To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Scott Orr, Director (707) 565-1925; John Mack, Natural Resources Division Manager, (707) 565-1233
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Professional Geologist Position Allocation Change Request
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution amending the Permit Sonoma Department Allocation List to add 1.0 full-time equivalent Professional Geologist allocation and delete 1.0 full-time equivalent Senior Environmental Specialist and 1.0 full-time equivalent Office Assistant II allocations, effective April 28, 2026.
end
Executive Summary:
Permit Sonoma is requesting to delete 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) vacant Senior Environmental Specialist and 1.0 FTE vacant Office Assistant II and add 1.0 FTE Professional Geologist to support work performed by Permit Sonoma’s Natural Resources Division. This position will serve as the lead for implementing the County’s Aggregate Resource Management program, perform mining facility inspections, conduct permit and reclamation plan reviews, and support groundwater, stormwater, and water quality program implementation and oversight.
Discussion:
Permit Sonoma’s Natural Resource Division has broad ranging responsibilities for water resources and aggregate resources. Responsibilities include implementing the County’s Aggregate Resource Management program (ARM Program), reviewing mining permits and reclamation plans, evaluating private project groundwater and well proposals, and serving as liaison to three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. It also advances special and grant-funded groundwater projects, reviews seismic issues for private projects, and coordinates the County’s municipal storm sewer permits and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) actions for impaired watersheds.
The department is requesting to add a Professional Geologist position to serve as the lead in implementing the County’s Aggregate Resources Management program, mandated by Sonoma County Code Section 26A-13-010. Responsibilities include conducting required inspections of mining facilities, reviewing reclamation plans and permit modifications, addressing non-compliance, and evaluating applications for new or expanded mining operations. The position will also support restoration of abandoned mine sites and coordination with state and federal agencies involved in aggregate resource oversight. The Professional Geologist will also assist with the County’s responsibilities as lead agency for the State’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA, Public Resources Code Sections 2710-2796). State regulations require that a licensed professional with expertise relevant to mining, geology, or engineering, oversee SMARA inspection programs for counties with delegated authority. In addition to SMARA oversight, the position will support stormwater and water quality programs under the County’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, support review of groundwater and well permits, and assist with data management and enforcement of the County’s groundwater metering program.
Adding a licensed Professional Geologist in place of the more general Senior Environmental Specialist position will better align specialized program responsibilities with the appropriate technical expertise, improving the department’s ability to effectively implement its regulatory and resource management programs. The department is proposing to delete 1.0 vacant Senior Environmental Specialist and 1.0 vacant Office Assistant II position to help offset the cost of the proposed position.
The request has been submitted, reviewed, and approved by both County Human Resources and the County Executive’s Office.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$41,449 |
$256,156 |
$263,841 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$41,449 |
$256,156 |
$263,841 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
$20,725 |
$128,078 |
$131,921 |
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$20,725 |
$128,078 |
$131,921 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$41,449 |
$256,156 |
$263,841 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The annual cost for the Professional Geologist position in FY 2025-26 prorated for 2 months (May-June 2026) is $41,449. Full year costs for FY 2026-27 of $256,156 and FY 2027-26 $263,841 assume a 3% cost of living adjustment. The total estimated cost savings resulting from the deletion of 1.0 Senior Environmental Specialist and 1.0 Office Assistant II will be ($193,913) for FY 2025-26, ($80,648) for FY 2026-27 Fiscal Year, and ($83,067) for FY 2027-28.
The cost of the new position will be funded by approximately 50% charges for at-cost projects for mining operations, mining permits, use permits, and well permits, as well as fees for use permit holders with conditions of groundwater monitoring. The remaining 50% will be sourced from existing General Fund.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Senior Environmental Specialist |
$9,042.45 - $10,992.17 |
|
(1.0) |
|
Office Assistant II |
$4,622.97 - $5,621.31 |
|
(1.0) |
|
Professional Geologist |
$10,806.06-13,136.68 |
1.0 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
This request will add 1.0 Professional Geologist full-time equivalent position and delete 1.0 vacant Senior Environmental Specialist and 1.0 vacant Office Assistant II full-time equivalent positions.
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A