Council hears progress report on 2020 disparity study; IBA flags funding needs for bonding support

Purchasing & Contracting staff told the council on Sept. 10 that the City of San Diego has implemented several recommendations from the 2020 disparity study and is advancing others in phases. Christian Silva, program manager for equal opportunity contracting, said staff retooled the SLBE resources, expanded data collection on minority and women-owned participation, established an oversight committee in 2023, and set an aspirational 31% minority- and women-owned business goal for FY2024–25.

Silva described partially implemented steps including mandatory subcontracting goal mechanisms, prompt-payment clause updates, small business set-asides for goods and services, and a planned bonding assistance program led by a recently hired coordinator. The program manager said PNC will seek budget approval to seed bonding assistance and expects to recruit a program coordinator by December 2024 with implementation in FY2026. The Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) told council staff they expect to request $2–4 million for a bonding assistance program and $1 million for a new disparity study in FY2026 to support remaining recommendations.

Councilmembers pressed staff on accelerating unbundling of CIP projects and expanding the pool of certified SLBE firms; staff said some set-aside competitions produced only one or zero bids last year and that outreach and boot-camp training are intended to expand capacity. Councilmember Foster asked for a memorandum listing all restricted-competition awards to date; staff agreed to provide it.