Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz objects to DBE transparency as council approves arena commissioning and design contract modifications 8–1

Savannah City Council voted Nov. 18 to approve two contract actions related to the city arena project despite a formal dissent from Alderwoman Dr. Estella E. Shabazz, who raised concerns about Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) transparency.

The council approved a $183,850 contract with Total Systems Commissioning for Arena LEEDv4 commissioning services (Item #38) and later approved Contract Modification No. 1 with Perkins + Will for arena parking deck design services in the amount of $269,000 (Item #43). Each measure passed by an 8–1 tally; Alderwoman Dr. Estella E. Shabazz cast the lone ‘‘no’’ vote on both items.

Why it matters: Alderwoman Shabazz told the council she was troubled by what she described as unexplained changes in contract amounts and by the implications for the city’s DBE program. During discussion on Item #38 she read a critical passage about a Chicago City Council experience into the public record: "the results of this substandard administration is that the programming has been beset by fraud, brokers and participation is likely far less than the publicly reported statistics." She also read "The Purpose of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program" into the record to underscore her point that the city should ensure program integrity.

City Manager Pat Monahan responded in the course of the Item #38 discussion and asked Director of Business Opportunity Manuel Dominguez to outline recent DBE participation and program changes. Dominguez referenced a 2016 one-percent disparity study and said the City has made changes that increased DBE percentages; he told the council that, by the end of the prior year, roughly $10 million (about 28 percent) of certain city contracting dollars had gone to local DBE firms.

Alderwoman Shabazz said she wanted greater transparency about how prime contractors report DBE participation and about why the apparent contract amounts differed from prior submissions. She requested additional documentation in the case of Item #43, saying she had not seen a complete set of construction drawings prior to the vote.

Supporters of the contracts, including members who seconded the motions, argued the procurements were necessary to keep the arena project on schedule and that DBE participation reports remained part of the city’s oversight. The motions passed; the minutes record an 8–1 vote on Item #38 and an 8–1 vote on Item #43 with Alderwoman Dr. Shabazz voting no.

Next steps: Both contract actions are authorized as approved by council; Alderwoman Shabazz’s objections were recorded in the minutes and she asked for additional documents and clarity about DBE reporting going forward.