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To amend ch. 2, art. V of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 4.1, consisting of §§ 2-850-2-852, for the purpose of establishing a Future of Workforce Commission.
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WHEREAS, the City believes that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the city of Richmond that the City establish the Future of Workforce Commission to advise the Council and the Mayor on matters involving workforce development through partnerships that facilitate training and programs for accessing employment, career, and educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that the annual operating costs for the Commission will be approximately $5,000, including ten staff hours;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That Chapter 2, Article V of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020) is hereby amended and reordained by adding therein a new division numbered 4.1, consisting of sections numbered 2-850 through 2-852, as follows:
DIVISION 4.1.
FUTURE OF WORKFORCE COMMISSION
Sec. 2-850. Created and purpose; composition; terms of office.
(a) Creation and purpose. There shall be a Future of Workforce Commission whose purpose shall be to provide the Council and the Mayor with information and advice concerning the formation of partnerships to facilitate training and programs for accessing employment, career, and educational opportunities.
(b) Composition. The Commission shall be composed of 15 members, subject to the conditions set forth in this section, as follows:
(1) The Council shall appoint ten members.
(2) The Mayor shall appoint five members.
(3) The membership shall, to the extent possible, consist of representatives from the school division administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond, the School Board of the City of Richmond, City Council, administrative departments of the City, J. Sargent Reynolds Community College, Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, the Greater Richmond Transit Company, a private partnership developer, and corporations having a headquarters or place of business in the city.
(c) Terms of office. The members shall serve for terms of three years. All appointments shall be otherwise governed by Section 2-767 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended. All other aspects of the Commission and its membership not addressed in this division shall be governed by Chapter 2, Article V, Division 1 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended.
Sec. 2-851. Duties; reporting.
(a) Duties. The Future of Workforce Commission shall serve as an advisory body to the Council and the Mayor. The Commission shall provide the Council and the Mayor with information and advice concerning workforce development through partnerships that facilitate training and educational programs for accessing new employment opportunities by performing the following duties:
(1) Recommending the manner in which the City may develop partnerships with organizations within the community, consisting of members of the executive management of local government and schools and youth serving community and business organizations, to create a plan for workforce educational and training opportunities from preschool through post-secondary, including certificate programs and associate degrees for workforce preparedness to enhance the City’s economic development objectives.
(2) Proposing a continuum of career and educational options for all residents of the city, starting at sixth grade through the 12th grade in the school division administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond, to include middle and high school students and young adults.
(3) Identifying ways in which students of the school division administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond may obtain access to programs designed for grades six through twelve, engage with employers and community partners for career planning, increase career awareness, and enhance career exploration for multidisciplinary career options for employment or study at the college level.
(4) Proposing educational programs for sixth through 12th grade students of the school division administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond that promote career and higher education opportunities through, at a minimum, in-classroom activities, extracurricular activities, career advising, externships, and internships.
(5) Proposing career technical education programs that include assessments of the career and technical education curriculum offered within the school division administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond and the exploration and development of career and technical education options for residents of the city, including, without limitation, youth.
(6) Developing a plan to identify funding options for the acquisition and development, either or both, of vacant, unoccupied, or undeveloped real property in the city for career training or educational programs. Such plan shall include an outline of such programs, requirements for the acquisition of the real property, the actions necessary to implement the programs, and the amount of space needed for participants in the programs.
(7) Identifying options for dual enrollment for students as well as training programs for adults and identifying options for workforce development to enhance the City’s economic development objectives.
(b) Reporting. The Commission shall provide to the Education and Human Services Standing Committee, by no later than December 31st of each year, a written report regarding the status of the Commission’s work, as set forth in this section, with the first of such reports due by no later than December 31, 2023. In addition, the Commission shall provide the Council and the Mayor with a written report on the Commission’s initial plan to accomplish the objectives set forth in this section by no later than June 30, 2024.
Sec. 2-852. Conduct of affairs.
The conduct of the affairs of the Commission shall be as follows:
(1) Quorum. Eight voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
(2) Officers. The Commission shall select from among its membership a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and such other officers as it may deem necessary to discharge its functions.
(3) Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least once every four months in the calendar year and as often as the Commission may deem necessary.
(4) Freedom of Information. All meetings and records of the Commission, including, but not limited to, the taking and keeping of minutes, shall be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
(5) Procedures. The Commission may adopt rules of procedure or bylaws, approved as to form and legality by the City Attorney and not inconsistent with this division or other applicable law, to govern the conduct of its meetings and affairs.
(6) Staff and Resources. The Office of the Council Chief of Staff shall provide such staff and resources and shall coordinate the provision of assistance by members of the City administration and the offices of appointees of the City Council, as may be necessary to assist the Commission in completing the duties imposed by this division.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.