Committee advances five-year workforce strategy, reviews local-business preference and hears board nomination

The committee on workforce development met to consider a five-year strategic workforce plan, review the city's local-business preference program and hear a nomination to the Workforce Development Board. Staff presented the preference program's history and mechanics, outside analysts reviewed industry and labor data, and committee members voted to note two BCA reports and to advance the five-year plan as modified.

The local-business preference program was traced to ordinances first enacted in 2011 and later changed through administrative and budget actions in 2017, 2021 and 2022. Staff described how the preference is applied: small businesses and certain certified local firms receive percentage preference points when city contracts are scored. Examples discussed in the presentation included a baseline local preference of 6 percent for some businesses, additional small-business or local-employee preferences that can bring the total to higher single-digit percentages and a combined maximum preference that staff described as up to roughly 12 percent in some circumstances. Staff also described efforts to create reciprocal recognition with regional programs and to digitalize the application process for local certification.

Staff and outside analysts framed the five-year workforce plan around industry and demographic data for the Los Angeles region. Presenters described broad trends including a large regional labor market, population declines since 2018 tied to housing costs, and concentrated opportunity and income gaps for women and racial and ethnic minority groups. Analysts cited eight priority sectors for potential workforce investment, including film and television production, hospitality, construction and certain manufacturing and trades that can provide career pathways without a four-year degree. The plan also highlights the 2028 Olympics (LA28) and other major events as potential demand drivers for jobs such as event coordination, sound engineering and hospitality work.

Committee members raised implementation questions: how the preference is counted on large procurements so small local firms can bid as primes rather than only as subcontractors; how the city's awards reported in a given year relate to the universe of purchases (including construction and supplies); and how workforce training programs should include mid-step supports so participants can afford time away from current jobs to enter training. Staff said they are working to map procurement categories, to coordinate with training providers and to tailor outreach ahead of LA28 and other events.

The committee voted to note and file two BCA reports dated Nov. 15, 2022, and Dec. 22, 2023. The vote was recorded in the transcript as 5 in favor (Concejal Price; Concejal Soto Martínez; Concejal Jurado; Concejal Nazarie; and one additional council member recorded as voting "sí"). The committee also advanced adoption of the five-year strategic workforce plan with modifications; the transcript records the item as approved as modified with council members voting in favor.

A nomination was presented to fill a business-representative seat on the Workforce Development Board: Serward Banker, who described a long career in manufacturing and participation in local business and chamber activities. The transcript records the nomination and the nominee's remarks; the record in the transcript does not include a separate roll-call vote or final outcome for that specific appointment during the portion provided.

Several members of the public spoke during the public-comment period. One commenter raised concerns about perceived suppression of public comment and objected to differential pay outcomes for unions in certain contracts; another urged that the local hiring and job-placement programs be used to help neighbors forced by high housing costs into difficult, low-pay work. A city staff speaker apologized to council members for racial slurs that had been made earlier in public comment and thanked staff and family members for civic contributions.

What the committee decided: the BCA reports were noted and filed (vote recorded 5-0); the five-year workforce strategic plan was advanced for adoption as modified by the committee; staff were directed in discussion to continue outreach to small businesses, to refine procurement and certification processes, and to align training and placement efforts with upcoming events and priority sectors. The nomination of Serward Banker was presented; the transcript does not record a final vote on that appointment in the provided segments.

The committee said it will continue the conversation in a subsequent meeting to resolve outstanding protest or implementation questions and to carry forward the plan and procurement refinements toward final adoption and operational steps.