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Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title II: Fiscal, Article V: Special Funds, by adding a new Chapter 236: Workforce Development Fund for the purposes of supporting the City of Pittsburgh’s ongoing work to expand access to the construction industry, center minorities and women in those efforts, and ensure the delivery of critical infrastructure and economic development projects.
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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh understands that access to high-quality jobs is critical to the ability to grow Pittsburgh neighborhoods and connect residents to opportunity; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh understands the need to build and maintain a strong construction industry to ensure the delivery of critical infrastructure and economic development projects; and
WHEREAS, the construction industry is in need of more skilled workers and provides its workers with career mobility and family-sustaining wages; and
WHEREAS, minorities and women are underrepresented in the construction industry, and more efforts need to be done to ensure that those interested in careers in the field have the ability to pursue a career in construction; and
WHEREAS, in light of these opportunities, the City of Pittsburgh convened the Construction Industry Task Force that focused on identifying specific measures to increase access to the construction industry and crafting actionable solutions to the issues highlighted; and
WHEREAS, the work of the Construction Industry Task Force will be continued through an ongoing Workforce Partnership.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Code is hereby amended and supplemented as follows at Title II: Fiscal, Article V: Special Funds, by adding Chapter 236: Workforce Development Fund:
§ 236.01 - Establishment of the Workforce Development Fund.
(a) The Office of the City Controller shall create the Workforce Development Fund.
(b) The Office of Management and Budget shall manage and direct the Workforce Development Fund.
(c) City Council shall approve:
(1) All assets dedicated to the Workforce Development Fund; and
(2) All expenditures made using the Workforce Development Fund’s assets.
§ 236.02 - Workforce Development Fund Assets.
(a) The City may appropriate funding to the Workforce Development Fund.
(b) The City may accept and receive monies from non-City sources for use in the Workforce Development Fund.
(c) Funding dedicated to the Workforce Development Fund shall be used for purposes consistent with those enumerated in § 236.03.
(1) Any assets remaining in the Workforce Development Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried into the Workforce Development Fund in the next fiscal year, including all interest and income earned, as well as any repayments or forfeiture of loans and / or grants.
(2) City Council may, at its discretion and through legislative action, re-appropriate assets previously dedicated to the Workforce Development Fund.
§ 236.03 - Priorities.
(a) Use of the Workforce Development Fund’s Assets shall be limited to:
(1) Establishing a Local Pre-Apprenticeship Bridge Program Certification that ensures that all pre-apprenticeship bridge programs are teaching to the standards needed to enter union apprenticeships;
(2) Exploring a unified online and print application for both pre-apprenticeship bridge programs and union apprenticeship programs;
(3) Developing a Comprehensive Website Portal where job seekers can create a profile, connect to current information on pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities in the construction trades, and receive alerts for upcoming opportunities and information. The portal shall be able to be adapted for other emerging careers;
(4) Creating a Joint Marketing & Outreach Plan between necessary partners to synchronize the production of materials, job fairs, and networking events. This plan shall also include identifying key influencers in economically-disadvantaged communities to act as ambassadors;
(5) Creating a Joint Lobbying Plan between necessary partners to lobby for state and federal legislation, and access new funding streams. A specific focus shall be put on driver’s license suspension for non-driving offenses and clean slate legislation;
(6) Developing a Data Sharing Agreement between necessary partners to track the success and hurdles of pre-apprentices along their path into a union apprenticeship or career, and compile the findings into an annual report;
(7) Exploring crafting a Driver’s License Restoration Policy that would create a fund or system to allow formerly incarcerated people and people with a transportation barrier to employment to repay fees and fines against their license at a discounted rate; and
(8) Exploring a partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools to expand career and technical program offerings to ensure that CTE graduates have access to pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeships that will give them direct access to the careers in the construction industry.
§ 236.04 - Restrictions.
(a) The use of assets from and the dedication of funding to the Workforce Development Fund, including monies accepted and received from non-City sources, shall comply with:
(1) The City’s annual Five Year Plan;
(2) Act 11 and intergovernmental cooperation agreement requirements; and
(3) All relevant and applicable law.
§ 236.05 - Audit and Report.
(a) Within ninety (90) days of the end of the fiscal year, the Office of the City Controller shall conduct an annual audit of the Workforce Development Fund.
(1) The audit shall review any appropriations made to the Workforce Development Fund by the City, as well as the dedication of any monies to the Workforce Development Fund that were accepted from additional sources.
(2) The audit shall review all expenditures made through the use of the Workforce Development Fund’s assets.
(b) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the end of the fiscal year, the Office of the City Controller shall submit a report detailing the results of its annual audit of the Workforce Development Fund.
(1) This report shall be made available to the Mayor, City Council, and the Office of the Management and Budget.
(2) This report shall be filed with the City Clerk.