[00:00:04]
ORDER. MADAM CLERK, THE ROLE, PLEASE.
>> CLERK: CHAIR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> PELAEZ: WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO SECOND, ON FAVOR OF APPROVING, SAY AYE. THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. GOOD.
ITEM NUMBER 2, WE HAVE A BRIEFING ON OUR READY TO WORK PLEDGED EMPLOYER PROGRAM, BUT FIRST, I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME CITIZENS TO BE HEARD WHO SHOWED UP.
AND SO I'LL CALL OUR FIRST ONE. TRAVIS WOLSHIRE. BULLER.
>> SOMETHING WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION, SO I WASN'T SURE HOW THAT REALLY WORKED OR NOT
>> PELAEZ: OKAY. WELL, THIS IS YOUR MOMENT TO MAKE GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT ITEM 2 UNLESS YOU WANT TO SAVE IT FOR AFTERWARDS.
>> I'D RATHER SAVE IT TO AFTERWARDS. >> PELAEZ: WE'LL SAVE IT.
PERFECT. DOES THE SAME APPLY TO BECKY HUTCHINSON.
>> SAME WAY. WHATEVER PLEASES THE COURT.
>> PELAEZ: WHATEVER PLEASES THE COURT COME ON UP. SURE. THE COURT IS PLEASED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS BECKY HUTCHINSON, AND I REPRESENT THE WHOLE GROUP IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'VE REBRANDED.
YOU NAY KNOW US AS WHOLE CAT. WE'VE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE SURROUNDING AREA OVER 90 YEARS, RECENTLY EXPANDED INTO OKLAHOMA. THE REASON I'M HERE IS TO SUPPORT THE NEW PROGRAMS FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND INCUMBENT WORKERS.
WE HAVE TRAINING FACILITIES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SO AMAZING THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS COMMITTED TO ITS WORK FORCE TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR COMPANY IS HERE TO STAY, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY NOW AND
FOR AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THAT. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.
MS. HITCHENSON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDS AT THE WHOLE
I'M AARON ALBRECH. IS ACADEMY GENERATION TILE CONTRACTOR FROM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS UPSCALING OUR PORK FORCE IN TILE TECHNOLOGY. JUST LIKE SOME OF THE TILE YOU SEE ON THE WALL.
THEY WERE 4 INCHES BY 4 INCHES ISSUES WHICH WAS NORMAL WHEN MY DAD STARTED THE BUSINESS 40 YEARS AGO, BUT NOW IT'S 5-FOOT BY 10-FOOT PORCELAIN AND CERAMIC SHEETS THAT TAKE A LOT OF SKILLS AND TOOLS IN 2024, AND THEY KEEP GET LARGER AND THINNER, AND WE'VE INVESTED IN OUR OWN COMPANY, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT THE CITY IS WORKING WITH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND SUPPORTING BUSINESSES. SO THANK YOU. PELAEZ THANK YOU.
MR. RAMSEY, YOU'RE UP, YOUR PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ALL RIGHT. KRECOUNCILMEMBERS I'M HERE TO TK ABOUT OUR INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM AS PART OF THE READY TO WORK INITIATIVE.
THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK IS EXPANDING ITS BOUNDS, READY TO WORK CURRENTLY OFFERS TUITION SUPPORT AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE SERVICES TO APP TEND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY 70 PROVIDERS. BY EXPANDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO EMPLOYERS, READY TO WORK CAN SHORTEN THE GAP RESULTING IN CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS AND INCREASED FOR EMPLOYERS IT'S A WIN WIN. EMPLOYERS IMPROVE BUSINESS OUTCOMES, AND EMPLOYEES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP WORK AND GO BACK TO SCHOOL CAN EARN WHILE THEY LEARN. WORK-BASED LEARNING IS ESSENTIAL TO FOUNDATIONAL WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE REALLY LEANING INTO THIS SPACE HERE IN 2024.
UPSCALING IS THE PRIORITY. THROUGH THESE PILOT PROGRAMS, THERE'LL BE 33 EMPLOYERS, SOME OF THEM REPRESENTED HERE, A FEW YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALREADY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, IF YOU WOULD BE PLEASED, COURT, ALLOW THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS AFTER I'M DONE WITH THE PRESENTATION, THEY WOULD BE MUCH GRACIOUS TO YOU FOR ALLOWING THAT. THE TOTAL AMOUNT PROPOSED TO BE
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AWARDED IS 3.1 MILLION THAT WILL IMPACT NEARLY 1400 WORKERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.SO WHAT IS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING? SO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IS TALKING A NEW EMPLOYEE WHO'S EITHER BEEN JUST RECENTLY HIRED OR WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS HIRED AND UPSCALING THEM, GIVING THEM THAT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE WITHIN THE WORK FORCE.
SO WE'VE CAPPED IT AT $150,000 PER EMPLOYEE -- PER EMPLOYER, AND $10,000 PER EMPLOYEE, AND THE EMPLOYEES MUST BE EARNING AT LEAST $18 AN HOUR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE WAGE REIMBURSEMENT. THE TOTAL AMOUNT ON THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AGREEMENTS IS 1.192 MILLION. THE CITY REIMBURSES EMPLOYERS FOR THE TRAINING OF NEWLY HIRED EMPLOYEES IN THE FORM OF WAGE REIMBURSEMENTS.
REGISTERED APPRENTICE PROGRAMS ARE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THESE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING DOLLARS IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT THE WAGES OF THOSE APPRENTICES.
AND 24 EMPLOYERS WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR AWARDS, AND THEY'LL SERVE 722 NEWLY HIRED TRAINEES. SOME OF THOSE COMPANIES ARE LISTED HERE ON THE BOARD, AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL TRAINEES PROPOSED FOR EACH EMPLOYEE, SO YOUR STANDARD ARROW, AVANZAR. MD BROTHER. PROJECTS SOLUTIONS.
NEW APPRENTICESHIP. JMS CPA. A WISE CRITY AS YOU CAN SEE.
STAMP ALLERGY. WRECK INDUSTRIES. ARAM PLUMBING.
UNIVERSITY HEALTH. ASCEND. NONPROFIT.
GEORGE PLUMBING. KCI TECHNOLOGIES. TRISTAR PERSONNEL FOR A TOTAL OF 722 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED. INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAINING. SO INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAININGS ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE WORK FORCE BUT NEED TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS, WE CALL IT UPSCALING IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS NEEDS.
ONE OF THE GREAT ELEMENTS IS THE ABILITY TO KEEP A COMPANY AGILE AS IT SHIFTS THE SKILLS OF THE WORK FORCE TO ADAPT TO POTENTIAL LAYOFF THAT COMES IF THE EMPLOYEES DON'T GAIN NEW SKILL SETS. SO WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD THIS SERVES AS A WAY FOR EMPLOYERS TO CREATE CAREER LADDERS WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS SO INDIVIDUALS CAN GRADUALLY MOVE UP WITHIN THE COMPANIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES. CAPPED AT $100,000 PER EMPLOYER, $5,000 FOR EMPLOYEE, FOR A TOTAL OF $1.28 MILLION. SO THE CITY, WE'LL REIMBURSE THE EMPLOYERS, SO 22 EMPLOYERS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BENEFIT FROM THESE SERVICE AGREEMENTS SOME OF THE COMPANIES THERE. I WON'T GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIST, BUT NAMES THAT YOU'LL KNOW AND MANY SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAINING INITIATIVE FOR A TOTAL OF 665 INDIVIDUALS SERVED. SO THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION TO EWDC IS FUND THE SUPPORT OF THESE CONTRACTS AVAILABLE IN SA READY TO WORK FUND, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS FULL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AGREEMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE READY TO WORK TRAINING AND INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS.
AND THERE ARE MANY EMPLOYERS THAT ARE HERE. I'LL ASK THAT YOU ALL STAND, PLEASE, AND IF YOU FEEL SO INCLINED AND WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME, TRAVIS, TO COME UP AND SAY THOSE WORDS AT THIS TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS TRAVIS. I'M WITH C AND G ENGINEERING, BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS.
HAVE ABOUT 25 EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE REVENUE OF OVER $4 MILLION A YEAR.
WHAT WE BASICALLY SAID IS THAT, HEY, IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE ON BOARD, WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE ON BOARD IN A SMALL BUSINESS IF WE DIDN'T GET ADDITIONAL FINANCING FROM THE CITY. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TRAIN THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CITY, AND WE BASICALLY HAVE HIGH-TECH EMPLOYEES THAT NEED ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.
SAN ANTONIO HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE TYPES OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE COULD REALLY BRING ON AND TRAIN, WHICH WE'RE TIRED OF BRINGING PEOPLE IN FROM OTHER PLACES, SO WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT SAN ANTONIO IS REINVESTING IN SAN ANTONIO FOR SAN ANTONIOIANS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW YOU INVITED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE UP TO THE PODIUM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU -- THEY SAY ONE OF THE SCARIEST THINGS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD OTHER THAN SNAKES AND HEIGHTS IS SPEAKING IN PUBLIC. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO APPROACH THE PODIUM OR IF YOU WANT TO HEAR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS.
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SEEING NOBODY APPROACH. COUNCILMEMBER >> ROCHA GARCIA: ROCHA GARCIA THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AND ALL EMPLOYERS THAT ARE HERE. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ALL READY TO SUPPORT READY TO WORK. WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WORK-BASED LEARNING SPECIFICALLY, WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE BRING THIS UP, AND SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY AT THIS POINT.
WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FORMER AND CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS THAT SUGGESTED SO I HOPE THEY'RE WATCHING BECAUSE IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CRITERIA USED TO SELECT THE 33 EMPLOYERS.
WAS THERE ANY TYPE OF A STRATEGIC GOAL TO FOCUS ON AN AMOUNT OF PROFIT, NONPROFITS, SMALL BUSINESS, HELP ME DETERMINE YOUR STRATEGY
FOR THE SELECTION OF THE 33 EMPLOYERS. >> SO.
ABSOLUTELY. WE WERE ENCOURAGING SMALL BUSINESSES TO APPLY. WE DID SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS FOR S BACK TO ENCOURAGE THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ALLOW FOR A HIGHER WAGE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND 75% OF WAGES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN ORDER TO ENTICE THEM TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS. EACH APPLICATION WAS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A PLAN FOR HOW THEY WERE GOING TO ACTUALLY UPSCALE THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THOSE PLANS WERE EVALUATED BY CITY STAFF, AND THEN THOSE FUNDS
WERE AWARDED BASED ON THOSE PLANS SUBMITTED. >> ROCHA GARCIA: HOW WERE THOSE FIGURES -- HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THE FIGURES OF PER EMPLOYEE, PER EMPLOYER.
>> WE TRIED OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE COULD SERVICE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND BE COGNIZANT OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING INVESTED PER PARTICIPANT FOR READY TO WORK, WHICH IS ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL SIDE OF READY TO WORK WHERE INDIVIDUALS GO INTO TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS AND COME OUT TO BE HIRED ON THE OTHER SIDE.
THAT NUMBER TODAY IS ABOUT $6,000 PER PARTICIPANT ENROLLED IN TRAINING TO THE READY TO WORK, SO REPRESENTED TO STAY CLOSE TO THE MARKERS. SO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, WE WOULD HIT $6,000 PER EMPLOYEE AND FOR INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAINING WE'RE AT 5,000,
WHICH IS SLIGHTLY BELOW THAT MARK,. >> ROCHA GARCIA: AND WHAT KIND
OF REPORTING DO THEY HAVE TO DO. >> THEY HAVE TO TELL US, NUMBER 1 THAT INDIVIDUAL IS PROGRESSING THROUGH THE TRAINING PROGRAM, THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS -- WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S WAGES WERE AT THE START OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, WHAT THOSE WAGES ARE POST TRAINING, RECEIVED THROUGH THE EMPLOYER, AND INSURING THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE -- THAT THEY'VE STATED THEY'LL BE TRAINING OR ACTUALLY DOING WELL WITHIN THEIR
ROLLS AFTER RECEIVING THAT TRAINING. >> ROCHA GARCIA: SO -- SORRY -- THERE'S A JOBS FOR FUTURE PROGRAM IN BOSTON THAT I HAD REFERENCED BACK IN 2021, I DID RESEARCH IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, I'M SURE SOMEONE HAS IT. BUT THEY HAVE SPECIFICALLY ACCOUNTABILITY AS BEING CRITICAL IN THERE AND THAT IT'S MORE THAN A COMMITMENT IN WRITING, AND SO DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM IS IMPORTANT, SO HOW ARE OUR CURRENT EMPLOYERS, THE 33, REALLY FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET EXACTLY WHO THEY NEED.
>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF LEVERAGING EMPLOYERS AND ALLOWING THEM TO LEAD THE WAY. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
SO THEY'LL TRAIN THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXACTLY THE COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS THEY NEED AND AGAIN SUBMITTING THOSE PLANS TO THE CITY TO ENSURE THE ALIGNMENT IS THERE, WHAT THOSE INTERNAL COMPANIES WILL REQUIRE FOR THE POSITIONS THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING THE FUNDS FOR, AND WE VERY MUCH SO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.
IT'S NOT AN AFTER THOUGHT, FOR SURE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, THE EMPLOYEES BENEFIT AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYER.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: SO THERE WAS ALSO THE POKES BROTHERS FOUNDATION IN CHICAGO HAD A BRIDGE PROGRAM, AND SO THEY WERE VERY FOCUSED AT THE TIME OF HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRY, SO THAT LEADS ME TO THE SELECTION OF THE FOLKF THE INDUSTRIES THAT NEED THE MOST WORK FORCE, IS THAT HOW HE
ALSO SELECTED THEM BASED ON THAT. >> BASED OFF OF INDUSTRIES, BUT PRIMARILY, THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, OUR TARGET INDUSTRIES ARE BROAD. YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING REPRESENTED HERE FROM, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION AND SKILL TRADES TO ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING. IT'S REALLY WHAT'S IN DEMAND AND WHAT EMPLOYERS HAVE NEED FOR GROWTH AND EXPANSION
HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. >> ROCHA GARCIA: AND THEN THE JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICES IN SAN FRANCISCO, THEY'RE ROIED VARIED PER PROGRAM. BUT THEY INVESTED ( INDISCERNIBLE ) WHAT ARE WE INVESTING PER PERSON.
>> OUR PER PERSON IS -- THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. MY MATH IS KILLING ME.
THERE'S NEARLY 1400. 3.1 MILLION. SO DIVIDING THOSE TOGETHER WILL GIVE US THAT FIGURE. BUT MY BRAIN IS FROZEN.
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN $20,000 PER PERSON. IS THAT THE NUMBER YOU
SAID. >> ROCHA GARCIA: TEN TO 20. >> YEAH.
WE'RE NOWHERE CLOSE TO 10,000 TO 20,000 PER PERSON.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: GOOD. THERE'S 13 EMPLOYERS THAT REPRESENT THE
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CONSTRUCTION AND TRADE, AND I'M JUST WONDERING, IS THAT THE HIGHEST.>> IT IS. >> ROCHA GARCIA: OKAY. SO THEN IT'S REPRESENTATIVE. AND THEN I'M ASSUMING THAT OUR STAFF REVIEWED THEIR CURRENT TRAINING PROGRAMS AND MADE SURE WE HAD -- THAT WE'RE NOT NEEDING TO CREATE SOMETHING -- THAT WE HAD SOMETHING BASELINE TO --
OKAY. >> YEAH. THESE ARE DEFINITELY NOT OUR CURRENT PATHWAYS THAT THE EMPLOYERS WILL BE UTILIZING, THEY'LL BE UTILIZING THEIR OWN INTERNAL TRAINING OR PARTNERING WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO DELIVER THAT ON THE WORK SITE. SO TWO EMPLOYEES THEY'RE
SERVING. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR, MIKE AND TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION AND CONTINUED WORK. IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM EVOLVE, AND WITH THIS PRESENTATION, I'M REMINDED OF A PANEL I GOT TO OBSERVE, AND THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF SMALL BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD TAP INTO LABOR NOW; RIGHT? THEY'RE NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC AND NEEDED SUPPORT FOR THEIR BUSINESSES NOW, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD PROPOSED; RIGHT? SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT, 1, IT'S COME INTO FRUITION, BUT 2, THAT THE MAYEST TROE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WHEN WE APPROVED THIS; RIGHT? SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH THE CAP AT $100,000 PER EMPLOYER, DO WE HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS ON THE LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IF THEY RECEIVE THIS FUNDING AND THEY'RE HIRING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE PROGRAM, IS IT THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY RETAIN THE EMPLOYEE FOR THE A MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS, WHAT DO THOSE PARAMETERS AND EXPECTATIONS LOOK LIKE AT RETAINING THE EMPLOYEES GOING THROUGH
THE PROGRAM. >> YEAH. SO WE HAVE NO LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG THE EMPLOYER HAS TO RETAIN THE INDIVIDUAL.
THERE'S NOTHING WITHIN THE AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF THAT.
OUR HOPE IS THAT THE EMPLOYERS ARE INVESTING AND UPSCALING THESE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY INTEND TO RETAIN LONG TERM.
WE KNOW THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY MAKE CHOICES AFTER THEY'VE RECEIVED UPSCALING AND TRAINING THAT THEY COULD LEAVE THE EMPLOYER, THAT'S NO FAULT OF THE EMPLOYER THEMSELVES, WHICH IS WHY THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT IN THE AGREEMENTS TO ENSURE THEY'RE RETAINED FOR A SET PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT WE DO HOPE THAT THE UPSCALING AND RESCALING THAT OCCURS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH FOR THAT EMPLOYEE INTERNALLY WITHIN THAT COMPANY TO ALLOW THEM TO STAY LONG-TERM WITH THAT
EMPLOYER. >> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS AN EXPECTATION OF ENSURING THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE RETAINED WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SELECTED FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND SECONDLY, I'M REMINDED OF A CONVERSATION EARLY ON WITH READY TO WORK, AND THIS WAS BEFORE I WAS HERE, BUT I WAS FOLLOWING ONLINE, AND JEFF TALKED ABOUT FORMALIZING THE SKILL SET OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AND I WAS A COCKTAIL WAITRESS FOR 6 YEARS, AND LOOKING AT THE RATE OF $18 AN HOUR AS A SERVER, I WOULD HAVE MADE $20 AN HOUR. TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON THE WEEK, THE DAY, THE HOLIDAY, AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT -- USE READY TO WORK TO SUPPORT FORMALIZING THAT SKILL SET WITH THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE EXPLORED, AND IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO PLUG THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY INTO THIS WORK? >> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM, AND ANY PILOT, WE ALWAYS LOOK TO GROW AND EXPAND AND INNOVATE AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION AND LEARN. HOSPITALITY ORGANIZATIONS WERE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THIS FUNDING, AND I PRESUME THAT THEY WILL BE IN FUTURE ITERATIONS OF IT IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR HAS A GREAT NEED FOR SKILL WORKERS, AND WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM AS WELL AS OUR OTHER COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE
COMMUNITY. >> AND HOW MANY EMPLOYERS APPLIED IN
TOTAL? >> THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS WHO APPLIED WAS 39 EMPLOYERS. 38 -- I'M SORRY. 30 -- 39.
>> CAN I GET THIS TO REVIEW. >> YES.
ABSOLUTELY. >> THANKS, MIKE, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS. >> VIAGRAN: I DO HAVE QUESTIONS I HOPE YOU ALL CAN HEAR ME.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE THERE. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO HOLT AND ALL THE OTHER SOUTH SIDE EMPLOYERS THERE, BUT HOLT HAS BEEN A GREAT PPARTNER IN DISTRICT 3, AND THEIR EXPANSION HAS MEANT SO MUCH FOR THAT AREA, SO I'M EXCITED AND NOT SURPRISED THEY'RE PART OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM. MY QUESTIONS ARE IN ALIGN VERY SIMILAR TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S ARE WE GOING TO -- CAN WE MEASURE WHETHER THE EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS MAINTAIN THAT RELATIONSHIP FOR TWO OR FOUR YEARS, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THAT HAPPENS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
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ARE OTHER REGIONS THAT ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THEN TRYING TO TAKE THE WORKERS FROM OUR AREA BY OFFERING MORE MONEY.AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALSO, MIKE, THAT WE HAVE SOME FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS GOING ON, AND I KNOW READY -- WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT BANKS HAVE PROGRAMS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY GET TEMPTED BECAUSE THEY CAN GO TO HOUSTON AND THEY CAN MAKE THIS MUCH MONEY, BUT THEN YOU'RE LIVING IN HOUSTON WITH THAT COST OF LIVING.
SO DO WE HAVE PLANS FOR THAT? AND IS THERE A WAY WHEN YOU COME BACK TO US AT A SESSION THAT YOU CAN -- WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE SOME MEASURE IF THAT RELATIONSHIP IS CONTINUING.
CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE, BUT I DO WANT THEM TO STAY IN THAT EMPLOYER WITH A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I WOULD LIKE THAT EMPLOYER TO KIND OF INVEST.
SO IF WE COULD JUST MAKE THAT OF SOMETHING WE TRACK, I'D APPRECIATE THAT ALSO.
BUT, MIKE, TALK TO ME ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP THESE TWO PROGRAMS GET THAT INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY START MAKING MORE OR WHAT THIS -- HOW THIS IMPACTS
THEIR BUDGET. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN DEFINITELY ENSURE THAT THESE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE EMPLOYERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT -- YOU'RE RIGHT -- THEY CAN BETTER MANAGE THEIR RESOURCES AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE MORE MONEY. AND I'LL ALSO SAY WE'RE COMMITTED TO TRACKING IF THE EMPLOYEES ARE RETAINED WITH THOSE INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES AS PART OF THE TRACKING PROCESS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING TO ENSURE IS EMBEDDED IN THE PROGRAM, AND, AGAIN, IT IS A RIGHT TO WORK STATE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO SUPPORT EMPLOYERS IN RETAINING THAT TALENT WHILE THE PROGRAM IS BEING PROPOSED.
PELAEZ OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. YOU FROZE FOR A MOMENT.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS >> VIAGRAN: I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> PELAEZ: OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE -- I THINK EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO WHO LOOKS AT THIS PROGRAM, THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM ALL TOGETHER COMES AT IT FROM DIFFERENT ANG ANGLES; RIGHT? LIKE ANY WORK -- EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN FAVORITE PART, AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART.
AND YOU'VE HEARD ME IN THE PAST, MIKE, LAMENT THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE MORE PEOPLE ALREADY IN THE JOBS, AND I THINK THAT OUR BIGGEST TOUCHDOWNS, IF YOU WILL, ARE GOING TO BE BY WAY OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND BY HELPING EMPLOYERS DO WHAT THEY DO BEST, WHICH IS SELECT THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES AND TRAIN UP THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE IN KEEPING PEOPLE IN EXISTING JOBS AND KEEPING THEM FROM FEELING TOO NERVOUS TO LEAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE PORTABLE SKILLS SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT ALSO GIVING THEM MORE CONFIDENCE TO ACHIEVE MORE WHERE THEY ARE. I LOVE IT. THIS IS AN A + FROM ME ON THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, I WILL -- I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING, YOU KNOW, ABOUT -- SEEING THIS LIST OF EMPLOYERS GET BIGGER AND BIGGER. MY QUESTION, AS FAR AS ADDING TO THE LIST OF EMPLOYERS, I'M THROWING THESE THINGS OUT THERE; RIGHT? YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FIRMS, USUALLY YOU GO INTO A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FIRM, YOU COME IN WITH YOUR SERIES 6, RIGHT, LICENSE.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, YOU SPEND A YEAR OR TWO WORKING THERE WHILE YOU'RE STUDYING OR TRAINING UP FOR YOUR SERIES 7 LICENSE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD APPLY -- THAT THEY COULD COME AND TALK TO YOU AND PULL DOWN FUNDS TO HELP PEOPLE TRAIN UP FOR THEIR SERIES 7?
>> ABSOLUTELY. IF THERE WAS AN EMPLOYER THAT WAS SPONSORING INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE THAT SERIES 7 CERTIFICATION, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A GOOD PATHWAY FOR THE INCUMBENT-WORKER TRAINING OR EVEN ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FUND AS A NEW HIRE.
>> PELAEZ: ALL OF US I THINK ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AUTO RETAIL INDUSTRY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND I THINK ALL OF US HAVE HEARD FROM OUR RETAILERS THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING A MCIC IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IS NO LONGER ABOUT FIXING CARS, BUT YOU'RE A COMPUTER ENGINEER IN MANY WAYS; RIGHT. YOU'RE ENGINEERING FOR VEHICLES, AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE OLDER MECHANICS HAVE TO GO AND TAKE CLASSES AND TRAIN UP. AND I SPOKE TO THE OWNERS OF PRINCIPLE AUTO, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEIR CHALLENGES, BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT NEW MECHANICS, BUT BEING ABLE TO UPSCALE EXISTING MECHANICS. THIS WOULD WORK FOR THEM IF THEY DID THE TRAINING
IN HOUSE; RIGHT. >> YES, SIR. >> PELAEZ: I'M THROWING EXAMPLES
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AT YOU. I HAVE A FEELING THE ANSWER IS YES TO ALL OF THESE. THE HOA PROPERTY MANAGERS.FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WORK AT THE 6 OR 7HOA MANAGEMENT COMPANIES HERE IN TOWN, I FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO DO CONTINUING EDUCATION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN EXISTING CERTIFICATIONS, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GO AND TAKE ADDITIONAL TRAININGS IN THE SCIENCE AND ART OF MANAGING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS. WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING I COULD DIRECT TO YOU TO ENJOY THE BENEFIT OF THE FUNDS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> PELAEZ: OKAY. AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND SO I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT US AS CITY COUNCILMEMBERS GO OUT THERE AND BRING YOU EMPLOYERS.
WE HAVE MANY OF THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT. GO TO PLENTY OF RIBBON CUTTINGS. TALK TO PLENTY OF EMPLOYERS.
TALK WITH EMPLOYERS, GOSH, IT'S SO HARD TO FIND THEM, TRAIN THEM, AND THEN IT'S HARD TO KEEP THEM. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD ALL DO TOGETHER IS INCLUDE IT IN OUR NEWS LETTERS, TALK ABOUT IT IN OUR TOWN HALLS, AND THEN BRING YOU BY THE HAND TO
OUR EMPLOYERS; RIGHT. >> YES. ABSOLUTELY.
ALL OF THE ABOVE. >> PELAEZ: ALL RIGHT. WELL, LISTEN.
I'VE GOT PEP IN MY STEP NOW AFTER THE PRESENTATION, AND THE CLERK WILL NOTE THAT SHE WAS A COCKTAIL SERVER FOR MANY YEARS, AND SHE'S YET TO BRING THIS COMMITTEE MARGARITAS. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO SHOWED UP TODAY FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UNLESS THERE'S ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WELL MOVE TO THE SECOND
>> WE'RE REQUESTING ACTION ON THIS. >> PELAEZ: THAT'S RIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, COUNCILWOMAN?
>> PELAEZ: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE IT ON.
>> PELAEZ: THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. NEXT PRESENTATION. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS A BRIEFING FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE SUPPLY INITIATIVE YOU HEARD ABOUT, BUT WE'LL DO A DEEPER DIVE TODAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE SUPPLY SA INITIATIVE.
SO A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO BROUGHT AN UPDATE WHERE WE WERE, AND INTRODUCED THE INITIATIVE, BUT WE'RE AT AN EXCITING POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO GET AGREEMENTS IN PLACE AND START TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INITIATIVE. SO I SHARED THIS BUT REALLY WANT TO REITERATE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S PRESENTED HERE.
SO WHEN THE -- WE ORIGINALLY COLLABORATED WITH THE ASPEN INSTITUTE AND THE NOWAK METRO FINANCE LAB AT THE UNIVERSITY.
WE GOT A REGIONAL WIDE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PROCUREMENT AT SAN ANTONIO, AND THE FIGURE CAME IN AT 2021 AT $9 BILLION.
REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT THIS DID NOT INCLUDE THE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW HERE. SO WITH THAT, THAT $9 BILLION ESTIMATE GOES UP, BUT LOOKING AT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF PROCUREMENT HERE, AND REALLY, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT PRESENTS IS REALLY WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE AND WHY, AS 14 DIFFERENT PUBLIC ENTITIES, WE'VE CONTINUED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE UNTAP -- OR HOW DO WE TAP THE FULL POTENTIAL OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND IMPACTING OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. SO BEYOND THE $9 BILLION IMPACT POTENTIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHY SHOULD LOCAL AGENCIES PARTICIPATE IN THE INITIATIVE? AND YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO LOOK MUCH FURTHER THAN OUTSIDE AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S SO MUCH GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, FROM CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE CITY BUYS MOST OF, BUT A NUMBER OF PARTNERS HERE, THEY'RE BUYING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUYING CONSTRUCTION, AND HOW DO WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED VENDORS. WE SAY THOSE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCUREMENTS. BUT IT GOES BEYOND CONSTRUCTION, EVERYTHING FROM PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, GOODS AND SUPPLIES. WE KNOW THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE, BUT HOW DO WE INCREASE THOSE THAT ARE QUALIFIED AND THOSE THAT CAN TAP INTO THE OPPORTUNITY. AND SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO INCREASING CAPITALTY OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO DO IT. WE HEAR STORIES FROM TIME TO TIME OF SUBS THAT ARE AMAZING OR TRADES PERSONS WHO ARE GREAT AT IT, BUT HOW DO WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN GO AND PARTICIPATE ASACTS AND INCRG THEIR CAPACITY, THEIR BUSINESS ACCESSORY CUEMENT ALONG THE WAY
[00:30:03]
AND THE IMPACT THAT'S ALONG THE BOTTOM LINE, INCREASED CAPACITY, THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO DRIVE DOWN PRICES SO THAT THE CITY OR ANY PUBLIC ENTITIES ARE HAVING -- SEEING MORE AVAILABILITY, MORE COMPETITION, BUT ALSO HIGHER QUALITY SERVICES AND SERVICE DELIVERY, PROJECTS COMPLETED ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET BUT THEN THE THIRD ONE, DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THE BUSINESSES ARE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE THOSE THAT ARE REALLY WISHING TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND TO HELP SAN ANTONIO GROW, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT BENEFIT OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL.AND SO OUTLINE THE WHY, AND I THINK PART OF IT IS THEN GOING INTO THE HOW, AND HOW COULD WE TAP INTO THAT? AND IT'S REALLY THROUGH THE REGIONAL COLLABORATION, AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE FIRST, IF NOT THE FIRST TO LOOK AT IT ON A REGIONAL LEVEL OF HOW COULD WE WORK TOGETHER, UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF ENHANCED PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING. YOU KNOW, I SPOKE OF ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHAT IF WE WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND SAYING WHAT ARE YOU FORECASTING OUT AND WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS SO THAT WE CAN IN TURN WORK WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS SAYING THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SEEING A GAP AND HOW COULD WE WORK TO ADDRESS IT. IMPROVING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS EXPERIENCE THROUGH THIS PROJECT. DREXEL INTERVIEWED A NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND THROUGH THE DISPARITY STUDY AND WE HEARD PROCESSES ARE COMPLICATED. I HAVE TO REGISTER IN 14 DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. I CAN'T FIND PROCUREMENTS IN X COMPANY, HOW COULD I RETAP INTO THAT, SO HOW DO WE IMPROVE THEIR EXPERIENCE. AND THEN GROWTH OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN A DOLLAR STAYS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, IT RECIRCULATES AND HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. AND SO LOOKING TOWARDS THE OUTCOMES, IT COMES DOWN TO INCREASING AVAILABILITY. I'VE DONE THIS MANY TIMES.
KNOWING WHO'S READY AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK AND CONNECTING THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES TOED BY AND HOPEFULLY THAT SPILLS OVER INTO INCREASED ( INDISCERNIBLE ) SHOWING MORE DOLLARS ARE FLOWING TO THOSE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES SO THE 14 PUBLIC ENTITIES WE'VE BEEN MEETING TOGETHER FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER OF, OKAY, WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE GET THE BIG PICTURE HOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT SOMETHING AND COMMIT TO COLLABORATING TOGETHER ON THIS. AND SO WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE'VE SAID, OKAY, WE KNOW WHAT PHASE 1 IS GOING TO BE, AND IT'S REALLY THROUGH IMPLEMENTING A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IN COORDINATION, AND THEN DOING THAT EVALUATION AND REPORTING TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF THOSE EFFORTS. SO WITHIN IMPLEMENTATION, IT'S REALLY -- IT'S HAVING A NEXUS TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE PUBLIC ENTITIES AND WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE MARKETPLACE. IT'S SUPPORTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES BY CONNECTING TO THEM TO ANY OF THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, EVERYTHING FROM SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT UTSA ALONG WITH THEIR NEW PROCUREMENT ACADEMY, ALSO PROVIDING THOSE NAVIGATION SERVICES. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH HOUSING NAVIGATION. WELL, WHY NOT PROCUREMENT NAVIGATION BECAUSE IF SOMEONE PROVIDES LANDSCAPING SERVICES, MANY OF THE PUBLIC ENTITIES BUY LANDSCAPING SERVICES, SO WHY NOT OFFER THEM THE FULL PICTURE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
AND THEN SUPPORTING THE AGENCIES BY CONNECTING THEM TO THE PROVIDERS, AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES THIS UNIQUE OF IT WORKING BOTH DIRECTIONS, NOT SAYING HERE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CANNED BY, BUT SAYING WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, CITY OR COUNTY, AND SAYING WELL, THESE ARE POTENTIALED BIERS YOU COULD REACH OUT TO, GET THEM REGISTERED AND LET THEM KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. AND THEN THE NAVIGATION AND REPORTING.
SHOW THE OBJECTIVE MEASURS TO SHOW THE IMPACT WE HAVE AS A REGION, UPDATING THAT $9 BILLION FIGURE. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE HEARD FROM THE DREXEL TEAM WAS LOOKING AT HOW WE ALL MEASURE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, SO IT WAS AN APPLES TO ORANGES COMPARISON, BUT HAVING SOMEONE SAY THIS IS HOW WE MEASURE DOLLARS STAYING LOCAL, THE EFFICACY OF THE PROGRAMMING, AND BEING ABLE TO REPORT THAT NOT ONLY TO THE COUNSEL, COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY WHO SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT, WE WANT THESE OPPORTUNITIES GOING TO OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. AND SO WE ARE SEEKING TO ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH A 2-YEAR PILOT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PORTION I MENTIONED MANAGED BY UTSA, SO UTSA BEING CHARGED OF MANAGING THAT SUPPLY DIRECTOR TO MANAGE THE INITIATIVE ON A LARGER LEVEL, PROVIDE THE PROGRESS REPORTS AND KEEP THE PIECES MOVING FORWARD.
ALSO THROUGH THE HIRING OF THREE PROCUREMENT NAVIGATORS. SO THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL WORK ONE ON ONE WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES, UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS, WHAT
[00:35:01]
OPPORTUNITIES MAY BE AVAILABLE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, CONNECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ALSO LEVERAGING THE UTSA PROGRAMS, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THE SBEDA GROUPS SUGGESTED THEY MANAGE THE IT. THEY MANAGE THESE ALREADY.THE PROCUREMENT ACADEMY. THE PTAC. SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE RESOURCES, SO IT'S ALMOST NATURAL TO SERVE AS THE COORDINATION ENTITY.
AND ALSO, DEVELOPING THAT NAVIGATOR CURRICULUM SO THAT IF ANY OF THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS OR CHAMBERS WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE TRAINED IN PROCUREMENT, THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE AN OFF THE SHELF CURRICULUM AND PROVIDE IT TO THEIR NAVIGATOR.
AND THEN AS WELL, ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR THAT REPORTING PIECE, TO BRING IN SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE DATA, TO WORK THROUGH IT, TO WORK WITH THE STAFFS ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR SPEND IS AND WHERE THOSE CHALLENGES ARE AND WORKING WITH UTSA TO REPORT ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OVERALL ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF JUST OVER $600,000 WITH THE DISTRIBUTION TO UTSA BEING ABOUT $400,000 AND THEN FOR THE EVALUATION AND REPORTING, $200,000 THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY TO CREATE AN RFP TO BRING IN THAT FIRM, BE ABLE TO DO THE EVALUATION AND REPORTING WORKING WITH ALL 14 PUBLIC ENTITIES. AND SO ALL OF THOSE SERVICES WOULD BE GOVERNED UNDER AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT, WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING TO CITY COUNCIL IN APRIL FOR APPROVAL WITH THE FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS AS OUTLINED HERE.
NOW, THIS FUNDING MODEL IS SIMILAR TO THE MODEL USED BY THE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL CERTIFICATION AGENCY, SO WE WANTED TO LEVERAGE A KNOWN RATIO TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS, AND I THINK -- THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS BEYOND JUST NUMBERS ON THE PAGE.
IT SHOWS WHEN YOU REGIONALLY COLLABORATE NO ONE ENTITY BEARS THE EXPENSE OR RISK OF IT, SO WE ALL HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME HERE AND ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO FUND IT BUT ALSO BENEFIT FROM IT. SO OVER THE TWO-YEAR PILOT, THE CITY'S TOTAL CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE JUST OVER $120,000, AND THIS WOULD COME FROM THE ALLOCATION THAT'S IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR SUPPLY SA AND OTHER PROCUREMENT INITIATIVES. SO A LOT OF WORDS ON THIS SLIDE HERE, BUT IN SYNOPSIS, WE'RE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HEAR THROUGH OUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THIS WORK IS NEEDED.
SO WITHIN THE FIRST SIX, WE WOULD LOOK TO LAUNCH THE OVERALL INITIATIVE PUBLICALLY.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN BITS AND PIECES, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO LIVE TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL WE WERE READY TO SAY THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS HOW YOU'LL BENEFIT FROM IT. SO BRINGING ON BOARD THE SUPPLY SA DIRECTOR, BRINGING ON BOARD THE PROCUREMENT NAVIGATORS. WE EXPECT THAT TO BE A REALLY HIGH POSITION BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM. BUT ALSO, I WANT TO DRAW YOUR INFORMATION TO THE FOURTH POINT OF RECONVENING THE PROCUREMENT GROUP.
SO WE BROUGHT TOGETHER FOLKS OF MICHAEL SYNDMAN, WHO DO THIS DAY-TO-DAY, KNOW THE WEEDS, KNOW THE CHALLENGES, AND WE WANT TO RECONVENE THAT GROUP BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITIES, TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS, SUCH AS THE PROCUREMENT FORECASTING, THE DEBUNDLING, WHAT WE KNOW WILL HAVE AN IMPACT BUT DON'T REQUIRE THE CAPACITY IMPACT OR THE TRAINING.
AND ISSUING THE RFP FOR THE EVALUATION AND CONSULTING. SO WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR WE WANT TO LAUNCH A PROCUREMENT FELLOWSHIP, TO SUPPORT THE COMPANIES THAT MAY BE DOING SOME PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NOW BUT WANT TO GROW IN WHAT THEY DO. ALSO, SELECTING THE FIRM TO DO THE EVALUATION AND REPORTING, COLLECTING FEEDBACK, AND THEN WORKING WITH THAT CEO LEADERSHIP GROUP TO PROVIDE UPDATES AND TO CONTINUE TO TWEAK THE PROGRAM. AND SO THEN WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR OF, AGAIN, TALKING DATA, ADJUSTING, LISTENING, AND HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND ALL OF THE RESPECTIVE BOARDS AND AUTHORITIES TO SHOW THE SUCCESS OF IT AND MAKE THE CASE TO CONTINUE BEYOND A TWO-YEAR PILOT AND REALLY BUILD OUT THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. I DO WANT TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT OUTSIDE OF THAT LARGER COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVE, THE NUMBER OF THINGS WE'RE DOING HERE INTERNALLY AT THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO BE LEADERS IN PROCUREMENT AND MODEL THAT WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE DOLLARS LOCAL. SO WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A PRO CUREMENT PROCESS MAPPING, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM BUT ALSO INITIATIVES, THIS WAS APPROVED
[00:40:04]
BY COUNCIL BACK IN NOVEMBER. AND THEY'VE DONE A NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS AND PROVIDED MAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES, SO WE LOOK TO FINISH THAT IN SEPTEMBER. AND HOPEFULLY SHARE THOSE FINDINGS WITH THE PROCUREMENT INFORMATION GROUP SAYING HERE IS WHAT WE FOUND AT THE CITY.PERHAPS YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT THEM IN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
AS I MENTIONED, THE OVERALL SUPPLY SA INITIATIVE WILL BE GOVERNED BY A LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT SPELLS OUT THE RULES OF THE GAME, FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS, HOW THINGS WILL BE STRUCTURED, WHO WILL DO WHAT, WHICH BASICALLY ARE THE THINGS I'VE DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY IN THE SLIDES, BUT HAVING THAT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT COMPRISED OF THE AGENCY'S COES, GRANTING UTSA RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION SIDE, THE CITY ON THE REPORTING, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF MEETINGS, SETTING A BUDGET, AND PROVIDING GOALS, AND THEN AUTHORIZING ANY OTHER WORKING GROUPS THAT WE FIND THAT WANT TO BE IMPLEMENTED. IN TERMS OF TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS, AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO BRING THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO COUNCIL ON APRIL 11. THAT IS THE SAME DAY THAT WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH AMENDMENTS TO THE SBEDA PROGRAM, BECAUSE THOSE TWO PROGRAMS REALLY WORK HAND IN HAND IN TERMS OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE MINORITY, SMALL, WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, AND THEN MOVING FORWARD TO LAUNCHING THE PROGRAMS IN MAY DURING THE SUMMER, AND THEN COMPLETING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AND INCLUDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SBEDA PROGRAMS IN OCTOBER AND AS I WRAP UP. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OLIVIA HERE FROM OCI GROUP.
SHE'S CONTINUED TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP ALONG WITH HENRY AND THAT TEAM.
IT'S REALLY BEEN A LARGE EFFORT, LOTS OF VOICES INVOLVED. SO COMPLEX, BUT HAVE A STRONG TEAM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK TO IMPLEMENT THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, I DO. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I UNDERSTAND CONGRESSMAN'S ENTHUSIASM TO BRING THIS FORWARD, AND I DO WANT TO SEE, ESPECIALLY BROOKES AND PORIN AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DO MORE FOR SUPPLY SA.
THE MORE I WANT TO SAY IS I THINK THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THEIR CONTRACTS AND TRYING TO -- AND IT'S NOT PERFECT, I KNOW IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I THINK THEY'RE DOING THE WORK THEY NEED TO DO, AND WE DO NEED THE OTHER AGENCIES TO CATCH UP, BUT MY CONCERN IS -- AND I KNOW -- I THINK WE ALL SAW THE ARTICLE. IS IF I HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO GET SBEDA DESIGNATION AND THAT'S WHAT'S SLOWING THIS DOWN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE MOVING THIS FORWARD.
AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT INNOVATIVE GROUP YOU TALKED ABOUT, I'M GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T NEED IS AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT HAS A COMMITTEE THAT DOESN'T KNOW THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO OR THE SOUTH EASTERN SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO WEIGHING IN ON AGENCIES THAT WORK THERE.
SO I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT ALSO. I THINK THE TIMELINE IS A LITTLE -- I MEAN, THE 11TH IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY, AND I STILL THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS REGARDING SBEDA, SO I THINK THAT SOMETHING IS STILL GOING ON, BUT I THINK WITH THE NEWS THAT WE HAVE THE AGENCY THAT'S GIVING THE DESIGNATION, TAKING A LOT OF TIME. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO THE CONCEPT, I UNDERSTAND. I'M STILL NOT -- IF IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT US THIS MUCH FINANCIALLY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITY GETS MOST OF THE NEWS REGARDING ANY SORT OF INITIATIVES LIKE THIS. SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT ARE PART OF IT, PASS OR FAIL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE CITY AND WHAT WE DO. SO I JUST -- I NEED MORE INFORMATION ON CERTAIN ISSUES, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED. AND THE OTHER THING THAT I DIDN'T HEAR COME OUT OF THIS IS THAT WE NEED TO LOBBY AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT FOR LOCAL, THEY GIVE US MORE THAN THE 5% TO GO OVER ON THE RFP PROCESSES. IF WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, LOCAL BUSINESSES
[00:45:02]
THAT ARED BYING ON RFP OR RFO PROCESS, THEY NEED TO LET US GO MORE THAN 5% IN TERMS OF PAYING THEM, AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I DIDN'T HEAR FROM THAT IN TERMS OF WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. SO I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT MY OTHER COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVETO SAY REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> PELAEZ: COUNCILWOMAN.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DIRECTOR AND I BELIEVE THE BOARD THAT ARE HERE. GERMY AND JANELLE BECAUSE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FACILITATED SOME WORKSHOPS OVER AT THE MAESTRO CENTER. AND I GOT TO HEAR FROM VENDORS, AND I GOT TO HEAR THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE, AND I THINK THAT PROVIDES THE ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE, AND TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROPOSED FELLOWSHIP IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I AM SUPPORTIVE TO ENSURE WHETHER IT'S THE FOCUS GROUPS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEING CONSIDERATE OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THERE AND THE SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED, BUT ULTIMATELY, JUST WANT TO COMMEND ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS INTO FRUITION, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PILOT TALKING OFF.
MY ONLY QUESTION, IS THIS GOING TO BE HOUSED AT THE UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, HAS A LOCATION BEEN IDENTIFIED. IF SO, WHERE WILL THAT
BE LOCATED AT. >> YES. LOCATED IN THE DURANGO BUILDING AT UTSA WHERE A NUMBER OF SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE LOCATED
BUT A DEDICATED SUPPLY SA SPACE IN THERE. >> CASTILLO: FANTASTIC.
GREAT NEWS. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. CHAIR.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHICH OF THE 17 LOCAL AGENCIES OPTED NOT TO PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S TELLING. AND SO IF THERE'S FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO ADOPT OUR PROCUREMENT PLAYBOOK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD; RIGHT? SO THE GOAL SHOULD BE TO HAVE EVERYONE ON THERE.
BUT, YEAH. SO THAT'S -- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL CAN PROVIDE THAT OFFLINE. AND THEN I ALSO APPRECIATE THE PROCUREMENT NAVIGATORS. I FEEL IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, EVERYTHING WE'VE USED A NAVIGATOR FOR HAS BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL.
SO I FEEL THE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS THEY'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THE EVALUATION AND REPORTING OF THE MATRIX IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO SEE WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS ON THIS, AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED THE METRICS TO DETERMINE HOW EFFECTIVE
THE INITIATIVE IS OR WILL BE. >> SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY, I GUESS, CLEAR-CUT METRICS. I THINK WE ALL SEE WE WANT OUR TOTAL COMMUNITY WIDE PROCUREMENT SPEND THAT'S STAYING LOCAL TO GO UP, BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE ROLES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES WITHIN THAT FIRST SIX MONTHS IS IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE GOALS BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE EVALUATION ORGANIZATION, COMPANY, SO THEY COULD MEASURE AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT DATA WOULD NEED TO BE
COLLECTED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: SURE.
I THINK ONE OF THE GOALS OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE TO INCREASE THEN HOW MANY VENDORS SECURE CONTRACTS; RIGHT? SO I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO MEASURE THAT PROGRESS AND SEE WHAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE; RIGHT? WHAT WOULD WE FEEL IS ACCEPTABLE.
AND THEN HOW FREQUENTLY WILL WE BE PRESENTED REPORTS? LIKE, ARE WE GOING TO GET QUARTERLY REPORTS? OR HOW WILL WE HELP TRACK IT? AND I'M TALKING ABOUT WE, LIKE, THIS COMMITTEE
OR, I MEAN, IN GENERAL COUNCIL. >> WE, I GUESS, DON'T HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED SCHEDULE, BUT AS WE IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE GOALS, WHAT ARE THE METRICS WE'RE TRACKING AND AT WHAT FREQUENCY THEY WOULD BE TRACKED, WE WOULD LOOK TO MAKE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: SURE. AND I KNOW IT'S A ONE-YEAR PILOT -- OR IT'S A PILOT FOR NOW. SO THE -- THE PILOTS THAT WE HAVE THAT COME THROUGH PCDC, I ASK EVERY YEAR TO HAVE AN UPDATE, AND I KNOW WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THREE IMPORTANT ONES COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND SO I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE WE COULD CONSIDER THAT AS WELL. AND THEN ALSO, WHAT IF THE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION -- WELL, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION IF THE AGENCY OPTS OUT BEFORE THE TWO-YEAR PILOT.
>> AND CHRISTINA, CORRECT ME IF I GET THIS NOT CORRECT, BUT WE BUILT IN FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT THE REMAINING NUMBER OF AGENCIES WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO ABSORB THAT CONTRIBUTION THAT WOULD BE LOST TO THE AGENCY OPTING OUT.
>> UP TO A MAXIMUM TOTAL OF 33%. >> ROCHA GARCIA: GOT IT.
THANK YOU. >> KIND OF LIMITS LIABILITY FOR THE
[00:50:01]
AGENCIES. >> ROCHA GARCIA: OKAY. THANK YOU.
AND THEN I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROCUREMENT MAPPINGFUL I FEEL LIKE YA'LL HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS ON YOUR HANDS, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN DO THIS.
SO I FEEL LIKE WITH THE UTSA ADDITION, IT'S GOOD.
SO HOW DO WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS PROJECT, LIKE, IN THE BUDGET. ARE YA'LL GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
ALSO, FOR, LIKE, FUTURE BUDGETS AND. >> SO ON THIS ONE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FINANCE TEAM AND JOINING HIS TEAM ON IT, SO I THINK BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR FINANCE, WE'LL LOOK TO SEE WHAT NEEDS ARE OUT THERE THAT COME FROM THE FINDINGS FROM SPECIFIC INITIATIVES.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GLAD TROY IS INVOLVED. THAT WAS MY NEXT POINT, IF THE CITY IMPLEMENTS SUPPLY SA IN OUR OWN PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THAT WE WOULD BE THE MODEL; RIGHT? AND SO OTHERS WANT TO DO AND JUST FOCUS ON THE REGIONAL GROWTH. DO WE KNOW WHEN WE CAN EXPECT AN UPDATE, BY THE WAY OF ALL THE ARPA FUNDING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESS? >> I'M NOT SURE THAT A FORMAL BRIEFING IS PLANNED AT THIS POINT, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY -- AND I KNOW THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS SENDING MEMOS, UPDATES AS THE PROGRAMS ARE LAUNCHED OR AS THEY REACH SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES LIKE THE OUTDOOR FACES, THE FACADE IMPROVEMENT IS ONE THE TEAM IS, WHOING HEAVILY ON RIGHT NOW. SO WE COULD DO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE IF YOU'D LIKE, OTHERWISE WE'LL KEEP ROLLING THEM OUT AND KEEPING THEM
UPDATED INDIVIDUALLY. >> ROCHA GARCIA: I THINK THERE'S A BIG QUESTION ON THOSE FUNDS AND HOW THEY'VE REALLY HELPED SMALL BUSINESS, AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY I WAS ASKING. I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE ASK ABOUT THAT, SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP PUBLICALLY.
SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.
>> PELAEZ: GREAT PRESENTATION. YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO, AND I'M IMPRESSED. BUT WHICH ARE THE AGENCIES THAT CHOSE NOT
TO PARTICIPATE? >> SO THE DECISION -- I GUESS, FROM THE DREXEL REPORT TO NOW WAS TO FOCUS ON THE NONK-12 ORGANIZATION, SO IT WASN'T THAT THEY OPTED OUT, IT'S JUST THE INITIAL FOCUS WAS ON THE PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES OUTSIDE OF K-12 EDUCATION.
>> PELAEZ: OKAY. SO THAT EXCLUDED ISD. PRE-K FOR SAN ANTONIO.
SO ARE THERE ANY NONPRE-K. >> SORRY.
PRE-K SAN ANTONIO IS PART OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> PELAEZ: YOU'RE RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY NONK-12. >> NO.
RIGHT NOW THE 14 WE ENGAGED ARE PARTICIPATING AND IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE LOCAL AGREEMENTS, SO NO OPTOUTS AT THIS POINT.
>> PELAEZ: WAS ACOG WAS APPROACHED. >> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> PELAEZ: CAN I RECOMMEND SOMEONE SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND TALK TO HIM.
WE'VE GOT TWO COUNCILMEMBERS AND A COUNTY COMMISSIONER ON THAT BOARD, AND ACOG DOES PROCURE AND FOR CUSTOMERS, AND I HAVE A FEELING THE NEW CEO MIGHT BE INTRIGUED. AT THE VERY LEAST, WE OWE THEM A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I REMEMBER BEING IN THE ROOM WHEN OCI CONVENED MYSELF AND HENRY SISNERO AND JAIME AND UTSA, AND THIS WAS JUST A CONCEPT, AND TO SEE IT NOW BECOME A REALITY, IT'S EXCITING, AND I'M -- I HAVE ALL CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE. SO THANKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION. THIS IS JUST A BRIEFING; RIGHT.
>> WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH COUNCIL -- REQUESTING COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO BRIEF THIS COMMITTEE HERE.
WE'LL ALSO BE DOING ONE ON ONES WITH OTHER CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO MAKE SURE. BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY TECHNICAL, BUT WE WANTED
TO FOLLOW UP WITH EVERYBODY ELSE VIMLY. >> PELAEZ: BUT THE IRA IS NOT
ENOUGH FOR IT TODAY. >> IT'LL BE UP FOR FULL CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION. >> PELAEZ: ALREADY. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE MOVING ON. THERE'S ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE THAT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HAS BEEN WORKING. HER NAME IS VIRGINIA CUREFOOT. SHE'S A FELLOW THAT'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MONTHS NOW. A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SHE -- SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE HAD A LOT OF PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT WE WANTED HER TO WORK ON WHEN SHE GOT THIS FELLOWSHIP, AND THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PORTION OF THAT WORK. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT I THINK WE'RE KIND OF PILOTING WITH THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRYING TO KEEP MORE
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PROFESSIONALS IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT HER SEEING EXACTLY HOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THIS FIELD.SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AND A LOT OF THE WORK SHE'S DOING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS
INITIATIVE. SO THANK YOU, VIRGINIA. >> PELAEZ: THANKS FOR HELPING US OUT. VIRGINIA. OKAY.
NEXT ITEM IS APPEAR DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIRMAN PELAEZ AND MEMBERS. IN KEEPING WITH THE ORIGINAL THEME, I GUESS I'LL SAY MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT AT THIS TIME. MY NAME IS THOMAS DAVIS AND I'M AN ECONOMIC MANAGER HERE, AND TODAY AS MENTIONED I'LL BE PRESENTING TO YA'LL OF THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE INCLUDING PROGRAM HISTORY, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PROGRAM BENEFITS OF THE CITY'S NOMINATION PROCESS, AND THEN NOMINATION ON CERTAIN NOMINATIONS.
SO CHAPTER 23 O 03 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENTAL CODE WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN 1973, AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT THE STATE ADMINISTERS AND MONITORS. IT'S REALLY A TOOL THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN USE TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE ON JOB CREATION AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECTS, WITH THE FOCUS BEING SALES AND TAX REFUNDS ON THE STATE'S 2.65 RATE ON QUALIFIED EXPENDITURES.
SO TO FAMILY SIZE THIS RIGHT HERE AS A TOOL. THE PROGRAM INCENTIVE IS ONLY ON THE USED. AND NONE OF THE USED TAX LEVY IS PART OF THE INCENTIVE.
THE STATE RUNS THE PROGRAM ON A BIANNUAL BASIS FOR A TOTAL OF 125 STATEWIDE DESIGNATIONS EVERY TWO YEARS AND 12 QUARTERLY ROUND. IT BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, AND GOES UNTIL AUGUST 21 OF 205. SO VERY QUICKLY. THE TYPE OF TEZ PROJECT DESIGNATION AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT REPOTENTIAL OF STATE SALES AND USE TAX IS BASED ON INVESTMENT. SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE CHART. DESIGNATIONS INCLUDE HALF ENTERPRISE. ENTERPRISE, DOUBLE JUMBO AND TRIPLE JUMBO.
AND THE DESIGNATION REALLY DICTATES THE MAXIMUM REFUND AMOUNT PER QUALIFYING JOB.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS, BUT I HOPE IT MAKES SENSE. FOR THE NEXT PART, PROJECT ELIGIBILITY, THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ELIGIBILITY ON THREE MAIN AREAS. WAGE REQUIREMENTS, JOB CREATION REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN WHAT I CALL EMPLOYMENT LOCATION AND CLASSIFICATION PERCENTAGE REQUIREMENTS. FOR WAGES, IN ORDER FOR A JOB TO COUNT TOWARDS THE TEZ BENEFIT, IT MUST HAVE A WEEKLY WAGE THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE CAN THE WAGE IN WHATEVER COUNTY IT'S LOCATED. SO FOR LOCAL CONTEXT HERE, BASED ON LATEST AVAILABLE STATE DATA.
THE BEAR COUNTY IS $1,056.76. WHICH EQUATES TO JUST UNDER $26.50 AN HOUR.
JOBS MUST BE FULL TIME AND WHILE HALF ENTERPRISE AND ENTERPRISE DESIGNATIONS MAY COUNT BOTH NEW AND RETAINED JOBS, THE LARGER DOUBLE AND TRIPLE JUMBO PROJECTS WITH THE HIGHER BENEFIT MAY ONLY COUNT NEW FULL TIME JOBS. THE STATE ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE COMPANY MAINTAIN THOSE JOBS FOR A SET PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE DESIGNATION PERIOD ENDS OR AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY RECEIVES ITS TAX BENEFIT. FINALLY. AND, AGAIN, BEAR WITH ME.
THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BENEFIT AND HOW THEY MUST COUNT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. ENTERPRISE RESIDENCIES OR VETERANS. IF IT'S IDENTIFIED AS AN ENTERPRISE ZONE BY THE STATE.
56% MUST BE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HAVE ZONE RESIDENCY OR MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BUT IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF A ZONE, THEN 35% OF THE EMPLOYEES MUST MEET THE BENEFITS. SO THERE'S A BENEFIT TO NOT ONLY HAVING IT IN THE ENTERPRISE ZONE BUT MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE AROUND THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL TEZ BENEFIT IS MANAGED BY THE STATE, SO WE DON'T DO THAT AS CITY STAFF.
IT'S BY THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE.
FOR MY NEXT SLIDE. SO THAT GETS TO THIS LOCATION ELIGIBILITY.
AND I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF CONVOLUTED AND A LITTLE STRANGE, AND IT'S ALL FROM THE STATE, BUT HOW THE STATE DESIGNATES AN ENTERPRISE ZONE IS REALLY A KEY COMPONENT TO THE 25% OR 35% REQUIREMENT FOR THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ENTERPRISE ZONE RESIDENCY, I'LL SAY THAT A LOT.
BUT IF THE BLOCK GROUP MEETS ANY CRITERIA, IT'S CONSIDERED ENTERPRISE ZONE.
SO POVERTY LEVEL BASED ON THE CENSUS, SO THE 2020 DATA. CERTAIN FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DESIGNATIONS ENTAIL AN ENTERPRISED ZONE. A STATE IDENTIFIED DISTRESS
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COUNTY DESIGNATION, OR AREA WITH DEFENSE BASED AUTHORITY ATTACHED TO IT.SO PORT OR BROOKES. AGAIN, THIS IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO PROJECT.
THIS IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO PROJECTS BECAUSE THE 25% OR 35% LEVEL HAS THAT REQUIREMENT FOR WHEN THEY HIRE THE NEW EMPLOYEES HOW MANY ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, VETERANS OR HAVE THE ENTERPRISE ZONE RESIDENCY SO NOW FOR THE PROCESS ON HOW WE MANAGE THIS HERE IN THE CITY. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP. THE AREAS HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN ARE DESIGNATED ENTERPRISE ZONES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY, AND THE PURPLE ARE THE AUTHORITIES AT PORT AND BROOKS. SO BASED ON TRACKING BY THE TEAM.
SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INACCEPTS, THE CITY HAS HAD 50 SINGLE ENTERPRISE ZONE, AND TWO TRIPLE JUMBO NOMINATIONS. EACH CITY AND MUNICIPALITIES GET NINE NOMINATIONS, AND BY THIS CURRENT, EDM IS WORKING ON A PROJECT WITH TRIPLE JUMBO NOMINATION BUT WE'VE NOT FINALIZED ANY FORMAL NOMINATIONS TO DATE FORWARD AND PROPOSINGINGING THI- RECOMMENDED TO EASY PROJECTS IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. FIRST, FOR PROJECTS THAT EXPRESS INTEREST IN A NOMINATION, EDD STAFF, SO MYSELF AND THE INDUSTRY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY TEAM ASK THAT THE INTERESTED COMPANY OR CONSULTANT, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE.
SUBMIT THE APPLICATION, AND THEN THE MAJORITY OF THE PROJECTS ALSO HAVE OTHER POSSIBLE INCENTIVES TIED TO THEM, SO NOT THEM COMING TO ASK STAND ALONE TEZ NOMINATION, A LARGER PROJECT ATTACHED. SO WE REVIEW THE APPLICATION, CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND JOB DESCRIPTION. BROAD AROUND THE PROJECT. AND THEN LOCAL SUPPORT.
WHICH IS A KEY REQUIREMENT OF STATE'S APPLICATION. SO WHEN STAFF RECOMMENDS A TEZ NOMINATION, THE PROCESS INCLUDES A BRIEFING AND EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE PROJECT AND ANY PROPOSED INCENTIVES. AND THEN ONCE BRIEFED. IT REQUIRES NOMINATIONS, AND IT COUNTS TOWARDS THE PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENT AS WELL. ONCE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE NOMINATION AND HOPEFULLY APPROVES THE RECOMMENDED NOMINATING RESOLUTION, THE PROJECT COMPANY AND CONSULTANT USE THAT AS PART OF THEIR FORMAL APPLICATION TO THE STATE.
AND RECENTLY, WE BROUGHT FORWARD SOME COUNTY NOMINATIONS THAT WERE WITHIN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION, SO THIS IS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF HOW THAT WORKS AND SORT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT THE STATE PLACES ON US. SO WE WORK WITH BEAR COUNTY ON NOMINATIONS, LIKE I SAID, THAT ARE IN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION BUT FOR WHICH BEAR COUNTY IS USING SOME ALLOTTED NINE NOMINATIONS FOR THAT. IT'S STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.
SO THEY REQUIRE WE GET THAT FORMAL JURISDICTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATIONS FROM BEAR COUNTY, AND THIS REALLY -- I'M SORRY. I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
THIS OCCURS VIA INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, AND SO WE PREPARE IT AS ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY.
CONFIRM THE CITY'S JURISDICTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE AREA, AND THEN IT INCLUDES YOUR CONSIDERATION AT A SESSION FOR THAT RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT WITH BEAR COUNTY TO GO FORWARD AND MOVE THAT AS PART OF THE PROCESS. SO WITH THAT, THAT'S THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION. AS AN ORIGINAL IOWAN, I THINK I SHOULD BE ON THE RECORD HERE AND CONGRATULATE THE IOWA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FOR REACHING THE SWEET 16 LAST NIGHT AND CAITLIN CLARK BREAKING ANOTHER RECORD. BUT FOR THAT TANGENT. I'LL MOVE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MIGHT HAVE >> PELAEZ: THE RECORD WILL REQUEST EXACTLY THAT.
QUESTIONS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU CHAIR AND THOMAS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I HAD ONE QUESTION WITH THE REFUND, DOES THAT COME FROM THE STATE OR LOCAL FUNDS.
>> ONLY THE STATES. ONLY THE STATES' PORTION OF THE SALES AND USE
TAX. >> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANK YOU, THOMAS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. THOMAS, I THINK YOU GAVE A REALLY, GOOD, CONCISE PRESENTATION FOR A COMPLICATED TOPIC.
SO THANK YOU. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES SINCE WE BEGAN
THIS TO THE WAGES? >> THE WAGES ARE UPDATED AS A ROLLING BASIS, SO I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK SPECIFICALLY, BUT ANNUAL -- YES, AS THE WAGE DATA COMES THROUGH, THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO UPDATE THAT IN THEIR
APPLICATION TO THE STATE. >> ROCHA GARCIA: OKAY.
AND I'D LOVE TO SEE KIND OF THAT HAPPEN JUST TO SEE HOW WE'RE MOVING THAT ALONG. AND THEN OF THE 50 SINGLE DESIGNATIONS AND OF THE TWO TRIPLE JUMBO, CAN WE GET A LISTING OF THE CORRESPONDING CENSUS TRACK?
>> WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT >> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU. AND THEN HOW MANY OF THE CURRENT TEZS RIGHT NOW AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFIED BASED ON FEDERAL POVERTY
DESIGNATION. >> WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME
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APPLICATIONS. THE LAST DESIGNATION WE HAD WAS IN 2021, SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE HAD A FORMAL DESIGNATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT WE CAN GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT DATA AS WELL.>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND HOW MANY JOINT INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS HAVE WE HAD SINCE 1973.
>> OH MAN. I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT PIECE.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: NO PROBLEM. SO DOES THE PROCESS FOR THE NOMINATION DEPEND ON THE SIGHT OF THE LOCATION, OR DO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH CITY
ASK COUNTY APPROVAL. >> IF IT'S WITHIN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION AND WE'RE MAKING THE NOMINATION, IT'S JUST US, BUT IF THE COUNTY IS
DOING IT, IT'S BOTH. >> ROCHA GARCIA: OKAY. HOW DOES THE STATE MONITOR THE TEZ PROGRAM? SO ARE THEY THE ONES THAT ARE LOOKING AT LEVELS OF JOBS OR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS? OR DO WE LOOK AT IT AND
SHARE IT WITH THEM? >> WE LOOK AT IT INITIALLY, SO WHEN IT COMES THROUGH AND THEY EXPRESS THAT INTEREST, WE'LL SAY, OKAY, WHAT DOES NOMINATION BENEFIT LOOK LIKE TO YOU BASED ON HOW MANY JOBS YOU'RE PROPOSING, THE CAP X, WHAT LEVEL OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE.
SO IF IT'S TRIPLE JUMBO, THEY GET $7,500 PER QUALIFYING JOB.
IF IT'S SINGLE, THEY CAN GET $2,500. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
BUT THE STATE THEN REVIEWS THE APPLICATION, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT EITHER APPROVE OR DO NOT APPROVE A NOMINATION. SO THE STATE CAN GET A NOMINATION AND THEN NOT APPROVE IT FOR DESIGNATIONS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN. >> ROCHA GARCIA: BUT THEY DON'T
MONITOR AFTER THAT? >> THEY DO. SO TRADITIONALLY, A COMPANY WILL HIRE SORT OF A CONSULTANT WHO'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A CORNER IN THE MARKET AND THEY'LL HELP THEM PREPARE THE ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORTS AND THEN THE INITIAL APPLICATION AS WELL.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND HOW LONG IS THE TEST DESIGNATION. THE TEZ DESIGNATION.
>> GREAT QUESTION. I HAVE THAT IN MY BACKUP.
HOLD ON. THE DESIGNATION PERIOD IS NO LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, AND YOU CAN START THE BENEFIT 90 DAYS BEFORE YOUR DESIGNATION IS APPROVED, THAT WAY SOME COMPANIES ARE ALREADY STARTING ON BUILDING OUT THEIR SITE, MAKING THOSE EXPENDITURES THAT QUALIFY FOR THE REFUND, AND THEY GET IT THEN
>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND DO WE KNOW -- I KNOW YOU HAVE THE MAP -- BUT DO WE KNOW THE
DESIGNATION IN OTHER METRO AREAS OF TEXAS. >> YES.
THE STATE PUBLISHES ALL OF THEIR TEZ DESIGNATIONS ON THE WEBSITE SO WE CAN GO THROUGH AND FILTER FOR OTHER METROS.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: YEAH. I'M WONDERING IF WE'RE COMPETITIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> PELAEZ: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> VIAGRAN: NO.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA COVERED EVERYTHING I WOULD ASK
AND MORE. THANK YOU. >> PELAEZ: THIS PRESENTATION OR IN INDIA LAST YEAR, SOMEBODY GAVE -- YOU KNOW, SAID TOMORROW YOU'RE PRESENTING AT THE EMBASSY IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF INDIAN BUSINESS FOLKS INTERESTED IN THE UNITED STATES, THIS IS YOUR TOPIC, GOOD LUCK, AND I TOTALLY CRASHED AND BURNED. AND I COULD HAVE USED THIS BRIEFING WAY BACK THEN BECAUSE, WELL, I WAS JUST TERRIBLE AT IT.
BUT THIS WAS EXCELLENT. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. THIS IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
AND THE PROCESS IS A LOT CLEANER THAN I EXPLAINED IT.
SO THANKS FOR COMING OUT TODAY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL. >> PELAEZ: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF ANOTHER EWDC MEETING, THANKS FOR EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION. VIRGINIA, THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.