Larry Anglin
Mike Atkinson
Dr. Glenda Barron
Cameron Bell
Judy Bowen Clark
Barbara Bozon
Chris Flor
Horace Grace / Jim Granfor
Cynthia Hernandez
Eyal Kaczur
Bill Luther
Dr. Susan Kincannon
Mary Kliewer
Matt Maxfield / Dr. Marc Nigliazzo
Tama Shaw
Bill Stanford
Martha Tyroch
Carlyle Walton
Ginger Watkins
Jim Yeonopolus
Directors Absent
Cheryl Eliano / Sonja Havens
Elected Officials and Ex-Officios
Wayne Boltinghouse, Judge, Lampasas County
Jon Burrows, Judge, Bell County
John Firth, Judge, Coryell County / Jose Segarra, Mayor, City of Killeen
Byron Theodosis, Judge, San Saba County
Workforce Board and Center Staff Present
Linda Angel
Wendy Ann Damon
Horace Dicks
Mitzi Gearhart / David Gibson
Vickie Gideon
Jerry Haisler / Susan Kamas
Kimberly Patterson
Sandra Russell
Guests Present
David Blackburn, Temple Economic Development Corporation
Ana Bourchardt, Belton Economic Development Corporation
Debra D’Annunzio, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Ralph Gauer, Office of Senator Troy Fraser
Krista Julian, Texas Workforce Commission
Clyde McQueen, Kansas City Full Employment Council
Jonathan Mize, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Austin Ruiz, Killeen Vision Source
Call to Order, Pledge, and Chairs Report / Larry Anglin,Chair
The Board of Directors for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas held its regularly scheduled meeting at the Central Texas Workforce Center, 300 Cheyenne, Killeen, TX. Larry Anglin called the meeting to order at approximately 9:30 a.m. noting that a quorum was present. Directors and others present pledged allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas.
Directors were asked to review the attendance record and inform staff of any corrections. No corrections were noted.
Anglin asked Board members to complete the Executive Directors Annual Appraisal. He drew attention to Workforce Annual Luncheon materials noting the Oct. 28th event date.
Action Items / Action Items
Consent Agenda...... Anglin
Anglin called for any discussion or objection to the consent agenda which included the Workforce Board’s business meeting minutes for July 28, 2016.There being no discussion, the consent agenda was approved as presented.
Interlocal Agreements with Central Texas College and Temple College.....Susan Kamas
Executive Director
Susan Kamas, Executive Director, drew attention to an Executive Summary describing the purpose of two Interlocal Agreements with Central Texas College and Temple College. She explained that Workforce Solutions of Central Texas received $30,000 for the Texas Workforce Commission to support the design, objectives, and implementation of Regional Workforce and Educational Integration for Adult Education and Literacy (AEL). Kamas noted that each College had submitted a $15,000 budget to cover costs to support local strategies for improving/expanding service access for AEL students.
Motion to approve an Interlocal Agreement with Central Texas College, Jim Granfor. Second, Martha Tyroch. Abstain, Jim Yeonopolus. All in favor.
Motion to approve an Interlocal Agreement with Temple College, Bill Stanford. Second, Jim Granfor. Abstain, Dr. Glenda Barron. All in favor.
Santa Fe Business Center...... Kamas, and David Blackburn,
Temple Economic Development Corporation, Executive Director
Kamas introduced David Blackburn, Executive Director, Temple Economic Development Corporation. She explained that he would be presenting the final design and initial financing plan for the proposed Santa Fe Business Center in Temple.
Blackburn briefly reviewed the vision, mission and strategies behind the development of the Santa Fe Business Center. Providing background information describing activities to date, he noted that the Temple Economic Development Corporation funded the initial design with the Temple Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Solutions of Central Texas providing input about potential designs.
Beginning with a downtown grid map, Blackburn explained that the proposed location is in the south part of the downtown redevelopment district. He presented a comprehensive plan with specific detail about the three segments of the revitalization effort including city, residential, and the Santa Fe District. Focusing specifically on the Santa Fe Plaza area, he drew attention to parking schematics that would include dedicated parking for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas.
Reviewing several reiterations of the potential design, Blackburn noted that partners identified the “SEDL” building in Austin as the closest model to match the Santa Fe Depot while still reflecting the image of an up-do-date business center. He described each side of the building noting that Workforce entered from one side and Economic Development and the Chamber entered from the opposite side giving the building the appearance to two fronts and no back; Workforce customers can enter from either side. Blackburn also explained that the Center would have architectural enhancements linking to the Santa Fe Depot including similar brick, emblems, awnings, roof structure, and arches.
Providing views from different directions, Blackburn described placement for the buildings and parking lots. He briefly discussed the three-story Temple ISD Admin Building that would be directly across from the Business Center; the two buildings would be separated by walking and green areas. Blackburn noted that it was hoped that both buildings would use the same architects.
Specific to the proposed Workforce Center, Blackburn noted that ½ of the bottom floor and all of the top floor would be dedicated to Workforce Center and Rehabilitative Services. He also presented models for the interior design adding that the final designs would involve close work with actual tenants. The models presented included a reception area, technology bar (Career Center), and group/individual work/meeting areas.
Blackburn then discussed costs and financing plans. Allocated and committed funds included:
- Temple Reinvestment Zone allocated $5,000,000+ to provide for infrastructure redevelopment of Plaza;
- Temple ISD committed $12,000,000 for a new admin building to be located on Plaza; and
- Temple Chamber and Temple Economic Development Corporation will commit $7,000,000+ to put down the cash equity required for new business center building.
- Temple Economic Development Corporation: 2,380 sq. ft.;
- Temple Chamber of Commerce: 2,721 sq. ft.;
- TEDC/Chamber shared space: 2,887 sq. ft.; and
- Workforce and Rehabilitative Services: 25,013 sq. ft.
Regarding financing, Blackburn explained that three local banks were collaborating to providing financing. He noted that Temple Economic Development and the Temple Chamber would jointly own the building with each owning an undivided interest based upon percentage of cash equity each invested. Specific information related to ownership and responsibilities included:
- Temple Economic Development Corporation will put in $1,311,000 (69%);
- Temple Chamber will put in $589,000 (31%);
- TEDC and Chamber will have a ‘Facilities Management Agreement’ for management and operation of the building; and
- TEDC/Chamber will lease 25,000+ sq. ft. to Workforce at a rate sufficient to cover debt service on the note ($32,916 per month).
- 10 year lease, with 10 year option to renew and ‘contingency of appropriations’ clause;
- Chamber/TEDC will pay any and all real property taxes, assessments, etc. on the building;
- Chamber/TEDC will pay normal maintenance and repairs;
- Workforce will pay for their utilities and their share of insurance costs; and
- Workforce will have dedicated parking.
In closing, Blackburn reviewed the following timeline for project completion.
- Engineering and Architectural final design: Fall, 2016;
- Bid Award: Spring, 2017;
- Completion: Spring, 2018.
Motion to approve plans to begin the process of leasing space for the Workforce Center in Temple while adhering to State/Federal procurement requirements, Martha Tyroch. Second, Jim Granfor. Abstain, Cameron Bell. Discussion included acknowledgement that it was an outstanding deal for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, recognition that the Center will enhance other businesses in downtown Temple, and thoughts about public/private interests that could populate a third or fourth building in the same location. All in favor.
Special Presentation
Survey of Employee Engagement...... Krista Julian, Director
Training and Development Department, Texas Workforce Commission
Krista Julian, Director for the Training and Development Department at the Texas Workforce Commission, presented results for the statewide Survey of Employee Engagement. She began with a brief history of the bi-annual survey explaining that the University of Texas conducts the survey for all state employees including staff from the Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce Boards, and Workforce contractors.
Regarding Texas Workforce System data, Julian reported a 65% response rate with 3,771 employees responding to the 5,827 surveys distributed. She explained that the survey covers 13 constructs that are scored on a scale of 100 to 500; scores above 350 are considered as strengths.
Julian listed the following top three scores for the Texas Workforce System:
Strategic – 403
Workplace – 394
Supervision – 390
She noted that two of the three lowest scores were still above 350 making them positive, lower-scoring items. The three lowest scoring constructs were:
Employee Development – 361
Benefits – 355
Pay – 253
Julian also discussed a 14th construct “employee engagement” that was developed by the University of Texas. For this construct, 22% of Texas employees were considered to be highly engaged with 24% engaged, 37% moderately engaged, and 17% disengaged.
Moving to local data, Julian provided a comparison of local Board area staff to Texas Workforce Commission state staff. She noted that the scores were relatively similar with local staff scoring slightly higher on every construct.
Specific to Central Texas, Julian reported that a previously unheard of 99% response rate was achieved. Referencing a chart comparing Central Texas scores to the entire Texas Workforce System and other Workforce Boards, she noted that Central Texas scores were substantially higher. Julian drew attention to the fact that many of Central Texas’ scores were above 400 adding that overall Central Texas’ scores were 150 points higher than any other Workforce Area.
Regarding engagement, Julian reported that 52% of Central Texas employees were highly engaged with 22% engaged, 18% moderately engaged, and 9% disengaged. She explained how engagement was measured quoting the 10-12 questions that staff rated on a scale of 1 to 5. Board members requested a copy of the questions which she agreed to provide.
Julian then provided comparisons of internal scores noting that Board staff scored higher than Workforce Center staff and Workforce Center staff scores were higher than local Texas Workforce Commission employees. She noted that the primary difference related to pay and benefits.
In closing, Julian discussed Central Texas’ improvement cycle noting that the Texas Workforce Commission’s Training and Development Department had facilitated an Organizational Improvement Day for staff one day prior to the Board meeting.
Jerry Haisler explained that staff were asked to confirm whether the scores had changed for each construct and they were given the opportunity to make suggestions for improvement. He noted that this year leadership made a commitment to reemphasize quality and reengage/engage staff in quality systems improvements. Haisler noted that some suggestions are easily fixed giving as one example workplace safety – an item that was already the focus of an Improvement Team. As another example, he added that staff are interested in improving quality of services to customers. Haisler stated that evaluations from the staff meeting were positive noting that the staff members appreciate the fact that the Leadership Team pays for snacks.
Board members acknowledged the extraordinary results and recognized Susan Kamas and Jerry Haisler for the outstanding leadership. Participation requirements were discussed and Julian explained that the survey is voluntary. Regarding opportunities to share Central Texas practices with other areas, Kamas noted that strategies are shared at the Texas Executive Directors Council meetings.
Single Vendor Purchase Over $100,000...... Kamas
Kamas briefed the Board on a single vendor purchase that would exceed $100,000. She explained that the vendor consistently provided quality products and was selected from the state’s purchasing list.
Workforce Activities Briefings / Susan Kamas, Executive Director
Kamas began with information about Workforce early childhood training that was being provided to Killeen Independent School District’s teachers. Explaining that the request from training came from Dr. John Craft, she reported that the teachers had also been invited to attend Workforce’s Child Care Mid-Winter Conference.
Kamas then drew attention to information about the Annual Workforce Awards Luncheon. She stated that the event was going to be “even better than last year” adding that, in addition to the AV/tech students from the Career Center, students from Harker Heights would be supporting the event. Kamas also reported that Workforce’s highest award would be given to Texas Representative Jimmie Don Aycock. She noted that the presentation would be different than the award presented last year to General (Ret.) Robert Shoemaker.
Moving to state-level information, Kamas reported that the statewide Hiring Red, White and You Job Fair targeting veterans would be on November 10th. She explained that the location for the local Job Fair would be at the Courtyard Marriott adding that the opening ceremony would feature Texas Workforce Commissioner Ruth Hughs and Fort Hood Garrison Commander Todd Fox.
Regarding other statewide activities, Kamas discussed the Texas Association of Workforce Boards meetings in San Antonio noting that it was a valuable opportunity to engage Texas Workforce Commissioners and staff. She also encouraged Board Member attendance for Texas Workforce Day in Austin on February 6, 2017.
Kamas then discussed the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act regulations released by the Department of Labor. She noted that the 1,400 page document was being thoroughly reviewed by Texas Workforce Commission staff. Stressing the substantial impact of Workforce services, Kamas reported that there are 600 local Workforce Boards in the nation with a total annual budget of $50 billion. She noted that Workforce Boards outside of Texas have limited resources. Regarding upcoming changes, Kamas reported that Workforce Solutions of Central Texas can retain its name and logo; however, the following tagline will be added: a proud member of America’s Job Network. She also discussed substantial changes to the performance measurement system, including the negative impact of eliminating self-service customers from the count, and requirements to re-procure the One-Stop Operator by July 2017.
On the local level, Kamas discussed changes to child care law that would impact the number of children enrolled in care. She explained that the Texas Workforce Commission stopped at-risk children enrollment until budgets and performance targets could be aligned to address the additional time that children are likely to be in care.
In closing, Kamas described the Texas Workforce Commission’s Welcome Home Transition Alliance. She reported that a meeting was being held on Sept. 30th in San Antonio; it will be attended by Kamas, Jerry Haisler, LTG (Ret) Pete Taylor, and Martin Traylor. Kamas also referenced a Workforce/Education Summit scheduled for Sept. 15th. Finally, Kamas introduced special guest, Clyde McQueen. She explained that he was the Texas State Director in the 1980’s and now leads the Full Employment Council in Kansas City.
Workforce Centers Update / Jerry Haisler, Workforce Centers Director
Jerry Haisler, Workforce Centers Director, reported that the performance changes in the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act would give the appearance that far fewer customers are receiving services under the new system. He explained that staff in the Career Centers often assist job seekers but they do not register them for services or case manage their job search efforts. Haisler noted that, for the 8,000 customer in Killeen, many are served in the Career Center; Career Center customers are assisted, but since they are not registered, they do not count.