The City of Seattle's Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) is currently on the hunt for qualified consultants to spearhead evaluation and reporting efforts for their Equitable Development Initiative (EDI). In a recent call for qualifications, the city laid out the work expected from the consultants, which involves providing updates on EDI-funded projects and assessing the program's performance to support informed decision-making for upcoming budgets.
According to the request posted on the official City of Seattle Consultants website, this comprehensive report is to be submitted by September 24. The timing is crucial as it is to align with the City Council's budget considerations for the biennium of 2025-2026. The Council is aiming to closely look at the EDI's outcomes and potential needs moving forward, with the information being essential as they deliberate how to strategically continue to invest in the program.
The call for consultants comes after the City Council, through Amendment B to Council Bill CB 120774, expressed the need for a detailed status report on the EDI grants and associated projects. The City appears to be intent on ensuring transparency and accountability, emphasizing that the report must include insights from ongoing evaluations, updates, identification of potential funding needs, and barriers that may impact the completion of projects.
