East County hires White Oak planning manager; workforce programs, college feasibility cited

Giroux (speaker 6) told the council that East County hired Cicero Salas as White Oak Planning Manager and highlighted several planning initiatives and projects intended to spur local development and workforce participation.

Giroux named two developments in preliminary planning: a White Oak Shopping Center project and a proposed White Oak Apartments (presented in the briefing as a preliminary site plan for 390 units that would include 49 MPDUs). He said the Hillandale Gateway project and a New Hampshire BRG study are also in early planning and that his office is working with developers and the county to advance those projects.

On workforce issues, Giroux described an array of programs targeted at underserved residents, including summer youth programs (the presentation said the Summer Rise program is proposed to expand from about 600 to 800 youth with increased stipends), grants for nonprofits to expand workforce centers, and a focus on including immigrant and undocumented residents in corridor workforce development. He noted a mobile employment van procurement is delayed and that a pre‑bid for a workforce program had a Feb. 28 application deadline.

Council members welcomed the hiring and asked about cross‑regional application of East County program models; Kasiri said RSC directors meet monthly with executive staff to share successful approaches. The council asked staff to provide follow‑up written details on program timelines and application results.