Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development Response

Department of Economic and Workforce Development
Response to Audit of San Francisco's Workforce Development Programs

Budget Analyst Recommendation 1.1

Adopt an ordinance, amending the Administrative Code, to establish:

(a) The role of the Board of Supervisors in overseeing the City's workforce development programs, including appointing designated members to Workforce Investment San Francisco subject to applicable state and federal law, and approving workforce development programs funded by federal, state, and local revenues subject to applicable state and federal laws.

(b) The roles and responsibilities of the Department of Economic and Workforce Development's Office of Workforce Development and Workforce Investment San Francisco in overseeing federal, state, and locally-funded programs subject to the applicable state and federal laws; and

(c) The role and participation of City departments providing workforce development programs and how central planning and coordination of workforce development programs shall be implemented by each City department.

The Department of Workforce Development agrees that identification of roles and responsibilities within the workforce development system should be formalized in the administrative code, including that of the workforce investment board - Workforce Investment San Francisco (WISF). The Department has reviewed Supervisor Mirkarimi's ordinance (FILE NO. 071056), and is working with Supervisor Mirkarimi to suggest additional legislative language which would codify many of the recommendations contained in this report.

It should be noted that the role, jurisdiction and legislative authority for the local workforce investment board (i.e., Workforce Investment San Francisco) is dictated by the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The federal regulations require that the Chief Local Elected Official appoint members to the Workforce Investment San Francisco based upon established membership criteria and board composition requirements.

In addition, the Department of Economic and Workforce Development has over the course of the past year begun implementing many of the recommendations contained throughout this report, including:

  • Identification of City resources dedicated to workforce development activities;

  • Mapping of current workforce programs within City departments and the community-based organization and education communities;

  • Piloting a comprehensive workforce program data tracking system;

  • Implementing a new service delivery model within the One Stop System;

  • Identifying industry sectors and jobs that are in demand, provide entry-level access and advancement opportunities for San Francisco residents, and provide self-sufficient wages for individuals and families; and

  • Seeding the development of training programs in targeted industry sectors, and strengthening performance requirements for City agencies and community-based organizations funded by the Department.

Within the next six months, the Department will:

  • Complete the 5 year workforce development strategic plan, including the identification of workforce system 93customer94 needs - those of job-seekers, workers, and employers;

  • Strengthen the Workforce Investment Act mandated board (WISF), ensuring that all required partners are represented;

  • Identify departmental and City-wide performance measures for workforce development activities;

  • Develop a coordinated capacity-building plan for workforce development service providers; and

  • Develop a 2007-2008 strategic and funding allocation plane for all workforce development activities, which will be renewed annually.

The Director of Workforce Development of the Department of Economic and Workforce Development will report progress on the activities outlined above to the Board of Supervisors by December 31, 2007.