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WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. THE TIME IS NOW 11:A.M.
ON OCTOBER 20, 2025, AND THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL?
QUORUM. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. DUE TO THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, I WILL BE ALLOWING MEMBER SPEAKERS THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK
[Approval of Minutes ]
ON THE FIRST ROUND AND THEN THREE MINUTES ON THE SECOND ROUND.THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY CORRE CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES, AND IF NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES?
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> VIAGRAN: I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> VIAGRAN: ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY
CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM OF PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> CLERK: CHAIR, WE HAVE NO ONE
[Briefing and Possible Action on the following items ]
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 2, WHICH IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ALAMO COLLEGES, THIS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, DOES ANYONE WANT A PRESENTATION? NO? ALL RIGHT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE ITEM. >> GALVAN: MOTION TO APPROVE. >> VIAGRAN: WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCILMEMBER
CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND GREAT TO SEE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE STUDENT TO RECEIVE THEIR ORB IS A CERTIFICATIONS AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING YOUTH WITH SK SKILLS AND TRADES AND CONNECTIN THEM TO THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE KNOW ARE RECESSION PROOF. SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE PROOF YOU DO.
OFFLINE I'D LIKE TO GET CONNECTED TO THE DISTRICT 5 HIGH SCHOOLS TO CONNECT KIDS TO THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE TOOLS AND THE SKILLS THAT ARE PROVIDED, WE KNOW ARE JUST REALLY IMPORTANT, AND AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARDS A CONSTRUCTION BOOM WITH POTENTIALLY PROJECT MARVEL AND SO MUCH MORE, WE KNOW THERE'S A HIGH DEMAND FOR FOLKS IN THE TRADE. SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU ALL, ANYWAY WE COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. AND WE'D LOVE TO CONNECT YA'LL. I KNOW YOU'RE IN DISTRICT 5 BUT WE'D LOVE TO GET TOGETHER TO CONNECT YA'LL TO DISTRICT 5'S WORK, SO THANK YOU FOR THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> VIAGRAN: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> GALVAN: ONE QUICK THING. I WANTED TO ASK OF A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS UTILIZE TECHNICAL AND SKILLS TRADING WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S IT.
>> VIAGRAN: MIKE, DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND, OR WILL YOU GET BAC WITH US ON THAT?
>> SURE. WITH THE ENTIRETY BREADTH OF THE TRADE
SKILLS NUMBER. WE'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
THANK YOU. AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 3. MADAM CLERK.
PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: A RESOLUTION TO EXTEN AND AMEND COMPOSITION
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OH, SHOOT.
THERE'S NOBODY DOING IT, IT'S ME. SORRY, ALEX, I'M RUSTY.
SO THE INITIAL BOARD RESOLUTION, DECEMBER 17, THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2020 ESTABLISHED THE CURRENT 9 PERSON READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD THE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING PROVIDING I INPUT AND ADVISEMENT ON THE PROGRAM'S TARGET APPLICATIONS WHICH IS THE MAIN THING THAT OUR BOARD IS CHARGED WITH, ENSURING WE'RE ALIGNED WITH LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS, THE LEVEL OF WR WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS, TRAINING A I LINEMENT TO THOSE SKILLS MOST IN DEMAND FOR OUR LOCAL EMPLOYERS, AND PROVIDING FEEFEEDBACK ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
THE BOARD'S CURRENT TERM EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31, 2025.
SO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS T AMEND THE BOARD OF COMPOSITION AND EXTEND TO EXTEND THE TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2030, THE ORIGINAL TERM IN 2020 DECIDED THE BOARD WAS SUNSET DECEM DECEMBER 21, 2025, COINCIDING WITH THE END TAX COLLECTION WIT READY TO WORK AND PROVIDE ONE MORE SEAT FOR TRAINING PROVIDER AND HIGHER EDUCATION IN THAT CATEGORY AND ADD ONE SEAT TO TH
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NEW CATEGORY RESERVED FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERTISE AN EXPERIENCE IN SERVING INDI INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. CHANGE THE BOARD MEMBER TERM FROM 2 YEARS TO 4 YEARS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.SO THE PROPOSED BOARD COMPOSITION, LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND IN DEMAND OCCUPATIONS FOR SEATS. TWO SEATS FOR FORMER OR PREVIOUS OR CURRENT CITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, TRADE AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, ONE SEAT. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ONE SEAT.
TRAINING PROVIDER OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, ONE SEAT.
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING HIGH BARRIER POPULATIONS, ONE SEAT.
AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE A TYPO IN A SLIDE, BUT ALEX, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE'RE EXPANDING TO TWO TRAINING PROVIDER OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND ONLY ONE TRADE AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT CHART DISCREPANCY.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR EWC TO MOVE, THE RESOLUTION TO EXTEND AND AMEND THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR FULL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION SO WE CAN BEGIN DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I AM -- AFTER LOOKING OVER THE APPLICATIONS IN ATTENDANCE, MY CONCERN IS ATTENDANCE FOR BOARD MEMBERS. MY CONCERN IS IF YOU PUT THEM AT A FOUR-YEAR INSTEAD OF A TWO-YEAR TERM, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN IF THEY'RE NOT SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS, SO IF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, WILL IT BE THE AUTHORITY OF THIS BOARD TO THEN R REMOVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO ME MEETINGS? BECAUSE IT IS KEY, ESPECIALLY -- WE'RE ME MEETING HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR? THREE TIMES A YEAR OR -- QUARTERLY, OR HOW OFTEN
DOES THIS MEET? >> SIX TIMES PER YEAR EVERY OTHER MONTH.
>> VIAGRAN: OKAY. ATTENDANCE IS KEY, AND FROM WHAT I SAW AND READ REGARDING SOME OF THE APPLICATIONS IS ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR SOME. AND THAT IS -- THAT'S -- THAT'S WHERE I -- THIS EXTENSION FROM TWO TO FOUR, WHAT DO WE DO IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP FOR MEETINGS? AND IF THEY CONSISTENTLY MISS THREE MEETINGS IN A
ROW? THAT'S MORE THAN HALF. >> THAT IS CORRECT, IF THAT OCCURS, WE'LL WORK WITH OUR CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT THE ATTENDANCE PRIO PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE WOULD MOVE MOVE TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL REMOVED AND BRING THAT ACTION TO THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND THEN A NEW APP APPOINTMENT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED AND DONE AT THAT TIME.
>> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE THAT WASN'T DONE WITH SOME OF THE -- AND I KNOW THAT'S THE NEXT TOPIC, BUT THAT WASN'T DONE WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT MISSED THREE I A ROW BEFOREHAND, AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED -- I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EXTENDING IT, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE CONSISTENCY TO THIS. SO I WILL BE EXPECTING AT LEAST AFTER EVERY THREE MEETINGS AN UPDATE ON -- ACTUALLY, AFTER EVERY MEETING, I WANT A FORM THAT TELLS ME WHO'S NOT ATTENDING BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T FUNCTION IF THE BOARD IS NOT IN ATTENDANCE OF THAT, AND I SEE THAT HAPPENING WITH OTHER GROUPS AND BOARDS THAT I SERVE ON WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN ATTENDANCE, SO WE SPEND HALF THE NEXT MEETING TRYING TO CATCH UP PEOPLE THAT WERE ABSOLUTELABSENT, AND THAT'S PRO WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD IF WE'RE DOING THAT, AND TIME IS CRITICAL HERE. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT MY EXPECTATION IS THAT AFTER EACH ME MEETING I GET A LIST OF ATTENDANCE IN TERMS OF WHO'S SHOWING UP TO THE MEETING AND WHO HASN'T, AND THAT WE MOVE A LOT FASTER IF WE ARE NOT -- IF WE ARE NOT HAVING PEOPLE ATTEND THE ME MEETINGS BECAUSE WE NEED THAT REPRESENTATION, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE VERY INTERESTING AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS HERE. SO THAT'S -- THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE EXTENSION AND AMENDMENT. I DO THINK WE NEED MORE REPRESENTATION FROM THE TRADE PROVIDER, HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE WE GET SOME CONSISTENCY ON THE TRADE AND LABOR ORGANI ORGANIZATION'S SEAT IN ATTENDANCE. WITH THAT. DO ANY OF MY OTHER
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COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN CASTILLO.>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SPEAR WHO SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE TO GO OVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THE ADDITIONAL SEATS INCLUDED. I THINK HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND VOICES COULD HELP WITH ISSUES IN TERMS OF QUORUM. BUT I DO SHARE THE CONCERN OF ATTENDANCE AND IF WE COULD GET U UPDATES IN TERMS OF U UPDATES IF THERE AREN'T FOLKS SHOWING UP. I UNDERSTAND FOLKS HAVE COMMITMENTS TO ORGANIZATIONS THEY WORK FOR OR FAMILY BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE'RE CHECKING IN TO SEE HOW WE COULD BE FLEXIBLE BUT MAKING SURE WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATION THAT WAY FOLKS CAN MOVE THINGS FORWARD. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THE ADDITIONAL SLIDE FOR SERVING HIGH BARRIER POPULATIONS. WE KNOW THE UNITED STATES HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATES IN THE WORLD WITH 1 IN 3 AMERICANS HAVING A CRIMINAL RECORD. AND SPEAKING TO FOLKS AND PROVIDERS AND EMPLOYERS, RIGHT, THERE'S OFTEN A LOT OF BARRIERS, SO I THINK HAVING A VOICE IN TERMS OF SHARING WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE, HOW WE COULD BEST SERVE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE IMPACTFUL, NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, BUT I BELIEVE FOR THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF READY TO WORK. SO GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS READY TO WORK, MIKE AND YOUR TEAM HAVE FOSTERED WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS DOING THAT WORK, BUT ALSO NOW PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR THEM TO GIVE MORE INPUT IN TERMS OF HOW TO MOVE READY TO WORK FORWARD. SO JUST GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AND THEN ALSO TO SEE THE ADDITIONAL LABOR SEAT. WE KNOW THEY'VE PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE WITH POLICY HERE AT CITY HALL AND OF COURSE GI GIVING INPUT WITH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND SO MUCH MORE.
AND I THINK HAVING THESE STRONG VOICES AT THE TABLE WILL ONLY STRE STRENGTHEN READY TO WO WORK, SO THANK YOU, MI MIKE, AND THANK YOU TO
THE TEAM. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: ANY OTHER DISC
DISCUSSION? >> SPEARS: I JUST WANT TO AFFIR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNICATION WIL GO BETWEEN, AGAIN, A CONCERN ABOUT THE ATTENDANCE, MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS PARTICIPATING BECAUSE IT IS A COVETED SEAT AN WE HAVE A LOT OF APPLICANTS, SO WE WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVE AND INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AND WE WANT TO SEE RESULTS, AND, YEAH, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, IT WAS KIND OF FUN DOING THAT TOGETHER. SO, YEAH.
I LIKE THE NEW EXPANDING CATEGORIES, AND WE SAW SO MUCH INTEREST THAT WE HAD TO ADD THAT ONE SEAT THAT I THINK IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL IN MEETING QUORUM, BUT I JUSTED WANT TO AFFIRM WHAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS ALREADY
SAID. THANKS. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
ALEX, YOU WANTED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING. >> YES, I I WANTED TO CLARIFY -- MIKE MADE THE CLARIFICATION BEFORE THE PRESENTATION BUT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE MAKES ACTION, THE ADDITIONAL SEAT WOULD BE ADDED IN THE TRAINING PROVIDER OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION CATEGORY.
IT WAS A MISTAKE WE DIDN'T CATCH ON THE TRADE AND LABOR CHART ON
THE SLIDE, SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN GALVAN, ANY THOUGHTS? >> GALVAN: NOTHING TOO BIG.
THANK YOU OF COURSE FOR ALL THE WORKS AND OF COURSE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER AND LO LOOKING AT THIS WORK.
IS THERE ANY REASON THAT THE TRADES WON'T -- I KNOW OF COURSE IT WAS MAYBE A MISTAKE ON THE PRESENTATION, BUT ANY REASON THAT WE WANT TO KEEP THAT ONE AT ONE VERSUS ADDING AN ADDITIONAL ONE THERE?
OR FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THESE TWO? >> NO.
IT IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THIS COMMITTEE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, ONLY THING I THINK THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IS KE KEEPING A BALANCE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SO TH THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN ODD NUMBER, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY RESTRICTING THAT.
CHRISTINA? NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER, WHAT I WOULD ALSO SHARE IS THE PERSPECTIVE THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THE BOARD WAS BEING CREATED THAT WE INCLUDE THE VOICE OF EMPLOYERS VERY STRONGLY. SO THEY STILL HAVE FOUR SEATS, I BELIEVE, OUT OF THIS. BUT THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATION OR TO PROVIDE THAT REPRESENTATION, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE A STRONG VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY HIRING SOME OF
OUR PARTICIPANTS. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THINK THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 4. ITEM 4 -- OH, ITEM 4 IS THE INTERVIEWS FOR AT LARGE APPLICATIONS FOR THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD. IS THERE A STAFF PRESENTATION?
>> YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING, DEBBIE REPURACK IS A SITTER.
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CITY CLERK. GOOD MORNING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD.I THINK YOU HAVE GOTTEN A BRIEFING FROM RANDY THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD THERE ARE 11 MEMBERS REPRESENTING LOCAL EMPLOYERS, TRADE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TRAINING PROVIDERS, HI HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND ALSO TWO LIAISONS OF THE COUNCIL STILL TO BE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.
EACH MEMBER IS APPOINT TOAD A TWO-YEAR TERM R RUNNING CONCURRENTLY WITH THE COUNCIL TERMS. WE HAD A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS OUTREACH PROCESS THAT THE CITY CLERK OPENED ON MARCH 1. THE COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT HELPED UP WITH WEB PO POSTING, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS, AND TVSA. WE HAD A SPECIAL TEXT MESSAGE THAT WAS ALSO SENT OUT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO APPLY. 30 APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE OF SEPTEM SEPTEMBER 22.
AND WE HAD A VETTING BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE APPRECIATE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S WORK IN V VETTING THOSE APPLICATIONS.
OUT OF THE 33 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED, 25 WERE ELIGIBLE. CHAIR VIAGRAN CREATED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE CONSISTENTING OF COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND SPEARS, AND THEY SHORT LISTED THOSE APPLICANTS DOWN TO THE SHORT LIST THAT YOU SEE TODAY. AND TODAY, YOU'LL BE INTERVIEWING THE SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES. AURA HAS BROUGHT AROUND THE SCRIPT, WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE QUESTIONS AND THE NAMES OF THE APPLICANTS AS WELL FOR YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE -- TO INTERVIEWS.
SO ONCE THIS COMMITTEE SELECTS ITS BOARD MEM MEMBERS, IT WOULD GO TO CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL NOTIFY THE BOARD MEMBER AND BOARD LIAISON THE DAY AFTER THAT IS A APPROVED.
WE'LL COORDINATE A SW SWEARING IN. WE'LL ASK THEM TO FILL OUT A FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT. AND ASK THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, THAT'S AN ONLINE TRAINING THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO TA TAKE.
THAT TRAINING DOES INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT ATTENDANCE AS WE WELL, SO HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE TO WATCH THAT WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF BEING APPOINTED. AND THE BOARD MEMBER THEN BEGINS SERVING ON THE BOARD FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR TERM UNTIL THEY'RE REMOVED OR REPLACED. WE HAVE THESE APPLICATIONS TO BE IN INTERVIEWED. I WANT TO NOTE THAT SINCE THIS MORNING, EARLY THIS MORNING, WE GOT A WITHDRAWAL FROM GILBERT MARTINEZ AND THE TRAINING ADVISER HIGHER ED SEAT, SO IF YOU CAN STRIKE HIM FROM THE LI LIST, HE WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERVIEWS, HE WILL NOT BE PART OF THE SELE SELECTIONS. SO THE WAY THINGS WILL RUN TODAY IS THE APPLICANT WILL GIVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. IF THEY CANNOT ATTEND, A WRITTEN STATEMENT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED, AND WE HAVE THOSE LISTED, THE OONES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ALREADY. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A COPY.
DO WE HAVE COPIES OF THE WRITTEN STATEMENT FOR EVERYONE? OKAY. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE WRITTEN STATEMENTS. AND THEN ONCE ALL THE INTERVIEWS ARE COMP COMPLETED, THE COMMITTEE WILL BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE, NO FORMAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN CHAIR VIAGRAN WILL RECONVENE THE COMMITTEE BACK, AND WE'LL HO HOPEFULLY HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE SOME FOLKS TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND THEN CITY CLERK WILL TAKE THAT TO CITY COUNCIL.
IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, AND CHAIR VIAGRAN IS VERY, VERY USED TO HOW THIS PROCESS GOES, AND IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF MAKING THIS GO SMOOTHLY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, DEBBIE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE INTERVIEWS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE APPLICANTS FOR THEIR INTEREST IN SE SERVING ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD. THED A VIE RI BOARD PL PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM CONTINUES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH OUR RESIDENTS AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS. THE INSIGHTS AND GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY BOARD MEMBERS HELP SHAPE HOW WE CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND MEA MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT.
TODAY'S INTERVIEWS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMITTEE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. WE ALL GOT YOUR RÉSUMÉS, YOUR IDEAS, AND PASSIONS FOR THIS WORK, WE APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU'VE TAKEN TO BE HERE
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AND YOUR DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DES DESIRED INITIATIVE.EACH APPLICANT HAS TW TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS AND TWO MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. LET'S BEGIN WITH THE FIRST APPLICANT AND THE REST WILL LEAVE THE ROOM SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE INTERVIEWS.
OUR FIRST APPLICANT IS ALEXANDRA FETES. >> CHAIR, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AMANDA AND ANTHONY ARE HERE, SO YOU CAN CHECK THEM OFF ON
YOUR LIST. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. GREAT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> VIAGRAN: GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS ALL FORMAL ALEXANDRA. ALLEY.
IT'S MY FORMAL GOVERNMENT NAME, I BARELY RECOGNIZE MYSELF.
>> VIAGRAN: YOU HAVE TWO MINUTE FOR OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO TWO FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. >> GREAT. THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE. I WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.
I'M A NATIVE TO SAN ANTONIO, I'VE LIVED HERE MOST OF MY LIFE.
WENT TO NEW YORK FOR COLLEGE, CAME BACK BECAUSE I DID NOT LIKE THE COLD WINTERS. I COME WITH 15 YEARS OF INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE.
BECOMING LICENSED IN PLUMBING AND HVAC TO MANAGE TEAMS OF MEN AND FOUND A NEED FOR REC RECRUITMENT OF ORGA ORGANIZES.
SO I STARTED AN ORGANIZATION, TEXAS WOMEN IN TRADES OR WORK TO BRING MORE YOUNG WOMEN INTO SKILLED CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
AS A BOARD MEMBER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I'M HIGHLY INVOLVED.
I'M ALSO A STICKLER FOR ATTENDANCE, SO I DID MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT OUR SUBCOMMITTEE GROUPS BE JOINED BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GETTING THE ATTENDANCE WE NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE. THAT MOTION DID PASS, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT, WHICH IS GREAT. I HAVE PERFECT OR NEAR PERFECT ATTENDANCE, NOT TO BRAG, BUT IT IS A PRIORITY FOR ME.
ADDITIONALLY, I'VE WORKED WITH READY TO WORK ON A BEVY OF EVENTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BACK AND FORTH I'VE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER, PLANNED READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD EVENTS, AND FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION, ENERGY, AND MANUFACTURING, ON FRIDAY, HELPED TO CONVENE A UNION TRADES, INTAKE MANAGERS, SO IN THE SKILLED TRADES, AND WE'VE DONE SOME APPRENTICESHIP WEEKS AS WELL. I'VE ALSO BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PLANNING SOME COHORTS WITH CPS AND SAWS.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN EASY, BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE. I TRY TO BE AS ACTIVE AS I CAN. I'M SURE I ANNOY THEM BUT IT'S WITH THE BEST SEE THIS PROGRAM AND THE PARTICIPANTS BREAK THROUGH THE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES THAT THEY'VE FACED FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES.
THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AROUND AND, COUNCIL -- COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS OF ALL CANDIDATES, BUT IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN.
NO? DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OKAY.
>> SPEARS: WHAT STRATEGIES WOUL YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND MOTIVATE LOCAL EMP EMPLOYERS TO HIRE PROGRAM GRADUATES.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK -- IS PROBABLY KEY. I HAVE WORKED AND COLLABORATED CLOSELY WITH THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT AT READY TO WORK ABOUT POTENTIAL CAMPAIGNS, HOW TO MAKE IT APPEALING, PARTI PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION, I THINK WE THINK OF THOSE AS DIRTY JOBS, INCO INCORRECTLY. THEY ARE HIGH WAGE JOBS WITH LOTS OF ACCESS TO HIGH LEVEL, HIGH WAGE CAREERS. SO I THINK JUST, YOU KNOW, KEEPING IT VERY SIMPLE, BUT ACTIVELY ENGAGING, PARTICULARLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IS KEY.
I USED TO BE A CONTRACTOR FOR 15 YEARS, SO FORTUNATELY AND UNFORTUNATELY I SPEAK CONTRACTOR, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE THERE OWN WORST ENEMY, OFTEN COMPLAIN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SKILLED WORKFORCE BUT DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO THAT CHALLENGE OR PROBLEM SO GOING TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE IS KEY, ASKING EMPLOYERS TO DO MORE THAN WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING AND RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS, THAT'S A HIGH, LOFTY ASK. BUT MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT THEIR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, AT THEIR GOLF TOURNAMENTS AND THEIR SKI SHOOTING, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THAT MESSAGE TO WHERE THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF ENSURING THAT THE EMPLOYERS ARE CONTINUING TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND STAY ENGAGED.
>> CASTILLO: ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES FACING OUR LOCAL WORK FORCE TODAY
AND HOW SHOULD READY TO WORK HELP ADDRESS THEM? >> I THINK THAT THE BARRIERS, THE OBSTACLES AND BARRIERS, I TOO WAS PLEASED TO HERE THERE
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WAS A SEAT OPENING UP FOR THAT. I THINK THAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL WANT TO WORK. I THINK THERE ARE SOME, AGAIN, SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM DOING THAT, SO HAVING ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE THOSE SER SERVICES ARE REALLY KEY TO MAKING SURE THAT WE REDUCE ALL THE BARRIERS SO THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE WORKING. SOMETIMES IT'S AS SIMPLE AS NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, THE FACT THAT READY TO WORK IS THERE TO SUPPLY THOSE DOLLARS AND NOW WE HAVE A WORKER IN OUR SAN ANTONIO SYSTEM I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY COOL AND PIVOTAL. SO I'M A LITTLE SICK TODAY.I HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, ALI, AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES TO CL CLOSE.
>> OH, I HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES? >> VIAGRAN: YES, TO CLOSE.
OH, MAN, TERI, I LOVED WHAT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER, I'D LOVE TO MAYBE CONNECT ON THAT ABOUT HAVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILLED WORKERS. DID ANYONE ENCOUNTER CONSTRUCTION ON THE WAY TO WORK TODAY? WE ALL DID, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A DIVIDE AND GAP, SO I THINK WITH HAVING PROGRAMS LIKE READY TO WORK THAT PAY FOR THAT TRAINING, HAVING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IS SO KEY.
THIS PROGRAM HAS TO WO WORK. I THINK NATIONALLY, WE'VE MADE AN IMPRE IMPRESSION, A POSITIVE IMPRESSION THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS COULD EVEN BE PROPOSED IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS, BUT NOT JUST FOR OUR -- THE IMPRESSION OF OUR CITY OR THE PROGRAM, BUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE. I THINK OF THE WOMEN PARTICULARLY, THE SINGLE MOTHERS, IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO CHANGE HER LI LIFE, IT CHANGES HER K KID'S LIVES, AND THEIR KIDS, AND I GET GOOSEBUMPS THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT THE PROGRAM. SO THIS PROGRAM HAS TO WORK, AND I'M COMMITTED, AS I'M SURE YOU ARE TO SEEING THAT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN STEP OUT, AND WE WILL BRING IN ANTHONY GARCIA. ALL RIGHT.
WELCOME, ANTHONY, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DO AN INTRO, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE. ALL RIGHT.
SO THE TIME IS YOURS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ANTHONY GARCIA.
MY BACKGROUND, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME, I RECENTLY RELOCATED TO SAN ANTONIO JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO. I WAS BORN HERE, BUT I COME FROM A MILITARY FAMILY, SO THAT LED ME TO MOVE ALL OVER. BUT I'VE REALLY MADE SAN ANTONIO MY HOME. FIRST, I WAS A PARTICIPANT, AND I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. I ALSO ACTUALLY WORK FOR THE CONTRACT TOR FOR WORK FOR SOLUTIONS AL ALAMO, AND I'M THE RECRUITER FOR WORK FORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO AND THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.
ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO SEE THIS PROGRAM SUC SUCCEED, AND I WANT TO USE MY UNIQUE INSIGHT, THE EXPENS EXPERIENCE I HAVE AS A PARTICIPANT AND RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE ACROSS TRAINING PRO PROVIDERS, EMPLOYERS,
AND ALL THE PARTNERS AND THE CONSORTIUM. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS.
>> SPEARS: THANK YOU. WHAT STRATEGIES WOULD YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND TO MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS
TO HIRE PROGRAM GRAD GRADUATES. >> YES.
ONE STRATEGY I TRULY BELIEVE IN IS GRASS GRASSROOTS.
SO MEETING A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE AT. GOING DEEPER INTO A COMMUNITY, INTO THESE PUBLIC SPACES, SUCH AS LIBRARIES, REALLY GOING INTO THESE ORGANIZATIONS ISSUES SUCH AS GOODWILL THAT IS COMING ON BOARD WITH READY TO WORK, UTILIZING OUR CENTERS MORE EFFECTIVELY, BUT ALSO YOUR COFFEE SHOPS, YOUR LOCAL STAPLES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
MAYBE EVENTS AND HEM US SPHERE. A LOT OF OUTREACH, BUT TRULY GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY TO MEET WITH THESE PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO US. NOW, TO ENGAGE EMPL EMPLOYERS, I THINK IT REALLY -- IT'S FEEDBACK BASED.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LO LOOKING FOR, WHAT CREDENTIALS, WHAT EXPERIENCE, AND WE NEED TO USE OUR TRAINING PROVIDERS THAT ARE IN THIS PROGRAM TO ADJUST CURRICULUMS OR TO CORRECT OR TO ADD AS WELL. IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR X, Y, Z EXPERIENCE, WE SHOULD LEAN ON THE TRAINING PROVIDERS THAT
[00:30:05]
ARE FORWARD IN PUBLIC FACING IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING THAT EXPERIENCE TO THESE STUDENTS, TO BETTERCONNECT WITH THE EMPLOYERS. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES FACING OUR LOCAL WORK FORCE ULD READY TO WORK HELP ADDRESS THEM?
>> YES. SO I THINK THAT GOES BACK JUST TO THE EXPERIENCE THAT EMPL EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR AND THE CREDENTIALS.
I THINK IT STEMS FROM ACCESS TO INFORMATION. SO THE MORE WE CAN EDUCATE LOCAL CITIZENS IN ALL 10 DISTRICTS, THE MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, THE EAS EASIER -- THE BARRIER TO ENTRY IS LOWER, AND WE CAN SEE ENGAGEMENT. I FEEL WHEN PEOPLE ARE INFORMED, THEY MAKE GREAT DECISIONS, AND IF WE COULD JUST PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION MORE CONCISELY, MORE UNDERSTANDABLY, I THINK PEOPLE WILL GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE PROGRAM, B BUT, AGAIN, IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT HAS -- IT'S A MORE
PROACTIVE APPROACH INSTEAD OF PASSIVE. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT.
AND YOU'VE GOT A MINUTE, TOO, TO JUST WRAP UP. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO
SHARE WITH US. >> YES. ULTIMATELY, I -- LIKE I MENTIONED, I'M A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM, I'M ALSO EMP EMPLOYED BY THE PROGRAM, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE, AND I WANT TO BE A CHAMPION, I JUST REALLY THINK IT TAKES A MORE ACTIVE APPROACH AND GET MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND JUST REALLY, REALLY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. AND THAT JUST LEANING ON ALL OF OUR LOCAL SPACES THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS TO PROVIDE, THE LOCAL SP SPACES WHERE OUR COMMUNITY GRAVITATES TO, AND JUST CONNECTING IT. BUT BRINGING EVERYBODY INTO THE SAME ROOM; ULTIMATELY, PARTIC PARTICIPANTS, EMPLOYERS, AND TRAINING PROVIDERS, WHEN WE CAN BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER, WE CAN EXPECT THAT CONNECTION, AND IT REALLY JUST -- IT LOWERS THE BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR PARTICIPANTS. BUT THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
YES, WE'LL BRING IN THE NEXT PERSON. THANK YOU, ANTHONY.
>> THANK YOU, ALL FOR YOUR TIME. >> CHAIR, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT BENJAMIN PE, VY DID ARRIVE.
>> VIAGRAN: SO JERRY GRAVER GAV US A STATEMENT. NEXT WOULD BE AMANDA
WRIGHT. >> GOOD MORNING. >> VIAGRAN: GOOD MORNING.
AMANDA, YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND
THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WRAP UP. >> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AMANDA WRI WRIGHT. I'VE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 2019, 20 2018, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE YA'LL TO KNOW I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD SINCE ABOUT 2023, ON THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THEN BECAME THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNICATIONS BOARD AS WELL.
MY BIGGEST ROLE IN THE BOARD THAT I HAVE REALLY STROVE FOR IS TO BE THE VOICE OF THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE. I HAVE ACTUALLY WALKED IN THE SHOES OF THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ONLY HOMELESS, BUT JOBLESS, I WENT THROUGH YA'LL'S PROGRAM BACK IN 2020 DURING COVID AND WAS ONE OF THE FEW THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT AND ACTUALLY USED IT.
I GOT MY CERTIFICATION IN BOOKKEEPING AND ACCOUNTING AND QUICK BOOKS AND WENT ON AND HAVE THE JOB THAT I HAVE TODAY AS AN ASSISTANT MANAGER FOR HR AND ACCOUNTING WITH WIN CO OF SOUTH TEXAS.
WITH ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE THROUGH ALL OF THAT, I ALSO WAS STAFF MEMBER AND HOUSE MOM OF A HOMELESS SHELTER HERE IN TOWN, LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTER THAT I DEDICATED MY TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AND HE HELPING THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND RECOVERING FROM ADDICTION TO GET BACK UP ON THEIR FEET.
ALONG WITH THAT, WE SET UP A PROGRAM WITH CPS WITH MOTHERS TRYING TO GAIN CUSTODY OF THEIR KIDS BACK, AND I ACTUALLY WALKED THROUGH THE PROGRAM MYSELF AND HELPED DEVELOP IT THROUGH STRONG FOUNDATION MINISTRIES, AND SO I HELPED DEVELOP A PRETTY DECENT PROGRAM OF HELPING THE MOTHERS HAND AND HAND, AND NOT ONLY REBUILDING THEIR LIVES, THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HOW TO BE A MOTHER ON THEIR OWN. AS A SINGLE MOM MYSELF, IT'S -- I FIND -- IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND A CAREER THAT SUPPORTS YOU BEING A SINGLE MOM AND
[00:35:01]
PAYS WELL ENOUGH. SO THIS BOARD AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO REALLY HITS HOME FOR ME. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF AMAZING PEOPLE THROUGH ALL THE 501C INTERACTIONS I'VE GAINED OVER THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT WORK AND CONTINUE BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. LIKE I SAID, I ADMIRE THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS DONE IN PLACING THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE, AND I'M VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF THE BOARD AND TOED A ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE DEMOGRAPHIC IN THIS PROGRAM.>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS AS A QUESTION.
>> SPEARS: THANK YOU. WHAT STRATEGIES WOULD YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RED DENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND TO MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS
TO HIRE PROGRAM GRAD GRADUATES? >> STRATEGIES TO GET
LOCAL RESIDENTS? >> SPEARS: TO HAVE MORE RESIDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND THEN MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO HIRE PROGRAM GRADUATES.
>> I'M GOING TO BE BLUNT AND HONEST, I'M KNOWN FOR THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT FALLS ON THE RESIDENTS AS MUCH AT THIS POINT AS OPPOSED TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WHO'S OVER THIS PROGRAM AND THE VOICE OF THE PR THAT GETS OUT. WE HAVE TO GAIN THE TRUST OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE TRUST OF THE EMPLOYERS ON BOTH ENDS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE PROGRAM INTO THE SUCCESS THAT WE HAVE STARTED. TRUST IS A BIG FACTOR, NOT ONLY WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE COMING IN.
IF THEY HEAR WORD OR WIND OF THIS PROGRAM IS NOT LIVING UP TO WHAT THEY SAY THEY DO, THAT DEMOLISHES THE TRUST FACTOR RIGHT THERE.
SO LESS RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO ENROLL. ON THE BACK END WITH THE EMPLOYERS, IF THEY ARE ALSO HEARING NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, IT DISCREDITS THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE TO WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO ACTUALLY GET INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM. WHY WOULD THEY? SO I BELIEVE THE STRATEGIES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN ARE ON THE INSIDE OUT, AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO ENROLL AND MORE EMPLOYERS TO ENGAGE. IT WOULD BE BUILDING THE TRUST AND TURNING OUR PR AND OUR WORDS THAT WE SAY TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM INTO A POSITIVE INFLUENCE INSTEAD OF NEGATIVE AND BASHING EACH OTHER AND FINGER POINTING. THAT'S COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS IF SOMEBODY SEES A PROBLEM AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE QUESTION REGARDING PARTICIPANTS. WHAT PARTICIPANT SUPPORT SERVICES DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE ENHANCED WITHIN THE SA READY TO WORK TO IMPROVE PARTICIPANT PARTICIPATION AND PROGRAM SUCCESS?
>> AGAIN, THIS IS MORE INTERNAL THAN IT IS WHAT THE PROGRAM ITSELF CAN DO. IT GOES BACK TO CHILD CARE FOR MOTHERS.
YES, WE HAVE CCDS, AND YES WE HAVE A LOT OF AMOUNT OF FUNDS SET ASIDE TO HELP WITH DAY CARE SERVICES, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DAY CARE SLOTS. SO IT GOES BACK TO THE CITY AS TO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO CREATE MORE DAY CARES AND CHILD CARE SERVICES THAT ACCEPT C CCDS AND THOSE FUNDS AND HAVE THE PLACES TO E ENROLL THE KIDS SO THAT MOTHERS CAN ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS AND FAT FATHERS TOO, OF COURSE, BUT IT IS MORE OF AN INTERNAL THING OF WE HAVE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH PROVIDING THE SPOTS FOR THOSE KIDS AS OPPOSED TO THE FUNDS AND THAT PROGRAM ACTUALLY BEING THERE. IT'S THERE.
THE FUNDS ARE THERE. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO USE IT
BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE TO PUT THE KIDS. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU -- ONE MINUTE, JUST IF YOU WANT TO SUM UP ANYTHING YOU HADN'T SHARED THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US.
>> JUST THAT I ABSOLUTELY AM BLESSED AND LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD. THE PEOPLE I SERVE WERE AMAZING.
HIGHLY DIVERSE, INTELLIGENCE, EVERYBODY THINKS OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WHEN THERE'S PRO PROBLEMS, EVERYBODY IS SO RESPECTFUL TO JUST WORK TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH CREATIVE IDEAS TO THEN BRING TO CITY COUNCIL OR ANYBODY ELSE IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO, AND I REALLY AM JUST ENJOYING THE FACT THAT I CAN BE ONE OF THOSE VOICES AS ONE OF
[00:40:02]
THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAS WALKED IN THE SHOES OF PEOPLE WE HAVE TRIED TOHELP IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THE NEXT PERSON THAT'S HERE IS BENJAMIN PEEVY. THERE ARE TWO WRITTEN STATEMENTS FOR JENNIFER KA KANTU AND STEPHANIE GAINS IN YA'LL'S PA PACKET.
HI, BENJAMIN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DO YOUR OPENING, AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS FOR YOU, AND THEN YOU CAN CLOSE. >> GOOD.
THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: TIME IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND REPRESENT SA READY TO WORK.
I'VE BEEN AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE READY TO WORK BOARD FROM THE BEGINNING. MY NAME IS BEN PEEVY I'M A MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH ACCENTURE, BEEN WITH THEM FOR 30 YEARS. I GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO. AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION.
WITH THIS PROGRAM, I JUST WANTED TO START WITH GRATITUDE.
THIS PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LOVE SAN ANTONIO SO MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS SET UP TO HELP THE MOST NEEDY AND UNDER-SERVED CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES AND TURMOIL, AND SAN ANTONIO PEOPLE STEPPED UP.
A QUICK QUOTE FROM BILL GAITS, MOST PEOPLE OV OVERESTIMATE WHAT THEY CAN DO IN ONE YEAR AND UNDERESTIMATE WHAT THEY CAN DO IN TEN.
I REALLY FEEL THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK IN FIVE AND TEN YEARS AND SAY, "WOAH" THIS PROGRAM HAS HAD AN IMPACT TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING PROVIDERS, THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE TODAY, BUT IT'S HAPPENING. I GET TO SEE IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, AN EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE, BUT GETTING TO WORK, BE WITH CITY STAFF, THE TRAINING PROVIDERS, THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDERS.
I KNOW HOW MUCH THEY CARE, AND WE GET TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND BEING I IMPACTED.
IT'S INCREDIBLE. I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW THE STATS ABOUT READY TO WORK. WE JUST PASSED 3,000 PEOPLE GETTING AN A APPROVED JOB LAST WEEK, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO AT THIS PROGRAM, WHICH, AGAIN, WHEN IT STARTED, STARTED FROM SCRATCH. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROVIDERS OR WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDERS TO BEGIN WITH, SO IT TOOK TIME TO RAMP UP, BUT WE WANTED TO DO IT AT SC SCALE, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE STILL FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST, AND WE'VE DONE
THAT. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS.
>> SPEARS: THANK YOU. WHAT STRATEGIES WOULD YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND TO MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS
TO HIRE PROGRAM GRAD GRADUATES? >> GREAT.
ONE THING I WOULD SAY JUST OVERALL, THE STRATEGY I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WITH THIS PROGRAM IS PRETTY MUCH EVERY BUSINESS PERSON I SPEAK TO OR A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE STREET THAT ARE AREN'T -- IS INVOLVED ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, MAN, THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, WHY IS IT STRUGGLING, WHY ISN'T IT DOING THAT WELL? AND I ALWAYS COME BACK TO I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COUNCIL, AS PEOPLE ON OUR BOARD TO BE THE BEST ADVOCATES OF THIS BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER CITIES WOULD DIE FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE -- WE'RE LETTING LAGGING INDICATORS DRIVE THE NARRATIVE OF THIS PROGRAM, AND WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? THE BIG THING THAT WE KEEP GETTING BEAT UP ON IS WE'RE AT 59% FOR PEOPLE GETTING A JOB IN 6 MONTHS. TRUE.
IT'S FACTS. ONE OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES WAS TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS. BUT ALSO, WE'RE -- WE ALSO HAVE STATS OUT THERE THAT SAYS 3,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING A JOB, AND THEY'RE MA MAKING $44,000 IN THEIR ORIGINAL JOB THAT THEY GET AFTER THEY GRADUATE, AND THEY INCREASE THEIR SALARY BY $33,000.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS THAT WE DIDN'T GET PEOPLE A JOB IN 6 MONTHS WHEN A LOT OF HIGHER ED INSTI INSTITUTIONS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THEMSELVES DON'T MEET THAT, AND WE'RE, AGAIN, SERVING THE MOST HARD TO SERVE.
SO, AGAIN, IT'S HOW WE TELL THE NARRATIVE, AND WE -- AND I DON'T DEAL WITH THIS EVERY DAY. THIS ISN'T MY MAIN JOB. CITY STAFF AND THE TRAINING PROVIDERS THAT DEAL WITH THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY ARE DOING I INCREDIBLE WORK, GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, AND THEN EVERY WEEK PRETTY MUCH GETTING BEAT UP, WHY ISN'T THE PROGRAM BETTER?
[00:45:04]
THAT'S REALLY HARD. SO WHEN YOU'RE -- I'M GOING BACK TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ALL OF THESE SERVICES AND TRAINING AND WR WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, BUT THEN THEN STILL THE NARRATIVE, IT'S A TROUBLED PROGRAM.IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES TO SAY, WELL, LET'S MOVE IN. AND EVEN SAYING THAT, WE'VE HAD OVER 1,000 PEOPLE HIRE AT LEAST ONE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANT.
IMAGINE HOW MUCH MORE MOMENTUM WOULD WE HAVE IF WE WERE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM THE WAY WE SHOULD.
AND THEN THAT WOULD B BE -- BUILD MOMENTUM TO HAVING EVEN MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS GO. BUT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS WE'RE SUP SUPPORTING ARE WORD OF MOUTH. SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AND A COUPLE OF THEM, WOMEN, ARE SAYING, WELL, MY KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH READY TO WORK NOW, AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A TRAINING BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT.
SO THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT THIS PROGRAM IS DOING, AND IT'S SO WONDERFUL. I JUST STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S SO MUCH NEGATIVE PRESS, STILL, ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT IT IS.
CAN IT BE BETTER? NO DOUBT. IS 80% TARGET FOR 6 MONTHS A GREAT KPI? YES, IT'S A GREAT ASPIRATIONAL, BUT TO ME, IT DOESN'T JUDGE, IS THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, BENJAMIN. SO MY QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES FACING OUR LOCAL WORK FORCE TODAY ARE?
AND HOW SHOULD READY TO WORK HELP ADDRESS THEM? >> IT -- SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES ARE THE WORK FORCE ENVIRONMENT CHANGES SO QUICKLY. AND I REPRESENT IT. I'M FROM THE IT AREA, AND I CAN TELL YOU, EVERY SIX MONTHS, THERE'S MAJOR NEW CHA CHANGES FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE, SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS IT IS FLEXIBLE AND WE CAN MAKE CHCHANGES AND FOCUS ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAINING PROVIDERS OR ASPECTS. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD THAT THAT REMAINS. PART OF THE ADVISORY BOARD'S MISSION IS TO HELP MAKE SURE ARE WE FOCUSING ON THE RIGHT TRAINING THAT'S GOING TO BE IN DEMAND FOR THE COUNTRY'S HIRING.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH GENAI. THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT AT LEAST 80% OF THE JOBS IN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS; RIGHT? WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR TRAINING PROVIDERS TO ADJUST YOUR CURRICULUM, CHANGE AND ADD TRAINING WHERE IT'S NEEDED, BUT TO ME, JOBS AREN'T GOING AWAY, THEY'RE CHANGING, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE SET UP TO D DO.
>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
YOU'VE GOT A MINUTE TO JUST WRAP UP. >> OH I'M -- SO I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. I WOULD SAY I'VE BEEN HONORED TO BE ON THE BOARD SINCE THE BE BEGINNING AND BEING THE BOARD CHAIR FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I WORK WITH E EXTEN SURE, I APPRECIATE EXTENSURE, IT'S BUS I GREW UP HERE, IT'S BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF THE KIDS THAT I GREW UP WITH COULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO GIVE THEM THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED, TO GET THE JOBS THEY NEED, AND THIS IS WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES, AND IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT MIND-SET OF BEING BOLD AND COURAGEOUS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS, EVEN WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE OBSTACLES WE HIT SOMETIMES, IT'S WORTH I IT. IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BRING MARÍA IN. HI, MARÍA.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DO SO YOUR INTRO, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND
THEN YOU CAN WRAP UP WITH CLOSING REMARKS. >> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY. MY NAME IS MARÍA HEMINA, AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR WORK FORCE STRATEGY AND METHOD FOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. LIABILITY ABOUT ME, I WAS BORN IN MEXICO, AND I'VE PROUDLY CALLED SAN ANTONIO HOME FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT 9.
I'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FAMILY THAT HAS ALWAYS PUSHED ME TO KEEP LEARNING AND NEVER LOSE SITE OF THE POWER OF EDUCATION.
MY FATHER GREW UP OUTSIDE A SMALL BEACH TOWN IN A HOME WITH DIRT FLOORS AND NO R
[00:50:01]
RUNNING WATER. TAKING A SHOWER WAS ALLOCATION WRITE.MY GRANDMOTHER WORKED SAVING EVERY BIT SHE COULD, AND THROUGH HER SACRIFICES MY DAD WAS ABLE TO ATTEND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT JUST 16. THAT CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF HIS LIFE. AND OF COURSE MINE. MY PARENTS INSTEAD TO ME AND MY BROTHER THAT EDUCATION IS THE BRIDGE OUT OF THE POVERTY AND THAT HARD WORK CAN TRANSFORM THE FUTURE. I GRADUATED COLLEGE IN TWINE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION WITH A DEAL IN ECONOMICS. LIKE MANY GRADUATES, I TOOK THE ONLY JOB AVAILABLE, AT THAT TIME THAT WAS AS AN ASSISTANT MANAGER AT WALGREENS.
I KNEW I WANTED TO DO MORE AND -- EXCUSE ME -- BUT I KNEW I WANTED TO DO WORK THAT MADE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE, SO I WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL FULL TIME, JUGGLING PART TIME WORK AND MANY STUDENT LOANS IN ORDER TO GET INTO MY DREAM INDUSTRY AND ROLE, IT WASN'T EASY. AND I KNOW FOR MANY ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S EVEN HARDER WHEN YOU'RE RAISING KIDS AND CAN'T PAUSE YOUR LIFE AND START OFF. THAT'S WHY I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING REAL PATH A AYES IN HEALTHCARE. THIS FIELD IS ONE OF THE MOST PROVEN WAYS TO LIFT FAMILIES INTO STABILITY AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS. IT WILL END CYCLES OF IN INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY. AT SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND WITH READY TO WORK, WE'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROVIDERS.
OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BUILD INNOVATIVE WORK FORCE PIPELINES THAT MEET NOT JUST OUR NEEDS, BUT THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, WITH ALAMO COL COLLEGES, WE HAVE BUILT 4 PIPELINES AT METHODIST IN THE ALMOST 3 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN THIS REEL. IF I'M GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD I'LL FOCUS ON BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE JOB PL PLACEMENT TRULY STARTS AT E ENROLLMENT. THE EARLIER WE CONNECT TRAINING PROGRAMS TO TRAINING NEEDS, THE STRONGER OUTCOMES WILL BE FOR EVERYONE, FOR JOB SEEKERS, EMPLOYERS AND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
TOGETHER WE CAN STRENGTHEN READY TO WORK AND MAKE SURE IT OPENS MORE DOORS, ENS
ENSURING PARTICIPANTS FIND WORK HERE AT HOME. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU. YOU STARTED TO TOUCH ON IT, WHAT STRATEGIES WOULD YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND TO MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO HIRE
PROGRAM GRADUATES. >> I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THATOUTLIZING OUR ACADEMIC PARTNERS AND HELPING TO INFLUENCE STUDENTS AS THEY'RE ENTERING INTO TRAINING PROGRAMS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE UTILIZED THE STRATEGY AT METHIST. WE WORK WITH THE MAJORITY OF PROVIDERS ON THE HEALTHCARE SIDE AND PLOY A CAREER NAVIGATOR.
I WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO REPLICATE A MODEL LIKE THAT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO STUDENTS AND PERSPECTIVE STUDENTS. WE ALSO WOULD HAVE A LOT OF CAREER FAIRS AND INFORMATIONAL FAIRS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE AND DISCUSS THE OPPORTUNITIES.
PERSONALLY, AT METH METHODIST, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS WE HOST FAIRS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM READY TO WORK THAT COMES, SO WE INVITE THEM OVER TO DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES IF THEY'RE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. SO I THINK A LOT OF IT IS JUST REALLY HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT, HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO PERSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND CURRENT STUDENTS AND THEN REALLY IDENTIFY CAREER PATHWAYS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE IN THEIR
JOURNEY. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. SO YOU -- YOU MENTIONED METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES, AND THEIR -- HOW THEY'RE UTILIZING SA READY TO WORK. SO MY QUESTION, HOW WILL YOU ENCOURAGE OTHER
EMPLOYERS TO DO SO AS WELL? >> I WOULD PROBABLY UTILIZE THINGS LIKE THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SOME OF THEIR COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES TO PROBABLY DISCUSS SOME OF THE SUCCESSES THAT WE'VE H HAD. AGAIN, A LOT OF IT I THINK HAS JUST BEEN THE SUCCESSES OF THE PRO PROGRAMS, MAYBE UTI UTILIZING SOME SUCCESS STORIES AND DISCUSSING HOW THAT'S ALSO A RETENTION PLAY FOR THE INDUSTRY. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AND REALLY CAREER PATHING, SO YOU'RE STARTING IN ONE PLACE AND UTILIZING READY TO WORK TO GET TO THAT ONE PLACE AND THEN AS THE EMPLOYER YOU CAN CONTINUE ON. BUT REALLY KIND OF HAVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE OTHER EMPLOYERS THROUGH THINGS LIKE CHAMBER ME MEETINGS WHERE WE CAN KIND OF CHAIR THESE
SUCCESSES. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO
WRAP UP, ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? >> AS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER, WE WOULD JUST BE EXTREMELY HONORED TO SERVE AND BE ABLE TO
[00:55:04]
HAVE A VOICE IN THIS. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO AMPLIFY THOSE SUCCESSES.>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MOVING INTO THE NEXT SECTION.
MARTY GARZA HAS WRITTEN A STATEMENT, BUT NEXT UP WILL BE PRICSILLAING A LAR. YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES FOR AN INTRO, QUESTIONS, AND THEN A
CLOSING. >> PERFECT. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ME HERE. I'M PRICSILLA AGULAR, I'M PROUD TO BE A LIFE LONG RESIDENT IN SAN ANTONIO. I SERVE TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT AT THE COLLEGE, PART OF THE ALAMO COLLEGE'S DISTRICT. I BEGAN MY JOURNEY WITH THE COLLEGE AS A WORK STUDY STUDENT OVER 14 YEARS AGO. I'VE DEDICATED MYSELF TO SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING OUR MISSION OF EMPOWERING OUR COMMITTEE THROUGH EDUCATION. I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS, A MASTERS IN HIGHER ED, AND CURRENTLY A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT TEXAS LUTHERAN.
I COME FROM A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY UN UNDERSERVED WHERE LESS OF 50% OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING BACK AND MAKING A DIFFE DIFFERENCE. WE BELIEVE IN ENDING GENERATIONAL POVERTY THROUGH ACCESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS THE ONE THING NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM YOU AND IT SERVES AS OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE. DURING MY TWO YEARS SERVING ON THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK BOARD, I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND HOW COLLABORATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING ARE VITAL TO CREATING PATHWAYS FOR WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT. I AM REAPPLYING BECAUSE I R REMAIN DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE MISSION AND WANT TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR INITIATIVES THAT PREPARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR CAR CAREERS.
ON REFLECTION, I HAVE WITNESSED HOW WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT CAN CHANGE LI LIVES, JUST AS IT DID MINE. I BEGAN ATTENDING COLLEGE WITH MY MOTHER WHO RETURNED TO SCHOOL AFTER 15 YEARS. HER JOURNEY INSPIRED ME AND SHOWED ME THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY CAN CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE. THAT EXPERIENCE REINFORCED MY BELIEF THAT EDUCATION IS CATALYST FOR CHANGE, NOT ONLY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AS AN EDUCATOR MYSELF, I SEE MY ROW AS A BRIDGE, A CONNECTOR OF RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITY, AND ASPIRATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. MY GOAL IS TO CONTINUE SE SERVING WITH THE READY TO WORK BOARD TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS BAR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, ENHANCE TRAINING WORK PROGRAMS AND ULTIMATELY
CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONGER COMMUNITY. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU. CHAIR.
WHAT STRATEGIES WOULD YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO HIRE PROGRAM GRAD
GRADUATES. >> I BELIEVE CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATION IS K KEY. I BELIEVE THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN MONUMENTAL AND PUSHING THE PROGRAM FORWARD. BUT I DO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT KNOWING WHAT THE PROGRAM TELLS AND ENSURING THAT OUR EMPLOYERS KNOW THAT THE CREDENTIALLY AND THE TRAINING THAT OUR READY TO WORK MEMBERS ARE G GETTING THROUGH OUR PROGRAM ARE PREPARING THEM TO BE THE BEST EMPLOYEE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
SO I BELIEVE HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE EMPLOYERS AND HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT WE GO THROUGH CURRENTLY IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE IT'S ENSURING THAT, ONE, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE OF MOVING THIS FORWARD TOGETHER, BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT THE OUTCOME IS THERE FOR THE PARTICIPANT, AND THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE PARTICIPANT THAT THEY'RE GETTING IS OF TOP
QUALITY, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WANT TO HIRE THEM. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT.
SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES FACING OUR LOCAL WORK FORCE TODAY AND HOW SHOULD READY TO
WORK HELP ADDRESS THEM? >> I BELIEVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN A STATE WHERE MANY DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS THAT ARE IN THE SAME FIELD ALL NEED THE EMPLOYEES, SO THERE'S BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S THAT COMPETING FORCE FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE COMING OUT. SO I BELIEVE THAT ENSURING THAT WE'RE MEETING THE DEMAND OF THE EMPLOYERS AND THAT WE ARE TRAINING OUR PARTICIPANTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY IS CRUCIAL IN ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESSFUL.
WHICH WE'RE DOING ALREADY, BUT JUST CONTINUING TO PUSH THAT FORWARD.
[01:00:02]
OF COURSE, LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, NOTHING HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.IT TAKES TIME. >> VIAGRAN: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, ONE MINUTE TO KIND OF WRAP UP. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENDING GENERATIONAL POVERTY OR MAKING IMPACTFUL CHANGE WITH A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS, IT REALLY TAKES JUST ONE PERSON TO BREAK THAT CYCLE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT READY TO WORK IS THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE MIGHT BE IMPACTING AN INDIVIDUAL AT A TIME BUT THAT IS SO IMPACTFUL FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH THAT CHANGE WITHIN THEMSELVES AND GETTING THAT JOB OR GETTING THAT CREDENTIAL THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT THAT'S WHAT CHANGES.
REALLY WHAT BREAKS CYCLES AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY. AND WE KNOW THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE READY TO WORK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GIVING TO OUR COMMUNITY IS OPPORTUNITY FOR A MORE SUCCESSFUL AND BETTER LIFE. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT HOLDS TRUE AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT I COME FROM.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANKS. ALL RIGHT.
SO JOHN CHAMPION IS NEXT. AND THEN THAT IS IT.
HI, JOHN. YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN INTRO AND THEN WE'LL ASK
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WRAP UP. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS JOHN CHAMPION. I GUESS THE EASIEST WAY TO PUT THIS IS I MOVED HERE IN 1992 FROM MY HOMETOWN OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE . I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM WEBSTER'S UNIVERSITY.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN EDUCATION SINCE 2008 WHEN I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON 281, SAW UIW, I THOUGHT WHY DON'T I MAKE SOME MONEY. I STARTED WORKING THERE AS AN ADJUNCT, HIRED THERE IN 2012 AND HAVE BEEN IN EDUCATION EVER SINCE.
I GREATLY ENJOY WATCHING THE AH-HA MOMENT IN STUDENTS' EYES.
I TEACH ANYTHING TO DO WITH A COMPUTER. I CONSIDER MYSELF THE BEST GEEK IN SAN ANTONIO. SO IF YOU NEED YOUR COMPUTERS FIXED, CALL ME.
BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, MY REASON FOR WANTING TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE IS BECAUSE I SEE OUR STUDENTS FROM PALO ALTO COLLEGE THAT ARE IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAVE FINDING CONNECTIONS WITH THEM TO EMPLOYERS, GETTING THEM THEIR FIRST JOBS. WORKING IN I.T. IS NOT LIKE WORKING IN OTHER FIELDS. YOU CAN HAVE A DEGREE. YOU CAN HAVE CERTIFICATIONS BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE, EMPLOYERS AREN'T GOING TO WASTE THEIR TIME ON YOU. THEY WANT SOMEBODY WITH EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS THE CERTS, AS WELL AS THE DEGREE. SO I TELL MY STUDENTS FROM DAY ONE AND THEY HEAR THIS COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SEMESTER, GET A JOB IN I.T. GET A JOB IN I.T. I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS.
ONLY BY DOING THAT DO THEY BENEFIT AND DO THEY GROW. AND I WAS TELLING A YOUNG LADY OUTSIDE I HAD MY BIRTHDAY OVER THE WEEKEND AND I SAT THERE AND ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS GOING THROUGH MY LINKEDIN AND LOOKING AT MY FORMER STUDENTS AND WHERE THEY ARE NOW. AND THE ONES THAT LISTENED TO ME ARE DOING VERY WELL. I HAVE SEVERAL EXECUTIVES. I HAVE ABOUT 100 OF THEM ARE IN MANAGEMENT. [TIMER] IT'S ENJOYABLE.
>> VIAGRAN: GREAT. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT STRATEGIES WOULD YOU USE TO ENCOURAGE MORE RESIDENTS TO ENROLL IN READY TO WORK AND TO MOTIVATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO HIRE
PROGRAM GRADUATES? >> THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY WANT TO USE A PROGRAM LIKE READY TO WORK IS TO MAKE THEM KNOWLEDGEABLE OF IT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT DON'T KNOW THAT EXISTS BECAUSE THEIR HEAD IS DOWN.
THEY'RE WORKING THE REGULAR JOB, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. AND THEY KNOW THEY WANT SOMETHING ELSE. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.
SO PUTTING IT IN FRONT OF THEM IS THE FIRST STEP. SHOWING THEM THAT THE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, THE ACCESS TO THINGS WILL HELP THEM TREMENDOUSLY.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU MOST OF THIS COMMUNITY IS UNDER THE GUISE THAT I'M JUST GOING TO EXIST AND LIVE MY LIFE AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS. I SEE THIS IN STUDENTS AND IT'S NOT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET INTO A CLASSROOM WITH INSTRUCTORS OR TEACHERS THAT CARE THAT THEY ACTUALLY BENEFIT. WITH EMPLOYERS, THAT'S EASY
[01:05:02]
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A READY-MADE WORKFORCE THAT'S BEEN HANDED TO THEM.ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS LOOK UP AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, THESE MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE ARE THERE TO SWITCH CAREERS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO KIND OF DO LIKE A MASH-UP OF THE PARTICIPANTS. BECAUSE THIS IS A PARTICIPANT QUESTION BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU SEE THE PARTICIPANTS. WHAT SUPPORT SERVICES DO YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE ENHANCED WITHIN THE SA READY TO WORK PROGRAM TO IMPROVE
PARTICIPANT PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM SUCCESS? >> SO THE MAJOR HURDLES FOR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROGRAM, ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, ESPECIALLY FOR SINGLE MOTHERS. ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET UP, THEY HAVE HEALTH ISSUES. THE OTHER THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIND EMPLOYERS THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE NECESSARY -- NOT NECESSARY -- THAT HAVE THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE.
I HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE HEALTH ISSUES THAT WON'T ALLOW THEM TO WORK A NORMAL JOB. AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET JOBS IN I.T. SO THEY CAN FIX THAT. SO THAT'S WHAT MY THING IS IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE OVERCOME THE HURDLES, WHATEVER THEY ARE. I WORKED AT FORT SAM HOUSTON FOR A WHILE AND ONE OF THE THINGS MY BOSS TOLD US IS WE DON'T SAY NO.
THAT'S JUST IT. WE HAVE TO GET THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THESE PROGRAMS TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN'T SAY NO TO THEM AND WE OVERCOME
WHATEVER OBSTACLES THAT THEY FACE. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT.
THANK YOU. AND YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO WRAP UP.
>> OKAY. I WISH A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE EXISTED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, NOT AS GRAY. NOT AS BALD. WE WOULD HAVE HAD -- I WOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER BACKGROUND. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ROOM FOR TRAINING. MORE ROOM FOR EDUCATION. I HAD TO DO IT THE HARD WAY AND I'D RATHER HELP PEOPLE NOT HAVE TO GO THE SAME ROUTE I WENT BECAUSE MY WAY HAD TO GO THROUGH GOING THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF BACK DOORS THAT WERE OPEN THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WERE OPEN. THAT'S MY WHOLE REASON FOR WANTING TO DO THIS. TELL PEOPLE TO WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR WHERE THE WELCOME
MAT IS. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. THANK YOU, JOHN.
>> SURE. >> VIAGRAN: YOU CAN STEP OUT AND WAIT, I BELIEVE IN THE HALL. THE TIME IS NOW 12:08 AND THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 552.074, PERSONNEL MATTERS, AND TO DISCUSS RELATED LEGAL ISSUES PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE
>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS NOW 12:31 P.M. AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. AS CHAIR EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR ALL THOSE WHO CAME OUT WHO APPLIED, WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE, WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO COME AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
WHILE NOT ALL CAN BE APPOINTED, YOUR INTEREST IS DEEPLY VALUED AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR COMMUNITY.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENTS?
>> CASTILLO: CHAIR, I MOVE THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RECOMMEND TO FULL CITY COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD THROUGH MAY 31, 2027. ALEXANDRA PEREZ FOR THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CATEGORY. JERRY GRAEBER AND AMANDA WHITE FOR THE CURRENT AND PREVIOUS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANT CATEGORY. JENNIFER CANTU, STEPHANIE GAINS, BENJAMIN PEAVEY, AND JIMENA SAENZ FOR THE IN DEMAND OCCUPATIONS CATEGORY. PRISCILLA AGUILAR FOR THE TRAINING PROVIDER/HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION AND IF THE ADDITIONAL SEAT IS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, JOHN CHAMPION AS RECOMMENDED FOR THE NEW SEAT IN THE TRAINING
PROVIDER AND HIGHER EDUCATION CATEGORY. >> SECOND.
[01:10:09]
>> VIAGRAN: ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU COME REPORT AT THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 5.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. CAN WE GET THE STAFF
PRESENTATION? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS. BRENDA HICKS-SORENSEN AND I'M PLEASED TO BE BACK HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO FOLLOW UP FROM OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. AS YOU MAY RECALL AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING PROVIDED A BRIEF UPDATE THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD AS FOLLOW-UP FROM BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND SO FORTH ON UPDATING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN OR THE FRAMEWORK. REALLY LOOKING AT IT AS A REFRESH. THAT PLAN OR UPDATE WILL INCLUDE THE METRO PRIORITY PLAN, WHICH IS REALLY THE DRIVER FOR OUR GLOBAL STRATEGIES AS WELL AS A DEEP DIVE INTO THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT. THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2020.
AT THE SEPTEMBER 25TH MEETING FOLLOWING CONVERSATION, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE GO FORTH AND BRIEF WITH EACH OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO WE OFFERED THAT. WE MET WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM OCTOBER 8 TO THE 17TH. THERE'S STILL A FEW OUT THERE THAT WE'VE OFFERED THAT WE HOPE TO GET SCHEDULED.
SO WE HAVE TAKEN THAT FEEDBACK. REALLY THE COMMON THEMES ARE AROUND A LOT OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN SEPTEMBER, REALLY HONING IN ON THOSE METRICS. HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE LONGER-TERM TRENDS, FOR EXAMPLE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS REALLY A HIGHLIGHT THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AGAIN NOT JUST GETTING THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NORMALLY AT THE TABLE BUT HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. REALLY FOCUSING ON SPA SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES .
OF COURSE, WITH OUR BEING THE THIRD HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY FOR CITIES OUR SIZE AND SO FORTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HOW DO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ADDRESS POVERTY? AND YOU CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE. HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO INTEGRATE OUR WORKFORCE EFFORTS AND OPPORTUNITIES INTO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK? SO A LOT OF THAT WAS ALREADY INCORPORATED INTO THE SCOPE OF WORK. THE FEEDBACK THAT WE DID COLLECT THOUGH IS REALLY -- HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN HELPING TO HONE IN ON SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ASK THOSE CONSULTANTS AS WE GO THROUGH THE SOLICITATION PROCESS.
OF COURSE WE HAVE BEEN CAPTURING ALL THOSE NOTES TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE EARLY CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY OF THE SELECTED CONSULTANTS AS WE GO FORWARD. AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS CONCLUDING THOSE BRIEFINGS, ISSUING THE SOLICITATION, AND THEN IN SPRING MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONSULTANTS.
AND THROUGHOUT THAT THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AS WELL AS THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE ARE STILL TARGETING THAT SPRING TIMELINE FOR GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS WELL AS IN THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS, WHICH OF COURSE WE'LL BRING BACK HERE. WE HISTORICALLY HAVE ALSO DONE B SESSIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL, SO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE AS WELL. WITH FINAL WRAP-UP LOOKING AT FALL OF 2027 SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IMPLEMENTATION. JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK ON THE CONVERSATION FROM SEPTEMBER. HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY
QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU MAY HAVE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, BRENDA. THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING. JUST AS WE GO IN AND WE LOOK AT THIS. I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE 8 FOR THE REFRESH THE SCOPE OF WORK, TARGET INDUSTRY DEEP DIVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING LATELY IN THE CITY AND WITH THE ARMY NORTH AND SOUTH COMMAND BASED OUT OF FORT SAM HOUSTON THAT'S MOVING AT THE END OF THE YEAR. HOW THAT WILL IMPACT SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN AND AROUND THAT AREA. BECAUSE WE STILL DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH PERSONNEL WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THERE. THAT WILL IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE COFFEE SHOPS AND STORES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
[01:15:01]
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH CAN WE -- AS WE LOOK AT THE FRAMEWORK FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHAT NEW INDUSTRIES ARE THERE POSSIBLY OUT THERE THAT WE CAN BRING IN AND INCENTIVE, WHETHER IT'S FILM, ARTS AND CULTURE, EXPANDING THE CYBER TECH. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO SEE BUSINESSES HURT BECAUSE OF THIS MOVE.AND THE OTHER IS REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DO LOSE A HEADQUARTERS OR A MAJOR BUSINESS AND WHAT'S THE RIPPLE EFFECT ON THAT. CURRENTLY, I THINK ABOUT BOTH ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHEN I THINK ABOUT BROOKS AND I THINK ABOUT PORT ON EITHER SIDE OF MILITARY DRIVE, WE THINK ABOUT WHAT BUSINESSES COME IN.
WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LOSE SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES AND WHAT -- HOW WE CAN KIND OF SURVIVE ON HOLD THAT ON EITHER SIDE WHILE WE WAIT FOR NEW GROWTH AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO COME.
SO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IN TERMS OF THE FRAMEWORK BECAUSE THIS RECENT NEWS ISN'T WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR AND WE HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS QUICKLY TO THAT. I APPRECIATE YOU GOING OUT, THE SCOPE OF THE WORK.
I THINK WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES STILL. SAN ANTONIO IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME AND HEADQUARTER SO WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. BUT THE LOSS IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES ON NOT HAVING THOSE SOLDIERS THERE TO PATRON THEIR BUSINESSES IN AND AROUND FORT SAM IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THIS IS FOR BRIEFING PURPOSES ONLY, CORRECT? >> CORRECT.
>> VIAGRAN: ANY OTHER COMMENTS MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND MEETING WITH MY TEAM.
I WASN'T INVOLVED PERSONALLY BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FEEDBACK I HEARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK WAS I GUESS WITH SOME OF THE DELIVERABLES HERE, ARE WE STILL GOING TO BREAK INTO THOSE MAIN SIX CATEGORIES THAT WE LOOKED AT LAST TIME? I'M MAINLY FOR THE FOR THE PLACEMAKING ONE.
IS THAT GOING TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK?
>> YES. REVITALIZATION AND THE PLACEMAKING IS STILL
INCORPORATED. >> GALVAN: I DEFINITELY WANTED TO SECOND WHAT CHAIR VIAGRAN MENTIONED ABOUT KIND OF IDENTIFYING SOME OF THESE POTENTIAL WHAT-IF MOMENTS.
I THINK IT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT TARGET INDUSTRIES, WHETHER IT'S MILITARY WITH OTHER PLACES OR OTHER INDUSTRIES OF EMPLOYMENT, KEEPING THOSE IN MIND AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY THOSE DRIVERS ARE MAINTAINED BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DO GO AWAY. I THINK SOME OF THAT WILL COME TOO FROM THE PLACEMAKING EFFORTS, PRIMARILY AROUND THE SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT IF IT'S JUST NOT THE ANCHOR THAT MOVES AWAY OR WE MAKE THE SITE OR PLACE THE ANCHOR OF ITS OWN, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL AND WHATEVER WORK WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THAT WILL BE GREAT. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, BRENDA. OUR OFFICE SUBMITTED TWO COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS. I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK. FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF DATA TRACKING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK , FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS OF READY TO WORK THROUGH THIS CONTRACT ARE YOU HIRING OR COMMITTED TO HIRING AND HOW MANY WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD? I THINK JUST COLLECTING THAT DATA, TO THE CHAIR'S POINT, BUT ALSO HOW CAN WE BETTER INCENTIVIZE FOLKS THAT ARE HELPING US MEET THOSE GOALS.
AS MENTIONED IN PART OF THE FRAMEWORK, IT'S HOW THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ADDRESS POVERTY AND INTEGRATING WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK THOSE TWO CCRS HAVEN'T GONE TO GOVERNANCE. I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS AND THEN OF COURSE ULTIMATELY HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE POVERTY LEVELS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR CITY.
NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR A RESPONSE BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO PULL SOME OF THE PIECES FROM THOSE CCRS INTO THE FRAMEWORK.
BUT ALSO IF YOU COULD JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND WOULD POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE FRAMEWORK POTENTIALLY CREATE BARRIERS FOR THE CCRS? FOR EXAMPLE, STAFF RECOMMENDS NO ACTION BECAUSE WE ADOPTED A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.
[01:20:02]
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER OR WHETHER THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO WEAVE IN SOME OF THE REQUESTS IS WHAT I'M HOPEFUL FOR.>> WHAT WE ASKED CITY COUNCIL TO DO LAST TIME -- I FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT THIS TIME -- WOULD BE IN ADOPTING THE SPECIFIC STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT POLICY CONSIDERATIONS WITHIN THE DOCUMENT.
WHAT CITY COUNCIL DID IS THEY ACCEPTED THE PLAN AND THEN INDIVIDUAL ITEMS CAME FORWARD. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE POLICIES, BOTH THE CHAPTER 312 AND 380 WERE ITEMS THAT WERE CERTAINLY LOOKED AT AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SITE CONSULTANT PERCEPTION SURVEY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT TARGET INDUSTRIES. ALSO THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO THOSE CURRENT POLICIES WERE ITEMS THAT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DISCUSSED DURING THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK DISCUSSIONS. AND THEN THE POLICIES WERE ADOPTED AS ADDITIONAL OR SUBSEQUENT, IF YOU WOULD, POLICY ITEMS. SAME WITH THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS. I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT GOING FORWARD. WE WOULD LOOK AT AN ACCEPTANCE SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. AND THERE WERE SOME ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE FRAMEWORK THAT JUST DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE POLICY
CONVERSATIONS. >> CASTILLO: THANKS, BRENDA.
IN TERMS OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OCCURRING, I THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE, NOW THAT PROSPER WEST IS IN A GOOD POSITION AND REBECCA HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN INCLUDING SOME OF OUR BDOS AND THE FOLKS DOING THAT ON THE GROUND WORK AND CONVERSATIONS TO SHARE WITH THEIR INPUT, MAYBE. THANK YOU.
>> YES. AND LAST TIME THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE DISCUSSING AS PART OF THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN. BUT WE HAD 20-SOME STAKEHOLDER GROUPS LAST TIME. SEVERAL WITH SMALL BUSINESSES. WE DID INCORPORATE THOSE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS. SO FULLY ANTICIPATE -- IN FACT, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING, AS WE'VE BEEN BRIEFING WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE ASKING IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. SO GIVE US SPECIFIC NAMES, CONTACTS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE BROAD PARTICIPATION IN
THIS. SO, THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: I THINK I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE LEGISLATIVE POTENTIAL -- POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITS OR SHIFTS WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON. THIS IS ROLLING OUT TO US IN FALL OF '26 WITH '27 LOOMING. I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN IDEA OF IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME OUTREACH TO LEGISLATIVE -- TO OUR LEADERS IN A LEGISLATIVE WAY OF ANYTHING WE NEED TO CHANGE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OR ASK FOR. BE PROACTIVE IN.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WOULD WANT TO ADD. THANK YOU, BRENDA.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE NEXT UPDATE AND HAVING YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE TIME IS NOW 12:46 AND THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.