Economic and Workforce Development Committee Meeting - May 4, 2026
Economic and Workforce Development Committee Meeting - May 4, 2026
The Economic and Workforce Development Committee met on May 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes, interviewed and recommended two applicants for the San Antonio Ready to Work Advisory Board, and received briefings on the Supply SA small business procurement initiative and the Second Chance Workforce Initiative.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak.
Discussion Items
Ready to Work Advisory Board Applicant Interviews (Item 2)
The committee interviewed six shortlisted candidates for two board seats: one for trade/labor and one for an organization serving persons with high barriers to employment. The ad hoc committee (comprising Councilmembers from Districts 5 and 8) reviewed 12 eligible applications from 15 received and selected six for interviews.
- Michael Pena (Trade/Labor candidate): A 16-year member of IBEW Local 60, Pena emphasized the need to expand apprenticeship programs and noted a "wildly understaffed" outlook in trades. He expressed commitment to attending meetings (every third Thursday, 1-3 p.m.) and forging relationships beyond IBEW. He stated his goal to promote equity for minorities and underrepresented workers.
- Barbara Acosta (Organization serving persons with high barriers): Representing Big Homies Street Mentoring, Acosta highlighted barriers such as lack of real second-chance opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. She stressed the need for employer incentives and for employers to give genuine second chances.
- Patricia Cantu: A 20-year workforce development professional and Ready to Work participant, Cantu advocated for in-person orientation and intake to identify barriers like daycare, finances, and interview attire. She noted that employers often cannot see past a disability (e.g., deafness).
- Angelique De Oliveira: Chief Workforce Development Officer at Goodwill Industries of San Antonio, she described barriers such as transportation, employer unwillingness to hire individuals with criminal backgrounds or disabilities, and the need for wraparound support. She called for balancing outcome metrics with serving harder-to-place populations.
Supply SA Small Business Procurement Initiative (Item 3)
Staff presented updates on Supply SA, a partnership of 14 public agencies aimed at building local procurement partnerships for small, local, and veteran-owned businesses. Key highlights:
- Over 4,000 certifications approved last year, 1,600 applications processed, and 1,300 businesses supported.
- Certification processing time improved to 14–33 days; backlog eliminated in December 2025.
- Engaged over 100 veteran-owned small businesses. Future plans include exploring a bonding program, expanding on-demand training, and working with corporate partners and potential legislation.
- The committee requested follow-up data by district and better engagement with school districts and charter schools. Committee members expressed support and asked about differences in procurement processes among agencies.
Second Chance Workforce Initiative (Item 4)
Staff presented a briefing on the initiative, stemming from a Council Consideration Request by Councilmember Castillo. The initiative aims to reduce employment barriers for justice-involved individuals through an interlocal agreement with Bexar County, federal incentives, and city practices.
- Ready to Work data: 787 justice-involved participants completed training; 459 found jobs (average salary $44,000, a 483% increase over pre-program income). 145 participants used wraparound support for expungement.
- Employer engagement: 53 employers attended a re-entry lunch and learn; 58 employers and 717 job seekers attended a second chance hiring fair.
- City practices: Ban the box implemented in 2016; background checks only after conditional offer. Staff identified legal constraints from state preemption but noted opportunities for discretionary contracts.
- National best practices: Los Angeles requires 10% of project hours from formerly incarcerated individuals on contracts over $500,000; Philadelphia requires a 10-business-day dispute period before adverse action.
- Next steps: Develop an interlocal agreement with Bexar County, finalize economic development strategic plan by fall 2026, continue HR best practices, and prioritize second chance legislation in the city's legislative agenda. Councilmembers emphasized the need to market the benefits to employers, involve chambers of commerce, and avoid duplication with county efforts.
- Testimony: Deborah Carter (Bexar County) noted 23% of Texas Fast Track alumni have justice-involved backgrounds with an 86% placement rate. Aida Negron (Bexar County Reentry Center) expressed gratitude and called for reducing stigma. Leslie Cantu (Toyotetsu Texas) offered to serve as a resource to other employers.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Recommend Appointments: The committee unanimously voted (voice vote) to forward Michael Pena (trade/labor) and Barbara Acosta (organization serving persons with high barriers) for appointment to the San Antonio Ready to Work Advisory Board by the full City Council. Terms run through May 31, 2029.
- Briefings Received: The Supply SA and Second Chance Workforce Initiative items were for briefing only; no formal action was taken. Staff will follow up with district-level data on certified businesses and continue developing the interlocal agreement with Bexar County.
Meeting Transcript
The time is now 10 a.m. on May 4th, 2026, and the meeting of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee is now called to order. Madam Clerk, can you call the roll? Yes. Councilmember Castillo? Councilmember Galban? Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez. Councilmember Spears. Chair Via Gran. Here. Chair, we have quorum. Great. I'll be allowing the member speakers two rounds of comments per item with three minutes the first round and three minutes the second round. If y'all want to take your six minutes just straight because you have only that many questions, you can if you'd like to hear from the other members, we can do that too. Uh item number one first item on the agenda is approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes? Can I get a motion and a second to approve the minutes? There's a motion and a second to approve the minutes. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. Motion carries. Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public signed up to speak? No, Chair. All right. With that, um, we'll move on to item two. Item two is a consideration of applicants to the ready to work advisory board. Can we get a staff presentation? Good morning. I'm Jamie Nietzel, Assistant City Clerk. I'll be presenting background information about the San Antonio Ready to Work Board and our overall process. The Ready to Work Advisory Board advises the workforce development office on an in-demand occupations, training, and local employer needs, allotment of workforce programs from year to year, and client support. The board is composed of 13 members representing local employers, city workforce program participants, trade labor organizations, community organizations, training providers, and higher education institutions, and two liaisons appointed by the mayor. Each member serves a four-year term. On December 11th, 2025, City Council approved an ordinance establishing a new board seat designating to represent an organization serving individuals with high bearers. For an organization serving individuals with high bears. The communications and engagement department released a web and social media posting on July 29th and September 16th for the trade and labor seat and on February 24th for the organization serving individuals with high bearer seat. By closing date of April 2nd, 2026, we had received a total of 15 applications. The city attorney's office vetted 15 applications, and 12 were eligible. An ad hoc committee was formed by the chair, and that included district 5 and district 8 council members. The ad hoc committee reviewed all 12 applications and saw list shortlisted to six applications. The committee will interview those applicants today and make a recommendation to the full city council. City council will vote on the full board appointments during an A session. After the vote, the city clerk will notify the appointed individuals and ask them to complete the proper forms. Administering the oath of office and inviting them to complete the municipal leadership institute training. Once these steps are completed, they can be seated on the board. On this slide, you will find the list of individuals that have been placed on the short list for the different categories. Marty Garza is not here today and did not provide a written statement. The process today will begin with each applicant providing a two-minute opening statement. All candidates will be sequestered during the interviews and will not be able to listen to each other's answers to the questions.
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