To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Lay-Off two Child Nutrition Assistant-Project and two Child Nutrition Cook-Project.

☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of the Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 26521 to cancel two (2) Child Nutrition Assistant-Project (98W4) positions #1059 and #1060 at salary plan and grade ($3,785 - $4,601), and two (2) Child Nutrition Cook-Project (98V2) positions #1225 and #1055 at salary plan and grade ($4,050 - $4,923), resulting in a layoff of the incumbents, effective October 21, 2025, and activate the Tactical Employment Team Program (TET) immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this item will result in cost savings of up to $307,872 annually and cost savings of up to $230,904 for FY 25-26, and was previously funded with 0% County, 50% Federal, and 50% State funds.
BACKGROUND:
The Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) has operated a Head Start kitchen at 847 Brookside Drive in Richmond. This facility prepared and delivered meals to 13 childcare centers across the county. In June 2018, childcare services were relocated from the Brookside site due to health and safety concerns, but the kitchen continued operations to support the Head Start program.
In November 2023, the California Department of Health Care Services awarded Contra Costa Health $18.6 million to fund the development of a new mental health rehabilitation center at the Brookside location. As a result, the kitchen facility will no longer be available to EHSD once construction begins.
EHSD engaged in an extensive review of possible alternatives for continuing in-house meal preparation and delivery. However, no suitable replacement facility has been identified to date. Without an operational kitchen, EHSD discontinued its Head Start food service operations effective October 21, 2025. The discontinuation of these services will result in the layoff of two Child Nutrition Assistant-Project and two Child Nutrition Cook-Project within the Department. Impacted employees remain entitled and actively participating in the Tactical Employment Team (TET) program or the layoff list processes under Personnel Management Regulation 614.
In order to fulfill the meal preparation, EHSD conducted an RFP and selected a contractor to ensure meals are provided to children daily as required by Head Start regulations and the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the proposed action not be approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Employment and Human Services Department will have inaccurate staffing in the Community Services Bureau.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
IN THE MATTER OF the action to lay off employees within the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) due to the discontinuation of food service operations.
WHEREAS, EHSD operated a Head Start kitchen at 847 Brookside Drive in Richmond, which prepared and delivered meals to 13 childcare centers, and had maintained food service operations at this facility after childcare services were relocated from the site in June 2018; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Health Care Services awarded funding in November 2023 to convert the 847 Brookside Drive facility into a mental health rehabilitation center, making the kitchen no longer available for EHSD’s use; and
WHEREAS, EHSD conducted an extensive review of alternative facilities and service options and did not identify a suitable replacement location to continue in-house meal preparation and delivery; and
WHEREAS, the discontinuation of food service operations will result in the layoff of two Child Nutrition Assistant - Project and two Child Nutrition Cook - Project; and
WHEREAS, affected employees remain entitled to participate in the Tactical Employment Team (TET) program or layoff list processes under Personnel Management Regulation 614; and
WHEREAS, to the extent that the subject of this Resolution is within the scope of representation pursuant to the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (Government Code Section 3500 et seq.), EHSD has offered to meet with the recognized employees' organization concerning this resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that EHSD has determined that continued operation of the Head Start kitchen at 847 Brookside Drive is no longer operationally feasible and will lay off two Child Nutrition Assistant-Project positions #1059 and #1060 and two Child Nutrition Cook-Project positions #1225 and #1055 in the Employment and Human Services Department.