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City rolls out two-phase implementation plan for small-business equity changes; outreach set through July 1
Summary
City staff described a two-phase rollout of recent contracting ordinance amendments, with administrative changes implementing immediately and final eligibility/tool changes effective July 1; staff outlined targeted vendor outreach, virtual and in-person sessions, and a new economic performance dashboard for monthly reporting.
City staff outlined a two-phase implementation plan Tuesday for ordinance changes intended to expand opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned businesses in city contracting, and described a communication strategy that includes targeted vendor outreach, virtual information sessions and a monthly economic performance dashboard.
Anna Bridal, assistant director in economic development, told the council the department will implement mostly administrative changes immediately and focus through July 1 on eligibility and tool changes that affect small-business participation in the SBETA program. The city plans targeted mailings to affected vendors, virtual and in-person outreach sessions and periodic reports on program performance.
Why it matters: the ordinance amendments seek to change how city solicitations are structured to create more opportunities for local small, minority- and women-owned firms. Councilmembers asked for materials they can share with constituents and sought assurance that certification and outreach partners are keeping pace with implementation.
Anna Bridal explained that implementation will proceed in two phases: administrative amendments that take effect in the coming week and a July 1 effective date for changes that affect eligibility and available contracting tools. Bridal said the department has already mailed letters to businesses likely to be affected and scheduled virtual and in-person information sessions. She said staff will provide a biannual response analysis to monitor whether participation in bidding changes after implementation and pointed to an updated economic performance dashboard with monthly utilization and prime/subcontractor data.
“First and foremost we want to be targeted with our local small businesses . . . providing them the information that is most relevant to them in a way that is accessible as well as providing opportunities to come ask us questions is our number one priority,” Bridal said.
Councilmembers asked specific implementation questions. Councilmember Villagran requested copies of session notices and asked whether the personal net worth requirement would be difficult for small vendors; Bridal said the city is finalizing processes for the personal net worth element and will address it in outreach. Councilmember Yegron confirmed that the city remains engaged with Supply SA (the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency) and said public-entity CEOs are participating on Supply SA’s board; Bridal said Supply SA is working through a backlog and the city continues to coordinate on certifications.
Bridal said the updated economic performance dashboard includes 2024 utilization reporting and will be updated monthly. She told the council the dashboard can be “sliced and diced by industry category” and will show prime and subcontractor levels so members can track subcontracting opportunities.
No votes were taken. Staff committed to share outreach materials with councilmembers for distribution, to continue coordinating with Supply SA on certifications and to deliver the biannual response analysis and monthly dashboard updates to the council during the implementation period.
