Subject:
Title
CareerSource Consortium - Interlocal Agreement between Brevard County, Flagler County, and Volusia County.
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Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Dept/Office:
County Manager’s Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners:
1. Approve the Interlocal Agreement between Brevard County, Flagler County, and Volusia County creating the CareerSource Consortium;
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the Interlocal Agreement (subject to the review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office and Risk Management);
3. Appoint Commissioner Rob Feltner to serve as Brevard County’s member of the Consortium; and
4. Appoint the County Manager as the alternate member for Brevard County to the Consortium.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act, which was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in 2021, called for a reduction in the number of local workforce development boards to better serve job seekers, workers, and business in Florida. Specifically, it directs the following actions:
1. Eliminate multiple layers of administrative entities to improve coordination of the workforce development system.
a. Consolidation of CareerSource Flagler Volusia (Local Workforce Development Area 11) and CareerSource Brevard (Local Workforce Development Area 13) to create a new three-county local workforce development area for Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties (Local Workforce Development Area/Region 27).
2. Establish consistent eligibility standards across the state to improve the accountability of workforce-related programs.
3. Provide greater flexibility in allocating resources to maximize the funds directed to training and business services.
The attached Interlocal Agreement provides that all incorporated and unincorporated areas within Brevard County, Flagler County, and Volusia County have been consolidated as designated by the Governor of the State of Florida as Local Area/Region 27, effective July 1, 2024. The Local Workforce Development Board for Flagler/Volusia will be dissolved. The Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc. dba CareerSource Brevard will become Brevard Workforce Development Board, Inc. dba CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia.
The newly established “Consortium”, established by the Interlocal Agreement, will collectively serve as the Chief Elected Official for the new CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia and will consist of one currently serving Commissioner from Brevard County, one currently serving Commissioner from Flagler County, and one currently serving Commissioner from Volusia County. An alternate from each jurisdiction shall be appointed as specified in Section 3.1.1. of the attached Interlocal Agreement.
Initial appointments to the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) will be by unanimous approval of the Consortium.
The LWDB shall provide strategic oversight to help develop a comprehensive and high-quality workforce delivery system in the Local Area, and to maximize and continue to improve the quality of services, customer satisfaction, and effectiveness of the services provided.
The LWDB shall ensure the existing physical and programmatic access to services by employers, workers, and job seekers within each County will be assessed and provided in a manner that maximizes customer access and satisfaction. Physical locations for services and operations will be located in all three Counties and, to the extent feasible, honor existing physical locations that are utilized currently.
The executive director shall be an employee of CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia and shall report to the LWDB and Consortium.
The LWDB shall develop a 4-year local area workforce plan (“Local Plan”) along with a 2-year plan modification in partnership with and approved by the Consortium and consistent with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) section 108.
In order to provide for fairness and equity in merging these two CareerSource entities, the following require “unanimous” approval by the consortium:
1. The Chair of the Consortium shall review, acknowledge, and execute contracts and other records on behalf of the Consortium in accordance with all federal, state and local laws and within the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Other powers or authority reserved to the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 445.007, Fla. Stat. or other applicable state or federal law, shall be exercised collectively by the Consortium, with unanimous consent.
2. Initial appointments of the LWDB shall be by unanimous approval of the Consortium.
3. The Consortium shall approve the annual budget of the LWDB and such approval must be made by unanimous vote. The annual budget shall be based upon the planning numbers provided by the Florida Department of Commerce and include all public workforce development funds, non-public revenues, and discretionary grants.
4. All non-public revenues and grant funds (unrestricted) shall be allocated on behalf of each County as said funds are obtained and allocated by the funding source. If allowed, these funds may be reallocated within the Local Area for a specific time and purpose only by unanimous vote of the Consortium members.
5. Designation or change of the Administrative Entity and/or Fiscal Agent shall require unanimous approval by the Consortium.
6. Designation or change of Executive Director shall require unanimous approval by the Consortium.
7. Upon unanimous consent, the Consortium shall have the authority to suspend, with or without pay, or remove the Executive Director with or without cause.
8. Approval of a process for the LWDB to select general counsel for the new entity. Designation or change of general counsel shall require unanimous approval by the Consortium.
9. Consideration of applicants and, from those, recommendation of an Executive Director or Interim Executive Director for unanimous approval by the Consortium.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Upon execution of the Interlocal Agreement by the Chair and attestation by the Clerk, please file the original signed Interlocal Agreement with the Clerk of Court pursuant to Subsection 163.01(11), Florida Statutes, and return the Interlocal Agreement to the County Manager’s Office.