TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager and Pacific Gateway to complete a comprehensive study of what a "Local Hire/FSA" program would entail and return to City Council within 45 days. The research for the study should be done with Long Beach community partners including faith based organizations, and non-profits working on these issues. The report should also include an evaluation and feasibility on a job coordinator for the program.
DISCUSSION
Specific areas of Long Beach continue to suffer high unemployment rates despite the perceived economic recovery. The highest unemployment rates are found in Central Long Beach, most notably Council Districts 1 and 6, with Council Districts 7 and 9 following behind.
With the recent work on the city wide Project Labor Agreement (PLA), there has been a significant level of interest from Council members, the Community and City Staff to create a specific comprehensive "local hire" program that will work to give people the tools and resources to secure a good job with good wages and benefits.
"Local Hire" programs come in varied ways. During one of the first meetings on the PLA, the Council was introduced to "First Source Agreements" (FSA) programs. These programs work with a variety of employers to ensure that local jobs go to local people. This specific program will focus on non-PLA, service industry jobs and other sectors of employment. Creating a unique space for this program is imperative in order to have a well-developed policy that encompasses more than construction.
With a strong Pacific Gateway team, a local Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the City can work with communities of interest to develop and maintain a program that can engage those needing meaningful and good paying work.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact at this point.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
DEE ANDREWS
COUNCILMAN, SIXTH DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT