To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Bert Whitaker, Jessica Jensen, Steve Ehret, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Regional Parks Appointment of Retiree Extra Help
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Pursuant to Government Code §7522.56 approve the appointment of Mark Cleveland as a Regional Parks Senior Park Planner Retiree Extra-Help, in order to fill a critically needed position within 180 days of his retirement, with an appointment date as early as August 25, 2026.
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Executive Summary:
Pursuant to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), Government Code §7522.56, an exception can be made to reappoint a retiree as extra-help provided the governing body certifies that the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed position in those circumstances where 180 days from the date of retirement have not yet passed. This approval must be in a noticed public meeting and not on a consent calendar. Regional Parks is requesting the appointment of Mark Cleveland as a Regional Parks Senior Park Planner in a retiree extra-help capacity to provide critical support in park planning and park development, specifically by leading bidding and development of several major park construction projects and guiding critical phases of completing master plans. Regional Parks is requesting an exception, pursuant to PEPRA Government Code §7522.56, to reappoint a retiree as extra-help to provide critical support in the Regional Parks’ Planning Division.
Discussion:
Pursuant to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), Government Code §7522.56, an exception can be made to reappoint a retiree as extra-help provided the governing body certifies that the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed position in those circumstances where 180 days from the date of retirement has not yet passed. This approval must be in a noticed public meeting and not on a consent calendar. PEPRA includes other requirements in order for a retiree to be eligible for an extra-help appointment, such as not having accepted a retirement incentive and not having accepted unemployment arising out of prior public appointment. The individual and delegated department staff have completed the Retiree Extra-Help Compliance Form certifying the appropriateness of the appointment.
Mark Cleveland, Senior Park Planner, retired on June 23, 2026, after 35 years of service to Regional Parks, all within the Planning Division. He entered Regional Parks service on November 12, 1991, as a Park Planner II, followed by promotion to Senior Park Planner in the Planning Division.
At the time of his retirement, Mr. Cleveland was managing more than two dozen capital projects. In this role, Mr. Cleveland was responsible for managing numerous programs and projects on grant deadlines, including Mark West Creek Regional Park Master Plan, Carrington Ranch Regional Park Master Plan and California Coastal Trail - North Coast Coastal Trail Development, Russian River Parkway Phase 1 development, and several other significant projects. In addition, Mr. Cleveland has been training upcoming park planners in transitioning to lead project management roles for other major master planning and development efforts.
Although Regional Parks is working to fill the full-time position vacated with Mr. Cleveland’s retirement, his replacement will not bring his long experience and deep familiarity with the sites, projects, stakeholders, and department and county procedures. It is therefore respectfully requested that consideration be given to appointment of Mark Cleveland as Retiree Extra-Help to continue this time sensitive work to meet grant funding deadlines of these critical projects.
Regional Parks has consulted with Human Resources Department, which supports this recommended action.
In accordance with Government Code §7522.56, Regional Parks is asking the Board to certify as follows:
• Mark Cleveland’s appointment to Regional Parks Senior Park Planner is necessary to fill a critically needed position within 180 days of his retirement date;
• Mark Cleveland did not accept retirement incentives upon his retirement;
• Mark Cleveland’s appointment shall not exceed 960 hours per year; and
• Per Internal Revenue Code §401(a)(36), Mark Cleveland meets the requirement of being of normal retirement age.
If the Board of Supervisors makes the foregoing certifications, Mark Cleveland will be hired as of August 25, 2026, as a Regional Parks Senior Park Planner Retiree Extra-Help.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$128,762 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$128,762 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
$128,762 |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$128,762 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Funding for a full-time Senior Park Planner was included in the adopted FY 2026-27 Regional Parks budget. Although recruitment is underway, Regional Parks does not anticipate filling the position before October 2026. Due to the salary savings expected to accrue during the vacant period, Regional Parks estimates that FY 2026-27 costs for both this extra-help request and the next full-time incumbent will not exceed the position budget of $256,000. Funding is provided primarily through reimbursements from Capital Improvement Projects funded by a combination of grants, Parks for All Measure M revenues, and other funding sources.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None