DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Board appointments to the WSA Board of Directors.
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance approving the appointments to the Workforce Solutions Alamo Board of Directors as recommended by the Committee of Six on February 24, 2016 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 Workforce Solutions Alamo. 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 judges from the 11 other counties (the “Area Judges”) within the WSA Service Area (collectively, the “Principals”), who represent 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 Gonzales and Councilman Warrick, II serve on the Committee of Six.
APPOINTMENTS TO WSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On February 24, 2016, the Committee of Six interviewed the following individuals and recommended appointment to serve on the WSA Board of Directors:
Eric Cooper, Place 14, CBO, for a term beginning March 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018. Mr. Cooper has served as the President & CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank since 2000 and oversees all operations and logistics to include fiduciary responsibility for the budget, fundraising opportunities, and all departmental goals set forth by the Board of Directors.
Douglas Smolka, Place 21, Labor, for a term beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018. Mr. Smolka is the Chief Engineer with Granada Homes. He currently serves on the Board with United Way, a member of the Executive Board Member with the AFL-CIO, and is a representative of the San Antonio Building & Construction Trades Council.
The Committee of Six interviewed the following individuals and recommended to approve as alternates, but not recommend appointment at this time. Alternates are not part of the board but are preapproved to fill a vacancy on the WSA Board when a vacancy occurs:
Geronimo Guerra, Labor
Mr. Guerra currently serves as the Vice President 2 for the Communication Workers of America (CWA), Local 6143. He has 15 years of experience in sales with AT&T.
Betty Munoz, Business
Ms. Munoza oversees Human Resources of the Westin Riverwalk hotel to include recruitment for all position levels within the hotel.
ISSUE:
The WSA Partnership Agreement requires San Antonio City Council, Bexar County Commissioners Court, and the other 11 WSA Area Judges to review and approve the appointments to the WSA Board. The Committee of Six recommended approving the proposed appointments on February 24, 2016.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could reject the recommended appointments to the WSA Board. The Committee of Six would then seek and interview new board candidate 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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City’s Budget
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommend approval of the appointments to the WSA Board of Directors as recommended by the Committee of Six.