAVE GONE TO LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE DID NOT FIND ANY CASE WHERE A LARGE BUSINESS WOULD HAVE SWOOPED IN AND WON THE PROJECT. ON A RACE NEUTRAL LEVEL THESE POINTS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE IN CURING THE DISPARITY OF THAT LEVEL. OF THINK OF AS ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS THAT WE WANT TO ELIMINATE AS WELL IN ADDITION TO THOSE PRIME EVALUATION POINTS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
ONE OF CALLED A CONTRACT TERM INCENTIVE TOOL.
WHEN YOU ALL AWARD CONTRACTS, MANY TIMES ARE COMMON THEY ARE FIVE-YEAR CONSULTS AND TYPICALLY HAVE A THREE-YEAR BASE TERM WITH TWO RENEWALS.
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HAVE APPLIED IT MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE 2011, THAT INCENTIVE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TO SPUR UTILIZATION OF WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS. SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO ELIMINATE THAT AND FOCUS ON WHAT HE WITH -- WE KNOW WORKS. WE HAVE NOT OFTEN ABLE TO APPLY IT TO 2011. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE FIRM AVAILABILITY TO APPLY A TOOL.I CAN'T SET SOMETHING IF NOBODY APPEARS AVAILABLE.
AND THESE HUBS ZONES FIRMS HAVE TO BE ELIGIBLE.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO APPLY A TOOL FOR THEM DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABILITY ON PROJECT.
YOU USUALLY NEED THREE OR MORE, NOT WHAT GOT US TO THE SUCCESS WE HAVE TODAY AND A DIAL-BACK WE'RE RECOMMENDING. NEXT SUPPLEMENTAL THINGS AND ALSO THINGS THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS REQUESTED. THE FIRST IS ALLOWING SMALL MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS TO SELF-PERFORM WHERE WE APPLY CONTRACTING GOALS.
WE CAP IT ON ONLY PROJECTS THAT ARE 10 MILLIONS AND LESS IN VALUE. THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAID WHEN I CAN AND THE PROJECT IS GREATER THAN $10 MILLION -- WE WANT TO ALLOW THAT MOVING FORWARD.
THAT'S A DECISION THE FIRM CAN MAKE AND IF THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN GO OUT AND FIND OTHER SUBCONTRACTORS TO HELP THEM WITH THE CAPACITY ISSUES.
SECOND, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE JOINT VENTURES TO RESPOND. CURRENTLY IF WE SET A CONTRACTING GOAL AND JOINT VENTURE RESPONSE, THAT INCLUDES A LARGE BUSINESS AND SMALL BUSINESS.
WE DON'T GIVE THAT JOINT VENTER CREDIT FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY ARE PAYING THAT ADJACENT VENTURE OR SMALL BUSINESS. WE ALSO WANT TO REVISE OUR CONTRACTING GOAL WAIVER. ANY TIME WE SET GOALS ON A PROJECT, LEGALLY YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE AN OUT.
THEY COULD POTENTIALLY CALL ALL THE FIRMS AVAILABLE AND ALL COULD BE TOO BUSY TO HELP YOU.
THEY HAVE TO DOCUMENT THAT IN A DETAILED WAY, BUT WE HAVE TO ALLOW IT. COLETTE RECOMMENDED WE BUILD IN ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY. WE GRADE WAIVERS LIKE A TEST. EVERYTHING OVER 70 PASSES, EVERYTHING BELOW FAILS. WE HAVE SOME POINT SECTIONS EVEN IF YOU DO 99% OF THE EFFORT AND NOT A FULL HUNDRED, THEY WON'T MAKE IT. LAST, WE HAVE A DIVERSITY IT'S AN ORDINANCE MEANT TO GET FOLKS READY AND AWARE TO BID ON CITY PROJECTS. ONCE READY, SBEDA TAKES OVER. WE WANT TO SUNSET THAT ORDINANCE AND CONSOLIDATE THOSE ACTIONS INTO THE SBEDA ORDINANCE. THE REASON IS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID IT'S REALLY HIGHLY A MARKETING TOOL AND IT'S REALLY PRESCRIPTIVE AND HAS BECOME OUTDATED.
IT TELLS US HOW TO MARKET, WHERE TO MARKET, HOW MANY TIMES TO MARKET. AS TECHNOLOGIES CHANGE, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO STICK TO THAT.
WHEN WE SHIFT THIS TO THE SBEDA ORDINANCE, WE WANT TO EMBED MORE FLEXIBILITY. PLENTY TO THE COMMITTEE EVERY SEPTEMBER. GET FEEDBACK ON THAT AND ACT ON IT. THEN AS TRENDS CHANGE, THEN WE'LL ADJUST AND COME BACK AND SHOW THE COMMITTEE THAT AND THAT WAY WE'RE MORE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE.
THIS IS A QUICK TIME LINE. WE TALKED EARLIER, YOU ALL ADOPTED THE DISPARITY STUDY IN AUGUST.
WE FINALIZED AMENDMENTS IN SEPTEMBER, AND IN OCTOBER WE STARTED AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN, WE BRIEFED OUR COMMITTEE AND STARTED GETTING ON THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR FEEDBACK ON THESE AMENDMENTS.
HERE WE ARE IN NOVEMBER GROVING YOU ALL AND WE ALSO GOT OUR SBEDA CAN I TO RECOMMEND YOU ADOPT THESE AMENDMENTS. WE PLAN ON GOING TO, BUT SESSION AND WRAPPING UP WITH CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL I BELIEVE ON DECEMBER 12TH. HERE'S HIGH LEVEL OF OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. WE HAD MULTIPLE AND IN-PERSON LISTENING SESSIONS.
DO OUTREACH TO MULTIPLE CHAMBERS, TRADE ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE OUR OWN VENDOR REGISTRY.
WE HAVE FOLKS REGISTER WITH THE SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL CERTIFICATION AGENCY AND WE ALSO DID A BUNCH OF WEBSITES, SOCIAL MEDIA COMPLAINS, NEWSLETTERS, YOU NAME IT TO GET THE WORD OUT. AND HERE'S JUST A LITTLE RECAP OF SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE SAW IN SOME OF THESE KEY INITIATIVES. AGAIN, WHILE SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AS COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ MENTIONED EARLIER, MANY FOLKS REALIZE THERE'S LEGAL GUIDANCE BEHIND THIS, CASE LAW GUIDING SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.
WHILE UNCOMFORTABLE, THEY UNDERSTOOD THE NEED TO DIAL BACK. HEY, YOU'VE MET YOUR GOAL, NEED TO SHUT THE PROGRAM DOWN, ON THE WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE, REGARDLESS OF THE DATA AND CASE LAW, PLEASE KEEP GOING FORWARD. WE HAD A LOT OF RESPONSES
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REGARDING THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.THERE ARE MIXED RESPONSES ON ADDING PERSONAL NET WORTH.
NOT THAT FOLKS DIDN'T WANT IT, DIDN'T WANT TO BE SADDLED WITH EXTRA PAPERWORK, HAVING TO DIG UP A LOT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT WAS DIFFICULT SO THEY ASKED TO BE FLEXIBLE.
WE ALSO HAD POSITIVE RESPONSES REGARDING REMOVAL OF THE GOAL SETTING COMMITTEE AND VERY POSITIVE SPANS TO ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES TO SELF-PERFORM REGARDLESS OF CONTRACT SIZE. IF YOU ALL APPROVE THESE AMENDMENTS IN DECEMBER, WE CAN'T FLIP THE SWITCH OVERNIGHT. WE NEED A FEW MONTHS TO GET EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL SO WE'LL HAVE TO AMEND OUR FORMS, SOME OF OUR SOFTWARE AND CODING, POLICIES UPDATED AND STAFF IS INFORMED SO WE ANTICIPATE AN APRIL 2024 GOAL DATE. LAST AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS IN A MINUTE, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER INITIATIVES WE'RE WORKING ON. SBEDA WE TALK ABOUT A BAND-AID, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF ROOT ISSUES AND SOME OF THESE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON HERE SO YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON SUPPLY SA, OVERVIEW OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WORKING ON NEW ACCESS TO CAPITAL PROGRAMS. AND, OF COURSE, WE ALREADY HAVE A BONDING PROGRAM BUT WE'RE CONTINUE TO GO REEVALUATE AND REVISE THEM TO FURTHER HELP.
WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
YOU ARE REALLY VERY GOOD AT THIS.
COUNCILWOMAN, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR LAYING THE GROUND WORK ON THE LEGAL CASE FOR THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
I KNOW WITH SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY PROVIDE CLARITY AND ASSURANCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I HEAR FROM SO MANY DISTRICT 5 SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY FEEL THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHEN WE SAY SMALL BUSINESS, WE MEAN BIG BUSINESS THAT'S CALLING THEMSELVES SMALL BUSINESS.
AND I THINK ENSURING THAT BUSINESSES ARE CERTIFIED AS A SMALL BUSINESS THROUGH SUBMITTING THEIR TAX RECORDS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY FALL BELOW THE LINE TO BE A CERTIFIED SMALL BUSINESS I BELIEVE WILL PROVIDE ASSURANCE TO DISTRICT 5 SMALL BUSINESSES.
FURTHER, THEY ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH FOLKS WITH WEALTH CREATING NECESSARILY OF A SPECIFIC TAX BRACKET TO BE CONSIDERED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. AND PROVIDING THE PERSONAL NET WORTH STANDARD WILL PROVIDE ASSURANCE TO MY SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THOSE CONCERNS.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE SELF-PERFORMANCE. CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THAT ONE MORE TIME ON -- THAT WE WOULD ALLOW THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO SELF-PERFORM CONTRACTING GOALS? I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK, WOULD WE POTENTIALLY SEE AN IMPACT ON SUBCONTRACTORS RECEIVING
PRIOR TO 2016, BEFORE WE AMENDED THE ORDINANCE, IF WE SET A CONTRACT GOAL, LET'S SAY 30% SMALL BUSINESS GOAL AND A SMALL BUSINESS WON AT THE PRIME LEVEL, THEY STILL HAD TO FIND OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES TO FULFILL THAT SUBCONTRACTING GOAL. IN 2016, WE CAPPED IT AT 10 MILLION BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE STATING.
WEREN'T TO MONITOR HOW MANY --M HOW MANY WERE PARTICIPATING.
WE STILL HAVE 530 UNIQUE SMALL BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING PER YEAR AND THAT IMPACT HASN'T OCCURRED.
THEY HAVEN'T LETTENNED THE AMOUNT OF USE.
ALLOWING THEM TO STAY FURTHER WON'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, IT WILL HELP THOSE WHO ARE READY TO
EXPAND EVEN FURTHER. >> CASTILLO: PERFECT.
AND I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE OTHER PIECE IF I COULD FIND IT IN MY NOTES. ESSENTIALLY THE SUPPORT FOR ADDING SMALL BUSINESSES TO ALL CONTRACTING TOOLS. I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE I THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> WHYTE: THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID.
I THINK THE NET WORTH AMENDMENT AS WELL IS PROBABLY RIGHT ON.
FOR ME, THOUGH, I LIKE THAT SORT OF DIALING BACK THE PROGRAM A BIT BECAUSE I'VE
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ALWAYS HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT SORT OF THE TENUOUS LEGALITY OF SOME OF THESE THINGS.I ALSO THINK WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN A BETTER PLACE WHEN BUSINESSES COMPETE JUST BASED ON THE MERITS OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR PERFORMANCE, AND SO I LIKE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION.
THE PROGRAM HAS CLEARLY WORKED AS INTENDED, AS YOUR NUMBERS SHOWED.
AND SO I THINK THESE AMENDMENTS ARE TAKING US IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO ROY, OUR DISTRICT 10 REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SBEDA COMMITTEE. I TALK WITH HIM NOT AS FREQUENTLY AS PROBABLY I SHOULD, BUT HE'S TALKED WITH MY OFFICE ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS, ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THEM. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK ROY DID ON THE COMMITTEE THANK YOU, MICHAEL, THANK YOU, TEAM. I THINK -- YES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM ANA ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WE'RE TRYING TO USE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE, ONE, STAYING IN SAN ANTONIO, BUYING LOCAL, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING UP OUR BUSINESSES. I DO LIKE THE HEADQUARTER CHANGE.
I DO LIKE THE PERSONAL NET WORTH CHANGE. I THINK -- AND THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE AS A CITY COULD WORK. I KNOW PEOPLE ARE LIKE OH, IT'S EXTRA WORK, BUT I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT FOR FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS, THIS SHOULD BE A PRACTICE FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THEIR PERSONAL NET WORTH, WHAT THEIR LIABILITIES ARE, WHAT THEIR ASSETS ARE. WHAT ONE ACCIDENT OR ONE BILL COULD GET THEM IN TROUBLE. PART OF IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS AT THE LUNCHEON FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE DAD LOST HIS JOB AND THE MOM AND YOU GET IN THOSE SITUATIONS. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PRACTICE.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GIVE THE COMMITTEE MORE WORK, THEY ARE AN EXCELLENT COMMITTEE AND WORKING VERY HARD. CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS US WHERE WE ARE LACKING IN THE -- IN THE DIFFERENT GROUPS?
I FORGET WHAT SLIDE NUMBER THAT IS. >>
>> VIAGRAN: YES. SO I THINK THIS ONE IS JUST TELLING AND HOW WE NEED TO KEEP SBEDA AND WE NEED TO BE MORE STRATEGIC ON HOW WE DO THE OUTREACH.
IF WE HAVE AVAILABILITY, WE SHOULD BE UTILIZING THEM. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE KEEPING THIS FORWARD. I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE BEING MORE STRATEGIC, AND I THINK THIS IS WHY IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED IN AND WHY WE NEED TO BE STRATEGIC AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND BE SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I'LL START, I MIGHT HAVE TO THROW US INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR SOME OF THESE. IF WE DO, JUST TELL ME, WE CAN ANSWER THAT LATER, CHRISTINA CAN STOP ME. WHAT IN THE 2023 DISPARITY STUDY SPECIFICALLY OR OTHER DATA PROVED EFFECT -- THE JOINT VENTURE AND THE DISTRIBUTORSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
>> THE DISPARITY LOOKS AS HOW WE USE THE TOOLS. THAT OTHER STUFF IS WHAT OUR OFFICE DID INTERNALLY. JOINT VENTURE, IF A PRIME RESPONDS, A LARGE AND A SMALL TOGETHER, THE LARGE HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT 40% OF THAT JOINT VENTURE GOES TO A SMALL, AND IF IT DOES, THEY GET THOSE CONTRACT RENEWAL TERMS ON A PROJECT.
AS I SAID EARLIER, A LOT OF TIMES YOU ALL AWARD FIVE-YEAR CONTRACTS, THREE YEAR BASE TERMS, TWO ONE-YEAR RENEWALS. IT KIND OF GUARANTEES THEY GET THE RENEWAL. WE'VE APPLIED THIS ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS AND NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE INDICATING A JOINT VENTURE WAS FORMED.
TRYING TO HAVE STAFF FOCUS ON WHAT'S EFFECTIVE. >> GARCIA: OVER HOW MANY
YEARS? >> WE'VE HAD THE TOOLS SINCE 2011 AND APPLIED A LOT
BETWEEN 2011 AND 2013. >> GARCIA: THAT'S RELATED TO ONE OF MY OTHER
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QUESTIONS. ON SLIDES 18 AND 19, WE HAVE SOME CHANGES AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD RESULT OF THAT.I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE IS A SBEDA IS GOOD-BYE TORE UNDER STRICT SCRUTINY. I'M UNCOMFORTABLE REMOVING THE RACE AND GENDER APPLICATIONS FROM CERTAIN PROGRAMS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH RESPONSIVE FIRMS IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT MEET THE CATEGORY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT A DISPARITY TO BE ADDRESSED. ONE OF THE THINGS WAS SPECIFICALLY THE MARKETING.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THIS? FOR INSTANCE, DO WE HAVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OR TEMPLATE THAT SIMPLIFIES LANGUAGE OR APPLICATIONS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES? I HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS, A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS SPANISH. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE IN EDD THAT IS FLUENT IN OTHER LANGUAGES? WE JUST HOSTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH GEEKDOM AND FROST A UKRAINIAN BUSINESS AND EVEN THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE.
CAN YOU HELP ME EXPLAIN HOW WE FOCUS ON OTHER LANGUAGES COMING TO OUR CITY?
>> MARKETING IS A CHALLENGE AND SOMETHING WE WORK ON ALL THE TIME.
WE DO HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT CALL IN AND NEED ASSISTANCE IN SPANISH.
WE'RE MINDFUL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THIS CONTENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
SIMPLICITY, THAT'S IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
OUR FORMS AND PROCESSES, WE WANT TO MAKE THEM EASIER BOUGHT BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW HOW THE PROGRAM CAN HELP THEM. AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN, WE WANT THE WHOLE ENTIRE PROCESS TO BE SIMPLER FOR FOLKS TO ENGAGE WITH US.
IN ADDITION TO IMPLEMENTING THESE AMENDMENTS, THAT IS A DEFINITE PRIORITY FOR THIS
NEXT FISCAL YEAR. >> GARCIA: OKAY. WHAT ABOUT HOW ARE WE PLANNING -- ON SLIDE 6 YOU HAD LOW UTILIZATION. HOW ARE WE TRYING TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL APPLICANTS, SPECIFICALLY FROM THIS GROUP? DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S CONSTANTLY THINKING OF THAT OR -- AND WHO IS REPRESENTING, THE SBEDA COMMITTEE? DO THEY HAVE A CASE STUDY TO WORK WITH BASED ON THE NUMBERS? HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE
INCREASING THE LOW UTILIZATION. >> FIRST I'LL START WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ROW UP TOP. THERE'S MORE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE FIRMS IN OUR MARKETPLACE. THE REMEDY TO HELP THEM IS A LITTLE EASIER.
THE STUDY PERIOD IS FROM 2014 TO 2024. IN 2014, WE WERE ONLY AT LIKE HAVE THE FIGURES HERE, LIKE 3 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE AT 16 MILLION.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE SEGMENTED CONTRACTING GOALS. I HAVE THEM FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND MINORITY WOMEN OWNED. YOU MAY SEE A SPECIFIC AFRICAN AMERICAN GOAL ON A PROJECT AND THAT HAS REPRESENTED TREMENDOUSLY.
MOVING TO ASIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESSES, THAT'S TRICKIER.
THERE'S A AVAILABILITY ISSUE THERE. I HAVE TO USUALLY HAVE AT LEAST THREE TO SET THEM PER LAW OR TOOLS CAN BE CONSIDERED A SET-A I SIDE IF ONLY ONE IS THERE. WE HAVE AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WE'RE NOT JUST SBEDA, WE MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW THAT'S AN AVENUE TO SPUR UP AND START BECAUSE WE
WANT TO START TICKING UP THE AVAILABILITY. >> GARCIA: WHAT OTHER
CITIES HAVE DEVELOPED THAT INTO THE CRITERIA? >> I DON'T KNOW ALL THE CITIES THAT HAVE THAT. THIS WAS A SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION FROM COLETTE HOLT. TO MAKE SURE SHE LIKES OUR PROGRAM TO MIRROR AS MUCH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S WITHSTOOD NUMEROUS LEGAL CHALLENGES AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO REALLY STRENGTHEN
OUR PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD. >> GARCIA: HOW IS THAT CALCULATED?
>> IT'S A CALCULATION MADE UP BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COLETTE
DID FEEL THAT WE COULD ADOPT THAT SAME THRESHOLD LOCALLY. >> GARCIA: DO I THINK
THAT'S INTIMIDATING TO SOME PEOPLE? >> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BUSINESSES WERE SUPPORTIVE OF A THRESHOLD. THEY AGREED, LIKE THE COUNCILWOMAN HAD SAID, THEY DON'T WANT SMELL FIRMS LARGE IN THEORY BUT ARE SMALL.
MAKING SURE FINANCIALS ARE IN ORDER. THEY ASKED US TO BE FINDFUL MOVING FORWARD HOW WE IMPLEMENT IT. THEY ASKED TO LOOK AT
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POTENTIAL ATTESTATION PROCESS IF FRAUD IS FOUND, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.>> GARCIA: THE 3.8% THAT IS ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS PRESENCE. SPECIFICALLY WHERE ARE THEY PRIMARILY LOCATED OR HEADQUARTERED AND WHAT INDUSTRIES? DO YOU KNOW?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE 3% PRIMARILY LIE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT.
>> GARCIA: I'M TALKING ABOUT LIKE IS IT SAN ANTONIO OR SO AND WHERE
SPECIFICALLY -- >> THESE FIRMS, THEIR HEADQUARTERS WON'T BE IN OUR MSA. PROBABLY WHAT I SEE IS AUSTIN OR HOUSTON.
I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU. >> GARCIA: WE HAVE A LOT OF, I THINK, A LOT OF FOLKS GIVE US GRIEF BECAUSE THEY WILL SAY OH, YOU ARE HIRING AN AUSTIN FIRM.
THEY ARE HEADQUARTERED IN AUSTIN, THEY HAVE A LOT OF SUBCONTRACTORS IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT IF YOU ARE EXPLAINING, YOU ARE ALREADY BEHIND.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE. WHAT WAS THE GOAL-SETTING COMMITTEE OR WHAT'S THE GOAL-SETTING COMMITTEE -- WERE THEY PART OF THE
INITIAL ANSWERER? AND IF YOU CAN -- ORDINANCE. >> THE GOAL-SETTING COMMITTEE WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE 2010 COMMITTEE SO BECAME EFFECTIVE IN 2011.
IT'S MADE UP OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY MANAGE ALL PROCUREMENTS FOR US. THE DEPARTMENT BUYING THE GOOD OR SERVICE, IT'S MADE UP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND ALSO MADE UP OF A CITY MANAGER DESIGNEE
AND TWO CITIZENS WHEN THE VALUE IS OVER $3 MILLION. >> GARCIA: HOW ARE THE
CITIZENS PICKED? >> THEY APPLY AND GO BEFORE EWDC AND MAIN A SESSION FOR
APPROVAL. >> GARCIA: WHO DO WE PLAN TO MARKET THE IDEA OF EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES? THAT'S KIND OF BEEN ONE OF THESE STEADY COMMUNICATION THAT WE HEAR. PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPLY FOR THE LARGER CONTRACTS. THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED OR THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO HANDLE IT.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW YOU MARKET THAT IDEA. >> WITH ALL OF THESE AMENDMENTS, THERE'S GOING TO BE HEAVY MARKETING CAMPAIGN BEFORE THEY GO LIVE IN APRIL. SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO MOVING FORWARD IS HAVE A MORE ROBUST ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THESE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST. YOU COULD BE A SUB IF YOU CAN'T DO THE WHOLE THING.
WE'RE GOING TO BOOST THE EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE A NEWLY HIRED COORDINATOR TO START HELPING WITH THIS STUFF. I CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH HOW MUCH I THINK THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS PLAN AND IMPROVE PLAN COULD WORK BECAUSE THAT IS SO COMPLICATED AND HARD FOR THEM TO IDEA, IT'S GOING TO SWAY THOSE SMALLER FIRMS AWAY TO FOCUS ON OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK WITH THOSE EFFORTS COMBINED, WE SHOULD HOPEFULLY SEE AN UPTICK IN
HOW WE USE THEM. >> GARCIA: YOU MENTIONED PRIMES EARLIER.
WHAT'S THE MAIN REASON TO ELIMINATE THE PRIME POINTS FOR THE MWBE?
>> HISTORICALLY HOW DO I FRAME THIS, LOOKING AT CHRISTINA.
THE POINTS HAVE BEEN MORE OF A CHALLENGING ISSUE IN THE EYES OF THE COURTS.
AND SO WHILE BACK IN THE DAY WE HAD SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN OUR DISPARITY, WE USED NOR AGGRESSIVE REMEDIES. NOW THAT THE DISPARITY IS BEING EASED A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE ALIGNING MORE WITH WHAT OUR LANDMARK CASE,
CROSES VERSUS CITY OF RICHLAND. >> GARCIA: WE HAVE 20% OF COSA SOLICITATIONS HAVE EVALUATION PREFERENCE POINTS THAT ARE APPLICABLE CURRENTLY. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES?
>> SO THAT COULD BE USUALLY THINGS NOT LIKE GOODS, TIPPED WHERE EXPERIENCE OR A PLAN COMES INTO PLAY. YOU MAY NOT WANT TO LOW BID A BUILDING STRUCTURE LIKE THE CITY HALL RENOVATIONS, SO TYPICALLY BUILDING FIRE STATIONS OR THINGS MORE
COMPLEX IN NATURE ARE WHEN THAT TOOL IS USED. >> GARCIA: AND I KNOW WE DO THIS EVERY FIVE YEARS, HOW DO WE PLAN ON MANAGING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING? >> FOR SURE. JUST KNOW THAT WE RUN THESE FIGURES CONSTANTLY. THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR OWN CITY CONTRACTS, WE MEASURE THIS PROGRAM MONTHLY AND ANNUALLY. USUALLY AROUND JANUARY WE'LL SEND OUT A MEMO TO YOU ALL AND THE COMMUNITY LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW WHERE WE STAND BOTH OVERALL PER INDUSTRY AND DIFFERENT BUSINESS TYPES TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE WORKING.
YES, INTERNALLY WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DO WE DIAL UP, DOWN, IN TERMS OF THE
ORDINANCE. >> GARCIA: MY LAST QUESTION, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THAT SEVERAL PERFORMANCE CHANGE. WHAT POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS YOU SAW OR HEARD AND IF YOU THINK FUTURE AWARDS BASICALLY LIKE JUST KIND OF
[00:40:03]
LIKE SOME OF THE FEEDBACK. I'M WONDERING IF THEY TRACK THEIR PERFORMANCE AND THEIRCONTRACT GOALS THEMSELVES. >> RIGHT, SO I'LL REITERATE WHAT I TOLD THE OTHER COUNCILWOMAN. WE'LL BE HEARD WHEN WE DIDN'T ALLOW, FIRMS LIKE I FINALLY WON THAT PRIME CONTRACT AND TAKING AWAY SOME OF THAT CAPACITY TO GROW AND BUILD. NOW I HAVE TO GIVE 40% TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
I WANTED TO BUILD AND DO THIS AS A WHOLE. OVERWHELMINGLY THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED IT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. WE GO FROM 500 FIRMS, WE DIDN'T SEE THAT HAPPEN. WE WANTED TO EBBS -- EXPAND THAT BECAUSE NEED TO DO
COMPETE WITH THE BIG COMPANIES. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> PELÁEZ: UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS, I'LL RELEASE YOU FROM THIS DEPOSITION. I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THE WAY I LOOK AT THE SBEDA PROGRAM, WHEN IT WAS CREATED, I THINK JUST LIKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND OTHER PROGRAMS CREATED TO CREATE LEVEL PLAYING FIELDS, THE HOPE WAS WE WOULD EVENTUALLY WORK OUR WAY OUT OF A JOB AND THESE NOT BE ETERNAL. THAT WE WOULD LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO PLAY ON THAT LEVEL FIELD.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THAT. I AM SAD TO SEE THE POLITICAL WINDS BLOWING THROUGH DC AND THE PRESSURES PLACED ON PROGRAMS LIKE OURS BECAUSE OF WEIRD CULTURAL BUILDINGS FAR FROM US, HOWEVER, WE REACT TO THE REALITIES THAT SOME OF THE COURTS AND LAW CHANGES IMPOSE UPON US.
WITH THAT I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY NIMBLE OVER THE YEARS AND I THINK THIS IS A REASONABLE AND SOUND PLAN TO -- AS FAR AS THE AMENDMENTS ARE CONCERNED.
THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM AND SO UNLESS THERE IS ANY OBJECTIONS, WE WOULD BE NEEDING A MOTION AND SECOND IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD TO
COUNCIL. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
>> SECOND. >> PELÁEZ: ALL IN FAVOR? THAT WAS UNANIMOUS.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS OUR SUPPLY SA UPDATE. ALEX.
ANA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
AND SO TODAY TO COMPLEMENT THE PRESENTATION YOU JUST HEARD ON THE SBEDA ORDINANCE FINDINGS AND PROVIDING REALLY THE FIRST UPDATE ON THE SUPPLY SA INITIATIVE.
SO IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A MINUTE, BUT AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH AND TRYING TO FORMULATE READY TO PRESENT TO THE COMMITTEE TODAY WHERE WE ARE AND THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD. SO DESIGNED TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES THAT EXIST. WHAT WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IS TROUBLE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTS. IF YOU LOOK ACROSS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, THE STUDY COMPLETED BY DREXEL UNIT FOUND THERE WAS A $9 BILLION ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACROSS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL.
SO REALLY LOOKING AT IT AS HOW CAN WE HELP THESE OPPORTUNITIES STAY LOCAL AND BENEFITED OUR SMALL, MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES PROGRAMS. GOING BACK INTO MAY OF LAST YEAR, THE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PLAY BOOK.
PARTNERING WITH LEADERSHIP FROM JOAQUIN CASTRO, AGAIN, FROM A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES. SO THE PLAY BOOK WAS LAUNCHED THE PROCESS IN MAY OF 2022. AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS WITH DATA ANALYSIS. THAT'S WHERE WE GOT THE $9 BILLION FIGURE.
THE FIRST LOOKING ACROSS AGENCIES. BUT INTERVIEWS WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
THEY COMPLIMENTARY TO OUR DISPARITY STUDY, BUT LOOKING ACROSS ENTITIES.
AND IT CULMINATED WITH COMPLETION OF THE PLAY BOOK IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE BEEN IN IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OLIVIA FROM OCI GROUP WHO IS HERE TODAY.
THEY'VE BEEN IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE HELPING TO COORDINATE ALL EFFORTS.
JUST KNOWING 14 DIFFERENT AGENCIES, THAT'S 14 DIFFERENT PER SUSPECT I WAS AND SHE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB COORDINATING AND MAKING SURE WE ARE PROVIDING WITH THE INITIATIVE. SO WHAT DID THE PROCUREMENT PLAY BOOK FIND?
[00:45:05]
AND AGAIN, THIS WAS BASED ON THE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS DONE BY THE TEAM FROM DIRECTION SELL. THREE KEY -- DIRECTION SELL. THE FIRST BUT ALSO ACROSS AGENCIES. SO WHILE SEVERAL OF US MAY BUY LANDSCAPING SERVICES, HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY VERSUS SAWS OR CPS WERE SOMETIMES DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT, BUT WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS.IF A ON THE GROUNDS OFFERS SEVERAL SERVICES WE MIGHT BUY, DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY MAY LOOK DIFFERENT BASED ON DEPARTMENT YOU ARE WORKING WITH AND TAKE THAT TIMES 14. THE SECOND ONE REALLY LEANED INTO THAT $9 BILLION ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS THAT SUPPLIER DIVERSITY, WE TREAT IT AS A COMPLIANCE EXERCISE. WE HAVE A SBEDA ORDINANCE. RATHER AS AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. THE THIRD FINDING WAS MORE RELATED TO SUPPLIERS AND UNDERSTANDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND KNOWING PARTICULAR IN THE PROCUREMENT SPACE THOSE TOOLS AND FINANCIAL PROJECTS WEREN'T ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND SO HOW THAT WAS LIMITING FOR THEM TAKING ON LARGER CONTRACTS. AND SO IN NOVEMBER WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE STUDY AND THE PRESENTATION, WHAT WE REALLY SOUGHT TO DO IS HOW CAN WE TAKE THESE FINDINGS, THIS INFORMATION AND DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT'S MEANINGFUL AND CAN BE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS OUR AGENCIES, REGIONAL AS OPPOSED TO 14 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S REALLY BEEN THE FOCUS SINCE THEN AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLIDIFY AS WE MOVE TOWARDS MORE ACTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGIES LOCALLY.
AND SO WE DO SEE THIS PLAYING OUT AS A TWO-YEAR PILOT WITH HOPEFULLY MOVING TOWARDS SCALING AND SUSTAINING IT ONCE WE CAN COMPLETE THE PILOT AND EVALUATE IT. SO WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT? I SPOKE OF THE 14 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES, BUT THERE'S REALLY TWO GROUPS WITHIN THERE THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT. FIRST IS CEOS WORKING GROUP. THE LEADERS OF ALL OF THE 14 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN MEETING REGULARLY TO SORT OF FINE TUNE AND SAY HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS ACROSS OUR VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT GOVERNING BOARD. COUNCIL, COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S PRACTICAL AND SUSTAINABLE.
THEN THE PROCUREMENT WORKING GROUP. THESE ARE FOLKS IN THE TRENCHES WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH BOTH THE VENDORS BUT ALSO THEIR INTERNAL PROCESSES AND UNDERSTANDING WHO DOES IT BEST, HOW CAN WE DO IT BETTER AND AGAIN LOOK TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE INCONSISTENCIES THAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO FROM THE VARIOUS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE PLAY BOOK, WE DEVELOPED THE INTERNAL IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES. YOU WILL SEE THEY FIT INTO THREE BUCKETED CATEGORIES OF ACCESS, CAPACITY BUILDING AND PROCESS.
ACCESS AND CAPACITY BUILDING REALLY FOCUSES ON THE SUPPLIER SIDE.
THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE WORK WITH. WHEREAS THE PROCESS IS MORE HOW DO WE OPERATE AS ORGANIZATIONS. SO TO KEY IN ON A FEW OF THEM WITHIN ACCESS, AGAIN, DO THE BUSINESSES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST GET, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE.
LOOKING AT VENDOR PORTALS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ACCESS A VENDOR PORTAL, HOW EASY OR HARDIST IT TO FIND SOLICITATIONS THAT ARE OPEN, TO FIND WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT A BID OR GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. CERTIFICATIONS CAME UP IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BENEFITS OF BEING CERTIFIED ARE APPLYING TO THOSE WHO ARE APPROPRIATE, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, SO HOW ARE WE USING THAT TO BE A BENEFIT AND NOT A BURDEN ON THE BUSINESSES. AND THEN WITHIN THEIR NAVIGATION. SO WE'VE SEEN SUCCESS WITH HOUSING NAVIGATORS, AGAIN HAVING PEOPLE DEDICATED TO HELPING BUSINESSES NAVIGATE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SMALLER -- A SMALLER SMALL BUSINESS WHO MAY BE A ONE-PERSON SHOP AND TRYING TO ACCESS A BID, UNDERSTAND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE, AGAIN ACROSS ALL 14 AGENCIES AS OPPOSED TO LARGER SMALL BUSINESSES WHO MA HAVE A DEDICATED PERSON WHO IS SEEKING OUT BIDDING OPPORTUNITIES. HOW CAN WE LEVEL THAT PLAYING FIELD TO CREATE EQUAL ACCESS. THEN CANS IT BUILDINGS.
WE -- CAPACITY BUILDING. SMALL BUSINESSES, A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE A GREAT CRAFTS PERSON, THEY HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT TO SELL BUT THE BUSINESS ELEMENT NEEDS DEVELOPMENT. HOW CAN WE DEVELOP THAT THROUGH A PROCUREMENT ACADEMY, BONDING ASSISTANCE TO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE GAPS SO THEY CAN COMPETE FOR THE LARGER CONTRACTS. ON THE PROCESS SIDE, IT'S SORT OF HOW THE SAUSAGE IS
[00:50:03]
MADE AND HOW ARE WE DOING THINGS INTERNALLY THAT WHILE THEY MAY MAKE SENSE MAY PRESENT A BARRIER. BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF WRECK MAKE IMPROVEMENTS INTERNALLY AND GOOD FOR THE AGENCIES AND SMALL BUSINESS, THAT'S A WIN ACROSS THE BOARD. LOOKING AT DEBUNDLING CONTRACTS, FORECASTING.LAST MONTH TROY FROM FINANCE PRESENTED THE PROCUREMENT FORECAST.
THE CITY IS SEEN AS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THAT WE DO AN ANNUAL FORECAST.
SO HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT BUSINESSES ARE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES PARTICULARLY THOSE ONE OR TWO-PERSON SHOPS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT DEDICATED PERSON LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES. ALSO REQUIREMENTS. MENTIONED SOLICITATIONS A LOT OF TIMES BEING LONG AND ADVANCED LEGAL LANGUAGE AND COMPLICATED.
HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND SIMPLIFYING, OR LOOKING AT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE RIGHT SIZED AND MEET THE OPPORTUNITY. STAFF ACCOUNTABILITY. ANOTHER AREA WHERE THE CITY IS A LEADER. WE HAVE DEDICATED TEAMS AND LOOKING AT NUMBERS AND WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING IT FOR ANY REASON, BUT SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES. REPORTING OUTCOMES. THIS IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE GREATEST AREA OF OPPORTUNITY. WHILE WE REPORT 14 DIFFERENT WAYS USING 14 DIFFERENT STANDARDS, WHERE THE COMMUNITY SEEING IS PROVIDING THESE OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE BOARD AND US BEING ABLE TO REPORT ON THAT. SO USING THOSE IMPLEMENTATION FOCUS AREAS THE PRO CONDUCTOR INNOVATION FOLKS, THE FOLKS IN THE TRENCHES, CAME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. MOST IF NOT ALL THE THINGS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE WE'RE A LEADER ON, DOING IT AND ACTUALLY HELPING ADVISE SOME OF THE SMALLER AGENCIES HOW THEY CAN DO IT FOR THEM. AGAIN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PORTAL ACCESS, ACCESSING WITHIN TWO CLICKS. PROVIDING TRAINING AND GUIDES ON CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION. ACCEPTING MULTIPLE CERTIFICATIONS. ACTUALLY DOING DEBUNDLING WHETHER BY SERVICE TYPE, GEOGRAPHY AND YOU WILL SEE THINGS WE CONSIDER, THOSE ARE BASIC LOW-HANGING FRUIT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ALL NEED TO COMMIT TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WISH TO WORK WITH US. THEN ON THE CAPACITY BUILDING SIDE, THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE -- WHILE THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE AGAIN SPEAKS TO THAT LACK OF COORDINATION AND CONSISTENCY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES AND UTSA CERTAINLY DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PTAK, TO HAVE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. THEY RECENTLY ROLLED OUT A PROCUREMENT ACADEMY WITH FEDERAL FUNDING. BUT HOW CAN WE LOOK TO HOUSE THESE CENTRAL IN ONE LOCATION, SO AGAIN IT'S A BIT OF A ONE STOP. IF YOU ARE A SMALL BIGS AND INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS WITH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITY, YOU CAN GO TO ONE PLACE TO FIND OUT FROM A NAVIGATOR PERHAPS WHO BUYS MY SERVICE, PERHAPS GETTING TRAINING. IN THE FUTURE STATE, LOOKING AT PERHAPS THERE IS A CDFI AND YOU CAN FIND HOW TO ACCESS AN IN LOOK OF CREDIT OR LOAN TO BUY THE MACHINERY OR EQUIPMENT YOU NEED. HAVING THOSE OTHER SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES ALL IN ONE SITE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH UTSA ON WORKING ON, HOW CAN WE COORDINATE THE RESOURCES, IDENTIFY THE GAPS, AND FOR THE THINGS THAT WORK, PERHAPS INVEST IN THEM MORE SO WE'RE DOING MORE OF THE MARKETING AND BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROW THEIR CAPACITY. AGAIN, I ALREADY SPOKE SOME ON REPORTING PROGRESS.
AND THIS GRAPHIC PROBABLY OVERSIMPLIFIES IT GROSSLY, BUT IT IS ABOUT TAKING THAT DATA, COLLECTING IT. WE ALL COLLECT IT DIFFERENTLY.
REVIEWING IT, DEVELOPING A $9 BILLION. AND HOPEFULLY DELIVERING ON THEM AND HAVING THE DATA TO SHOW IT. OF COURSE ALL OF THE DATA CAN SUPPORT THE CEO WORKING GROUP TO MAKING SHOWS COLLECTIVE DECISIONS THAT BENEFIT NOT ONLY US AS PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES BUT THE SMALL BUSINESSES. SO ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS GOING ON ACROSS THE VARIOUS AGENCIES. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE TWO INITIATIVES WE ARE WORKING ON INTERNALLY. THE FIRST BEING WE SET UP AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP. WORKING WITH THE FINANCE PROCUREMENT TEAM, INNOVATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT. FOR THOSE AREAS WHERE WE'RE
[00:55:03]
ALREADY DOING GREAT, HOW CAN WE DO BETTER AND TAKING FEEDBACK THAT OUR LARGE PURCHASERS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS HEAR FROM THE SMALL BUSINESSES THEY WORK WITH OF HOW CAN WE TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND CONTINUE TO TAILOR IT.THEN THE I PROCUREMENT ACCESSING. CIVIC INITIATIVES TO MAP OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS. ANGELICA IS HERE, BUT THEY ARE SEVERAL PROCLAIMED PROCUREMENT NERDS WITH OVER 100 YEARS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE EVALUATING OUR PROCESSES FROM SOUP TO NUTS BOTH ON THE INTERNAL AND BUSINESS OWNER SIDE TO SEE WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO PRESENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT GOING FORWARD.
SO WHERE ARE WE? AGAIN, LOOKING TO MOVE FROM THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REALLY INTO THE ACTING AND IMPLEMENTATION. YOU'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FINALIZING THAT PLAN AND THE COMMITMENTS FROM THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD THE EFFORT AND LOOKING TO BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND THEN FIGURING OUT, AGAIN, HOW DO WE TRACK THIS, MONITOR IT TO PROVIDE THE DATA THAT THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY DEMANDING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE OPERATE AND HOW THEY ARE BENEFITING LOCAL, SMALL BUSINESSES. AND THEN UPON -- AS WE GO INTO THE COMPLETION OF THE PILOT, HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THIS AND GROW IT.
WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE ASPEN INSTITUTE FOR EMBARKING ON THIS PROCESS AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO BE A LEADER IN THIS SPACE. SO WE'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THEIR LATINAS IN SOME OF THE COHORT AND THEY RECOGNIZE SAN ANTONIO AS BEING A LEADER IN PROCUREMENT. WE EXPECT OTHER CITIES TO BE LOOKING TO US ONCE WE BUILD IT OUT AND DEVELOP A SCALABLE MODEL. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE
DIRECTION WE'RE GOING. >> PELÁEZ: THANKS, GOOD JOB.
THANKS FOR WRANGLING ALL THOSE COUNTIES TOGETHER TO HELP US -- CATS TOGETHER TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE FUTURE A LITTLE BETTER.
MICHAEL GAVE US THIS LONG LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO BE SPOKEN TO AND CONSULTED ABOUT THE SBEDA ORDINANCE. IS THIS LONG LIST OF PEOPLE ALSO HELPFUL TO US
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS. I CAN'T SAY IT WAS ALL 60 ON THAT LIST BUT WE WANT TO
ENGAGE AS MANY AS -- >> PELÁEZ: AS FAR AS PTAK, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WAS LIMITED TO PROCUREMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CHANNEL HE WILLING PEOPLE INTO CONTRACTS WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE OR DO THEY HAVE A BROADER MANDATE NOW?
>> I THINK THAT'S A CONCERN WE'VE HEARD TOO, BUT IN WORKING WITH THE TEAM FROM UTSA, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING IT. AND IF NOT TAKING WHAT WORKS THERE AND BUILDING OUT A PROGRAM THAT IS TAILORED TOWARDS MORE THE LOCAL SIDE.
>> PELÁEZ: AND THEN THIS PROCUREMENT CENTER THAT'S GOING TO BE SET UP IN UTSA, WHERE ARE WE IN THAT PROCESS? IS THAT ALREADY UP AND
RUNNING? IS IT MONTHS OUT, YEARS OUT? >> SO NOT UP AND RUNNING.
AGAIN, MANY OF THOSE SERVICES ALREADY EXIST, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH UTSA ON WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FROM A PHYSICAL SPACE. THEY'VE IDENTIFIED INTERIM SPACE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO WHAT DO WE NEED TO SCALE.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE STILL FINALIZING AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE LARGER
PLAN. >> PELÁEZ: DO YOU HAVE A FEEL FOR TIME LINE?
>> WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM THIS WEEK SO I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA BUT I WOULD ASSUME WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE AT LEAST HAVE AN INTERIM PROGRAM UP. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> GARCIA: I LIKE THE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND THE COLLABORATION.
I DON'T THINK I HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT UTSA DID. BUT I ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> PELÁEZ: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: NO, NO
QUESTIONS. >> PELÁEZ: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: NO, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> PELÁEZ: COUNCILMEMBER
CASTILLO. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AN EVENT ON HOW TO NAVIGATE THE BIDDING PROCESS. I STAYED TO HEAR A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM CONTRACTORS AND IT RANGED FROM A SPECTRUM OF WHICH BOXES TO CHECK, THEY WERE JUST QUESTIONS -- A WIDE RANGE OF QUESTIONS. SO WITH THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED AND WANTED TO THANK THE GROUP FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING AND OF COURSE,
[01:00:04]
YOU, ANA AND THE TEAM BECAUSE IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED AND IT'S A EXCITINGINITIATIVE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> PELÁEZ: I THINK IT'S POWERFUL AND SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT YOU ARE PUTTING -- WE'RE INVESTING IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON THIS CAMPUS ON THAT PART OF TOWN THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY FORGOTTEN.
AND THAT -- THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE SPEAKS TO THE CITY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS SMALL BUSINESSES ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY NEVER BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.
IT'S A BIG DEAL. THANK YOU, ANA. ALL RIGHT.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF ANOTHER MEETING. IT WAS A SHORT AND SWEET NO? YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO WILL WILL -- WELCOME TO GO.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.