REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Award of Contract to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to Implement a California Energy Commission Initiative Supporting Transit Apprenticeship Development
Report
BACKGROUND
NOVA Workforce Development (NOVA) has received a series of Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology (ARFVT) grants under the auspices of the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB). This grant program provides Assembly Bill (AB)118 discretionary funds to promote job training initiatives that support the State of California’s alternative fuel and clean energy goals.
In 2016, NOVA responded to a CWDB request to develop an initiative to research and support an ongoing transit apprenticeship program created by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 (ATU), Mission College, and the California Labor Federation. As a result, the CWDB awarded NOVA a $250,000 grant to research and support the apprenticeship program. The goal of this Transit Apprenticeships for Professional Career Advancement (TAPCA) initiative is to develop transit workforce infrastructure through a unique system of four stackable apprenticeships.
The TAPCA apprenticeships are Coach Operator Apprentice, Track Worker Apprentice, Overhead Line Worker Apprentice, and Service Mechanic Apprentice. These apprenticeships have clear linkages from entry-level employment to higher-level potential supervisor positions in VTA’s transportation (bus), maintenance (way/power/signal) and maintenance (bus) divisions.
NOVA’s roles in this grant are to develop working relationships with the above-named apprenticeship stakeholders, research TAPCA activities, discern its own value as a workforce development board in enhancing transit apprenticeships, and seek opportunities to replicate the VTA-ATU apprenticeship program at the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) and perhaps in other locations.
Pursuant to federal law (29 USCA Section 3122), the City Council is the “chief elected official,” and the “local grant recipient” and “fiscal agent” for NOVA and the Local Workforce Development Board. In filling these functions, City Council’s past practice for contracts exceeding $100,000 has been to approve the award of the contract and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. This particular contract involves grant pass-through monies to VTA through NOVA.
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
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental, organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
In discussions about this $250,000 apprenticeship program grant, the CWDB, VTA, ATU, Mission College and California Labor Federation requested that NOVA sub-contract $125,000 to VTA to help support the transit agency’s role in the ongoing apprenticeship project. NOVA entered into contract negotiations with VTA and the parties have reached a tentative agreement on a contract to be in effect from July 12, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
The VTA will use the sub-grant to select a dedicated apprenticeship staff person to coordinate ongoing TAPCA activities and to develop internal apprenticeship infrastructure within VTA to sustain and possibly enhance apprenticeship activities. NOVA will use its $125,000 share of the grant to research TAPCA and to assess its role in supporting the TAPCA workforce development goals.
FISCAL IMPACT
The source of funds for the services is AB 118 discretionary funds through the CWDB. Since funds are obligated to programs only based upon appropriations dedicated to NOVA, sufficient AB 118 funds will exist to cover all anticipated obligations of day-to-day program operations. If funding is cut, then program services will be accordingly reduced.
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
Award a contract to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority for an amount not to exceed $125,000 and expiring June 30, 2018; and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract when all necessary conditions have been met.
Staff
Prepared by: Luther Jackson, Program Manager, NOVA Workforce Services
Reviewed by: Kris Stadelman, Director, NOVA Workforce Services
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. VTA Contract, Agreement No. 001-RICOG-18