August 20, 2009

As Commissioner-in-Charge of the City of Portland's 2009 Disparity Study, I am pleased to announce that this week in Council my colleagues and I approved a contract with BBC Research and Consulting to conduct the City's 2009 Study. 

The 2009 Study will examine contracts awarded by the City between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2009, updating the City's 2005/2006 construction contracting disparity study.

Last year the Disparity Study was budgeted for a much higher price tag, but to account for economic challenges facing the City we opted to limit the project's scope and reduce the overall cost of the Study.

The City is now on track with an aggressive timeline and a sharper focus. I look forward to meeting with the BBC team in September and launching this important project. In coming weeks I will also be appointing an advisory committee to be a part of our process. 

By this time next year, we will have a reliable, comprehensive study to guide the City's future contracting practices to ensure equity for our minority- and women-owned businesses.