07-16-18 MBE/WBE - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. White continued,I would like to give a brief overview of our last meeting which was in March of 2018. We started out with a welcome and introduction and then did a historical overview of the Board and Ordinance. We are aware that we need to go back and review that Ordinance and be sure it is still in line with what we would like to see accomplished. We also want to make sure there is continuity in the language and there is a clear understanding. Part of that amendment process would include reviewing recommendations that came from the Board. There were six (6) recommendations that came from the Board in 2014. We can circulate those recommendations to the Board Members as we will begin looking at the Ordinance very shortly. We then had an update from Christina that gave us context to the relationship between the Board and the Diversity and Inclusion Office. We looked at the Diversity Purchasing Report, the Plan and the Diversity Purchasing Outreach efforts as well.Under New Business we talked about the Board structure,the roles and responsibilities, the need to look at sub-Committees but also looked at all the open positions to be sure we fill those. We do have minutes of that meeting and we can circulate those minutes to the Board Members so they have an update as to what was discussed. Ms. White went on, We are now on Agenda Item three (3) which is the Review of the Common Council/City Clerk/Diversity and Inclusion Office roles and responsibilities. One (1) goal I was hopeful we could complete was an Action Item. We don't have a quorum,though. The Council's role is to ensure there is continuity. The Council is involved with the Board in terms of support, looking at the Ordinance, and to make sure the Board adheres to all Open Door Law expectations. We also can give legal opinion by working with our Attorney Bob Palmer. It comes under the Personnel and Finance Committee as we are the support. The Ordinance was developed by the Council and at that time when we actually developed the Ordinance we knew we would have to make some modifications. Up until the change of leadership with the Personnel and Finance Committee, we were really meeting regularly and made a lot of great accomplishments. But leadership is important as well. That is the role I see coming from the Council and a lot of it is clearly identified in the Ordinance. I do know that this Board, according to the Ordinance,has the responsibility to give a report to the Council and there are certain other things. If you look at the responsibilities from the Council perspective,they are outlined in the Ordinance. Ms. White continued, The City Clerk's responsibility at that time was to, again, I don't know if it was clearly identified but they had a support perspective. They make sure the announcements are posted and I want to say even the minutes. That is the City Clerk's responsibility. Ms. Fowler stated, That piece wasn't in the Ordinance but we took it on like any other ad-hoc committee. Ms. White stated,They also make sure it is recorded and is part of the record for the City of South Bend. Ms.White continued,The Diversity and Inclusion Office is something that is new and is not clearly identified in the Ordinance and that is one (1) area we want to make sure is. I know Christina has made some recommendations with regard to what that relationship would look like. We will be looking at those and will be sure everyone is on board. 2