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Supervisors consider ordinance to centralize workforce development under new department
Summary
An ordinance would centralize city workforce development under a Department of Economic and Workforce Development, require a citywide funding allocation plan, create a seven‑member advisory committee, and set phased timelines; the committee continued the measure for two weeks to finalize amendments and staffing details.
An ordinance before a Board committee would amend the administrative code to centralize San Francisco’s workforce development policy and oversight under a Department of Economic and Workforce Development (or successor). The effort — presented by the item sponsor and the City Attorney’s Office — is intended to coordinate roughly tens of millions of dollars currently spread across departments and to improve performance measurement and accountability.
The City Attorney’s office detailed key amendments: require a comprehensive funding allocation plan that identifies federal, state and local workforce development funds; direct the DEWD director to prepare a five‑year strategic plan and funding allocations in two phases (Phase 1 to start in the current fiscal year and Phase 2 to expand coverage to additional funding streams by subsequent fiscal years); and create a seven‑member community advisory committee with supervisor appointees and representatives from transitional youth and reentry entities to bring community voices into the Workforce Investment Board.
Rhonda Sims, director of workforce development within the Mayor’s Office, told the committee the city lacks shared definitions, standard outcome measures, and consistent placement and retention metrics; she said centralization would allow more consistent RFPs, better data systems and neighborhood‑focused access points. Supervisors expressed broad support but cautioned about capacity, timing and the political/charter constraints of redirecting funds; one supervisor proposed delaying the clause to immediately give the director authority to manage all general fund workforce expenditures until Phase 2.
Dozens of public commenters — representing labor, business, community‑based organizations, City College, CityBuild and neighborhood groups — generally supported centralization while urging attention to job retention, services for people with multiple barriers, small business representation and apprenticeship pathways. After testimony and technical discussion, the committee agreed to continue the ordinance for two weeks so sponsors and staff can finalize substantive amendments, staffing plans and technical edits.
