DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
Board Appointments to the Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Board of Directors.
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance approving four appointments to the WSA Board of Directors as recommended by the Committee of Six at its regularly scheduled meeting on October 22, 2014 for submission to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
TWC is the state agency that oversees and provides workforce development funding for services to employers and job seekers in Texas. TWC provides funding and services through 28 regional workforce boards, including the locally-created WSA. WSA serves the City of San Antonio and Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson counties (WSA Service Area).
The WSA Board is a group of 25 individuals appointed by the "Principals" consisting of the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the County Judges (Area Judges) from the 11 other counties within the WSA Service Area. The WSA Board is required to have representation from business, education, economic development, community organizations and government. Board members are appointed to three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms. The primary role of the WSA Board is to align, focus and set direction for workforce activities in the WSA Service Area and manage an annual workforce budget of approximately $81 Million in federal and state workforce funding.
The Principals are parties to an Interlocal Agreement through the Chief Elected Officials (CEOs) of the WSA Service Area, whereby they oversee the planning, budgeting, administration, and execution of WSA programs. The CEO's have established a "Committee of Six" to carry out their duties and responsibilities, which include recommending to the Principals the appointment of members to the WSA Board. Currently, Mayor Taylor and Councilman Lopez serve on the Committee of Six with Councilwoman Viagran serving as an alternate.
Appointments to WSA Board of Directors
On October 22, 2014, the Committee of Six conducted interviews and recommended the following individuals (Appointments) to serve on the WSA Board of Directors:
Appointee |
Category |
Term |
Roman "Nick" Pena |
Place 2, Business |
Unexpired term ending December 31, 2015 |
Janel Umphlett |
Place 6, Business |
Jan. 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2017 |
Andrea Guajardo |
Place 13, Business |
Jan. 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2017 |
Ron Garza |
Place 25, Vocational Rehabilitation |
Jan. 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2017 |
The applicants listed above are submitted for consideration by the City Council and the other Principals. Attached is the résumé and application of each applicant.
ISSUE:
The WSA Partnership Agreement requires the San Antonio City Council, Bexar County Commissioners Court, and the other 11 WSA Area Judges to review and approve appointments to the WSA Board. The Committee of Six recommended approving the appointments on October 22, 2014.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could reject the recommended appointments to the WSA Board. The Committee of Six would then seek and interview new board candidates for recommendation and consideration by all of the Principals. Failure to approve and recommend the appointment of WSA Board members to the TWC within statutory time limits will result in WSA being in noncompliance under TWC guidelines, precluding the WSA Board from meeting to take action or expend allocated funds from the TWC until WSA is back in compliance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City's Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Appointments to the WSA Board of Directors as recommended by the Committee of Six.