MINUTES OF THE SMALL CONTRACTOR OUTREACH
AND OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (SCOOP) COMMITTEE MEETING
November 15, 2005
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Tu called the SCOOP committee meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Committee members present were Chair Tu, and Directors Johnson, Lewinger, Linden, and Sundram. At that time there was a quorum of the committee. Also present were Directors Bond, Dixon, Irvin, Lewanski, Pocklington, Saunders, Thompson, and Williams. Staff present was Assistant General Manager Cushman, Deputy General Counsel Gallien, Director of Engineering Economides, Director of Public Affairs Jacoby, SCOOP Manager Yanushka, Risk Manager Homer, Administration and Controls Manager Hartnett, SCOOP Management Analyst Carmona, and Public Affairs Representatives Otero and Penunuri. Others present were Richard Parker of Rea & Parker, Douglas Coe of the Social Science Research Laboratory at San Diego State University, Michael Najera of Cornerstone Building Group, Michelle Sabugo of CH2MHill, Kris Hartnett of the Building Trades Council, and Steve Friar of the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Najera and Ms. Sabugo spoke regarding the good faith efforts process to conduct outreach to small businesses on Water Authority projects.
Mr. Hartnett (Kris) and Mr. Friar spoke regarding the results of the survey on the economic climate for contractors in the San Diego region.
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SCOOP COMMITTEE MEETING OF AUGUST 16, 2005
The SCOOP Committee approved the minutes of the SCOOP Committee Meeting of August 16, 2005.
DISCUSS PATHS TO PARTNERSHIPS SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATION AND OPTIONS
Ms. Yanushka gave a brief presentation on the administration of the Paths to Partnerships Scholarship Program. A GIS map was provided showing the distribution of previous scholarship recipients by high school location.
The Committee reopened the discussion held at the SCOOP Committee meeting of August 16, 2005 regarding the distribution of funds raised through the Paths to Partnerships Networking Forum. Director Johnson moved to divide proceeds from Paths to Partnerships evenly between the San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center and the scholarship program. Chair Tu seconded and discussion followed. Director Irvin stated that a discussion on scholarships was placed on the agenda of the next Legislation, Conservation and Outreach Committee meeting. Director Lewinger made a motion to table the scholarship discussion item and to bring the item back for discussion by the SCOOP Committee after the LC&O Committee meeting. The motion was seconded, and the motion carried to table the scholarship discussion item. Director Johnson voted no.
Director Johnson requested SCOOP staff report back to the committee at a later date with an explanation on the Contracting Opportunities Center’s use of Water Authority-provided funds.
REVIEW THE DRAFT SCOOP QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2006
Ms. Yanushka reviewed the draft SCOOP quarterly report covering the period from July 1, 2005, to September 30, 2005.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO CONDUCT OUTREACH ON WATER AUTHORITY PROJECTS
Ms. Yanushka reviewed the good faith efforts process for conducting outreach on Water Authority projects. She provided a matrix detailing SCOOP outreach responsibilities for Water Authority staff, prime contractors, and subcontractors. Chair Tu recommended placing an item on the next SCOOP Committee agenda regarding prime contractor notification to small businesses of selection or non-selection to a project team as part of the good faith efforts process.
Directors asked questions concerning the tools available to staff for verification that subcontractors listed on a team were in fact utilized on the project after contract award. Ms. Gallien stated that a listed subcontractor was legally protected should a contractor fail to adhere to their contractor-stated commitments. Ms. Yanushka noted that the Water Authority’s standard SCOOP bid and proposal language and the SCOOP Schedule A-1 were additional methods used by staff to protect listed subcontractors.
PRESENTATION ON THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY ON THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE FOR CONTRACTORS IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION
Ms. Yanushka introduced Dr. Parker and Mr. Coe. Mr. Coe explained the methodology used to conduct the survey. Dr. Parker provided an analysis of the survey results. The Committee asked that Dr. Parker include overall minority and women-owned percentages on the various metrics presented. The Directors asked questions concerning the ways in which the survey result data would be used and commented on using this data when setting future goals for small business participation. Chair Tu asked members of the public to submit questions regarding the survey results to Ms. Yanushka via email or letter. Ms. Yanushka stated that staff would present the survey results at the Board of Directors meeting on December 8, 2005.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the SCOOP Committee, Chair Tu adjourned the meeting at 12:04 p.m.
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Yen Tu, Chair
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