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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07- Development Department DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO REQUEST FOR COMMISSION/COUNCIL ACTION FROM: KENNETH J. I-IENDERSON SUBJECT: LOCAL BID PREFERENCE Executive Director DATE: February 2, 1994 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis of Previous Commission/Councit/Committee Action(s): On January 10, 1994, the Mayor and Common Council directed staff to analyze (2) draft ordinance submitted by the Mayor and the Downtown Business Association. On January 24, 1994, the Mayor and Common Council and the Community Development Commission continued this matter until February 7, 1994. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommended Motion(s): (Mayor and Common Council) (Community Development Commission) MOTION: That the Mayor and Common Council and the Community Development Commission receive and file the attached memorandum from the Assistant City Administrator to the Mayor and take whatever action deemed appropriate. (Y G'! Adm istrator KENNETH J. HEND RSON Executive Director --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Person(s): Kenneth J. Henderson/ Stafford W. Parker Phone: 5081 Project Area(s): N/A Ward(s): N/A Supporting Data Attached: Staff Report; FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: $N/A Source: N/A Budget Authority: N/A --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commission/Council Notes: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KJH:SWP:lmp:locpre.cdc COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA MEETING DATE: 02107/1994 Agenda Item Number: C I T Y OF S A N B E R N A R D I N O INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE DATE: February 2 , 1994 TO: Mayor Tom Minor FROM: Fred Wilson, Assistant City Administrator SUBJECT: Review of Local Bid Preference Ordinance COPIES: Shauna Clark, Tim Steinhaus, Ken Henderson ------------------------------------------------------------------ On January 10, 1994 the Mayor and Council considered two draft ordinances relative to a preference for local bidders on City purchases of supplies, materials, equipment and services and for public projects. This item was continued to the meeting of February 7 , 1994 , to allow for staff input and review. The City currently does not have a policy of providing any type of preference in determining the lowest responsible bidder for contracts or agreements for material, supplies or equipment. The basis which is currently used in selecting vendors is the lowest and best bidder as outlined in the City's charter as well as the Purchasing Ordinance. PROPOSED DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ORDINANCE The first draft ordinance was requested by the Downtown Business Association and calculates preference based on a formula. The formula provides up to a maximum of six percent that could be credited to local firms based on the following: 1. Bidder receives credit of one percent (1%) for each successive year their principal office has been located in the City, up to a maximum of three years. 2 . Bidder receives a credit of one percent (1%) for each successive year that the bidder has physically located fifty percent (50%) of its employees in offices located in the City, up to a maximum of three years. 3 . The documentary information justifying the credits to be given pursuant to this section shall be provided in writing at the time the bid is submitted. The comments received from staff on this proposal include: 1. Administratively, it would be very difficult for the City to verify compliance with the formula. To do so may require access to certain sensitive payroll information. In order to implement this formula, it should be amended to allow the City the right to audit, annually, each local vendor who bids on our contracts, to establish their certification for continuation of the vendor preference. Without some means of verification, we are subject to local vendors who can claim whatever they want to get the preference. 2 . The formula states that credit will be given to bidders that have physically located 50% of the employees in offices in the City. In the case of contractors, the majority of their employees work on job sites, instead of in the office. The number of employees varies greatly, depending upon the contracts under construction. These factors will make it very difficult to verify compliance with this criteria. 3 . Who is going to administer this vendor preference program? It appears that the businesses are self- certifying that they have met the requirements of the local vendor preference ordinance. 4 . Businesses may be leaving the City, but they are also leaving the State, primarily from a high cost to operate within the State. Most of the businesses that leave cite workers compensation insurance, AQMD, and excessive fees as the main reasons for leaving. PROPOSED EIGHT PERCENT PREFERE14CE ORDINANCE The second ordinance recommends an eight percent preference for local bidders for comparison purposes with other bidders. The comments received on this proposal include: 1. An eight percent preference is unrealistic when most vendor preferences in other cities are usually only one percent. One percent is the amount of sales tax which is returned to the City as our local share of any sales tax transaction which occurs in the City. 2 . Most California businesses are facing similar increases in their operating costs as are our local San Bernardino merchants and businesses. 3 . Where does fiscal responsibility to the public enter when you can get items cheaper elsewhere? 4 . Will out of town bidders continue to bid after they learn of the local preference? If they stop bidding, local providers could escalate their prices with the end result being the City paying an additional eight percent for all purchases. 5. The City is proposing to purchase thirty vehicles this year at an estimated cost of $275, 000. With an eight percent preference in place, it could potentially cost the City anywhere from an additional $10, 000 - $22, 000 for the purchase. Another important point to recognize is the impact on local businesses. One local businessman, Bill Yates, co-owner of Chem Lite (wholesale provider of janitorial and other supplies) provided his perspective on the issue. He noted that giving a local preference, in effect, would put a barrier around the City which may preclude any outside business from bidding on local contracts. Furthermore, such a measure could potentially result in other cities passing similar measures which would then put San Bernardino businesses at a disadvantage with respect to bidding on outside- the-city contracts. To put this in perspective, he provided a hypothetical example in which a business which is San Bernardino based generates $1 million in sales from activity with the Inland Empire. Currently, the City receives the entire one percent local share of sales tax for $1 million in sales regardless of what City the supplies are actually sent to. If other cities adopt similar measures, his business could see a decline in sales activity which will negatively impact our sales tax revenue. PUBLIC WORK CONTRACTS With respect to public works contracts, since most of our contracts are either partially or fully funded with Federal and State Funds, we would have to verify whether or not a local preference provision is permissible. According to the Public Works Director, restrictions do exist for certain transportation funds in this area which would have to be explored in more detail. More importantly, much of the work involved with Public Works contracts is performed by subcontractors who may have a business outside the City limits. In these cases, the City would not benefit by providing such a credit since these businesses do not pay any direct taxes or fees to the City. OTHER CITIES Staff has contacted a number of cities inquiring about a local bid preference. The survey results are provided in Attachment A. The survey results generally indicate that a maximum of 1% bid preference is provided to local businesses generally only in the area of materials, supplies and equipment. SUMMARY A local vendor preference, though beneficial at first to the City and our business community, may ultimately serve as a means of isolating the City and our businesses from its neighbors and the opportunities our businesses have outside our own city limits. If the Mayor and Common Council does make a determination to adopt such an ordinance, it is recommended that a local bid preference of one percent be implemented for the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment. This figure would be consistent with other cities that have such an ordinance. Further, it is recommended that public orks contracts be exempted from such an ordinance. RED ILSON Assistant City Administrator attachment FW/lp ATTACHMENT "A" Local Bid Preference City Santa Ana 1% sales tax reimbursement (materials, supplies, & equipment) Huntington Beach 1% sales tax reimbursement (materials, supplies, & equipment) Ontario 1% sales tax reimbursement (materials, supplies, & equipment) Pomona In determining lowest responsible bidder, the City will take into consideration the sales tax which will be returned to the City as a result of the reward. Redlands Special consideration might be given to a local vendor to maintain community goodwill. Again, their price, delivery, schedule, performance and quality should be comparable to the "Best Vendor." Riverside In the procurement of good for the City's requirements, preference shall be given those vendors having stores or warehouses within the City of Riverside, provided that price, quality, terms, delivery and service reputation are determined to be equal. Chino No administrative policy on local preference but local firms are given first preference. Pasadena If the point of sale will be physically from a business located within the City, the business is considered a "Local Business". Local businesses receive a 1% bid preference on materials and supplies only. This means that a local business can be 1% higher than the lowest out-of-area vendor and receive the contract/purchase order. Garden Grove Where the services to be provided by a bidder or supplier are equal, preference shall be given to local merchants when the local merchants' bids are within two (2) percent of the lowest bid received, provided the dollar amount represented by the two percent difference does not exceed five-thousand ($5,000) dollars. This provision shall only be utilized where bids in the amount of five-thousand ($5,000) dollars or higher are required. County of pan Bernardino Utilize, whenever possible, the services of local consultants/firms to provide consulting services (No financial incentives) 1 ORDINANCE NO. 2 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ADDING SECTIONS 3.04.125, 3.04.130, 12.20.040 AND 12.20.050 TO THE SAN BERNARDINO 3 MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO A PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL BIDDERS ON CITY PURCHASES OF SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AND FOR 4 PUBLIC PROJECTS. 5 THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: 6 SECTION 1. Findings The Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino 8 do find and declare as follows: 9 A. Firms and businesses located outside the City of San Bernardino do not pay the City's Utility 10 Users Tax, the City Wide street Lighting and Street Sweeping Assessment, the various 11 landscaping and lighting district assessments, and the downtown parking district assessments, 12 all placing them at a significant advantage in relation to local firms and business which must 13 pay such exactions, when bidding on City projects or to supply City goods and services. In order 14 to equalize the position of all such bidders it is necessary to give local firms and businesses 15 a credit. 16 B. Businesses are leaving the City in record numbers, including the relocation of the Santa Fe 17 yards out of state, the closure of Norton Air Force Base and its attendant employment and the 18 numerous closure and relocation of small and medium size businesses from this City, all 19 eroding the City' s property tax base and significantly decreasing the income to the City 20 from sales tax, utility users tax, license and users fees making it extremely difficult for the 21 City to provide basic health and safety services to all of the residents of the City at a time 22 when crime and vandalism are increasing. It is necessary to encourage local businesses to remain 23 in the City to contribute to the revitalization of San Bernardino, by providing an increased 24 opportunity for them to do business on City projects and to provide goods and services to the 25 City. 26 C. In an attempt to encourage businesses to relocate to the City to offset and discourage increasing 27 gang activity, drugs, vandalism, crime, juvenile delinquency, joblessness and the abandonment of 28 whole neighborhoods by their owners and DAB/js (2Preference.0rd) 1 January 7. 1994 '2)OLJVrOW A/ B0r lJless A SS oci•41-104/ ?f .t 7-' 7 I residents, it is necessary to provide an incentive to do business on City projects and to 2 provide city goods and services. 3 SECTION 2. Section 3.04. 125 is hereby added to the San 4 Bernardino Munici al Code to read as follows: 5 "3 .04.125. Local Bidders. 6 " ( a ) Any formal or informal bid submitted by a local bidder pursuant to this Chapter shall receive a 7 credit for comparison purposes with other bidders as 8 specified in subsection (b) below. " (b) ( 1 ) A bidder will receive a credit of 1$ for 9 each successive year the bidder's principal office has been located in the City of San Bernardino up to a 10 maximum of three years. 11 (2 ) In addition to ( 1 ) above, a bidder will receive a credit of 1% for each successive year that 12 the bidder has physically located 50% of its employees in offices located in the City of San Bernardino, up 13 to a maximum of three years. 14 (3 ) The documentary information justifying the credits to be given pursuant to -this section shall be 15 provided in writing at the time the bid is submitted. 16 SECTION 3. Section 3.04. 130 is hereby added to the San 17 Bernardino Municipal Code to read as follows: 18 "3.04.130 Conflict of Interest. 19 "In addition to the prohibitions, regulations and restrictions imposed by state law, it shall be 20 unlawful for the Purchasing Agent or any person involved in the selection process of this Chapter to 21 offer, require, or receive rebates or kickbacks or to enter into business relationships with a person or 22 entity submitting a bid. It shall also be unlawful for any bidder or prospective bidder to offer or to 23 give rebates or kickbacks or to enter into business relationships with any person involved in the 24 selection process of this Chapter. " 25 SECTION 4. Section 12. 20.040 is hereby added to the San 26 Bernardino Municipal Code to read as follows: 27 "12 . 20.040. Local Bidders. 28 " ( a ) Any bid submitted by a local bidder for a DAB/js (2Preference.Ord) 2 January 7. 1994 I public project pursuant to this Chapter shall receive a credit for comparison purposes with other bidders as 2 specified in subsection (a) below. 3 "(b) ( 1 ) A bidder will receive a credit of 1% for each successive year the bidder's principal office has 4 been located in the City of San Bernardino up to a 5 maximum of three years. ( 2 ) In addition to ( 1 ) above, a bidder will 6 receive a credit of it for each successive year that the bidder has physically located 50% of its employees 7 in offices located in the City of San Bernardino, up 8 to a maximum of three years. (3 ) The documentary information justifying the 9 credits to be given pursuant to this section shall be 10 provided in writing at the time the bid is submitted. 11 SECTION 5. Section 12.20.050 is hereby added to the San 12 Bernardino Municipal Code to read as follows: 13 1112. 20.050 Conflict of Interest "In addition to the prohibitions, regulations and 14 restrictions imposed by state law, it shall be unlawful for any person involved in the selection 15 process of this chapter to, offer, require or receive rebates or kickbacks or to enter into business 16 relationships with a person or entity submitting a bid. It shall also be unlawful for any bidder or 17 prospective bidder to offer or to give rebates or kickbacks or to enter into business relationships with 18 any person involved in the selection process of this Chapter. " 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 DAB/js (2Preference.Ord] 3 January 7. 1994 I AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ADDING SECTIONS 3.04.125, 3.04.130, 12.20.040 AND 12.20.050 TO THE SAN BERNARDINO 2 MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO A PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL BIDDERS ON CITY PURCHASES OF SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AND FOR 3 PUBLIC PROJECTS. 4 5 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance was duly 6 adopted by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San 7 Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on the 8 day of 1994, by the following vote, to wit: Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT 9 NEGRETE 10 CURLIN 11 HERNANDEZ 12 OBERHELMAN 13 DEVLIN 14 POPE-LUDLAM 15 MILLER 16 17 18 City Clerk 19 The foregoing Ordinance is hereby approved this day 20 of 1994. 21 22 Tom Minor, Mayor City of San Bernardino 23 Approved as to form 24 and legal content: 25 JAMES F. PENMAN, City Attorney 26 27 By: 28 DAB/js [2Preference.Ordl 4 January 7. 1994 1 ORDINANCE NO. 2 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ADDING SECTIONS 3.04.125 AND 12.20.040 TO THE SAN BERNARDINO MUNICIPAL CODE 3 RELATING TO AN EIGHT PERCENT (8%) PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL BIDDERS ON CITY PURCHASES OF SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AND 4 FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS. 5 THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: 6 7 SECTION 1. Findings The Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino 8 do find and declare as follows: 9 A. Firms and businesses located outside the City of San Bernardino do not pay the City's Utility 10 Users Tax, the City Wide street Lighting and Street Sweeping Assessment, the various 11 landscaping and lighting district assessments, and the downtown parking district assessments, 12 all placing them at a significant advantage in relation to local firms and business which must 13 pay such exactions, when bidding on City projects or to supply City goods and services. In order 14 to equalize the position of all such bidders it is necessary to give local firms and businesses 15 an eight percent ( 8%) credit. 16 B. Businesses are leaving the City in record numbers, including the relocation of the Santa Fe 17 yards out of state, the closure of Norton Air Force Base and its attendant employment and the 18 numerous closure and relocation of small and medium size businesses from this City, all 19 eroding the City's property tax base and significantly decreasing the income to the City 20 from sales tax, utility users tax, license and users fees making it extremely difficult for the 21 City to provide basic health and safety services to all of the residents of the City at a time 22 when crime and vandalism are increasing. It is necessary to encourage local businesses to remain 23 in the City to contribute to the revitalization of San Bernardino, by providing an increased 24 opportunity for them to do business on City projects and to provide goods and services to the 25 City. 26 C. In an attempt to encourage businesses to relocate to the City to offset and discourage increasing 27 gang activity, drugs, vandalism, crime, juvenile delinquency, joblessness and the abandonment of 28 whole neighborhoods by their owners and DAB/bq (Preference-Ord) 1 January 7, 1994 974 /0)? S %2EF��Es� 1 residents, it is necessary to provide an incentive to do business on City projects and to 2 provide city goods and services. 3 SECTION 2. Section 3.04.125 is hereby added to the San 4 Bernardino Municipal Code to read as follows: 5 113.04.125. Local Bidders. 6 "Any formal or informal bid submitted by a local bidder pursuant to this Chapter shall receive an eight 7 percent ( 8$) credit for comparison purposes with other bidders. For the purposes of this Section, "local 8 bidder" shall be a bidder with its primary place of business located within. the City of San Bernardino at 9 the time of submitting the bid, or with a place of business in the City employing at least ten ( 10) full- 10 time employees at such time. " 11 SECTION 3. Section 12-20.040 is hereby added to the San 12 Bernardino Municipal Code to read as follows: 13 1112.20.040. Local Bidders. 14 "Any bid submitted by a local bidder for a public project pursuant to this Chapter shall receive an 15 eight percent (8$) credit for comparison purposes with other bidders. For the purposes of this Section, 16 "local bidder" shall be a bidder with its primary place of business located within the City of San 17 Bernardino at the time of submitting the bid, or with a place of business in the City employing at least ten 18 ( 10 ) full time employees at such time. " 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DAB/bg (Preference.Ord) 2 January 7, 1994 Y 1 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ADDING SECTIONS 3.04.125 AND 12.20.040 TO THE SAN BERNARDINO MUNICIPAL CODE 2 RELATING TO AN EIGHT PERCENT (896) PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL BIDDERS ON CITY PURCHASES OF SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AND 3 FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS. 4 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance was duly 5 adopted by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San 6 Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on the 7 day of 1994, by the following vote, to wit: 8 Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT 9 NEGRETE 10 CURLIN 11 HERNANDEZ 12 OBERHELMAN 13 DEVLIN 14 POPE-LUDLAM 15 MILLER 16 17 City Clerk 18 19 The foregoing Ordinance is hereby approved this day 20 of 1994. 21 Tom Minor, Mayor 22 City of San Bernardino 23 Approved as to form and legal content: 24 JAMES F. PENMAN, 25 City Attorney 26 27 By: 28 DAB/bg (Preference.Ord) 3 January 7. 1994