Happy Tuesday.
The meeting on contracts, oversight and Equity is now
called to order.
Uh, first we established a roll call to determine a quorum.
Uh, chairman mitts is president vice chair lisado.
Chairman Dow.
Um, Mitchell.
Ottoman Mitchell.
Ottoman Harris.
President, I'm sorry. Here's
okay.
Jeremy ottoman Coleman. She's on her way.
Armen Taylor.
Ottoman Bernette brother. Okay.
Ottoman Irving.
Armanella Farrell.
Armand. Viegas
Army nent.
Armand, Gardner.
Uh, Alderman Gardner is present.
Thank you. 1 2 3.
we have 8 members present, we have a quorum
we would first like to, um,
Allow committee members to rule, 59 to join by remote.
That's all my Gardener. Automate Irving automate Taylor.
Can I get a motion to recognize these Ottomans who have
joined as part of a corn?
So moved by Automotive Burnett. All in favor. Signify by
saying, I opinion of the chairs, the eyes have it,
Who.
Oh, thank you. All
Today, we have, um, 2 items on the agenda.
But we'll start out with public comments.
Do you have anyone signed for public comments?
No speaker signing up.
Oh, miss 1 to confirm. I'm here is Alderman Irving.
Okay, thank you, chairman Ervin uh ottoman Irvin ottoman
Garden. Almond. Taylor are you present
Okay.
We have 2 items on our agenda for today, we're going to get
started with the agenda items. The first item is to approve
of the monthly rule 45 for a monthly January, through May
2025 for the committee on contracts, oversight and Equity.
Can I get a motion to approve?
So moved by ottoman Bernett. All in favor. Signify by
saying I opinion of the chairs to eyes have it. The report
is approved.
We have a substitute ordinance. Number at 02024 d, 000144,
17, which has been prepared and sent Electronics to a all
members. Can I get a motion to accept the substitute
ordinance?
Yes.
Thank you, great.
Okay. Sorry, s o20. 024
Dash 0001441, which has been prepared and sent
electronically to all members. Can I get a motion now to
accept the substitute ordinance?
So, so moved by chairman Harris, all in favor. Signify, by
saying, I I, uh, and opinion of the chairs to eyes have it,
the substitute ordinance. Now, before us, um, we have
ottoman viegas. We also have with us from the chief
procurement officer. Um, Charlotte Roberts will be running
a little late but Courtney Del god goddess.
Of the Department of procurement service. And can you
acknowledge? Who's present with you from there? Yes, ma'am.
Uh, chair recognizes ottoman viegas. Thank you. Madam chair
to my left. Is Kevin barcz from the, uh, the director of
the veteran affairs for the mayor's office. Uh, and then we
have, um,
Uh, Charles with the veteran affairs, I'm sorry, the
veteran associate veteran Chamber of Commerce, Charles
frangos veterans, uh, business trainer of Commerce.
Charles frangos veterans Chamber of Commerce.
Do you want me to Jim Jim? Uh, because you can start. Thank
you. Thank you, madam chair. Um members of the committee um
before you is an ordinance that just basically codifies
what we've been doing for 2 3 year periods of a CO of a
pilot program for the veteran business Enterprise program.
Um,
uh, 6 years ago, the chamber, I'm sorry, the city council,
passed pilot program, which put forward a um a pilot
program to allow for veteran businesses. The opportunity to
procure with the city government. Um and we did a 3-year
pilot program, we were able to increase the number of firms
that were certified uh in the first 3 years. And then we
did another 3-year pilot so that way we can grow the, the,
uh, the population of firms of Veteran owned firms and get
them certified. During that time, we also saw some of the
barriers that veteran firms were, were having to face
around certification. We saw that at the federal level,
they have a certification process at the state level. We
have a certificate certification process and so working
closely with the Department of procurement Services. Uh, we
came up with a solution around some type of reciprocity
that allows for veteran businesses. The opportunity to
participate on publicly funded contracts, this ordinance,
all it does is remove the pilot and not put forward a
veteran business Enterprise program that
Uh, will allow, uh, the hardworking men and women that have
served, this country, the opportunity, uh, to procure. What
city government. The goal is very modest that 3%. It does
not take away from the 26th and 6th on the books for
minority women, uh, owned businesses. This is an addition
to. So, this allows 3%, uh, the procurement officer to set
goals of 3% above and beyond the 26th and 6th. So this will
not be impacting the mwb program which we've all fought
tirelessly
To to make sure that uh firms are participating on on
publicly funded contracts. So in that sense, all this does
is codify what we've been doing for the last 6 years.
Thank you. Uh, Armen viegas. I want to take a step back and
read into the minutes. The Substitute ordinance. Um,
as as o24 0014417 and Amendment of the municipal code
section to -92955 to primarily establish a veterans owned
small, local business participation go program. Um, just
wanted to make sure I got it in the records. Uh ours. Uh I
think that that you have done a tremendous job here and um,
first establishing a pilot. But it's something that I think
that the city should have been doing now. We are at the
point where we can do to make sure that we take care of our
veterans, uh, who've already
Service their time gave up their life trying to protect the
the country. And now when it comes for them to get help, we
need to be there for them. So I appreciate your effort and
uh, hope that
the department as well, will look to make sure we comply
with the ordinance that's being implemented here today that
veterans do have uh partake in the department of
procurement Services. Well I Madam chair I can assure you
that the the newly established veteran Chamber of Commerce,
uh, which has diverse members, unfortunately, a lot of them
are working right now and so, uh, we we we were able to get
1 of the board members to attend, uh, the meeting to to
talk into the affirmative of the ordinance. But this is a
great opportunity to your point to recognize the the uh,
sacrifice that uh, the men and women have done for this
country and we owe them that. So appreciate that.
Very good. Um, you know, uh, even though, what's the name
of the chambers? You said a veterans?
Yeah, a miniature. I'll let Charles from the veteran
Chamber of Commerce. Um introduce himself as well as the
organization, amen? Okay.
Uh, Charles you're recognized. Thank you, good morning.
Uh, veterans Chamber, of Commerce, is a non for-profit
organization, that is, um, set up here in Chicago, uh, with
the goal of connecting veteran businesses and creating
opportunities, uh,
Can you hear me right? But yeah. Okay. Should I start over?
Yes.
Good morning. Good morning.
Um, my name is Charles franos, I'm a Navy veteran. Um,
Chicago resident for 12 years. Uh, we've been living in Oak
Park but we have I personally have a business. Um,
Uh, here in Chicago, actually and Mr. Bernett swart.
um,
the veterans Chamber of Commerce is a non for-profit
organization set up here in Chicago, and the purpose of the
organization is to represent the nearly 60,000 businesses
in Illinois that, um, recognize themselves as a veteran
owned, um, and create, uh, networking opportunities. Um,
and connect businesses, uh, with large corporations and,
uh, government agencies throughout the state.
You did say, 60,000 business. Correct? According to the
census. Yes. Okay.
it's a
Huge, uh, unfortunately certification. Um, there's not
as many um currently in the state of Illinois. There's
There's around 210 certified businesses. But um, you know
with opportunities like the veteran Business program, I'm
sure there's going to be, um, other folks that are maybe
not self-certifying and, and will, um, go through that
process.
I guess. Um, my question, it wouldn't be a question. It
would be more on the lines of how we can expand and
improve. Um,
Because as I know there are a lot of veterans who don't
know where to go get services from uh and how they, how we
can connect better in this city to help the veterans who
are here.
They just don't know and there's no information. So perhaps
uh working with you we can start sharing some light on um
inclusion and participation for absolutely. But I would I
would say that the the mayor pointing Uh Kevin to the um
position um a Veterans Affairs within the city was a huge
step in that direction and think, you know, we
Jill as a marine and he's been a cea. Ceaseless, advocate
for military veterans, keeping us on the spotlight for
policy and opportunities. But I think with Kevin, um, as a
part of the, the department of our, as the, uh, mayor's
representative for veteran affairs, I think we now have a
voice in in the city, um, for the military veterans here in
Chicago, very good, that is open the door for Kevin to come
and give us some information. So thank you for taking the
time to my pleasure. Thank you for considering this
ordinance and Madam chair. Um, I will allow I would like to
have Kevin talk about what he does. Um but then I just want
to put some numbers into perspective.
Effective. So Nationwide veteran owned businesses.
Contribute over 200 billion.
Nationwide 200 billion in payroll annually, uh, most of our
small businesses so we're not talking about large
businesses. There are large businesses but majority of them
are are small but making huge impacts uh in this country.
So I wanted to, they also employ Millions, uh, and millions
of people across the country. So this is again, this is
just a great opportunity to continue to build on that
Foundation. Kevin, thank you, state, your name for the
record. Kevin, I'm Kevin barcz director for the mayor's
office of Veteran Affairs. Um, just want to kind of share
some data on the city of Chicago. Uh, the latest data that
came out. There's 77,000 veterans in the city of Chicago
42%, identifying as African-American 30% Caucasian 23%
Latino and of that 10% are women. Um, since the start of
the Johnson Administration we have seen over 50% increase
in certified, veteran owned businesses from 97 to 147 with
many more still in the pipeline, uh, for reference Cook
County has, uh, 63
Uh, veteran-owned businesses that are certified. And like
was mentioned earlier, the state has about 209210 that are
certified uh Department of procurement Services. Also has a
number of assist agencies helping veterans, including the
veteran business project, and the Chamber, which I'm sure
is going to come on board as well. Um, but we have a number
of Advocates out there in the community that are supporting
and helping our veteran businesses. Um, at the end of World
War II, there's about 50% of veterans owned or operated,
their own business. Unfortunately, today is less than 5%.
Um, so establishing this VB program as a permanent program
will continue to inspire more veterans to come business
owners, expand existing business, and hopefully attract a
lot more veterans back to the city of Chicago. Um, so
that's kind of some of the stuff that we're working on.
Thank you. Uh, thank you. Uh, I remember Ramirez.
Hello. Oh okay. Wow, that was loud. Um, good morning. Um, I
do want to shout out my colleague Alderman, bagasse,
because I've learned a lot from the work that you've done,
particularly around veteran services. And, you know, I will
say during Memorial Day, I always shout out, you know, the
accomplishes that you have that I've gotten to sign on to.
Yeah. Yeah we have thank you for saying we but I mean
genuinely I really do feel like when I do show up you know
thank thankful for your work um and being able to to name
those things. And now this is sort of like another thing
that we're going to able um to be able to name. Um I also
want to really thank Kevin.
And really, you know, thank grant for all the work that he
had done while he was, um, around. Um, and he supported our
Ward, um, office and he had, you know, his, um, his days
with us, like once a month, you know, to provide veteran
services. And so it works. And I'm really thankful for that
work. Um, I'm very intrigued and, and the work that you're
doing Charles with the Chamber of Commerce. We don't have a
chamber of commerce, um, in my neighborhood of the 124, my
neighborhoods, rather, but we are working on 1. We actually
meet the first Monday of the month now, and we're being
folks together. I have an incredible post, um, that does a
lot of work that gives back and so, just keep us in mind
and really interested in sort of help facilitate these
things and hope, hopefully, help and accomplishing the
goals that you guys have in mind. So more than anything.
Very, very thankful and excited that you guys are, are
pushing this. So, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Um, vice mayor brunette.
thank you very much, Madam chairman um,
First of all, Alderman Vie is, I just want to commend you.
For always thinking about the berries. I want to thank all
of you all for your service to our country. Uh, really
appreciate you all for standing up and positioning
yourselves to, uh, be in the gap for our freedom. Uh, so
thank you all very much. Thank you for, um, running the
Chamber of Commerce. I think that's fantastic. Happy you in
my ward. Um, we wanted to ask a question though. So what
we're doing here?
Is this a a precedent? Are we, are we setting a president? I
mean, is this, is this done anywhere else in the country?
So so, um, uh, in 2017. Um, this body put forward, the
first veteran business, Enterprise program, and a lot of
were here to vote on that, uh, that was created the pilot,
the first of its kind in the, in the city. Um, there are
other cities municipalities that have veteran veteran
business Enterprise programs, um, a little bit more of them
are aggressive, but I think that we want to crawl before we
walk. And that's why we put the 1% goal. And now we're at
3, and as a pool of veterans grow you, you heard from
Charles that there's 60,000 veterans that call uh, Illinois
home. Uh, the more of them that can participate on these
opportunities will give us an opportunity to increase the
goal. But right now we wanted to do it modestly 1% for 6
years and now we're going to try 3. Uh, and and continue to
see how we can get more firms. My goal, our goal should be
to make City of Chicago. The most veteran.
Friendly city in the country when when military people are
discharged from the from the from their Branch, they can go
anywhere in the country. What we've done is put forward a
foundation around affordable housing, requiring 10% of
that. To be for veterans, we've required uh that the city
of Chicago put veteran preference for hiring and not from a
business standpoint. We're codified. The veteran business
Enterprise to allow those that want to be entrepreneurs to
come here. So we're giving multiple Avenues to attract
people to Chicago. Uh and again,
My goal, our goal should be to make Chicago, the most
veteran-friendly city in the country.
Alderman you doing a fantastic job also want to I want to
commend the administration. Thank you sir. For all you do
and thank the mayor's office for supporting this also um I
support this 100% keep on pushing man. You taking a step
back. Step, you're doing a great job. I, I appreciate that.
Vice
Thank you. Uh, ottoman nent
Thank you, madam chair. Uh, I just wanted to uh, thank
alderman viegas for his tireless work on behalf of
veterans, and of course, I'm happy to support this
ordinance today. I also, just want to give a shout out to
Kevin, as well, uh, Kevin you along with chairman Vegas,
have been great Partners to me, uh, in the 39th word, with
respect to, um, some of our marine veterans, some of our
statues, we're looking to relocate, uh, we have a large
veteran community in, in the ward and I think it's
critically important, we continue to offer them
opportunities. They served, um, they served they served and
continue to serve our country, um, and they deserve, um, to
have opportunities when they come back home. So, thank you
for your advocacy and to my new friends up here today.
Thank you for your advocacy as well. Thank you, madam
chair. Thank you.
I'm a Harris. Thank you. Um, I'd like to thank alderman
viegas for his untiring work around veterans issues, and
but this is really something fabulous, um, that will help
that veterans across the perspective of the city of
Chicago. So today can be more grateful that you and your
leadership have really pushed it. I can't tell you how hard
you push it. And it's like, you've been pushing a boulder
and finally, you've made it to the top. So I really thank
you again for all your hard work and commitment towards
veterans. Um, my baby sister is a veteran, um, and we have
several kids that are getting ready to start a new career,
uh, inside the services, uh, for the Army, I think 1 is
going Army, 1 is going Navy. So we're going to see what
happens, but we're grateful because it's a, a truly, um, a
love and a gift to fight this hard. And so I can't again.
I'm like
ended by saying, thank you for all your tremendous hard
work because it
A rising tide moves All Ships and you have done that. And
so again, thank you for your commitment and hard work to
Veterans. Thank you, chairman Harris. Thank you. Uh
chairman Ervin.
Yes, ma'am. Uh, thank you chairman mitts, uh, also congrats,
uh, Alderman chairman VAs on this ordinance. I know you
continue to push on behalf of veterans, uh, and not only
here, but, uh, nationally so appreciate the work that
you're doing. Uh, contrary to what? Um, Alderman. Chairman,
the Harris has stated the Bold is not at the top because I
know you're gonna keep pushing. What's the next trick? You
got up your sleeve, uh, but I know you're working hard to
support our, uh, nation's veterans, and those who made
great sacrifices, uh, small and great, a 4-Hour Community,
for our safety. And just, uh, you know, being there for the
veteran Community. Uh, 1 question, I do have, um, has there
have, um, has there been any, uh, move toward bringing
those Services back to our Wards, on a monthly basis
through the VA that we were seeing
So um, chairman chairman Ervin. Uh, I'll tell you that um
What we've seen currently in Washington DC, is it an attack
on Veterans? Um when you think about Doge and the efforts
to find efficiencies, um, you saw that this Administration
chose the veteran Department as the first Department to to
uh, to to go ahead and gut. Uh, and you saw locally here,
it was impacted because Grant Jacobson who worked for the
VA uh in essence lost his job. Fortunately, he's with the
veteran.
Affairs of Cook County now. Uh and they have and because he
has that infrastructure in place and that program in place.
Um we can uh have Kevin reach out to you because he is
providing some similar services from the Cook County level
position. Uh it's not the VA, but it's um it's uh uh, it's
a void that's being filled by the veteran affairs, Cook
County plus, we have our own um, Veteran Affairs, uh, in
Kevin. Now, we do need to get Kevin some help. Uh, he is a
director of Veteran Affairs but he's only 1 person. So the
question is, who is he directing? We have to give him some
supporting staff in order to make sure that we can put in
infrastructure in place, uh, to help those veterans. But,
um, chairman Ervin, you saw that, uh, that this
Administration unfortunately chose, uh, the veteran affairs
Department, uh, to be the first Department to gut and try
to find efficiencies, which really questions, uh, where
where the, the party of, uh, of uh, country and and all
these other things.
That they profess to be. We're we're really their heart is
at
All right, thank you. And I'll uh, we'll interface with
our, our, our folks in that to get that the service back to
our residents.
Thank you, chairman. Thank you. Thank you. Madam chair.
Um, I'd like to recognize um I'm until Alderman Mitchell.
Uh
but the purpose of, uh, corn, roll call
Um, is there any other questions or comments from the
Committee Member? Um, I didn't hear anything. Would you
like to add to this? Um,
Courtney from
Care the care services. I didn't want you to come here and
not have an opportunity to say anything, so,
Um hi. Courtney told you this um attorney in the department
of procurement Services. Um we're very excited to um
to um support this ordinance and um have worked with other
than the Aus on. Um, looking at how we can support and move
this forward to help veterans in the community. We really
do believe this will help remove some barriers of entry for
veteran businesses and help us work with both the state and
County to be able to have um, a uniform um, process so that
we can hopefully get those numbers up, um, on our veteran
businesses and continue to increase opportunities for
veterans across, um, Chicago
Good.
Madam chairman, Ervin Dimension. What I have up my sleeve
and I have my sleeve is that there's a, uh, I've been
working closely with Civic and philanthropic and government
to identify, uh, any city-owned property a city-owned
property that potentially could become a veterans Hub in
the city of Chicago, which would allow for veterans to have
a 1 Stop Shop of of getting Services. Then now from a
business perspective, use it as an incubator uh and then
teaming up with Veteran Affairs. Whatever is left of it in
order to provide federal state and city resources.
So that's up my sleeve. Oh, very good.
well, that's good because we look into expanding um,
Do a lot of more work surrounding that and we just got to
be careful because, uh, as we're dealing with the, the
federal level, we still have to protect our own here, uh,
within the city and state. So, uh, all hands on deck. Yes,
ma'am. Amen. All right, uh, chairman Irving, did you have
another question or comment?
Or your hand. Yes ma'am uh quick. No no no. Just just
quickly. Uh, this is to the attorney uh, this will function
similar to the 266. And now 3 is that is that how we we are
to understand this.
Um, yep. So this will get added onto any contracts. Um,
be assessed for veteran opportunities and then um, they can
have anything up to a 3% goal, but um, yes, the 26th and
6th will remain unchanged. This will not affect it. This
will just add in addition to those goals. Yep. Now will
there be like liquidating damages and things of that nature
with this as well. Um and that um I expect that we'll set
up a very similar shortfall process right now. Uh, my we
only have the pilot program. We did not have a shortfall
process for, um, the VB Eagles but um, we do expect that to
change as this become shifts into a permanent program.
Okay, and what? And and, uh, have you all determined, what
those are or what, those come back to us in the form of
rules and um, I believe our expectation is to propose.
Um, new roles that would mirror very similar to the mbew be
roles that we have in place, so, um, they would be assessed
similarly, as a whole, but that would be forthcoming.
Okay, well if you can update us on that, we appreciate it.
Thank you much. Thank you madam chair. Sure. How long do
you think it'll take to transition? Be doing your
what kind of time frame to be able to transition, um, with
the new,
Ordinance today.
How we looking?
And um, in terms of Contracting, we able to get um the
contracts are already set up for the 1% goal. So that 3%
goal, we would be able to reassess for anything that's
currently in process. Anything already advertised would
have the goals that were established at the time. It was
awarded. Um, so that change would occur quickly and we
would move. Um, If This Were to pass, we will move to
looking at any rules that would need to be in place for the
permanent program immediately. So we would move quickly to
get those in place. Okay, Madam chair. Um, that's something
that I want to make sure that thank you madam chair. I, I
want to make sure that as rules are being propagated that
when they have the final version that they come back to
this committee, so we can take a glance at it to make sure
that it's in captured everything that we we we the intent
of the legislation is sure. Thank you very good. I
Any other questions?
No questions. And I get a motion.
So moved by vice mayor or Bernette chairman Harris. All in
favor signify by saying I I there's the eyes have it.
this matter will be passed out uh, at our next city council
meeting, um, June, the 18th 2025
There'll be no further business before this committee.
And motion to adjourn.
This will conclude our agenda. Can I get a motion to
adjourn?
some moved by order member vice mayor Bernett, all in
favor, signify by saying I
Opinion of chairs. The eyes have it. This meeting. This is
John. Thank you. All have a blessed day.