The Economic and Workforce Development Committee on Oct. 20 moved to extend and amend the composition of the San Antonio Ready to Work advisory board, recommending an extension of the board’s term to Dec. 31, 2030, lengthening board member terms from two to four years and adding seats for training providers/higher education institutions and for organizations with experience serving individuals who face high barriers to employment.

City staff said the board was originally established by city council on Dec. 17, 2020, as a nine-member body charged with advising the Ready to Work program on target occupations, alignment with employer needs, wraparound supports and annual budget feedback. Staff recommended extending the board’s sunset date from Dec. 31, 2025 — which coincided with the end of sales tax collections for Ready to Work — and adjusting member categories and term lengths.

During discussion Chair Villagran and other members emphasized attendance concerns. Chair Villagran said that, after reviewing applications and attendance records, she worried that increasing terms from two to four years could lock in seats held by members with poor attendance and asked what mechanisms would remove non-participating members. Staff said that missing three meetings in a row would trigger outreach via the city clerk’s office and could lead to removal and a replacement appointment brought back to the committee.

Staff described the proposed composition as: four seats for local employers in in-demand occupations; two seats for current or former Ready to Work participants; one seat for trade and labor organizations; one seat for community organizations; two seats for training providers or higher education institutions (clarified during the meeting); and one seat reserved for organizations experienced in serving high-barrier populations. The advisory board is scheduled to meet six times per year, every other month.

The committee voted to move the resolution forward for full council consideration. Committee members requested regular updates on attendance — one member asked for a list of attendees after each meeting — and reinforced the importance of employer representation on the board.

No ordinance or resolution number was recorded on the public transcript; staff recommended the committee forward the amendment and extension for council action.