To: Board of Supervisors
From: Family & Human Services Committee
Report Title: Workforce Development Board Appointment
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPOINT Allison McKee to Flex Seat #2, and REAPPOINT Joshua Anijar to the Workforce and Labor Seat #2, with terms expiring June 30, 2028, on the Workforce Development Board, as recommended by the Family and Human Services Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this action.
BACKGROUND:
On January 7, 2020, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) adopted Resolution No. 2020/1 adopting policy governing appointments to boards, committees, and commissions that are advisory to the BOS. Section III.A. of this resolution states that when an advisory body conducts interviews for at-large/countywide seats, the body's recommendation will be provided to a Board committee for further review, along with all applications received for the applicable seat(s). In all cases, the Board Committee decides which applicants to nominate for full Board action.
The Workforce Development Board implements federal requirements for programs to address the education, skills, and employment needs for a skilled workforce, and that lead to an increase in the skills and earnings of Contra Costa residents.
On March 14, 2016, the Family and Human Services Committee (FHS) accepted the Employment and Human Services Department's recommendation to decertify the then-current Workforce Investment Act local Board and re-certify a new board structure in compliance with the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). FHS approved these recommendations, and the Board did the same at its March 29, 2016 meeting.
Under new standards in WIOA (2016) and as adopted by the Board on March 29, 2016, the new Workforce Development Board structure is: a total of 23 required seats and 2 "optional seats", consisting of: 13 Business representatives, 5 Workforce representatives, and 5 Education and Training representatives as follows: (1) Adult Education/Literacy; (2) Higher Education; (3) Economic & Community Development; (4) Wagner Peyser representative; (5) Vocational Rehabilitation. Also two additional/"optional" seats that may be filled from any of the 3 categories above.
On August 4, 2023, the Family and Human Services Committee approved the appointment of Alison McKee to the Flex Seat #2 and the reappointment of Joshua Anijar to the Workforce and Labor Seat #2 on the Workforce Development Board.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to appoint members is likely to reduce public participation in advising policy development.