Serving Navajo, Apache, and Gila Counties
Workforce Development Board Meeting Minutes Eagar Public Library 367 N Main Street Eagar, AZ
April 27, 2017
1. Call to Order: Pledge of Allegiance – John Sorensen
2. Roll Call – Christina Throop
Board Members Present: Gary Moore, John Sorensen, Amy Martin, Cliff Potts, Rickey Jackson, Elizabeth Flake, Von Stradling, Glenn Joy, Board Members Present Via Phone: Kelly Hart, Roxanne Dean, Jeri Byrne, Steve North, Peggy Belknap, Don Berry, Steve Williams, Malissa Buzan, Ben Smith, Connie Kakavas.
Board Members Absent - Becki Christensen, Curtis Huddleston, Connie Kakavas, Debbie Osborne
A Quorum is present
Guests Present – Robert Sample, IBEW Representative, Larry Griffin, IBEW Local 518, Webb Bussell, Vet Rep, Danielle Struble – Employment Services Eagar Office, Tim Tucker, Deputy Administrator Workforce,
Staff Present – Paul Watson, Christina Throop, Andrea Harings, Susan Newby, Shawn Anderson, Carla Fails, Stephanie Ray
Old Business
3. Discussion/Action: Approval of the March 2, 2017 and March 23, 2017 Workforce Development Board Meeting Minutes.
Chairperson called for a motion to approve the March 2, 2017 WDB meeting minutes. No discussion. Cliff Potts made the motion and Glenn Joy seconded. Vote: unanimous vote, Peggy Belknap abstained, motion carried.
Chairperson called for a motion to approve the March 23, 2017 WDB meeting minutes. No discussion. Peggy Belknap made the motion and Gary Moore seconded. Vote:
1 unanimous vote, motion carried.
4. Information/Discussion/Action: Competitive Procurement of the One Stop Operator that will coordinate the service delivery of required One-Stop Partners. This is a required procurement under the new legislation.
Discussion – Christina stated that one bid was received from the RFP for the One-Stop Operator. There was discussion regarding how the RFP was advertised and whether the bid is from the existing operator. The RFP was advertised locally and the current operator submitted the bid. It was clarified that there is no conflict of interest if a board member acts as the one-stop operator as long as she does not vote on any matters pertaining to one- stop operations. It was clarified that the RFP is for a 4-year term.
Chairperson made a motion to approve the RFP. Jeri Byrne made the motion and Cliff Potts seconded.
Further Discussion:: Board members discussed history of current operator’s performance, whether bid should have gone through scoring process prior to board vote, whether a 4- year term is appropriate, and whether the RFP was adequately advertised.
Role Call Vote on motion: Peggy Belknap – No (wants shorter timeframe), Don Berry – No, Jeri Byrne – Yes, Roxanne Dean – Yes, Elizabeth Flake – No (approval of contract more appropriate), Kelly Hart – No (has comments she’ll reserve), Rickey Jackson – No, Glenn Joy – No, Connie Kakavas – No, Amy Martin – No, Gary Moore – No, Steve North – No, Cliff Potts - Yes, John Sorensen – Yes, Von Stradling – No, Steve Williams – No, Ben Smith – No. Motion failed to carry.
Further Discussion: Board discussed whether it has to be a four year contract. Paul suggested that the RFP be put back out for bid with a two year contract, advertise the RFP, have Executive Committee meet to review and score bids, and schedule a special WDB meeting for final vote on bids.
Chairperson made a motion to re-advertise RFP with a two year contract timeframe for the first two weeks of May, have Executive Committee meet to review and score the proposals and send scoring as well as a draft contract to the WDB members for review, WDB meet in May to discuss and approve the RFP and recommend to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors. BOS meeting is scheduled for June 13, 2017. Peggy made the motion to and Cliff Potts seconded. Vote: unanimous vote; motion carried.
New Business
5. Presentation: Tim Tucker, Deputy Administrator, Workforce Administration, gave a presentation on the Governor’s new LEAN project Value Stream Mapping which is to design a new way of serving participants more efficient. Value stream mapping will identify the redundancy of services and move the participant more quickly through the
2 system. Also the state has a new initiative to put case managers in the two main state prisons to assist with re-entry into the workplace.
6. Information/Discussion/Action: Seven Board member’s terms expiring July 1, 2017. Larry Stradling, Don Berry, John Sorensen, Roxanne Dean, Peggy Belknap, Connie Kakavas, and Steve North. Board approves to recommend to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors to extend these board member’s terms to July 1, 2020.
The Chairperson made a motion to recommend to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors to extend the seven board members Larry Stradling, Don Berry, John Sorensen, Roxanne Dean, Peggy Belknap, Connie Kakavas, and Steve North: term until June 30, 2020. Cliff Potts made the motion to approve and Elizabeth Flake seconded. Vote: unanimous vote, motion carried.
7. Information/Discussion/Action: Review Title II Adult Education Grants for Gila County and Northland Pioneer College funding applications to demonstrate alignment with the Local Workforce Plan. Board approves to make recommendation to the Arizona Department of Education the grants align with the LWDB local plan.
Christina Throop explained the two Adult Education grant applications are brought to the WDB for approval to recommend the grant applications to the Arizona Department of Education. These two grants will provide Adult Education Services to our local area and are in line with our local Workforce Development Board Plan. Rickey Jackson clarified that this is to ensure no duplication of services and we will see better service delivery. The WDB is oversight to Adult Education and they will provide a report at each WDB meeting.
Chairperson made a motion to accept both grant applications and recommendation to the Arizona Department of Education that the grant applications align with the LWDB Local Plan. Gary Moore made a motion to approve and Elizabeth Flake seconded. Vote: unanimous vote, Rickey Jackson and Peggy Belknap abstained from vote, vote carried.
Christina Throop clarified that the next step is for the WDB to send their recommendation to the State Department of Adult Ed. Christina will send that response which is due April 28, 2017.
8. Information/Discussion/Action: Provide Career Services and Youth Services in-house. Establish conflict of interest policies and procedures to provide clear separation of LWDB staff and operations staff. Per WIOA, there must be appropriate firewalls between staff providing the Career and Youth Services and LWDB staff responsible for the oversight. Board approves conducting Career and Youth Services in-house.
After much discussion, the WDB decided to table this agenda item pending further clarification of requirements and how the organizational chart will be structured to meet those requirements. This agenda item will be placed on the next WDB meeting agenda.
3 9. Chairperson’s Report – John Sorensen
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Resource Sharing Agreement (RSA) reviewed and signed by all partners. WDB approved MOU on March 23, 2017. Local WDB Plan submitted to Workforce Arizona Council (WAC). The WAC Executive Committee will meet May 4 to recommend approval of our Local WDB Plan to the WAC.
WDB members will be invited to partner meetings which is one of our Strategic Goals.
Youth Committee will meet prior to next board meeting and report. Board meeting will be July 27, 2017 in Show Low. This is our Annual Meeting with the focus on Labor Market Information, Local In-Demand Industries, and Employer Engagement.
10. Staff Report – Christina Throop
Reviewed PY15/FY16 and PY16/FY17 admin and program funding spreadsheets. There is no news about the PY17/FY18 funding allocations. Paul Watson stated the total remaining funds: PY15/16, those funds have to be expended by June 30, 2017. Paul Watson stated that staff will prepare a budget summary for the Board that will show in general terms what is being allocated for staff salaries, rents, programs, etc. Christina Throop reports that the Eagar Case Manager position has been opened and advertised. Applications have been received. Christina Throop reports that since January 1, 2017 – 35 adults, 4 DW, 11 OSY have been enrolled. Total 123 Adult, 22 DW, 17 ISY, 32 OSY = 194 people enrolled in program. IBEW apprenticeship applicants – staff administers the TABE for the IBEW, 12 have been assessed in 2017, 1 has been accepted to the apprenticeship, 1 has been accepted into the pre-employment program.
Von Stradling asked about employment placement numbers. Christina indicated that number will be available at the next WDB meeting. Von Stradling requested participants provide their success stories in-person at our WDB meetings.
11. Economic Development Report – Paul Watson, Navajo County Assistant County Manager/Economic Development Director/Workforce Executive Director
Paul – Apache County has interest from a new wind renewable energy project. Holbrook 4 basin has one of the largest helium reserves in the nation – government is out – opening up markets for people to develop, produce, and sell helium. Broadband Summit, Navajo County Health Dist formed a health consortium that got some grant funding for a study to identify current and map it out – where are missing connections? Where is the potential to increase capacity and resiliency? E-Rate funding $80-$200M must be spent in next two years – AZ corp comm working on raising $8M for 10% match to get the $80M funding – we should be in a good position to get some of that money with the mapping done. Telemedicine – federal funding available and that is being pursued in conjunction with Summit. Jeri Byrne will send info the Paul Watson of U of A grants for telemedicine. Egg Farm still planning to come but cage-free conversation gaining momentum and slowing things down. Navajo County is consolidating services and improve budget bottom line – Show Low Admin offices are being converted to a court facility – staff offices will move to the Health Department Building.
12. Call to the Public – John Sorensen
No public present
13. Next Meeting – The next WDB Meeting will be held or via teleconference on May 31, 2017 in Show Low to discuss and approve agenda Items #4 and #8..
The next regular scheduled WDB meeting is July 27, 2017 in Show Low. This is our Annual Board Training and Board Meeting (all day)
14. Adjournment
Chairperson make a motion to adjourn the meeting. Elizabeth Flake made the motion to adjourn and Glenn Joy seconded. Vote: unanimous vote, meeting adjourned.
5 Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities
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