Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity meeting, September 10, 2024
- When: Tue, Sep 10, 2024, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928505/video/1007773198
- Transcript: full text (20,592 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity, chaired by Alderperson Emma Mitts, approved remote participation for several members and heard fifteen public commenters, most of them business and advocacy leaders supporting Charlotte Roberts' appointment as Chief Procurement Officer, along with others raising concerns about Black contracting participation and the selection process. The committee approved the Rule 45 report for May through August 2024. After Ms. Roberts presented her plans to streamline procurement, reduce certification backlogs, modernize technology and expand outreach, members asked about certification costs and backlogs, contract timelines, slow payment to subcontractors, centralizing MBE/WBE compliance, and diversity, equity and inclusion, and the committee recommended her appointment. The committee also recommended approval of a professional services agreement with the Urban Land Institute for planning advisory panels, not to exceed 940,000 dollars over four years, with Alderperson Pat Dowell recorded as voting no.
Topics: Chief Procurement Officer appointment, MBE/WBE certification, contract compliance, slow payment to subcontractors, Urban Land Institute contract, Black contracting participation, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 12:30 Rule 59 remote participation for members: passed
- 13:06 Public comment
- 57:02 Approval of the Rule 45 report for May 2024 through August 2024: passed
- 57:29 Appointment of Charlotte Roberts as Chief Procurement Officer: passed
- 2:00:08 Professional services agreement with the Urban Land Institute for advisory consulting services: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Emma Mitts (chair): Said she would allow all fifteen public speakers to be heard even though it would exceed the 30-minute public comment period. (13:27); Said Black contracting participation has fallen from 9% to 2% during her tenure, called it a disgrace, and said outreach and certification education are needed. (1:49:05); Said the Urban Land Institute panels are a valuable tool, citing work with young people in her area, and that she supports the contract. (2:07:00)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said procurement has not been working well, citing Chicago Recovery Plan delays, and asked how the MBE/WBE certification backlog will be reduced. (1:08:10); Asked how to shorten the six to eight months between funding awards and contracts for social service vendors. (1:11:11); Asked how to create more transparency from RFP to award to expenditure and urged the nominee to be forthright about needed investments. (1:13:48)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked the nominee to look at reducing certification costs for small and minority businesses, the use of the fund from contractor compliance penalties, and centralizing MBE/WBE monitoring across departments. (1:17:46); Said she would vote in favor of the appointment. (1:20:09); Asked how Urban Land Institute panels were funded previously and urged that panels include community voices, not just the real estate industry. (2:08:44)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Supported the appointment and discussed mentorship programs to build new minority businesses. (1:20:19); Said contract compliance should be housed in procurement rather than individual departments and that waivers for not hiring minority contractors should be addressed. (1:21:33); Said more minority contractors need to be prepared for upcoming lead service line replacement work. (1:23:43)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked about the delayed ERP system and said slow payment forces minority, women and veteran-owned firms to borrow to make payroll. (1:24:56); Said procurement should be at the table when departments plan contracts so it can influence diversity, rather than only reporting results. (1:27:14); Asked to work on raising personal net worth and contract value thresholds for professional services firms. (1:29:51)
- Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): As a non-member, said he supports the nominee and that supporting Black-owned businesses can help transform communities. (1:32:13)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Asked whether the city has a policy aligned with a federal executive order on advancing racial equity and whether prior mayoral executive orders on equity remain in effect. (1:36:13); Asked the nominee how she would incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion in her initiatives. (1:40:33); Asked about the status of a 2019 procurement reform task force and what the Council can do to support the department. (1:47:02)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked the nominee about her biggest challenge and for citywide contracting numbers, noting no Black contractors on a water replacement contract. (1:52:26)
Exchanges between members
- 1:16:39 Alderperson Pat Dowell thanked the chair before questioning the nominee.
- 1:21:33 Alderperson Walter R. Burnett said he concurred with Alderperson Pat Dowell that compliance should be handled in-house by procurement.
- 1:29:17 Alderperson Gilbert Villegas noted Alderperson Walter R. Burnett had mentioned mentor-protege and joint venture programs and encouraged their use.
- 1:34:52 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson thanked Chairwoman Emma Mitts for the opportunity to speak.
- 1:35:13 Alderperson David H. Moore said Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson remarks reminded him of a personal connection to the nominee's family.
- 1:38:00 Alderperson David H. Moore said he stands in support of Alderperson Gilbert Villegas on slow payment to vendors.
- 1:58:26 Alderperson David H. Moore raised a point of information clarifying Alderperson Gilbert Villegas question about evaluation committees.
- 1:55:11 The chair thanked Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor for her questions.