Disability Access
The Small Firm Advisory Committee meeting will be held at the City of Fremont’s Chamber of Commerce located at 39488 Stevenson Place. The Conference Room is wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible BART station is on 2000 BART Way at the intersection of Civic Center Drive. Accessible bus lines serving this location are: AC Transit 215 and 217 bus lines.

The following services are available on request 48 hours prior to the meeting; except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline shall be 4:00 p.m. of the last business day of the preceding week: For American sign language interpreters or the use of a reader during a meeting, a sound enhancement system, and/or alternative formats of the agenda and minutes, please contact Iris Martin Lopez at (415) 554-3222 or our TTY at (415) 554-3488 to make arrangements for the accommodation. Late requests will be honored, if possible.

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals. Individuals with chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-6060.

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code §2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site at www.sfgov.org/ethics.

Know your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)

Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils, and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, by mail to Adele Destro, Interim Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244 San Francisco, CA 94102-4683 at Phone No.: (415) 554-7724; Fax No.: (415) 554-7854; E-mail: sotf@sfgov.org.

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices. 

1.  Call to order- 10:30 a.m.

2.  Roll Call- All members present.

3.  Opening Remarks by Carol Isen Director of Labor Relations –she welcomed the Advisory members and thanked them for their willingness to serve on the committee.  Carol Isen gave background on the creation of the advisory committee. 
• In 2006, the SFPUC looked into expanding Small Business contracting for the bond measure. 
• Before the program, there were no certified minority and disadvantage businesses in the regional water service territory. 
• The $4.3 billion improvement to the Hetch Hetchy Water System will require a lot of contracting work in the regional service areas from now through 2015.
• In September 2006, the City and County of San Francisco changed the local business enterprise ordnance to create, by City statute, an advisory board to help reach out to small local businesses in the service territory.
• Further Carol stated that the SFPUC is honored to have five experienced people serve on the advisory committee. 
• Carol introduced SFPUC staff beginning with an introduction of Harlan Kelly Assistant General Manager Infrastructure Division and her Labor Relations and Community Programs Division Jessica Romm, Vitus Leung, Lihmeei Leu, Brenda Jones, Bill Irwin, Hala Hijazi and Iris Martin Lopez.

The Small Firm Advisory Committee members introduced themselves to the audience.

Estela Tarano is the Manager of Organizational Development and Training with the Santa Clara Water District.  Believes the advisory board will be a good experience.  She is committed to labor, participation from small businesses and equal opportunities. 

Lucille Palmer-Byrd is a business agent for local 300 as well as the Secretary –Treasurer for the Building Trades Council. Dedicated to the success of the advisory, she will be able to offer the SFPUC valuable information, talent and access to contractors in the valley.

Tom McGinley is the Director of the Peninsula Builders Exchange.  Happy to be part of the advisory committee, he has a goal to help improve the climate for construction contractors.

Marie McKenzie is the Redevelopment Manager with the City of East Palo Alto.  She is also the coordinator of the City of East Palo Alto’s First Source Hiring Program, which helps develop the City’s local businesses.  Marie looks forward to working with the advisory board.

Moses de los Reyes is the Contract Compliance Officer with the Alameda County Department of Public Works; where he created the Business Outreach Bureau “BOB” Program, which is the County’s labor compliance program that promotes workforce development.  Moses has a lot to contribute to the advisory board.

Each member has interests in employment placement.

4.  Public Comment – none at this time.

5.  Summary of Local Business Enterprise Outreach Efforts – Vitus Leung, Manager of Labor Relations and Community Programs gave an overview of the small business enterprise outreach efforts.  Outreach efforts began in September 2006, when staff held informational meetings at various locations throughout the water service territory, including several major builder exchanges.  In addition, staff combined the small/local business databases from the Port of Oakland, Alameda Public Works, San Francisco Human Rights Commission and various Chambers of Commerce. This allowed the SFPUC to extend its outreach efforts community organizations, chambers of commerce, various contracting associations, minority business enterprises and other non-profit organizations.  Since the outreach efforts commenced 50 firms have been certified. 

Questions and comments of the Small Business Enterprise Outreach Efforts

Estela Tarano inquired if the restrictions of prop 209 had an affect on the small business program?  In response, staff stated that the City was the last municipality to challenge or defy prop 209.  After losing legal challenges, the previous City ordinances were vacated and the Board adopted 14B forming a renewed local business enterprise program.  Twenty percent of the certified firms under the program have been identified as minority and women business enterprises.  Staff asked the advisory board for guidance in outreaching to minority chambers and small businesses in the service territory.

Jessica Romm expressed that staff received flack from the region prior to starting the small business program.  Contractors in the regions did not feel there was opportunity to bid on SFPUC projects.

Ms. Isen added that Harlan Kelly and she are currently working hard to change this issue.  The first important step is to develop relationships within the service regions.  The goal is to hire residents from the City’s water service territory, so they can benefit from working on the Water System Improvement Program regional projects.

Tom McGinley stated that SFPUC is one of easiest agencies contractors to work for.   The Peninsula Builders Exchange assists contractors with preparing their paperwork.  His goal is to match contractors with the SFPUC’s Small Business Outreach Program.  Tom is currently looking into creating a separate page on the Peninsula Builders Exchange website for the SFPUC.  The Peninsula Builders Exchange has a hotline for contractors and dedicated staff to assist contractors in getting their paperwork completed within a two-week turn around.

Marie McKenzie expressed that it is important to have informational construction bid opportunities sent to the contractors in advance.

Moses de los Reyes suggested staff 1) come up with a list of certified businesses that can be given to contractors and 2) create a registry for apprentices.

Ms. Romm added that the SFPUC currently has a prequalification program for local contractors by type of work.  The regional prequalification program will be coming out in a few months.  This will make it easier for contractors to identify smaller firms for subcontracting opportunities.

Ms. Isen listed a number of ways that staff is currently working to move the Water System Improvement Program forward:
1. Working on construction schedules to accommodate the needs of the shut down parts of the system.
2. Looking at construction dollars associated with construction cost.  (Currently looking 3, 000 contractors to work on this program).
3. Trying to identify ways to prequalification program more accessible to contractors.

Ms. Isen listed additional proposals that will need the advisory board’s guidance and direction:
1. Finding more minority and women businesses. Staff currently has a broad base of small businesses in their database.
2. Assistance with the packaging needs for more contractor participation.
3. Looking into reviving the Association of General Contractors mentoring program.
4. Identifying what services contractors need to increase participation.

Ms. Mckenzie stated that she is excited by staffs’ efforts to increase contractor participation.  In addition, she stated that the SFPUC has hit the nail on the head with this long-term commitment to creating worker opportunities.

Mr. de los Reyes suggested that staff collaborate with community base organizations and supply them with informational materials.  Carol interjected that two additional Labor Relations staffers Ardis Graham and Brian Thomas will come to next meeting and talk about workforce needs.

Hala Hijazi asked if the advisory board has supplied the staff with their contacts to add to the databases?  Carol answered that the members have provided SFPUC with their lists. 

Ms. Romm added that every company has been contacted and were treated with extra care.  Adding on Ms. Romm expressed that Vitus Leung and Lihmeei Leu have gone through the databases and scrubbed the lists.  Staff is now building relationships with the certified firms and the timing is perfect to prepare the certification process and get the databases going.

Mr. de los Reyes suggested staff create a memorandum of understanding for workforce agreements.  Carol stated that Ardis Graham is developing workforce program design.  Carol told the members that at the next meeting staff would give a full presentation on workforce development.

6. Election of Officers 
* Estela Tarano was named Chair of the Small Firm Advisory Committee.  The nomination was moved by Marie McKenzie and seconded by Lucille Palmer-Byrd.
* Tom McGinley was named Vice Chair of the Small Firm Advisory Committee.  The nomination was moved by Estela Tarano and seconded by Lucille Palmer-Byrd.
* Marie McKenzie was named Secretary of the Small Firm Advisory Committee.  The nomination was moved by Moses de los Reyes and seconded by Marie McKenzie.

All members were in favor of the appointment Officers.

7. Future Meeting Dates
* September 26, 2007 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
* December 6, 2007 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Both meetings will be held at the City of Fremont Chamber of Commerce located at 39488 Stevenson Place, Suite 100

9. Adjournment – 12:45 p.m.