What:        Tomorrow's joint meeting of the New Orleans City Council's Special Development Projects and Economic Development (SDPED) Committee and Budget Committee will include important updates from Administration officials on two critical new city policies involving business: enforcement of increased city contracts to companies certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) and/or locally-owned companies, and a presentation on Mayor Ray Nagin's new Tax Increment Finance (TIF) policy, established by executive order July 17. 

Council President Arnie Fielkow has emphasized the need for greater enforcement of the city's existing DBE/local contracting policy, particularly following the council's unanimous passage of new DBE/local contracting requirements. The legislation, authored by Councilman Fielkow, guarantees small, local and disadvantaged businesses obtain greater access to city contracts and any business that includes the use of city funds by codifying and extending the DBE goals set forth by the mayor's executive order. The second half of increasing the frequency of DBE contracts is enforcement, which is why Councilman Fielkow has asked the administration to review and improve its enforcement procedures over this last month. Alvin Porter, the city's DBE compliance officer, will be on hand for testimony as will representatives of the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) and Intergovernmental Relations.   
 
Another update will come from Intergovernmental Relations in the form of a full report on the mayor's new Tax Increment Finance policy, established by executive order July 17.

To view the Committee meeting agenda click here.

When:       Tuesday, August 11, 2009  
                     10 a.m.
 
Where:     City Council Chamber
 
Who:           Special Guests
                   - City Administrator Alvin Porter
                   - CAO representative
                   - Intergovernmental Relations representative
 
                   SDPED Committee Members
                   - Chair: Councilmember-at-Large Arnie Fielkow
                   - District "D" Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
                   - District "E" Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis
                   - Alternate: District "B" Councilmember Stacy Head
 
                    Budget Committee Members
                    - Chair: District "D" Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
                    - Councilmember-at-Large Arnie Fielkow
                    - District "B" Councilmember Stacy Head
                    - Alternate: Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson
 
Contact:     Jaime Guillet  
                     Office of Councilmember-at-Large Arnie Fielkow      
                     Ph: (504) 658-1063
                     Cell: (504) 957-2035
                     Email: jlguillet@cityofno.com