Leonard files resolution to require minority oversight of City contracting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Ty Kovatch 503.823.4682

 

PORTLAND, OR – Commissioner Randy Leonard filed a resolution that will require City of Portland bureaus to include at least one minority evaluator on all panels that review and award City contracts.  The resolution identifies Portland’s Alliance of Minority Chambers as the private sector organization that will work with a broad based group of organizations to provide City bureaus with qualified minority experts to serve on contract review and award panels.

 

“The City has tried the ‘good faith effort’ approach to including the minority community in our contracting and it has yielded only marginal results,” said Commissioner Randy Leonard, “This will establish a requirement for minority participation in the awarding of City contracts that incorporates the City’s most capable minority organizations to assist with identifying and involving members of the community in our contracting processes.  If both the City and the Alliance of Minority Chambers are successful with their responsibilities under this initiative, I think other cities across the country will quickly adopt similar approaches.”

 

“We want to make sure that minority contractors have equal access to contracting opportunities with the City of Portland,” said Mayor Sam Adams, “With a new Fair Contracting Forum, Local Stimulus Task Force, and Disparity Study now underway, this resolution further strengthens the City’s commitment to creating opportunities for increased community oversight and input regarding the City’s procurement policies.” 

 

Roy Jay, President of the Alliance of Minority Chambers, believes the approach called for in the resolution will be the first of its kind in the country. "This demonstrates that Portland's political and business leadership want to be inclusive, rather than exclusive,” says Jay.

 

The resolution is co-sponsored by Mayor Adams, and will be heard by the City Council on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:00 AM Time Certain in City Hall.

Click here to read the full resolution.

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