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ADMINISTRATION / PERSONNEL - Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Discuss the creation of a consolidated Building & Planning Department
1) Request approval of the new classification specification of Director of Building & Planning at the proposed Salary Range 64, effective 12/03/24
2) Request approval and authorization to begin the recruitment process for the Director Building & Planning at Salary proposed Range 64
3) Direct Personnel Office staff to implement a plan for consolidation of the two Departments
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b) Request approval and authorization to begin the re-recruitment process for the Director of Planning at Salary Range 57
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Financial Impact:
Option A: The estimated annual cost for salary, benefits and roll-up costs for the Director of Building & Planning is approximately $167,236 - $198,587. The annual cost including salary, benefits, and roll-up costs for the Director of Planning is approximately $157,215 - $186,406. Therefore, the annual increased cost would be approximately $10,021 to $12,181. If a plan for consolidation of the two departments is directed, this action may result in a cost savings, however; only if the appointed Director of Building and Planning was a certified Building Official. The annual cost including salary, benefits, and roll-up costs for the classification of Building Official in Tehama County is $142,077 - $166,902.
Option B: There would be no increased cost associated with this request.
Background Information:
Tehama County currently has vacancies in both the Building Official and the Director of Planning positions. This provides the opportunity to revisit the concept of creating a consolidated Building and Planning Department.
A recruitment for the Director of Planning was flown for the period of November 7, 2023, through January 5, 2024. A total of three (3) applications were received. One (1) applicant passed the application screening process. The Board of Supervisors asked the recruitment process to be paused and directed staff to bring forward other options.
The Building Official position became vacant August 2024. A recruitment has not been flown.
Option A of the Requested Actions would include approval of a new classification specification for a consolidated Building and Planning Department with a Director of Building & Planning. If Option A is approved, the classification specification for Director Building & Planning would need to be approved, as well as direction to staff to implement a plan for consolidation of the two departments.
In creating the proposed Director of Building & Planning classification specification, staff researched consolidated departments amongst our six (6) comparator counties. Humboldt County and Glenn County both had comparable classifications. Further research was conducted outside of the comparator counties with other counties similar in population size.
A salary survey was conducted using the counties with comparable positions. Because the number of comparable positions were limited and include non-comparator counties, internal salary relationships were also considered in determining the proposed salary placement at Salary Range 64.
Further, Option A would include direction to the Personnel Office staff to implement a plan for consolidation of the two Departments. Consolidation of the Departments may have an impact on existing personnel. Changes in working conditions are a mandatory subject of bargaining. Therefore, if this option is selected, the Personnel Office will be obligated to meet and confer with the applicable bargaining units to discuss implications and impacts on existing personnel.
Option B of the Requested Actions would include approval to re-recruit for the current Director of Planning position. If Option B is approved, the two departments would remain status quo. However, this does not prevent the County from pursuing a consolidation of the two departments at a later date.