Memorandum
Date: February 6, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administration Officer
Stephen L. Carter Jr., Assistant County Administrative Officer
Subject: Review and Consideration of Structural Changes to the Water Resources Department, and Provide Direction to Staff
Executive Summary:
On January 9, 2024, your board directed staff to return with cost estimates for the Water Resources Department after separation from the Public Works Department. The original proposal was to convert the Water Resources Deputy Director position into a Water Resources Director position to reduce expenses and keep the fiscal accountant under Public Works to maintain continuity. Your Board directed staff to bring back for consideration the estimate of the cost to add a new Water Resources Director position while keeping all other positions the same.
Currently, the Water Resources Department has 12 full-time equivalents (FTE) in budget unit 8107, which is supported by the department's 8 other budget units. The grants and other services provided by Water Resources currently produce sufficient revenues to support 11 of the FTE's in budget unit 8107 with the exception of 1 Program Coordinator FTE that is funded through cannabis taxes for Hitch related activities. The fiscal operations for Water Resources are handled through an accountant in budget unit 1903 Public Works Administration, which is then charged to Water Resources. Adding a Water Resources Director isn't likely to be funded through Water Resources standard practices, which means if the position is added another funding source like the general fund would need to fund the position.
On July 19, 2016, your Board decided to separate Water Resources and Public Works and hire a Water Resources Director. On July 16, 2019, the Public Works Director was named the interim Water Resources Director and finally on August 27, 2019, your Board combined the two departments.
Befor...
Click here for full text