Contact:
Danielle Viguerie
Ph: (504) 658-1063
daviguerie@cityofno.com
Statement from Council President Fielkow Re:
City Contracting Process
“I believe the new contracting process will instill confidence in our citizenry, especially during this time period when the City is facing great fiscal challenges.”
New Orleans, LA – June 3, 2010 – “Today, Mayor Landrieu issued several executive orders regarding the City of New Orleans’ contracting process. These executive orders included, among other things, new procedures for the issuance of professional service contracts, the ability of the public to view how these contracts are awarded, and a more effective enforcement program to ensure that the City’s local business/DBE laws are honored, strengthened and that a strong compliance program is put into effect.
“I applaud Mayor Landrieu for implementing these important contracting reforms. Over the past two years, I was proud to have co-authored legislation attempting to open up to the public the process of City awards for professional service contracts and also establishing minimum goals with respect to the awarding of City-related contracts for local businesses (50%) and DBEs (35%). While the local/DBE goals were put into law, it was unfortunate that a previous mayoral veto prevented past professional service contracts from being issued with the benefit of sunshine. It appears that Mayor Landrieu’s new executive orders will achieve both of these objectives, along with complying with the ordinance passed earlier this week by the City Council requiring disclosure of all sub-contractors.
“I believe the new contracting process will instill confidence in our citizenry, especially during this time period when the City is facing great fiscal challenges. As City Council President, I look forward to working in partnership with Mayor Landrieu on these contracting reforms and also continuing to work to ensure that the City Council’s contracting process remains open, transparent and equitable.”
