When: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 7 pm
Where: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend
Sponsored by: Community Forum for Economic Development and South Bend NAACP Branch
Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Common Councilwoman Karen White will be joining us. Diversity Board Members have also been invited. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this important discussion.
SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE CREATION OF SOUTH BEND'S MBE/WBE UTILIZATION BOARD
In 1987, Eugenia Braboy, South Bend's Second District Councilwoman, introduced an ordinance intended to "establish a procedure to address equal opportunity for minorities an women with regard to employment and bidding for City contracts." The ordinance eventually become part of the South Bend Municipal Code (Chapter 14.5), establishing an Affirmative Action procedure for both employment and contracting.
In December of 2010, Councilman At-Large Timothy Rouse and three other members of the Common Council offered a revision to the 1987 Ordinance. The cover letter for Bill No. 86-10 stated that a "recent investigation indicates a need to revise South Bend Municipal Code Chapter 14.5; Articles 1 and 2." They also proposed an additional Article, establishing compliance policy and procedures. Finally they included the recommendation that the term Affirmative Action be replaced with "modern day terminology such as Diversity Utilization Plan."
A revised Bill, known as Substitute Bill No. 86-10 was adopted by the Council and signed into law by Mayor Luecke on April 22, 2011. The Ordinance created a 9-Member Minority and Women Business Enterprise Utilization Board that would work with a Diversity Compliance Officer and the City Administration and Common Council to develop policies to eliminate barriers and promote diversity. Three members of the Board were appointed by the Common Council, three by the Mayor, one by the Chamber of Commerce, one is a joint appointment of the Mayor and Council, and the ninth spot is filled by the Director of Public Works. These appointments were completed by October, 2011.
The first meeting of the nine member Minority/Women Business Enterprise Utilization Board (MWUB) was November 10, 2011 and they have met a dozen times since then. In March of this year they solicited proposals for the Diversity Compliance Officer and recommended the appointment of Trinal, Inc., a strategic management firm based in Chicago. This recommendation was accepted by the Common Council. The contract, now being finalized, has a one year duration (calendar year 2012) with financial compensation not to exceed $67,500.