(a) There is established in the Office of the Mayor, the Office of Equal Opportunity to be administered and controlled by an Executive Assistant to the Mayor appointed by the Mayor to be the Director of Equal Opportunity. The Director shall appoint, under the civil service provisions of the Charter, employees required to perform the duties of the office, and shall be responsible for their supervision.
(b) According to the City’s desire to encourage equal employment opportunity of minorities and women by contractors, and to promote use in all City Contracts, as defined in Section 187.01, of minority business enterprises (MBEs), female business enterprises (FBEs) and Cleveland Area Small Businesses (CSBs), all as defined in Section 187.01, when appropriate under Chapter 187 (collectively, the “Targeted Businesses”), the Director of Equal Opportunity shall:
(1) Supervise, coordinate, monitor, and enforce for all City contracts affirmative action programs and the CSB, MBE and FBE programs in the manner described in Chapter 187;
(2) Supervise, coordinate, monitor, and enforce for all City contracts, compliance with the City’s equal employment opportunity requirements, including but not limited to procedures, affirmative action programs, employment goals, and other means to implement CSB, MBE and FBE participation goals, when and as specifically applicable, in the manner described in Chapter 187. All compliance functions of the various contracting, departments shall be performed in or under the direction of the Office of Equal Opportunity. The Director of Equal Opportunity shall be responsible for securing compliance by all contractors and subcontractors with the provisions of Chapter 187, as appropriate, and any implementing rules or regulations. Contracting departments shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 187 and any implementing rules or regulations of the Director of Equal Opportunity. Contracting departments shall cooperate with the Director of Equal Opportunity and shall furnish such information and assistance as the Director of Equal Opportunity may require;
(3) Provide appropriate management, technical assistance, and information to and programs for Targeted Businesses to maximize their participation in City contracts, with the assistance to include:
A. Providing assistance with the establishment, expansion, and overall development of Targeted Businesses;
B. Assisting in the arrangement of business associations among individuals, the Targeted Businesses, and other businesses; and
C. Planning and participating in training seminars to inform potential bidders of applicable programs, and business opportunities available.
(4) Serve as liaison with economic development organizations and agencies which support the development of Targeted Businesses in the community;
(5) Coordinate any City-sponsored economic development programs for Targeted Businesses;
(6) Promulgate, and revise as necessary, regulations implementing the Cleveland Area Business Program under Chapter 187.
(c) It shall also be the duty of the Director of Equal Opportunity to ensure that the City’s contractors comply with applicable prevailing wage laws.
(d) By February 15 of each year, the Mayor shall file the following written reports with the Clerk of Council, and a copy shall be provided to each member of the Council:
(1) A report stating, for each City department and for the City as a whole, the percentage and total value of contracts and subcontracts performed by CSBs, MBEs and FBEs during the preceding year;
(2) Such other information related to the Cleveland Area Business Program under Chapter 187 as may be useful in evaluating the success of the program.
(Ord. No. 77-08. Passed 2-4-08, eff. 3-15-08)