To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Transportation and Public Works
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Transportation and Public Works - Staffing Adjustments
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution amending the Department of Transportation and Public Works Allocation list to add 1.0 full-time equivalent Airport Operations Specialist and 1.0 full-time equivalent Department Information Specialist II position, effective April 19, 2022.
end
Executive Summary:
The Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) is requesting the adoption of a Resolution amending the Department Allocation list to add 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. The two positions requested are an Airport Operations Specialist to support the Airport Division and a Department Information Specialist II to support the entire Department. County Human Resources and the County Administrator’s Office have reviewed and approved Position Change Request forms for both positions. Ongoing funding for both positions will come from dedicated Department/Division sources and will not require contributions from the County’s General Fund. Position costs for the Department Information Specialist II position will be financed by a proportional share of the annual expenditures by each division. The Airport Operations Specialist will be financed by the Airport Enterprise Fund through revenue from rents and fees which are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023 due to the end of COVID related travel restrictions and the opening of a new passenger terminal in late 2022.
Discussion:
In response to the ongoing expansion of the Sonoma County Airport and increasing adoption of information technology tools throughout the Department, Transportation and Public Works (TPW) management is requesting adoption of a Resolution amending the Department Allocation list to add 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. If approved, the Department would add 1.0 FTE Airport Operations Specialist and 1.0 FTE Department Information Specialist II in FY 2021-22. Per County policy, Position Change Request forms for both positions have been reviewed and approved by Human Resources and the County Administrator’s Office (CAO).
Airport Operations Specialist
The Sonoma County Airport is a certified commercial service airport under federal regulations with operating agreements in place with four commercial air carriers (Alaska, American, United, and Avelo), and provides direct air service to eleven markets in the continental United States. Commercial service airports are required to follow all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations, and the primary responsibility of an Airport Operations Specialist is to ensure compliance with these regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in the temporary suspension of commercial flight operations.
The Airport currently has 7.0 FTE Airport Operations Specialist positions allocated to provide coverage from 4:30 am to 12 am seven days per week. Staff turnover (including a 6-12 month training process), employee vacations, and medical/FMLA leaves have created ongoing challenges for the Airport to properly staff this critical position. This staffing issue existed for several years prior to the onset of the COVID-19 in March 2020 however, the Airport has delayed taking action during the last two years until passenger volume returned to pre-pandemic levels. In calendar year 2022, the Airport is expecting to exceed 2019 passenger levels (244,678), and as a result, is requesting the addition of 1.0 FTE Airport Operations Specialist to their current allocation. If approved the additional position will provide Airport management with the staffing flexibility required to meet current regulatory requirements and ensure public safety.
Fiscal Year 2021-22 expenditures for this position are estimated to be $11,120 and will increase to $133,427 for the full year in FY 2022-23. The funding sources for Airport Operations Specialists include rents and concessions collected through normal airport operations including; terminal and hangar rents, parking fees, a percentage of on-premise car rental and fuel sales, and landing fees. While COVID-19 had a direct and material impact on Airport revenue, commercial air activity is quickly returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, and the Airport expects to have adequate sources of revenue to fund this position on a permanent basis. The Airport operates as an Enterprise Fund and as such receives no contribution from the County’s General Fund.
Department Information Systems Specialist II
The TPW Information Systems Division currently consists of 1.0 FTE Department Information Systems Coordinator (DISC), who is responsible for supporting the Information Technology (IT) needs of four distinct operating divisions. Each division (Roads, Airport, Transit, and Integrated Waste) has unique IT needs and utilizes specialized hardware/software solutions. As the size, scope, and complexity of these solutions have expanded it has become increasingly difficult for 1.0 FTE to support the entire department.
In addition to existing IT infrastructure, the Department is anticipating several large IT projects in FY 2022-23. They include supporting the IT needs of the new passenger terminal at the Sonoma County Airport, migrating the Transit division to the Information Systems Department (ISD) Desktop Support Team, and deployment of a new department-wide communication radio system. Adding 1.0 FTE Department Information System Specialist II (DISS) will benefit the Department by allowing the DISC to delegate lower-level service requests and focus on large project implementation and strategic planning. Duties would include:
• Daily calls/e-mails from department staff requesting assistance for hardware, software, and peripheral support.
• Software/hardware failure diagnosis and coordination with ISD for repairs.
• Support for Department-specific software for which ISD does not provide support.
• Support for technology systems in the Department which are not support by ISD (Ex. Conference rooms, etc.).
• Develop documentation and provide trainings on IT/Technology topics to benefit all Department staff.
• Perform software upgrades on Department-specific software systems.
Adding a DISS will reduce the Department’s dependence on outside IT vendors who may not be familiar with County IT policies, systems, and equipment. The Department has worked with ISD to seek additional support, but staff are committed to other priorities, and cannot provide the level of support to meet departmental needs.
Fiscal Year 2021-22 expenditures for this position are estimated to be $15,660 and will increase to $187,931 for the full year in FY 2022-23. Expenditures for the new position will be budgeted in Roads Administration however; each division will reimburse Roads Administration a proportional share of the annual expenditures. Currently, the Department DISC position is apportioned as follows: Roads 75%, Airport 8%, Transit 4%, and Integrated Waste 13%. TPW anticipates the DISS will be apportioned similarly. The funding sources for each division will be:
1. Roads Division - State Highway Users Tax (HUTA)
2. Airport - Rents and concessions
3. Transit - State/federal funding sources and transportation fares
4. Integrated Waste - Franchise Fees
TPW does not anticipate any Division using contributions from the General Fund for this position.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$26,780 |
$321,358 |
$334,758 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$26,780 |
$321,358 |
$334,758 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$26,780 |
$321,358 |
$334,758 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$26,780 |
$321,358 |
$334,758 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Expenditures for the Airport Operations Specialist will be included in the Airport Operations (41301-34030101) annual budget. Fiscal Year 2021-22 expenditures for this position are estimated to be $11,120 and will increase to $133,427 for the full year in FY 2022-23. Funding sources for Airport Operations Specialists include rents and concessions collected through normal airport operations including; terminal and hangar rents, parking fees, a percentage of on-premise car rental and fuel sales, and landing fees
Expenditures for the Department Information Systems Specialist II will be included in the Roads Administration (11051-34010101) annual budget. Fiscal Year 2021-22 expenditures for this position are estimated to be $15,660 and will increase to $187,931 for the full year in FY 2022-23. Each TPW division will reimburse Roads Administration a proportional share of the annual expenditures. The projected allocations for FY 2022-23 are; 75% Roads ($136,843), 13% Integrated Waste ($23,719), 8% Airport ($14,597), and 4% Transit ($7,298).
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Airport Operations Specialist (0704) |
$4,878.64 - $5,929.16 |
1.0 |
|
|
Department Information Systems Specialist II (0159) |
$6,873.58 - $8,357.18 |
1.0 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
If approved, the Resolution would add 2.0 FTE positions to the Department of Transportation and Public Works.
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.