REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint New Member to the NOVA Workforce Board
Report
BACKGROUND
The new federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, similar to the current Workforce Investment Act (WIA), stipulates the composition, roles and responsibilities of the local workforce board. The chief local elected official appoints the local workforce board; the Sunnyvale City Council serves as the Chief Local Elected Official for the NOVA consortium. The local workforce board determines how many seats are on the board, and is required to have a majority of representatives from business and representation from at least the following stakeholders:
• Business Executives (majority and chair)
• Education providers
• Labor and community-based organizations representing the workforce
• Economic and community development agencies
• One-Stop partners from state employment and vocational rehabilitation programs
The roles and responsibilities of NOVA Workforce Board members include (but are not limited to):
• Take a leadership role in forging a strong and vital partnership between business and the workforce development community, resulting in an entrepreneurial, market-driven, accountable and exceptional workforce investment system;
• Contribute specific expertise from key industries and articulate evolving industries' needs, critical to aligning the workforce with the jobs of the 21st Century;
• Develop and approve policy for workforce initiatives in the NOVA service-delivery area;
• Help create and provide oversight of a strategic plan and participate in the development of a regional plan;
• Evaluate and monitor program performance according to specified outcomes and measures; and,
• Promote the NOVA Workforce Board and workforce through collaboration and relationship building with other businesses, local workforce boards, organizations and groups.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 5.1.1: Socio-Economic - Goals and Policies: Education and Training Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
N/A
DISCUSSION
The NOVA Workforce Board Nominating Committee is comprised of Sunnyvale Vice Mayor Tara Martin-Milius and NOVA Workforce Board Co-chairperson Steve Van Dorn and Vice Chairperson Poncho Guevara. The Nominating Committee is charged with the responsibility of recommending candidates for appointment to the NOVA Workforce Board, for consideration by the Sunnyvale City Council. The Nominating Committee is recommending appointment of one candidate to the NOVA Workforce Board because of the individual strengths and assets this candidate can bring to the NOVA Workforce Board. In addition, this nomination will fill a WIA/WIOA-mandated seat representing organized labor.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATE
Mr. Josué Garcia,
Chief Executive Officer
Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council
The Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council has been the driving force for excellence in the construction industry for decades. The Building Trades Council represents over 30,000 highly trained, skilled construction industry workers in Silicon Valley through twenty-three craft unions affiliated with the Council. The Council offers the highest level of professional training on the latest techniques in the construction trades through more than fifteen federal and state accredited apprenticeship programs, a proven model to quality employment. As a result, the Council has been able to respond to the demands from the region's technology companies and developers and has contributed to the economic growth of this community and its workforce. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Garcia is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of the Council's operations that includes representing union members and negotiating contracts. Mr. Garcia brings to the NOVA Workforce Board significant knowledge and experience in training workers for livable-wage jobs that will be invaluable to the Board as it seeks to raise the skill levels and expand advancement opportunities for workers into higher-wage occupations.
This appointment complies with the requirements of both the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Workforce Investment Act.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Appoint Mr. Josue Garcia to the NOVA Workforce Board.
Staff
Prepared by: Eileen Stanly, Analyst
Reviewed by: Stephen Quick, Manager of Business Operations, NOVA Workforce Services
Reviewed by: Robert A. Walker, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager