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TEHAMA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL / PERSONNEL - Air Pollution Control Officer Joe Tona
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Request approval of a new classification specification of Air Pollution Administration Specialist within the Joint Council bargaining unit, effective 11/18/25
b) RESOLUTION - Request adoption of a resolution amending the FY 25/26 Position Allocation List (PAL), (Reso #2025-074) by deleting one (1.00 FTE) Administrative Assistant allocation and adding one (1.00 FTE) Air Pollution Administration Specialist allocation at Joint Council Salary Range 28, effective 11/18/25
c) Request approval to reclassify one Administrative Assistant incumbent as an Air Pollution Administration Specialist, effective 11/18/25
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Financial Impact:
The requested action of reclassifying the current Administrative Assistant to an Air Pollution Administration Specialist results in an annual increase of approximately $3,120. Costs will be fully funded by the Carl Moyer Administrative funding, Rx Fire Grant Funding and other fee revenue. Therefore, there is no impact to the General Fund.
Background Information:
The Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) is requesting a structural change within the Air Pollution District. This request involves adding a new classification of Air Pollution Administration Specialist to the District’s Position Allocation List (PAL) and reclassifying the current Administrative Assistant to an Air Pollution Administration Specialist.
Over the years, the Air Pollution Control District has taken on additional grant-related work, including the Carl Moyer Program, the FARMER Program, and the Woodsmoke Reduction Program. Each of these initiatives has increased recordkeeping requirements to ensure proper implementation and adherence to their respective guidelines, while also helping the District achieve significant emission reductions without relying on additional or stricter regulations.
Currently, the District is staffed by three positions supporting the Air Pollution Control Officer: an Administrative Assistant and two Air Pollution Control Specialists. The Air Pollution Control Specialists focus on investigations, preparing engineering evaluations, issuing permits to operate, and implementing grant programs. The Administrative Assistant handles clerical work, screens calls and visitors, responds to complaints, and performs routine financial recordkeeping. The District now requires a position capable of supporting the APCO by performing higher level duties.
The proposed reclassification reflects the evolving scope of responsibilities, which now extend beyond traditional clerical duties. The revised role will emphasize grant administration, financial tracking, public outreach, coordination with representatives from outside public agencies such as the California Air Resources Board, and providing project-specific guidance to departmental staff, while also covering tasks typically assigned to the Administrative Assistant role.
By creating an Air Pollution Administration Specialist role, the workload on the Air Pollution Control Specialists will be reduced, allowing for more focus on other tasks critical to grant implementation and the District’s broader objectives. This role would also provide greater flexibility in future hiring, enabling the District to recruit either an Administrative Assistant or an Air Pollution Administration Specialist when staff turnover occurs.
In recognition of the expanded duties, the APCO requests to place the Air Pollution Administration Specialist at Salary Range 28, representing a two-range (5%) increase from the current Administrative Assistant classification (Range 26). This adjustment is consistent with the internal salary relationships for similar positions at this level.
Should the classification be approved, the APCO requests to amend the Position Allocation List (PAL) by deleting one (1.0 FTE) Administrative Assistant and adding one (1.0 FTE) Air Pollution Administration Specialist allocation. This would result in a reclassification of the current Administrative Assistant incumbent. The incumbent is currently performing duties at a higher level and meets the minimum qualifications of the Air Pollution Administration Specialist.
The Joint Council bargaining unit was provided written notice of the proposed action and is in agreement on this matter.