To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Robert Gonzalez, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Natural Resources Division Staffing Position Request
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution approving amendments to the Regional Parks Department Allocation List reflecting the addition of 5.0 full time equivalent (FTE) positions, and the deletion of 4.0 FTEs.
end
Executive Summary:
Within Regional Parks, the Natural Resources Division has the responsibility to protect natural resources including stewarding wildlife habitat and ecosystem function throughout Sonoma County Regional Parks. The Natural Resources Division achieves this goal through ongoing activities including vegetation management such as fuel reduction and invasive species control, monitoring and management of wildlife, and restoration of healthy riparian corridors and wetland systems.
The Regional Parks Department is requesting adding 3.0 FTE Senior Park & Grounds Maintenance Workers and 2.0 FTE Park & Grounds Maintenance Worker II positions, and deleting 3.0 FTE Park Program Assistants and a 1.0 FTE Department Program Manager, to better reflect and support the duties and projects within the Natural Resources Division.
Discussion:
Following the passage of Parks for All Measure M in 2018, the Regional Parks Department was afforded the opportunity to expeditiously establish the Natural Resources Division
The Natural Resources Division is currently compromised of 3.0 FTE Park Program Assistants, 3.0 Park Program Supervisors, 1.0 vacant Program Manager and 1.0 Division Manager. The Division has the responsibility for vegetation management such as fuels reduction and invasive species control, monitoring and management of wildlife, and restoration of healthy riparian corridor and wetland systems. Currently, the Division can accomplish the bulk of this work with the current complement of staffing but has recognized, and County Human Resources has agreed, the work is better aligned with the Parks and Grounds Maintenance Worker classification series. The Division has expanded their capacity and additional scope of work and requests to adjust for the appropriate classifications as well as a net add of 1.0 FTE’s, as described below.
The proposed addition of 3.0 FTE Senior Park & Grounds Maintenance Workers and 2.0 FTE Park & Grounds Maintenance Worker II’s will be providing services to support: forest management, fuels reduction, coordination and implementation of prescribed fire, mapping and managing noxious weeds, protecting rare plant populations, and monitoring and stewarding wildlife. These duties are currently being performed by employees using positions within the Park Program series which are typically for support and oversight of recreational and educational programs within Regional Parks.
To help offset the expense of this request, the Department recommends deleting a vacant 1.0 FTE Department Program Manager ($192,175 position cost) within the Natural Resources Division and 3.0 FTE Park Program Assistant allocations ($179,046 for 6-month costs). The Department Program Manager was added to the Division several years ago but never filled or submitted for recruitment. After evaluation of the work being performed, it was determined a position to focus on primarily administrative duties wasn’t warranted and the Division would be better served to focus on positions to provide implementation of the natural resources work.
For FY 2023-24, the 5 requested positions, less the proposed deletions, is estimated to be a net savings to the Department in the amount of $30,572. For FY 2024-25, the positions will be funded by Regional Parks Measure M, Category 4 funds. Category 4 funds are designated specifically for Natural Resource activities - decreasing fire risks, invasive plant management, waterway and riparian protections and improvement and can be utilized for staffing for Natural Resources work.
On October 17, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) to fund riparian enhancements at Helen Putnam Regional Park as mitigation for impacts from the construction of SMART’s multi-use trail. The funds collected from this agreement will help cover partial cost of a 1.0 FTE Maintenance Worker II position starting in FY 24/25 in the amount of $56,898 and ongoing for the next 11 years.
Proposed Position Costs
|
Requested Positions |
FY 2023-24 (6 months) |
FY 2024-25 |
|
Park & Grounds Maintenance Worker II |
$64,696 |
$135,861 |
|
Park & Grounds Maintenance Worker II |
$64,696 |
$135,861 |
|
Senior Parks & Grounds Maintenance Workers |
$70,419 |
$147,881 |
|
Senior Parks & Grounds Maintenance Workers |
$70,419 |
$147,881 |
|
Senior Parks & Grounds Maintenance Workers |
$70,419 |
$147,881 |
|
Deleted Department Program Manager |
($192,175) annual |
$0 |
|
Deleted Park Program Assistants |
($179,046) 6 months |
$0 |
|
TOTAL |
($30,572) |
$715,365 |
Human Resources approved the proposed changes in this item pursuant to their established processes on November 9, 2023.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 2: Expand outreach and education on vegetation management and provide additional resources to landowners to help mitigate fire risk.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
October 17, 2023, the Board approved an agreement with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to Fund Riparian Enhancements at Helen Putnam Regional Park. As part of that Board item, funds received from the agreement would be utilized in FY 24-25 to fund a portion of a 1.0 FTE Park & Grounds Maintenance Worker II position.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$340,649 |
$715,365 |
$751,133 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$340,649 |
$715,365 |
$751,133 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$340,649 |
$715,365 |
$751,133 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$340,649 |
$715,365 |
$751,113 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
With the deletion of the four current positions, the Department will be able to fund the requested five positions for the next 6 months ($340,649) in FY 23/24 with a savings of $30,572. In FY 2024/25 annual positions costs will be funded primarily by Measure M Category 4 funds and through the agreement with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to Fund Riparian Enhancements at Helen Putnam Regional Park of which $56,898 will cover partial cost of 1.0 FTE Maintenance Worker II position.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Park and Grounds Maintenance Worker II |
$5,163.88 - $6,277.01 |
2.0 |
|
|
Senior Park and Grounds Maintenance Worker |
$5,722.19 - $6,955.33 |
3.0 |
|
|
Department Program Manager |
$8,138.03 - $9,892.95 |
|
(-1.0) |
|
Park Program Assistant |
$5,250.85 - $6,381.37 |
|
(-3.0) |
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There is no staffing impact with the deletion of a vacant 1.0 FTE Department Program Manager. The Park Program Assistant allocations are currently filled. Incumbents in these positions will be underfilled in the Senior Parks and Grounds Maintenance Worker allocations. The department will work with Human Resources to begin the recruitment process to fill the newly requested positions.
Attachments:
Personnel Adjustment Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None