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AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME
[FY2023 Budget Workshop: Office of Business Opportunity ]
DIRECTOR MARSHA MURRAY AND PAT C JACKSON TO GIVE US THE PRESENTATION ON OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BUDGET PRESENTATION.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM, VICE CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT OBOS PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET.
TODAY I'M JOINED TODAY BY OBOS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PATSY JACKSON.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE OBO TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
UH, LALA MORRIS OIOS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS PEARL KAHALAS, OUR COUNCIL LIAISON AND, UM, AND PIO.
UM, IN HIS ABSENCE, I'D ALSO ELECTED ACKNOWLEDGE TIM WARREN, WHO'S OUR CERTIFICATION AND DESIGNATION DIVISION MANAGER, AND, UH, TWO SUPERVISORS WHO ARE OVERSEEING OUR CONTRACT COMPLIANCE DIVISION AT THIS POINT, SHANITA PETWAY, AS WELL AS ANTE HUEY.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FABULOUS WORK, UM, YOUR TREMENDOUS WORK IN MOVING THE CORE SERVICES OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FORWARD.
AT THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, WE EXECUTE OUR MISSION OF CULTIVATING THE COMPETITIVE AND DIVERSE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON BY PROMOTING THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND DEVELOPING HOUSTON'S WORKFORCE WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES AND DISENFRANCHISED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SEVERAL CORE SERVICES.
THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FUND.
1000 COVERS OBOS CORE SERVICES, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT CERTIFICATION, CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
ACCOUNTED FOR OUR $5.4 MILLION BUDGET AND APPROXIMATELY 43 FTES.
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM INCLUDES, UH, MYSELF, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THE CITYWIDE TITLE SIX COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR, AND OUR ONE PERSON ANALYTICS AND REPORTING TEAM.
OUR CERTIFICATION AND DESIGNATION DIVISION ADMINISTER SIX LOCAL CERTIFICATIONS AND TWO FEDERAL CERTIFICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THOSE CERTIFICATIONS ARE LISTED HERE.
IN ADDITION, WE FACILITATE HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OUR NEWEST CERTIFICATION, UM, ADDED TO OUR DIRECTORY IS THE L-G-B-T-B-E CERTIFICATION.
THE DIVISION ALSO PROCESSES APPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY'S LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM, THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST PROGRAM.
THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE DIVISION MONITORS ALL CITY CONTRACTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOUSING AND AIRPORT CONTRACTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE MINORITY WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, AND TO ENFORCE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LABOR STANDARDS, INCLUDING PREVAILING WAGE COMPLIANCE AND PROMPT PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS ON CITY CONTRACTS.
OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM RAISES AWARENESS OF OBO SERVICES AND THE CITY'S CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALSO PROVIDES LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH ACCESS TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES.
THIS TEAM ALSO ADMINISTERS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS, AND FINALLY, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM FACILITATES INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON JOB AND READINESS.
SO, THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS OUR SPECIAL FUND FUND 24 24, WHICH COVERS THE CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAMMATIC OPERATIONS OF THE CITY'S PAYER PLAY PROGRAM.
THE PAYER PLAY PROGRAM AIMS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR CONTRACTS BETWEEN BIDDERS THAT CHOOSE TO OFFER HEALTH BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOY, TO THEIR WORKFORCE, AND THOSE WHO DO NOT.
THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFSETS THE COST OF PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO UNINSURED PEOPLE.
IN THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY AREA.
THE CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY FUND SUPPORTS THREE CITY PROGRAMS, AND THOSE PROGRAMS ARE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.
SO, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL, I WILL ASK YOU TO REVIEW AT YOUR ELECTION SLIDES FIVE AND SIX, WHICH PROVIDES MORE DETAILS ABOUT OUR CORE SERVICES.
I'LL SKIP OVER TO, UM, SLIDE SEVEN.
SO WHILE WE DO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF DELIVERING OBS CORE SERVICES, THERE ARE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPONENTS OF OUR SERVICES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
FEDERAL FUNDING IS TIED TO OUR TITLE VI CERTIFICATION AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE WORK.
AS IT RELATES TO CERTIFICATION, FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT ALL RECIPIENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IN EXCESS OF $250,000 IN A FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM TO ENSURE NON-DISCRIMINATION IN THE AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANT CONTRACTS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADMINISTER THE AFOREMENTIONED PROGRAMS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDING.
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SO, THIS SLIDE WE ARE DESCRIBING THE FINANCIAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACT OF OUR SERVICE DELIVERIES.THE SERVICES THAT OBO ADMINISTERS HAVE BROAD SOCIETAL IMPACT FOR NOT ONLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT ALSO THEIR EMPLOYEES.
OBS CONTRACT COMPLIANCE TEAM ADVOCATES FOR AND ENFORCES THE RIGHTS OF CERTIFIED FIRMS ON CONTRACTS WITH GOALS AND ENSURES THAT EMPLOYEES OF CITY OF HOUSTON CO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS ARE PAID APPROPRIATE WAGES, ULTIMATELY SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS.
REVENUES COLLECTED FROM THE PEER PLAY PROGRAM OFFSET THE COST OF PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO UNINSURED HOUSTONIANS.
THE CITY'S TITLE SIX PROGRAM ENSURES EQUAL ACCESS TO CITY FACILITIES AND PROGRAM IN BY ALL HOUSTONIANS.
AND OUR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SERVES TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRMS AS THEY CAN BE UTILIZED ON CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECTS AND ON PROJECTS WITH OTHER AREA AGENCIES AND PRIVATE COMPANIES.
SOME OF THOSE COMPANIES, UH, ARE OR ENTITIES ARE LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SLIDE.
AND THIS SLIDE, UH, DISCUSSES THE ANTICIPATED GROWTH IN NUMBER OF CU UH, CUSTOMERS THAT WE EXPECT IN FISCAL YEAR 23.
WE EXPECT AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR M-W-S-B-E CERTIFICATION DUE TO NEW MWBE PROGRAMS IN THE REGION, SUCH AS THE HARRIS COUNTY AND POOR HOUSTON RACE AND GENDER CONSCIOUS PROGRAMS. WE ALSO EXPECT, UH, DEMANDS FROM BUSINESSES SEEKING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HOUSTON BASE NCWA FINAL FOUR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY INITIATIVE NEXT YEAR.
AND WE ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR FIRMS, UM, BROUGHT ON BY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
HPW HAS ALSO PREDICTED THAT THERE'LL BE, UM, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS THAT ARE, ARE LET, AS A RESULT, WE ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN OUR OVERALL CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, UH, MONITORING WORKLOAD.
AND FINALLY, UH, THE NORTH NORTHEAST WATER PURIFICATION PLANT PROJECT HAS APPROXIMATELY 931 PROJECT 930 SUBCONTRACTORS PARTICIPATING AND GROWING THIS PROJECT WILL WILL INCREASE OUR M-W-S-B-E CONTRACT COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND PREVAILING WAGE AND LABOR STANDARDS MONITORING.
SO, AT THIS TIME, I'LL ASK MS. JACKSON TO DISCUSS THE PROJECTED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES IN OUR PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET.
ON OUR REVENUE BY FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE INDICATED ON THE FIRST ROW OF THIS SLIDE INCREASED BY 74% AND FY 23 OVER FY 22.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE ON THE SECOND ROW INCREASED BY 7.9399999999999995% AND FY 23 OVER FY 22.
IT'LL GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
THESE ARE OUR REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS.
THE FY 23 JOURNAL FUND PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASED BY 74% IS DUE TO THE THREE ADDITIONAL FTES TRANSFERRING FROM THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THIS REVENUE CONSISTS OF HP W'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT OUR CONTRACT COMPLIANCE STAFF, WHICH CURRENTLY FUNDS NINE POSITIONS.
THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE SUPPORTS THE CITY'S PAYER PLAY PROGRAM.
THE FY 23 BUDGET INCREASED BY 7.9399999999999995%, AND IT IS CONTRIBUTED TO ANTICIPATED INCREASES TO THE REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS FUND 24 24.
OF NOTE, THOUGH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATE A 6% INCREASE IN REVENUE DUE TO AN INCREASE OF VENDORS PARTICIPATING IN THE PAY PORTION OF THE PAYER PLAY PROGRAM.
WORKING ON THE NEW PROJECT, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM ANTICIPATE PROJECTS MOVING FROM DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND MORE CONTRACTS AWARDED USING THE PAY OPTION WILL RESULT IN INCREASED REVENUE AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ANTICIPATES MORE CONTRACTS IN FY 23, WHICH WILL INCREASE REVENUE BY 15 TO 20%.
EXPENDITURE BY FUND OBOS FY 22 GENERAL FUND ESTIMATE BUDGET FOR FUND 1000 IS 4.1 MILLION.
THE 5.4 MILLION PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 23 REFLECTED ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS THAT 32.58% INCREASE DUE TO TWO ADDITIONAL POSITION IN OBO SOLUTION CENTER, WHICH WILL MANAGE NEW BUSINESS PROGRAMS AND INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT SERVICES.
THREE EMPLOYEES TRANSFERRED FROM HPW TO THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE DIVISION TO ASSIST IN MANAGING THE HPW CONTRACTS.
TWO ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR THE CERTIFICATION DIVISION AND A ONE TIME FUNDING FOR VENDOR AUGMENTED CONTRACT MONITORING TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE EXPENDITURE LINE ITEM REFLECTS EXPENDITURES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAMMATIC OPERATIONS OF THE CITY'S PAYER PLAY PROGRAM.
THIS FUND SHOWS A 31 POINT 30% DECREASE BECAUSE THE ONE-TIME FUNDING IN FY 22 FOR ETHAN HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN FY 23 BUDGET AND FY 23.
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FUNDING FOR HEALTH BENEFITS, PENSION CONTRIBUTION, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.CONTRACTUAL PAYER INCREASES FUNDED TO MAINTAIN AN ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO EFFECTIVELY TRACK ALL PAY OR PLAY ACTIVITIES.
THE FY 23 BUDGET CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE CONTRACTUAL RESPONSIBILITY FUNDS INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE CLIENT ACCESS PROGRAM, CRISIS CALLED DIVERSION PROGRAM, AND THE EMERGENCY TELEHEALTH AND NAVIGATION ETHAN PROGRAM.
PERSONNEL FOR FUND 1000 OBOS PROPOSED BUDGET OF 5.4 MILLION.
82% OF THAT COVERS PERSONNEL EXPENSES, SALARIES, AND FRENCH BENEFITS OF THE REMAINING 18% OF OUR BUDGET.
4% COVERS RESTRICTED CHARGE ACCOUNT THAT ARE CHARGEBACKS BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
1% COVERS THE COST OF THE B TWO G.
NOW THE CITY'S CERTIFICATION AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND 13% COVERS OTHER SERVICES INCLUDING THE CONTRACT MONITORING PROGRAM, THE PRINTING AND REPRODUCTION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SLIDE 14, WHICH IS OUR FY 23 PERSONNEL VERSUS NON PERSONNEL FOR FUND 24 24 COVERS THIS CONTRACTED RESPONSIBILITY FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS THE OPERATIONS OF CITY OF HOUSTON PARA PLAY PROGRAM.
15% OF THAT BUDGET WILL FUND PERSONNEL EXPENSES SUCH AS SALARIES, FRINGE BENEFITS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM OVERSIGHT.
THE 80 OTHER 85% OF THE BUDGET WILL FUND THE THREE LISTED PROGRAM AND TECHNOLOGY COST.
SLIDE 15 IS OUR FY 23 BUDGET EXPENDITURE NET CHANGE.
THIS SLIDE IS A VISUAL ATION OF THE NET CHANGE AND GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT WERE DISCUSSED EARLIER.
THEY BOTH DETAILS WHAT WE DISCUSSED EARLY IN OUR PRESENTATION, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR FINANCIAL PORTION OF OBOS BUDGET.
AND I WILL REFER THAT BACK TO OUR DIRECTOR.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
BEFORE I TAKE QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE APPENDIX THAT FOLLOWS WHICH YOU CAN REVIEW AT YOUR ELECTION.
THE APPENDIX PROVIDES ADDITIONAL, UH, INFORMATION INCLUDING O B'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, A BREAKDOWN OF STAFF DEMOGRAPHICS, O BS FY TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, AND SOME OF OUR UNMET NEEDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLEN, THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND TO YOUR ENTIRE STAFF, UH, FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
I KNOW YOU MAKE THE MOST WITH THE LITTLE AND, UH, IT'S APPRECIATED AND VALUED.
UM, WE HAD A DISPARITY STUDY DONE, CORRECT? WE DID.
HOW MUCH WAS THAT DISPARITY STUDY? WHY ARE WE NOT USING THAT DISPARITY STUDY? UM, AND IN THE DISPARITY STUDY, IS IT BREAKING DOWN, UM, OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON SPECIFIC RACE? OKAY.
SO, UH, SO WE DID COMMISSION A DISPARITY STUDY, UM, THAT WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED.
I'M SORRY, IS IT, CAN, ARE WE GOOD? OKAY.
SO THE CITY DID COMMISSION A DISPARITY STUDY, UM, AND, UM, BECAUSE THE, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY THAT WAS USED TO, UH, PERFORM THE DISPARITY STUDY.
THE CITY WILL NOT BE PUBLISHING, UH, THAT STUDY.
SO I CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT ANY OF THE SUBSTANTIVE CONTENTS.
HOW LONG WAS THAT DISPARITY STUDY COVERING? WHAT YEARS DID IT COVER? SO IT'S COVERED, UH, 12 THROUGH 16, UH, FISCAL YEAR 12, 12 34 TO 15.
FISCAL YEARS, UH, 12 THROUGH 16.
AND HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SPEND ON THAT STUDY? SO IT COST A LITTLE BIT UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND WE'RE, WE ARE NOT PUBLISHING IT AT ALL.
AND SO NOW, UM, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE LOOKING TO DO ANOTHER DISPARITY STUDY.
SO THERE'S CURRENTLY A AN RFP, UM, THAT IS ON THE STREET, UM, SOLICITING, UM, PROPOSALS FOR A NEW DISPARITY STUDY COVERING, UM, FISCAL YEARS, UH, UM, THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 17, THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 21, A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
AND WHO MAKES THE DETERMINATION ON WHETHER THE METHODOLOGY WAS SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE IS USEFUL OR NOT? SO THE DETERMINATION IS REALLY, UM, IS IS BASED ON, UM, THE EXPERIENCE WITH ADMINISTERING, UM, PROGRAMS LIKE THIS PARTICULARLY, UM, THE, UM, THE KIND OF PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
UM, WITHOUT GOING INTO SUB, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANTIVE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT'S CONTAINED, UH, WITHIN THAT DRAFT STUDY, UM, UM, IT REALLY DID NOT, I BELIEVE IN THE MEMO THAT I WROTE TO THE MAYOR THAT WAS, UH, SHARED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I BELIEVE I INCLUDED IN THAT MEMO THAT IT REALLY DID NOT REFLECT, UM, THE WAY IN WHICH, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ADMINISTERS ITS PROGRAM.
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VICE MAYOR PROAM.THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MURRAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, UM, LAST BUDGET CYCLE.
WE, UM, PUT FORTH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO GET CAUGHT UP ON OUR CONTRACT COMPLIANCE.
UM, WHERE ARE WE IN THAT PROCESS AND HAVE WE MADE ANY PROGRESS WITH GETTING CAUGHT UP ON OUR CONTRACT COMPLIANCE? SO I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE MAYOR HAS, AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 20 TWO'S BUDGET, HE'S ACTUALLY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR US TO ACTUALLY AUGMENT AND OUR, OUR EXISTING, UH, CONTRACT COMPLIANCE MONITORING SERVICES THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT OF VENDORS.
SO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED SHORTLY ABOUT THAT, THAT ENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE AS, AS IS THE HEAD, AS IS THE CASE WITH, WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT IMMUNE, UM, TO, UH, THE GREAT RESIGNATION.
AND SO WE HAVE LOST A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF OUR COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
UM, WHICH IS WHY, UM, THERE THERE HAS BEEN THIS URGENCY TO ACTUALLY AUGMENT OUR EXISTING SERVICES.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO, AND IT'S BEEN, WE'RE JUST HAVING ISSUES ATTRACTING, UM, COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
SO WE HAD SEVEN COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
WE'VE, UH, WE'RE NOW UP TO TWO COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
SO REALLY THE REST OF THE REMAINING OF THE STAFF IS REALLY ALL HANDS ON DECK IN, IN TERMS OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THE WORKLOAD THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
WHAT'S THE PAY FOR A COMPLIANCE OFFICER? SO FOR OUR BUSINESS, FOR A, UH, COMPLIANCE OFFICER, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 48,000 FOR SENIOR COMPLIANCE OFFICER.
IT'S AP APPROXIMATELY 56,000 AND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR IT.
AND SO THE, UH, THE COMPLIANCE OFFICER REQUIRES A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, UM, OR, AND, AND ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE OR, UM, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CAN BE SUBSTITUTED YEAR FOR YEAR FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE FOR SENIOR COMPLIANCE OFFICER.
THE DIFFERENCE IS TWO YEARS, UM, EXPERIENCE.
UM, SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE, UM, CONTRACTS THAT COME OUT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR MWBES TO PARTICIPATE, BUT, UM, WE GET WORD THAT THERE AREN'T ANY IN THE DIRECTORY OR THERE'S A VOID FOR MINORITY VENDORS IN THAT PARTICULAR INDUSTRY SPACE.
DO WE KEEP A LOG OF WHERE WE MAY HAVE VOIDS AND TRY TO FIND WAYS TO IDENTIFY MINORITY COMPANIES WITHIN THE CITY THAT IF WE WERE TO REACH OUT TO THEM COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE, IN CERTAIN, UM, CONTRACTS.
SO WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY KEEPING A LOG, BUT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, AWARE OF SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE, UM, THERE ARE, UM, GAPS.
SO WHEN OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM ACTUALLY GOES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, THEY MAY ACTUALLY EMPHASIZE, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN A PARTICULAR AREA, UM, AND ENCOURAGE FOR, FOR, UM, FOR FIRMS TO GET CERTIFIED.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE GENERALLY JUST LOOKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF, OF FIRMS AND THE VARIETY, THE DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF INDUSTRY, THE DIVERSITY OF FIRMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY CERTIFIED AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE OPENINGS THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, SO THOSE ARE CURRENT OPENINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AND APPLY FOR THOSE POSITIONS? YEAH.
ANY, ANY OPENING THAT WE HAVE THAT HAS NOT BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE THE, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE EXHAUSTED THE PERIOD FOR WHICH THE POSTING IS OUT ABSOLUTELY ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
WE DO ACTUALLY, UM, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES, UM, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY, UH, IN, IN REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE.
MY EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM HAS CREATED SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, CAMPAIGNS.
WE HAVE LEVERAGED OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS TO ACTUALLY, UM, REACH OUT TO THEIR NETWORK OF FOLKS, UM, TO, UM, TO TALK ABOUT OUR VARIOUS, UH, POSITIONS.
WE ARE PERPETUALLY TALKING AD NAUSEUM ABOUT THESE POSITIONS.
AND WE, WE'VE ALSO BEEN JUST INTERNALLY TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REEVALUATING SOME OF THE POSTINGS THAT WE PUT OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION, BUT WE ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, THE BENE LEAD WITH THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE CITY LEAD WITH THE BENEFITS OF THE IMPACT THAT THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU CAN DO AS A COMPLIANCE OFFICER CAN HAVE ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE.
BUT I, I THINK YOU ALL DO A TREMENDOUS JOB OF PUTTING OUT INFORMATION.
UH, I'M ALWAYS GETTING UPDATES.
I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL, UH, SHOULD COLLABORATE MORE ON MAKING SURE OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, SO WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU DO HAVE ON CURRENT OPENINGS, UH, PLEASE SEND TO MY OFFICE.
SO JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S INITIAL LINE OF QUESTIONS ON THE DISPARITY STUDY.
SO WE ISSUED AN RFP, WE GOT IT, WE RECEIVED THE ANSWERS, WE PAID HIM A MILLION DOLLARS, WE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION, BUT WE'RE DOING NOTHING WITH IT AT THIS AT
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THIS POINT.IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PUBLISHED.
WE, WE HAVEN'T PAID THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT.
WHAT HAVE WE PAID OF THE MILLION DOLLARS? I'M SORRY.
WHAT HAVE WE PAID OF THE MILLION? WHATEVER IT WAS.
SO WE HAD $900,000 WE PAID FOR DISPARITY STUDY.
AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE DEFINE THE SCOPE BECAUSE WE ISSUED THE RFP.
SO IN AN RFP, YOU DEFINE THE SCOPE OF YOUR PROJECT, AND IF YOU DEFINE THE SCOPE OF YOUR PROJECT AS TO HERE ARE THE PARTICULAR QUESTIONS, HERE'S THE INFORMATION WE WANNA LOOK AT, AND THEY GIVE US THAT, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW WE DEFINE THE PROCESS, THEN WE SHOULDN'T PAY 'EM A PENNY.
IF THEY DID FOLLOW IT AND GAVE US INFORMATION THAT THE DATA PROBABLY CAME BACK AND WE DIDN'T LIKE IT, THEN WE SHOULD PAY 'EM AND WE SHOULD RELEASE THE DATA AND LET US JUDGE AS TO WAS IT EFFECTIVE OR NOT.
BECAUSE I POINT BACK AND I SAY WE HAD A PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOWED, WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY THE SCOPE.
IF THEY GAVE US THE INCORRECT ANSWERS, IF THEY DID IDENTI, IF WE DID IDENTIFY THE SCOPE OF THE RFP AND THEY ANSWERED IT BASED UPON OUR SCOPE CHECK, IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY SHOULDN'T GET A PENNY.
SO, UM, WHILE I CAN'T DELVE INTO THE SUBSTANTIVE DETAILS OF THIS, THIS IS REALLY A LEGAL MATTER WHY AT THIS POINT, I DO WANNA SAY THAT IT'S NOT A MATTER OF NOT LIKING THE FINAL RESULTS.
UM, AND, UM, CERTAINLY WE DO DEFINE THE SCOPE.
WHAT WE DON'T DICTATE IS METHODOLOGY THAT THAT ACTUALLY HAS TO BE, AND, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S INDEPENDENTLY DECIDED, UH, BY THE, UM, BY THE, UH, BY THE CONSULTANT, UM, TAKE, I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE NUANCED AND THEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY EXIST FOR US.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY, AT THIS, I REALLY, UM, I'M MOST COMFORTABLE DEFERRING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DISPARITY STUDY TO OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
UM, I UNDERSTAND PAY FOR PLAY FOR, FOR, THERE'S ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THAT WE INCLUDE INTO THE BID PROCESS THAT AWARDS POINTS, AND I FORGOT WHAT IT'S CALLED, TO COMPANIES THAT ARE HEADQUARTERED HERE IN THE CITY.
SO ED POLLARD ANSWERS THE RFP AND DAVE MARTIN ANSWERS THE RFP, ED POLLARD AND POLLARD, I'M, I'M ASSUMING THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT IS TO GET TAX PAYING DOLLARS MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR BUSINESS.
HE WORKS FOR HIS COMPANY HERE THAT'S BASED HERE.
DAVE MARTIN LIVES IN THE CITY, AND DAVE MARTIN HAS 600 EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT YET HE GETS 10 POINTS ON A BID AND I GET ZERO.
SO IF THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE, TAXPAYERS, THEN WHY DO YOU LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION AND GIVE HIM THE POINTS? I'VE ALWAYS HAD A BIG PROBLEM IN OUR RFP PROCESS WITH THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT ARE GREAT COMPANIES IN THE CITY THAT EMPLOY A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T, THEY LOSE BIDS ON THOSE 10 POINTS, BUT YET THEY HAVE AN ENORMOUS EMPLOYEE FORCE THAT LIVES IN THE CITY THAT ARE TAXPAYERS AND DERIVE A LOT OF BENEFIT.
BUT WE GIVE IT TO THE SMALL COMPANY WHO HAS A THIRD OF THOSE EMPLOYEES.
I, I KNOW IT WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL YEARS AGO, BUT WHY CAN'T WE LOOK AT THAT? BECAUSE THAT FUNDAMENTALLY SEEMS VERY UNFAIR TO ME.
SO I DO WANNA SAY THAT HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, THE DESIGNATION, UH, WHICH MY OFFICE ADMINISTERS IS NOT BASED ON SIZE.
THE, THE CRITERIA IS THAT HEADQUARTERS, I'M SORRY? HEADQUARTERS, THAT'S WHAT IT'S BASED ON.
IT'S WHAT ISN'T IT BASED ON HEADQUARTERS? SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
IT'S ACTUALLY BASED ON PRINCIPLE, PLACE OF BUSINESS PRINCIPLE PLACE OF BUSINESS GOT, SO WE HAVE HEADQUARTERS AS AN OPTION, OR 20% OF THEIR WORKFORCE IS ACTUALLY LOCALLY BASED, BUT IT'S NOT A SIZE DRIVEN, UM, DESIGNATION.
SO, UM, THE CITY'S MADE A DETERMINATION THAT FOR THOSE, UM, FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT HAVE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THE DESIGNATION PROCESS AND ARE ARE DECLARED AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OR CITY BUSINESS, THAT IF THEY'RE, UM, IF THEY'RE COMPETITIVE, THERE IS A, THERE'S A LEG UP IN THE BIDDING PROCESS.
SO DO YOU THINK THAT, WAS IT HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST? FIRST HIGHER HOUSTON IS A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROGRAM WITHIN THE CONFINES OF WHAT WE DO.
AND, BUT WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, UM, I WILL SAY THAT OUR LOCAL COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY VERY COMPETITIVE.
SO OUR ANALYSIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WE DO PUBLISH A HIGHER HOUSTON, UM, FIRST REPORT, WHICH WE'VE BEEN PUBLISHING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ACTUALLY SHOWS THAT OUR, OUR LOCAL COMPANIES ARE, ARE SECURING CONTRACTS, UH, WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF THE HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, UH, DESIGNATION.
BUT IT'S THERE AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A SAFETY NET IN THE EVENT.
UM, THEY'RE NOT COMPETITIVE, UM, ON THEIR OWN FOR THE INVESTMENTS FOR THE PROMOTING THE KIND OF INVESTMENTS
[00:25:01]
THAT YOU DESCRIBED EARLIER.BUT ISN'T IT A 10% VARIABLE? I'M SORRY, ISN'T IT A 10% ON AN RFP PROCESS? ISN'T IT A 10% EQUATION? SO, UM, SO IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY A LOT LOWER.
SO, UH, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF BID IT IS, I THINK IT'S LIKE TWO TO 3%.
UM, AS LONG AS YOU'RE WITHIN TWO TO 3% OF THE LOWEST, UH, BID.
SO ALL MY CAREER, I'VE WORKED FOR A BIG, BIG FIRMS THAT WEREN'T HEADQUARTERED HERE, AND WE COMPETED AGAINST REALLY SMALL FIRMS AND WE HAD 600 PEOPLE AND THEY HAD FIVE.
AND I ALWAYS FELT THAT THAT WAS A VERY UNFAIR DEAL TO GIVE THEM THE POINTS BECAUSE, AND, AND SOMETIMES WE MAY HAVE LOST BUSINESS, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REALLY OBJECTIVE IS TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAXPAYER CITIZENS, WOW.
FIGURE OUT HOW MANY YOU HAVE THAT LIVE HERE.
PAY TAXES HERE AND THEN COMPETE AGAINST THEM AND LET THE NUMBERS TELL THAT STORY.
TIFFANY D SO COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
UM, I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
DUE TO THE FINANCIAL AND BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, THE CITY CONTINUES TO FACE FROM REVENUE LIMITATIONS, ARE THERE CRITICAL NEEDS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS AT THIS TIME? AND IF THERE ARE, WHAT ARE THEY? SO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CERTAINLY, UM, UM, STRUGGLING IN THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE REALM.
AND SO THE MAYOR IS OFFERING US A, UM, HAS, IS FUNDING US, UM, ACTUALLY CONTRACTING OUT SOME OF OUR, UH, AUGMENTING OUR EXISTING CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, UH, MONITORING, UM, SERVICES, UH, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PERFORMED ANALYSIS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WE, WE DO NEED, UH, TO, UM, PERFORM CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE, UM, ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.
AND THE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY HIGH, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX.
UM, UH, WHILE WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN COMPLIANCE OFFICERS, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE NEED ABOUT 30 TO 37, UM, COMPLIANCE, UM, OFFICERS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HPW, UM, AND, AND MS. JACKSON, UM, UM, ACTUALLY DESCRIBED SOME TRANSFERS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, UM, PERSONAL TRANSFERS FROM THE HPW, UH, DEPARTMENT TO FACILITATE, UH, SOME OF OUR COMPLIANCE FUNCTIONS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE HELP THAT WE'LL RECEIVE, UH, VIA, UH, VENDORS, UH, WILL BE GREAT.
UM, BUT LONG TERM WE DO NEED TO, UH, AUGMENT OUR, INCREASE OUR STAFFING.
DIRECTOR MURRAY AND MS. JACKSON.
WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO ARE ALL IN PERSON HERE.
AND THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS MR. OLIVER.
HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF OUR MIC COMMUNICATION TODAY AND DOING A GREAT JOB OF IT.
OH, I'LL SEND YOU MY INVOICE
UM, SO MANAGEMENT CONSULTING HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF, IF THAT'S WHERE THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE IS SHOWING UP.
IS THAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE? THAT'S THE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING.
IS THAT WHERE WE PUT THE, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT 520.
UM, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT THE 48,000 FOR, UM, FOR THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO LIKE PEER, PEER ROLES? AND THEN THE THIRD QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ASK IS ABOUT THE CRISIS CALL DIVERSION FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED AND ALLOCATED LAST YEAR.
I KNOW THAT KIND OF FALLS UNDER, UNDER YOUR PURVIEW.
UH, THOSE ARE JUST NOW BEING PUT INTO USE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE, THE DELAY IN IMPLEMENTATION THERE AND KIND OF WHAT FACTORS INTO THAT? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE NEED FOR THOSE DIVERSIONARY CALLS IS, IS SIGNIFICANT, PARTICULARLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
UM, PATSY, DO YOU WANNA DISCUSS THAT FIRST? I CAN.
UM, THE CRISIS CALLED THE VIRGIN PROGRAM WAS ALREADY BEING SPONSORED THROUGH A ANOTHER SOURCE.
UH, WE WERE JUST ASKED TO START TO FUND THAT SOURCE STARTING IN, UH, 2021.
SO IT HAD ALREADY BEEN FUNDED BEFORE.
IT DIDN'T JUST NOW START, IT JUST, WE JUST STARTED TO BECOME A PART OF IT.
SO LIKE THAT ARPA FUNDING THAT'S BEING USED FOR THAT, LIKE HAS BEEN ACTUALIZED OR IT'S NOT, OR IT'S NOT ACTUALLY BEING USED.
I'M, I'M UNCLEAR ON WHAT THAT MEANS.
SO WE, WE, WE ARE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE POISED TO DISCUSS ANY KIND OF APA FUNDING AS IT RELATES TO, UH, THAT PROGRAM AS THIS FUND, UH, FOCUSES ON THE REVENUE THAT'S COLLECTED VIA THE PAY OPTION OF PAYER PLAY.
AND AS FAR AS CONTRACT COMPLIANCE, THE COMPETITIVENESS OF, UH, UM, OUR SALARIES, UH, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONE AD HOC ANALYSIS, UM, LOOKING AT, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER COMPLIANCE OFFICERS
[00:30:01]
IN THE STATE, PARTICULARLY AUSTIN.AND I KNOW THAT OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JUST CAME BACK FROM A, UM, A CONFERENCE WHERE SHE SPOKE WITH OTHER, UM, UH, PRACTITIONERS, UH, COMPLIANCE, UH, CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PRACTITIONERS, AND CERTAINLY DISCOVERED THAT OUR SALARIES ARE NOT IN INFECT COMPETITIVE.
UH, SARAH BLANDING, BLANDING, COUNCIL.
HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO, UM, WITH SO LITTLE AND, UM, I'M JUST GONNA KEEP TALKING ABOUT THESE COMPLIANCE SPECIALISTS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH THEM SINCE Y'ALL DID YOUR PRESENTATION LAST YEAR.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY WE NEEDED VERSUS WHAT Y'ALL ACTUALLY HAD TO OPERATE WITH.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT FOR SOME SORT OF STOP GAP IN THE MEANTIME.
UM, BUT, AND I APPRECIATE THE THAT TO KNOW THAT THEIR SALARIES ARE NOT COMPETITIVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT SURPRISED.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU NEED IN ORDER TO EXPAND TO THE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF COMPLIANCE SPECIALISTS TO ADDRESS OUR CITY'S NEEDS? UM, I'M JUST CONCERNED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A STRONG EFFORT TO ADDRESS IT.
AND I GUESS THAT'S HONESTLY A SIDE COMMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT Y'ALL NEED, LIKE WHAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY GET THAT 30 TO 37 IN A COMPETITIVE SALARY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IDEALLY IT WOULD BE, IDEALLY WE WOULD HAVE ALL SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS, BECAUSE I WOULD SAY THAT THE LEVEL OF WORK REALLY RISES TO A SENIOR COMPLIANCE LEVEL ON A DAILY, ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT REALLY FANTASTIC AT, AT MULTIPLICATION, SO I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, 58 TO $60,000 TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF, UM, PERSONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY NEEDED, THE 30 TO 37.
THAT'S, UM, IF ADDING TO THE TWO THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, THAT'S 2.1 MILLION.
JUST IF ANYONE WANTS TO WRITE THAT DOWN.
UM, THE COUNTY RECENTLY DID A DISPARITY STUDY.
IT WAS PUBLISHED I THINK MAYBE ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
DO YOU KNOW THE FIRM THAT THEY USED TO DO THEIR DISPARITY STUDY? DO I KNOW THE FIRM? ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE FIRM? I AM MM-HMM
IS IT THE SAME FIRM THAT WE USED? IT IS.
AND SO WE USED THE SIM, WE USED THE SAME FIRM AS THEM.
WE'RE NOT PUBLISHING OURS, BUT WE SPENT ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS.
MY ISSUE WITH IT IS WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE BUDGET RESTRAINTS, OR WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR EMPLOYEES OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT THEN WE HAVE A VENDOR WHO ANSWERED THE SOLICITATION.
WE PAY THEM ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA RELEASE THE REPORT WHEN THE COUNTY USED THE SAME VENDOR FOR THEIR REPORT, WHICH ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTED A LOT OF THE DEFICIENCIES THAT THEY HAD IN THEIR PROGRAM.
I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY HAD A PROGRAM.
SO I, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, I, UM, WHILE AGAIN, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE, THE, THE DETAILS OF, OF NECESSARILY, UH, THE ISSUE HERE.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE, THIS, THE COUNTY DID NOT HAVE A PROGRAM.
SO YOU'RE STARTING WITH A, A CLEAN SLATE.
AND SO THE ANALYSIS OF A, UH, A NONEXISTING PROGRAM AND CONTRACTING PATTERNS VERSUS A PROGRAM THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 1984 AND THE NUANCES OF SUCH A PROGRAM, UM, IS, UM, IS MATERIAL TO, UH, HOW OUR DISPARITY STUDY IS ACTUALLY CONDUCTED.
SO VICE CHAIR LEGAL'S BUDGET PRESENTATION IS THURSDAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
AND GUESS WHO WILL BE SITTING IN THE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR?
YOU SO ASK THAT QUESTION ON THURSDAY.
ELLE ELLE DID GOOD THE FIRST TIME BAD, THE SECOND, MY APOLOGIES.
HOW ARE YOU? A APOLOGY ACCEPTED.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION IS TO CONVERT IT TO CULTIVATE A COMPETITIVE AND DIVERSE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
AND, UM, SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WITH $1.7 TRILLION IN COLLEGE DEBT AND MANY PEOPLE QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE, ARE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO ELIMINATE COLLEGE FROM MANY JOB REQUIREMENTS BY PROMOTING SKILLS FOR QUOTE UNQUOTE NEW COLLAR JOBS? SO WE'RE, WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY ENGAGED IN EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE COLLEGE.
OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, TEAM, UM, IS ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON JUST PROVIDING, UM, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREER PATHWAYS FOR HOUSTONIANS.
[00:35:01]
MR. BUTLER.UH, I, I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD BE COMPARED TO WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OF WHAT IS THAT WILL SORT ITSELF OUT, BUT I'M FROM NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND, UH, IN MY OPINION, BUSINESS CREATION HAS BEEN LACKING FOR WHERE I RESIDE.
SO THUS IT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR ME AND THE RESIDENTS WHERE I LIVE.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY GOING FORWARD IN AN EVOLUTION, NOT THIS BUDGET, NEXT BUDGET, BUT THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SAY, AH, I SEE IT IN THE STARS, OR NO, WE'RE NOT STRUCTURALLY ABLE TO DO IT.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO LAUNCH A BUSINESS INCUBATOR OR ACCELERATOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HCC NORTH FOREST CAMPUS THAT EXISTS IN MY COMMUNITY.
ALSO TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION CHARGE WITH STUDYING BARRIERS TO WEALTH AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
LASTLY, ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TO SCORE THE EFFECTS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS ON BARRIERS TO MINORITY OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CREATION AND SUCCESS.
SO I, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST, UM, ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF ADVOCACY, UM, THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN COMMIT TO, BUT I THINK FOR ALL THREE, WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS THAT, UH, WE ARE, WE WELCOME PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPLORE THESE AREAS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, YOU'VE ACTUALLY POINTED OUT, UH, TO SEE HOW WE, UM, ON, ON OUR OWN WITH OUR EXISTING RESOURCES.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT IS SOMETHING NECESSARILY THAT WE CAN DO ALL THREE, BUT I THINK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS, WE CAN ACTUALLY SUPPORT, UH, SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THOSE THREE ITEMS THAT YOU JUST LISTED.
IT WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT GROWING INTO ONESELF.
COMPARED TO BEING THAT TOMORROW.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR MURRAY AND MS. JACKSON.