Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Trevor M. A. Fisher
Department: Public Works Division: Water & Wastewater Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute the LiftOff BCPS Internship Program Business Partner Agreement with Broward County Public Schools for year 2023 for the purpose of recruiting student interns for Broward County’s Water and Wastewater Services, allocating a total amount not-to-exceed $9,000 for all such student interns, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney. (Commission Districts 2, 4 and 9)
ACTION: (T-11:01 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0. Commissioner Udine voted in the affirmative telephonically.
B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to negotiate and execute an agreement with Broward County Public Schools for the purpose of recruiting student interns on an ongoing basis for Broward County’s Water and Wastewater Services, allocating a total amount not-to-exceed $9,000 per year for all such student interns, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney. (Commission Districts 2, 4 and 9)
ACTION: (T-11:01 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0. Commissioner Udine voted in the affirmative telephonically.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required to authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to take the referenced actions.
What Action Accomplishes
Provides required authorization to the County Administrator.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
Broward County Public Schools (“BCPS”) oversees the LiftOff BCPS Internship Program ("LOIP”) to match promising high school rising seniors with quality employers for valuable on-the-job learning opportunities. Under LOIP, participating employers may compensate student interns through one of two methods: (1) by directly paying student interns a minimum wage of at least $11 per hour and providing coverage under the Worker’s Compensation Act; or (2) sponsoring positions by donating $1,500 per student intern to the Broward Education Foundation. Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (“WWS”) recommends participation in LOIP via the second method.
By participating in LOIP, WWS hopes to identify and recruit qualified candidates for water treatment plant operator positions. Currently, recruitment for water treatment plant operator positions is difficult due to the challenges of becoming qualified. For example, water treatment plant operators are required to complete course work, perform over 2,000 hours in a water treatment plant, and pass a state examination.
WWS has worked to increase the number of qualified applicants through the BCPS Water Treatment Plant Operator Training Program. In 2022, this program successfully placed interns with Broward County municipalities, resulting in those municipalities offering the interns permanent positions.
By recruiting student interns through LOIP and encouraging their further participation in the BCPS Water Treatment Plant Operator Training Program, WWS hopes to recruit and retain home-grown talent to fill the need for water treatment plant operators.
If approved, this item will authorize the County Administrator to do the following: (1) execute the LiftOff BCPS Internship Program Business Partner Agreement (Exhibit 1), subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, so that WWS may recruit student interns through LOIP for the year 2023, during which time the County’s cost per student intern will be $1,500; and (2) negotiate and execute an agreement with Broward County Public Schools, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, so that WWS may recruit student interns on an ongoing basis after 2023. In both instances, the total amount not-to-exceed allocated for all such student interns will not exceed $9,000 per year. BCPS will invoice Broward County through the Broward Education Foundation for each student intern.
Source of Additional Information
Mark Darmanin, Director, Water and Wastewater Services Operations Division (954) 831-0960
Alan W. Garcia, P.E., Director, Water and Wastewater Services (954) 831-0707
Trevor M. A. Fisher, P.E., MBA, Director, Public Works Department, (954) 357-6410
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The County’s cost per Student Intern is $1,500 and will not exceed $9,000 annually. BCPS will invoice Broward County through the Broward Education Foundation for each intern.