REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 16, 2019
FROM: BLAKE KONCZAL, Executive Director
Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board
BY: WILMA QUAN, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Mandated Partner Memorandum of Understanding:
1. Approve the use of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Mandated Partner Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Template
2. Authorize the City Manager to sign all Mandated Partner MOUs as they complete negotiation and are presented to the City Manager’s Office
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council approve the use of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Mandated Partner Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) template, and authorize the City Manager or designee to sign all Mandated Partner MOUs as they complete negotiation and are presented to the City Manager’s office
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The recommended action allows the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB) to negotiate MOUs with each of the mandated partners, as required by the WIOA. These MOUs are required to be in place no later than July 1, 2019.
The United States Congress passed the WIOA (the “Act”), as an enhancement to the previous Workforce Investment Act. The Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 22, 2014, and the law took effect on July 1, 2015. The WIOA mandates that certain Federal, State, and local agencies formally partner with local Workforce Development Boards at what is now known as America’s Jobs Centers of California (AJCC), in order to refer clients between the partners for specific services to better serve the community and leverage resources from multiple sources, as appropriate.
The Act requires that the MOUs be reviewed, updated as needed and renewed every three (3) years. This is the first renewal.
These mandated partners are to represent the following areas of need:
• State of California Employment Development Department
• Representatives of Community Services Block Grant Act
• Representatives for Older Americans
• Department of Rehabilitation
• Fresno County Department of Social Services
• Representatives of Adult Education/Community Colleges
• Representatives for Native Americans
• Representatives for Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers
• Job Corps
BACKGROUND
The initial MOU process was split between Phase I and Phase II, where Phase I established the AJCC system, partnerships and shared services. These Phase I agreements were completed in July 2016. Phase II established the Resource Sharing Agreements (RSAs) between the local board and the co-located partners. The purpose of the RSAs is to share equitably in the infrastructure cost of running the One-Stop System. These RSAs also document the total costs of Career Services provided to the community across all of the Partners. These RSAs are required to be reviewed, renegotiated and renewed every year.
With this renewal, the RSA, now known as the Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA), is now incorporated into the MOU, as Exhibit A. Each year, the IFA will be reviewed, updated as needed and executed as an addendum to the MOU.
FRWDB staff is in final negotiation with all mandated partners for the 2019 renewal.
By approving this item, the signature process will allow the FRWDB to complete the signatory process with the Chief Local Elected Officials (City of Fresno and County of Fresno) in a timely manner. This will prevent the State of California Workforce Development Board and State of California Employment Development Department from sanctioning the Local Workforce Development Area and a possible loss of critical funding to support the local community.
Any specific MOU that has funding tied to it in the amount of $50,000 or over will be presented to the Council for approval at its June 13, 2019, meeting.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
There is no alternative action. If a Memorandum of Understanding is not executed and in effect with each mandated partner by July 1, 2019, Fresno County will be out of compliance with WIOA requirements and could lose funding for WIOA activities that benefit the residents of Fresno County.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378 the approval of this agreement does not qualify as a “project,” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered since this item does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no increase in Net City Cost associated with the Recommended Action. The Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board is 100% funded by non-City sources. These have their origin primarily with the United States Department of Labor, being supplemented by other federal and State of California grants.
Attachments: MOU Template
Attachment 1: AJCC Partners and Services Provided
Attachment 2: AJCC Partner Service Locations
Attachment 3: AJCC Partner Referral Process
Exhibit A: AJCC Infrastructure Funding Agreement
Attachment A: AJCC One Stop Infrastructure Budget
Attachment B: AJCC One Stop Infrastructure Allocation Methodology and
Allocation Plan
Attachment C: AJCC One Stop Consolidated Career Services Budget