IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
151186
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. STAMPER, MURPHY, BAUMAN, PEREZ, HAMILTON, KOVAC, AND COGGS
Title
Resolution relating to the Workforce Organizational Reform Committee.
Analysis
This resolution creates a working group to recommend and implement policies, procedures and practices for reform of the City’s workforce development and economic participation initiatives. The Workforce Organizational Reform Committee will consist of the following seven members:
1. A representative of the Department of Public Works, designated by the Commissioner of Public Works.
2. A representative of the Department of Administration, designated by the Mayor.
3. A representative of the Department of City Development, designated by the Mayor.
4. A representative of the Department of Neighborhood Services, designated by the Mayor.
5. A representative designated by the President of the Common Council.
Body
Whereas, The City, through its contracting function, has a significant impact on local economic activity; and
Whereas, It is in the best interests of the city of Milwaukee, its labor force and business community that action be taken to create jobs and to alleviate unemployment in Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The Mayor and Common Council desire to connect Milwaukee residents with employment and business opportunities through contracts for public works, city facilities and city-sponsored economic development projects; and
Whereas, The Common Council has developed appropriate rules, procedures and regulations for assuring participation of small businesses, local businesses and unemployed or under-employed Milwaukee residents in City contracts through the Small Business Enterprise, Local Business Enterprise and Residents Preference Programs; and
Whereas, The Common Council desires to remain apprised of the effectiveness of the Small Business Enterprise, Local Business Enterprise and Residents Preference Programs, and various other workforce development and economic participation initiatives, including City departments’ contract administration relating to these initiatives; and
Whereas, A November 2014 audit by the City Comptroller’s Office revealed areas for significant improvement in the Department of Public Works’ collection, recording and retention of Residents Preference Program (RPP) data; and
Whereas, This audit made the following 9 recommendations relating to public works contract administration:
1. Improve methods used to collect, record, and maintain RPP certification data to increase efficiency and accuracy.
2. Tighten controls to ensure consistency within compliance monitoring and enforcement activity.
3. Explore the opportunity to decrease the duration of advertising official notices in the official city paper.
4. Establish a proactive approach to maintaining accurate Code references within contracting documents and forms.
5. Clarify liability insurance requirements within the Department of Public Works General Specifications.
6. Review contractor insurance coverage for compliance with the requirements prior to the start of work.
7. Validate surety companies for electronic bid bonds.
8. Document and retain evidence of the second reader at bid openings.
9. Develop and implement procedures for the system administration of Bid Express.
; and
Whereas, A November 2015 audit by the City Comptroller’s Office made the following 4 additional recommendations relating to resident participation in development agreements:
1. Develop and document policies and procedures for monitoring residency requirements in development agreements.
2. Strengthen controls to ensure reporting accuracy.
3. Require the use of LCPtracker to report resident participation in development agreements.
4. Prepare and communicate an annual resident participation performance report.
; and
Whereas, The Mayor and the Common Council have identified the need for additional improvements of the City’s workforce development and economic participation initiatives; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Workforce Organizational Reform Committee (WORC) is created to recommend and implement policies, procedures and practices for reform of the City’s workforce development and economic participation initiatives; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the WORC shall consist of the following 5 members:
1. A representative of the Department of Public Works, designated by the Commissioner of Public Works.
2. A representative of the Department of Administration, designated by the Mayor.
3. A representative of the Department of City Development, designated by the Mayor.
4. A representative of the Department of Neighborhood Services, designated by the Mayor.
5. A representative designated by the President of the Common Council.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the WORC shall be responsible for the following:
1. Rationalizing the provisions of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances relating to the Small Business Enterprise, Local Business Enterprise and Residents Preference Programs, and the City’s other various workforce development and economic participation initiatives, including the correction of errors, removal of outdated provisions, verification of legality, and the clarification and standardization of administrative responsibilities.
2. Developing a plan for and ensuring implementation of the recommendations of the November 2014 Audit of Public Works Contract Administration and the November 2015 Audit of Resident Participation in Development Agreements by the City Comptroller’s Office.
3. Evaluating and improving the procedures and practices of the City’s workforce development and economic participation initiatives, including the Small Business Enterprise, Local Business Enterprise and Residents Preference Programs, in accordance with the work timeline attached to this file.
4. Regularizing and aligning the City’s workforce development and economic participation initiatives, including the Small Business Enterprise, Local Business Enterprise and Residents Preference Programs.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the WORC shall report to the Common Council on the status of these responsibilities each Common Council cycle after the passage of this resolution until all responsibilities are fulfilled, and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk’s Office shall provide staff assistance to the WORC; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Public Works and all applicable City departments are directed to implement and continually evaluate the City’s current centralized labor compliance software reporting and evaluation system, commonly known as LCPtracker, for uniform data collection, maintenance, monitoring and reporting under the City’s various workforce development and economic participation initiatives.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB161391-IA
Andrew R. VanNatta
11/24/2015