Resolution 090860

..Title Authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings to review the strategic plan of the Office of Economic Opportunity. ..Body WHEREAS, There is a need for the City of Philadelphia to recognize the significant underutilized economic value inherent in the diversity of the City's population; and WHEREAS, Resolution No. 060408 (adopted June 1, 2006) proposed an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter that would require the Finance Director to: (i) conduct an annual study analyzing the participation of disadvantaged business enterprises ("DBE's") in City contracts for the purchase of goods and services, compared to the percentage of qualified DBE's available to participate in such contracts ("Annual Disparity Study"); and (ii) devise City contract participation goals for DBE's each fiscal year ("Annual Participation Goals"); and WHEREAS, The Charter amendment proposed by Resolution No. 060408 was put before the voters and approved at the November 7, 2006 election; and WHEREAS, City Council amended Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code pursuant to that Charter amendment, defining and detailing the categories of DBE's and of City contracts that must be considered separately by the Finance Director in conducting the Annual Disparity Study and devising the Annual Participation Goals; and WHEREAS, The responsibilities of the Finance Department's Minority Business Enterprise Council have been transferred to the Commerce Department and invested in the Office of Economic Opportunity; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development is authorized to hold hearings to review the strategic plan of the Office of Economic Opportunity. ..End