* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Pinkett
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Entities Receiving City Funds: Are They Holding Up Their End of the Bargain?
For the purpose of inviting representatives of certain organizations located within Baltimore that both receive public funds from the City of Baltimore and lease any portion of their venue to the public for catered events, the Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development, the President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation, and other City officials responsible for the development and contracting of diversity in minority small businesses and responsible for the achievement of the City MBE/WBE goals, and representatives of the Baltimore minority hospitality and event industry to appear before the City Council to discuss the capital funding subsidies that the City of Baltimore has provided to certain organizations that lease any portion of their venue to the public for catered events; to discuss why some of these organizations utilize exclusive vendor lists without any minority business representation; to discuss the selection criteria, if any, for the creation of the exclusive lists; and to discuss what solutions, legislative or otherwise, can be implemented for the inclusion of MBE/WBE businesses on the exclusive lists.
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Recitals
Baltimore presently supports with public funds many vitally important institutions, such as museums and other cultural attractions. This public support comes in the form of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements as well as loans through general obligation bonds.
During the hours when they are not open to the public, these institutions are often leased as event venues, providing space for weddings, galas, fundraisers, and other social functions. As part of leasing their event space, these institutions many times require that renters select from an exclusive list of preferred vendors, for such jobs as caterers and DJs. Time after time, these exclusive vendor lists do not include minority or women’s businesses.
The question becomes why Baltimore, a majority-minority city, is providing support in the form of public dollars to institutions that do not, in turn, support our MBE/WBE businesses? The Baltimore City Council has a vested interest in ensuring that those institutions that take public support utilize that support in a fair and equitable manner.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the
Council invites representatives of certain organizations located within Baltimore that both receive public funds from the City of Baltimore and lease any portion of their venue to the public for catered events, the Director of the Department of Finance, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development, the President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation, and other City officials responsible for the development and contracting of diversity in minority small businesses and responsible for the achievement of the City MBE/WBE goals, and representatives of the Baltimore minority hospitality and event industry to appear before the City Council to discuss the capital funding subsidies that the City of Baltimore has provided to certain organizations that lease any portion of their venue to the public for catered events; to discuss why some of these organizations utilize exclusive vendor lists without any minority business representation; to discuss the selection criteria, if any, for the creation of the exclusive lists; and to discuss what solutions, legislative or otherwise, can be implemented for the inclusion of MBE/WBE businesses on the exclusive lists.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Chief of the Minority and Women's Business Opportunity Office, the President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation, the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Finance, the Mayor, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the Baltimore City Council.