Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MAY 17, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: METRO TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. RECEIVING AND FILING an update on the Metro Transportation School; and
B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Los Angeles (County) based on the principles outlined in Attachment A.
Issue
ISSUE
At its June 2017 meeting, the Board received and filed the proposed framework for a pilot educational and vocational training program with the objective of facilitating career pathways for local youth in Los Angeles County’s transportation sector. Given the progress made to date, a critical next step is for Metro to negotiate and enter into a MOU with the County for the development of the transportation school.
Background
BACKGROUND
At its April 2017 meeting, the Board approved Motion #43 by Directors Ridley-Thomas, Fasana, Garcetti, Barger, Garcia, and Dupont-Walker directing the CEO to develop a framework for a pilot educational and vocational training program, specifically, though not exclusively, targeting at-risk probation and DCFS youth who have historically been under-served educationally. (Attachment B). Since the report to the Metro Board last June, staff has retained a consultant, CauseImpacts, and continued coordination with the County regarding the development of a transportation school, including predevelopment activities associated with a potential site.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Transportation School Framework
Since the last Board update, the consultant and project team have developed the Metro Expose, Educate, Employ Youth Education (E3) Initiative that aims to expose, educate and employ the next generation of youth into the transportation industry. The centerpiece of the E3 initiative is the Metro transportation school that plans to recruit youth from the County’s safety net, along with youth from across the County, to a college-preparatory boarding academy that specializes in inspiring and training youth to pursue careers in the transportation and infrastructure sectors. Mission and goals of the E3 Initiative are to:
- Ensure the training center is a state-of-the-art, cutting edge facility, promoting innovation in the field;
- Align the curriculum development for synergy with Metro’s workforce demands, to include options for immediate job opportunities through Metro and its contractors;
- Through a transit vocational training center, expand the opportunities for disadvantaged residents from across the County to seek opportunities for job training to prepare themselves for careers in the transit industry in coordination with Metro’s WIN LA Program; and;
- Partner with labor, the private sector, community colleges and community organizations to develop culturally-sensitive training programs with wrap-around services (as needed).
Transportation School Site
On December 5, 2017, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the acquisition of 4.2 acres of land on the 8400 and 8500 blocks of Vermont Ave in South Los Angeles for the development of the Vermont and Manchester Transit Priority Joint Development Project. The proposed Project consists of a six-story mixed-use affordable housing and community serving/commercial retail building, an open transit plaza, a six-story high school boarding academy with faculty residential units, and 383 parking spaces located at the ground-level and within a 4.5-level parking structure. The County received possession of the property on May 7th.
The proposed project site provides the opportunity for Metro to partner with the County to build the premiere public charter transportation boarding school at this location as well as a transit vocational training center within the mixed-use development. The County has issued a RFP for the developer and operator of the Boarding School. The solicitation was drafted with input from Metro staff and Metro will serve on the evaluation committee. The County intends to finalize the review by the end of the month and bring an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) to the BOS on June 19, 2018. An RFP was released for the mixed-use portion of the development on Friday, April 27, 2018 through the County’s Community Development Commission. The County expects to enter into an ENA with the developer by September 2018.
Staff recommends the Board designate authority for the CEO to enter into negotiations with the County for the development of an MOU and/or Exclusive Negotiation Agreement which would guide the implementation of the Vermont and Manchester Transit Priority Joint Development Project. The MOU would be based upon the principles outlined in Attachment A.
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This Board action will have no adverse impact on safety standards for Metro.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could choose not to proceed with the recommended action and could direct staff to not enter into an MOU with the County. Staff does not recommend proceeding with this alternative since it does not address the priorities outlined in the Board motion to address the agency’s workforce needs.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to executing a MOU with the County. Any funding commitments related to the transportation school would be brought to the Metro Board for consideration as a formal funding agreement.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval by the Board, staff will begin negotiations with the County.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Principles for the MOU
Attachment B - Motion 43: Supporting Access to Careers in Los Angeles County’s Transportation Sector for At-Risk Youth
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Joanne Peterson, Chief Human Capital & Development, (213) 418-3088
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Stephanie Wiggins, Deputy CEO, (213) 922-1023
