"The first bill before me today is Introductory Number 111-A, sponsored by Speaker Miller and Council Members Jackson, Moskowitz, Addabbo, Clarke, Fidler, Martinez, Nelson, Perkins and Seabrook.

"Intro 111-A will amend the City Charter to increase the threshold for public hearings on contract awards. Currently, the head or deputy head of City agencies are required to personally conduct public hearings prior to entering into any contract valued in excess of $100,000. This bill will eliminate the need for the head or deputy agency head to personally conduct such a hearing, which is an inefficient use of personnel, time and resources. Furthermore, the bill provides that if no member of the public requests an opportunity to speak at such public hearing, after receiving ample notice, a hearing need not be conducted for contracts valued at less than $500,000.

"The next bill before me is Introductory Number 112-A, sponsored by Speaker Miller and Council Members Jackson, Moskowitz, Clarke, Diaz, Martinez, Nelson, Perkins, Quinn, Recchia, Seabrook and Stewart.

"Intro 112-A is a companion piece to the Council's recent resolution that raised the small purchase limits for services to $50,000 and for construction and construction-related services to $100,000. The Administration will provide the Council and the Comptroller with quarterly data from the Financial Management System, the City's financial database, for these small purchases.

"These two bills and the related Council resolution represent good first steps in streamlining the City's current procurement system. They are consistent with my Administration's procurement reform initiative. I look forward to continuing to work with the Council and all other stakeholders in the City's procurement system on our procurement reform initiative to bring the City's procurement system into the 21st century."