Title
Update on Progress of the Local Inclusion Policy Working Group
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Chamber of Commerce will provide an update to the City Council on their efforts related to the development of a Local Inclusion Policy. This report is for information only and no action is required at this time.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Earlier this year, the City Council authorized a consulting services agreement with the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. One component of the scope of services for that agreement is the development of a "Local Business Preference Policy" that would update the City's public contracting and purchasing policy to provide more opportunities for San Leandro based businesses to be awarded City contracts.
To complete this work, the Chamber formed a "Local Business Preference (later the name was changed to the "Local Inclusion") Policy Working Group," to provide feedback to City staff and policy recommendations. The Working Group is chaired by former Councilmember Surlene Grant and includes current Councilmember Diana Souza along with representatives from local businesses, nonprofits, business coalitions, regional chambers of commerce, organized labor, and others. City staff and the City Attorney have also provided ongoing feedback to the Working Group. The group has met several times over the past two months and has made substantial progress on a draft Local Inclusion Policy.
Current Policy
Currently, the San Leandro Municipal Code (Title 1, Chapter 6, Article 2, Section 200) reads as follows:
In comparing bids for purchases of equipment, materials or supplies requiring an expenditure not in excess of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), and solely for the purpose of calculating the lowest bid, the following procedure shall be employed: A sum equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid, or of the base bid and each alternate, shall be deducted from the amount of the total bid, or the base bid and each alternate, respectively, of the bid of a supplier whose principal place of business is located within the City of San Leandro. If, after performing the above calculation, there is a tie for the lowest bid, the supplier whose principal place of business is located within the City of San Leandro shall be deemed the lowest bid for the purposes of Section 1-6-220, subject to the qualifications concerning responsibility contained therein.
Policy Proposal from the Local Inclusion Working Group
The most current Local Inclusion Policy Proposal from the Working Group is attached. City staff and the City Attorney have not yet reviewed or provided detailed comments to this version of the Policy. Upon such completion, staff will provide an assessment of:
1) The City's ability to effectively implement the policy; and
2) Any potential cost impacts to ongoing City contracts, programs, and projects.
ATTACHMENTS
ยท Draft Local Inclusion Policy provided by the Local Inclusion Working Group
PREPARED BY: Jeff Kay, Business Development Manager, Community Development Department