DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
Approval of Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Board Appointments and Annual Local Plan for 2014-2015.
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance approving the appointments to the WSA Board of Directors for submission to the Texas Workforce Commission and approving the Annual Local Plan for 2014-2015.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Texas Workforce Commission ("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 Workforce Solutions Alamo ("WSA"). WSA serves Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson counties (the "WSA Service Area").
The WSA Board is a group of 25 individuals appointed by the City, Bexar County and the County Judges from the 11 other counties (the "Area Judges") within the WSA Service Area (collectively, the "Principals"). The WSA Board represents 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 (the "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, Councilwoman Viagran serves on the Committee of Six.
Appointments to WSA Board of Directors
TWC rules necessitate filling two of the vacancies by March 31, 2015. On February 18, 2015, the Committee of Six conducted interviews and recommended the following individual to serve on the WSA Board of Directors: Ricardo Vela, Place 17 (Education), for a term beginning March 31, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017.
On February 23, 2015, the following applications were received and are being taken directly to the Principals for approval in order to meet the TWC deadline: Rudy Garza, Place 7 (Business), for a term beginning March 31, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017; Jeff Goldhorn, Ph.D., Place 22 (Literacy), for an unexpired term beginning March 31, 2015 and ending December 31, 2015. Attached is the resume and application of each applicant.
Workforce Solutions Alamo Annual Local Plan for 2014-2015
The WSA Annual Local Plan for 2014-2015 ("Local Plan") is designed to support the Alamo Region through the application of innovative Business-driven services in an effort to increase the pool of qualified workers to meet current and future employer demands. The Local Plan, as outlined in the Partnership Agreement, seeks to provide a variety of options to assist job seekers with obtaining and retaining employment. The Local Plan results from a collaborative planning process that includes the presentation to the Committee of Six and Rural Judges. This Local Plan and any modifications are developed by WSA in accordance with guidelines issued by the TWC, as well as goals and objectives established by the Texas Council for Workforce and Economic Competitiveness. The Local Plan incorporates key partnership pathways (for the 12-county region), innovative collaborations and numerous other initiatives such as HB 5, language from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act of 2014, and future planning efforts currently being considered by Alamo Colleges.
ISSUE:
The WSA Partnership Agreement requires the Principals to review and approve appointments to the WSA Board.
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 a period of "noncompliance" for WSA, precluding the WSA Board from meeting to take action or expend allocated funds from the TWC until the Board is back in compliance. Furthermore, failure by all the Principals to approve the Workforce Solutions Alamo Annual Local Plan for 2014-2015 will not conform to the Partnership Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City's Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Board Appointments and Annual Local Plan for 2014-2015.