The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a contribution agreement with South32 to fund the development of a regional workforce strategic plan in a reimbursable amount not to exceed $150,000.

Supporters said the plan will be driven by a local executive committee and will identify employer needs, training gaps and pathways for residents to gain employment. “The proposed strategic workforce plan, which is gonna be entirely funded by South 32, will help us identify the employment needs of our business community, the skill or training gaps of our workforce, and propose training programs to address both of these issues,” said Greg Lucero, representing the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District, during the public comment period.

County staff and the committee stressed the plan will be guided by local education and workforce leaders rather than by South32. Deputy County Manager Chris Young told the board the project will be managed through a county procurement process and the executive committee — made up of local superintendents, the county school superintendent and community college leadership — will guide the plan’s development. “South 32 has made it very clear that they want this executive committee ... to be the leaders of this. They do not wanna lead this,” Young said during the action item presentation.

Several members of the public urged additional safeguards and transparency. Wendy Eslas, speaking during public comment, voiced concern about reporting clauses in the agreement and possible conflicts of interest, saying the county has “complete discretion to not enter this agreement” and asking that the clause granting South32 reporting rights be omitted or that identical reports be posted publicly. Business owner Richard Nash urged inclusion of local tourism and conservation stakeholders in planning, citing concerns about potential impacts on air quality, water and roads.

Supervisors emphasized that the contract will go through the county’s public RFP process and that the committee wants the work to be data-driven and inclusive. The board voted to approve the agreement; the motion carried.

The county and committee said the next steps will be a public request-for-proposals (RFP) for a consultant to carry out the study, stakeholder outreach and a process to produce recommendations for training programs and employer partnerships.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve the contribution agreement with South32 carried (vote tally not specified in the record).