To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Add one (1) full-time Environmental Health Investigator I position and cancel one (1) vacant permanent-intermittent Environmental Health Specialist I position in the Environmental Health division of the Health Services Department.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 26208 to add one (1) full-time Environmental Health Investigator I (VL7A) position and cancel one (1) vacant permanent-intermittent Environmental Health Specialist I (VLWA) position. (Represented)
FISCAL IMPACT:
Overall, this action will result in annual cost savings of $55,743.68, with pension savings of $8,143.58 included. The addition of one Environmental Health Investigator I will result in a total annual cost of approximately $122,330.56, with pension costs of $17,871.23 included, which will be fully offset by program fees (Org 5880 - 100% covered by contracts with surrounding City agencies). The cancelation of the Environmental Health Specialist I position #14778 will result in an annual cost savings of approximately $178,074.24, with pension costs of $26,014.81 included (savings to org 5889).
BACKGROUND:
SB 1383 is the most significant landfill waste reduction mandate adopted in California in the last 30 years, with its goal being to reduce organics waste landfill disposal by 75% (from 2014 levels) by 2025. Beginning January 1, 2022, residences and businesses were required to start sorting and separately collecting food scraps, yard debris and food-soiled paper from trash/recycling and subscribe to an organics waste collection service. The legislation aims to slow climate change by diverting organic materials from landfills, recovering 20% of edible food and redirecting it to food-insecure Californians. It also requires Counties to take the lead to collaborate with other jurisdictions to plan for the necessary organic waste recycling and food recovery capacity needed to divert organic waste from landfills.
In the recent months, the Environmental Health division has received an increasing number of inquiries from surrounding Cities regarding contracting services to meet the new requirements of SB 1383, and the County is currently working to solidify plans for providing these services in the varying food facilities. It was determined that one (1) additional Environmental Health Investigator would be needed in order to cover the volume of work that this new program will bring in - responsibilities would include conducting office and field investigations to determine whether or not violations of solid waste and other environmental regulations and ordinances exist, preparing related reports, advising violators on ordinance requirements, interpreting health ordinances, and overseeing abatement contracts. Fees collected from these contracts will fully fund the new position. In addition to adding this new position, the division also plans to cancel one vacant permanent-intermittent Environmental Health Specialist I position that has been vacant since 2013.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without the addition of adding one (1) full-time Environmental Health Investigator, there would continue to be growing delays in meeting the increasing number of inquiries. It would also lead to issues in achieving the landfill waste reduction goals set out by SB 1383.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator
☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
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I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. |
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ATTESTED: |
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Monica Nino, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors |
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By: |