Comments on: Portland considers minority oversight for contract review panels

By: Minority oversight resolution approved « Daily Journal of Commerce

Minority oversight resolution approved « Daily Journal of Commerce — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:44:57 +0000

[…] city council today unanimously approved a resolution requiring the inclusion of at least one minority evaluator on all panels that review and award city contracts not based on […]

By: Virginia Cohen

Virginia Cohen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:58:59 +0000

I guess this is apples and oranges. The resolution as I and my colleagues read it simply is to be more inclusive of people serving on these evaluation panels. A problem that has been obvious in the past. I did not see where it was addressing any goals which would be an entirely different agenda. My friend who works for one of the major construction companies pointed out that this resolution also was inclusive of NAMCO. I am not trying to become involved in an argument. In a city which has embraced everything including gay, lesbian, bikers, green energy, seniors and leed certification, I am glad that someone, whoever thought about including ethnic minorities, I believe that this is a good start toward real inclusion at a very important level.

If I offended you, then I apologize.. we just simply have a difference of opinion. As a mature white female, involved in development and private construction projects I am tired of seeing, (as the gentleman in the article put it) people under the table instead of at the table.

By: Tony Jones

Tony Jones — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:36:31 +0000

Virginia’s comments misses a few points. First, in reading the resolution it does involve construction. Second, it seems the process in crafting the resolution could have been more inclusive. More importantly, the real challenge for the last 20 years is the City refuses to have any real goals for minority business participation. Good Faith Effort brings limited to no results at best. So even if all of the business community agreed on the resolution it still falls way too short. The city needs to have its leadership and legal team to have the guts to have a minority contractor/business participation policy that has real goals, and consequences for not meeting them. So I do not support the resolution. It’s a band aid and doesn’t solve the real problem. Real goals will require any commitee, regardless of its make up to evaluate the proposal based on real goals.

By: Faye Burch

Faye Burch — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:17:26 +0000

From your comments I gather that you do not understand the relationship between construction and design and the related professional services. If you are to be a part of an evaluation process you would need to at a minimum have those qualifications.

Yes our members design and build beautiful buildings, renovations, design and perform electrical, plumbing,
landscaping and mechanical work and very often are a part of those processes. We are also, engineers, architects and other.

The City of Portland Resolution will cover Professional Services, CMGC and Design Build.

By: Virginia Cohen

Virginia Cohen — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:11:40 +0000

From what I understand, the resolution involves professional and technical services and NOT construction. I thought NAMCO from previous articles were basically involved in construction. State law requires low bid on construction. This resolution as I have read it deals specifically with Professional and Technical Services.

The Alliance of Minority Chambers are to be applauded for their leadership as well as the City for taking a proactive step. This is something that should have been done 20 years ago.

Perhaps NAMCO can get up the manpower to introduce some other resolution that will deal with the construction side instead of trying to tear this resolution apart.

Virginia