Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on Dec. 5, 2024
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee will review the Minority, Female and Disabled-Owned Business Enterprise Program, receive an update from the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice and review a report on community engagement for Racial Equity and Social Justice
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. to receive a briefing about the 2024 Minority, Female and Disabled-Owned Business Enterprise (MFD) Disparity Study and review Expedited Bill 23-24, Contracts and Procurement – Minority Owned Business Purchasing Program – Extension of Sunset Date. In addition, the committee will receive an update on the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) and review Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2024-8, Community Engagement for Racial Equity and Social Justice.
The members of the GO Committee include Chair and Council President Kate Stewart and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Briefing and review: The GO Committee will receive a briefing about the 2024 MFD Disparity Study from MGT Impact Solutions, LLC and Office of Procurement representatives. The study includes data to justify the continuation of the MFD program. In addition, the committee will review Expedited Bill 23-24, Contracts and Procurement – Minority Owned Business Purchasing Program – Extension of Sunset Date, which would extend the sunset date for the County’s minority owned business purchasing program and require an evaluation and report regarding the need to extend the program.
Based upon the findings of ongoing disparities in procurement affecting MFD businesses, Expedited Bill 23-24 would extend the sunset of the County’s MFD law from Dec. 31, 2024, until Dec. 31, 2029. The bill would require the director of Montgomery County’s Office of Procurement to complete a new disparity study by July 1, 2029.
Since 1978, the County has had a minority business program under its procurement system. Since 1990, the program has been known as the MFD. To justify the continuation of the MFD program under applicable law, the County periodically hires experts to conduct a disparity study to gauge the ongoing need for the program.
The lead sponsors of Bill 23-34 are Council Vice President Will Jawando and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles
Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice
Update: The GO Committee will receive an update from ORESJ representatives about the office’s upcoming initiatives. The discussion includes an overview of training requirements, Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and Operating Budget tools and community engagement efforts.
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The mission of ORESJ is to reduce and eliminate racial disparities and inequities in Montgomery County. ORESJ creates racial equity tools and processes to assist county departments apply a racial equity lens to the development of their budgets and to decision-making. The Racial Equity and Social Justice Act requires ORESJ to prepare Racial Equity and Social Justice Impact Assessments explaining how supplemental and special appropriation requests initiated by the County Executive promote racial equity and social justice.
Review: The GO Committee will review OLO Report 2024-8, Community Engagement for Racial Equity and Social Justice . The report examines best practices for enhancing equitable community engagement in government decision-making and to examine the extent to which County efforts align with these best practices. Equitable community engagement refers to community engagement that advances Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) by centering the needs, leadership and power of Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (BIPOC) and community members with low incomes.
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website .
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream .
Release ID: 24-431
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46271