To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services; County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tina Rivera, 707-565-4774; Christina Rivera, 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Department of Health Services and County Administrator’s Office Staffing Allocations
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a personnel resolution amending the Department Allocation Lists for the County Administrator’s Office and the Department of Health Services to add 1.0 full-time equivalent County Communications Specialist allocation to the Department of Health Services and delete 1.0 full-time equivalent County Communications Specialist allocation from the County Administrator’s Office, effective August 22, 2023.
B) Adopt a resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the fiscal year 2023-2024 adopted budget for the Department of Health Services, adjusting $169,200 in previously budget expenses to support the requested position allocation and reducing reimbursements and expenses for the County Administrator’s Office. (4/5th vote required)
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
The Department of Health Services (hereinafter, “DHS” or “the Department”) has been dependent on the Sonoma County Communications Unit within the County Administrator’s Office to assist with public messaging. Given the Department’s unique communication challenges of late, in-house dedicated support is preferred. The County Communications Specialist will support the Director, Division Managers, Unit Managers, and the Department’s communications needs as directed, with the goal of providing clear and accurate information, while also improving the Department’s public image and community communications.
Discussion:
DHS is requesting to transfer a vacant 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) County Communications Specialist from the County Administrator’s Office (CAO) Communications Division to the DHS Administration Division. The Board of Supervisors established a centralized communications division under the management of the CAO on March 10, 2020.
Per that directive, the County Communications Specialist equivalent position was transferred out of DHS. Since that time, a decision has been made to transfer the County Communications Specialist position back to DHS due to DHS’s critical and urgent communication needs. This position will assist with Departmental improvements to internal and external communications, coordinated messaging, developing, and managing social media, and creating and managing marketing campaigns. The County Communications Specialist will support the Director, Division Managers, Unit Managers, and the Department’s communications needs as directed, with the goal to prevent and correct misinformation and improve the Department’s public image and community communications.
Serving under the Director of DHS, the County Communications Specialist will perform highly responsible and specialized communications support activities including the design, development, planning and implementation of internal and external communications, marketing, and media relations activities including social media. The DHS County Communications Specialist will reside within the DHS Administrative Division.
Impacts to existing positions include one County Communications Specialist deleted from the County Communications Division, as this position will be moving to DHS.
CAO and DHS seek approval to amend their respective 2023-24 adopted budget appropriations and position allocation resulting in the deletion of 1.0 FTE County Communications Specialist from CAO and addition of 1.0 FTE County Communications Specialist to DHS.
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 |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$169,200 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
$198,665 |
$206,611 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$169,200 |
$198,665 |
$206,611 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
$198,665 |
$206,611 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$169,200 |
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$169,200 |
$198,665 |
$206,611 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
DHS will fund the County Communications Specialist position with the Department’s Administration Allocation along with Direct Charging for work performed on behalf of a specific program or division. One-time costs of $10,000 for computer, phone, or other needs has been included with Salary and Benefit costs estimated at $159,200 for 10 months. This position will be supported by DHS Administration Allocation that was previously reimbursing the County Administrator’s Office for the position. Funding for this position direct charges time to divisions based upon support to the divisions. The County Administrator’s Office’s budget is being reduced by $159,200 for the reimbursement and costs of the position.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
County Communication Specialist (DHS) |
$8,431.96 - $10,247.76 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
|
County Communication Specialist (CAO) |
$8,431.96 - $10,247.76 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
A vacant 1.0 FTE County Communications Specialist will move from CAO to DHS, and DHS will work with Human Resources to begin the recruitment process to fill the position.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Personnel Resolution
Attachment 2 - Budget Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None