To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ann Elliott, Human Resources Director
Report Title: Introduce Ordinance No. 2025-011
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2025-011 amending the County Ordinance Code to exempt from the merit system the new classification Senior Deputy Director, Department of Conservation and Development – Exempt, WAIVE READING and FIX October 7, 2025, for adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT.
There is no impact.
BACKGROUND:
The County Administrator's FY 24/25 Recommended Budget identified two potential positions in the Department of Conservation and Development, pending a job class and salary study. Now, with the studies complete, it is recommended to create the job class of Senior Deputy Conservation and Development Director and add two positions in this class to improve work integration and plan for future department leadership.
The creation of two new leadership positions continues a phased departmental reorganization that began with the elimination of the Land Information and Business Operations Manager role. The upgrade of two Deputy positions to Sr. Deputy-Exempt was also part of this process, addressing new programs, succession planning, and manager retirements.
These changes recognize the department's management of various multi-jurisdictional planning efforts such as Envision Contra Costa, the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, the Sea Level Rise/Resilient Shoreline Study, the Carbon Sequestration Study, the California Housing Element, affordable housing development, the Just Transition Economic Revitalization Plan, the Green Empowerment Zone, the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative, the Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan, Illegal Dumping, Delta Water planning, and commercial cannabis. These long-term programs often involve federal/state funds, requiring additional management, accountability, and reporting.
The job classification study concludes that the new class and positions will contribute significantly to achieving the department's long-term organizational management objectives.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the recommendation is not approved, the current situation will persist and succession planning will continue to be unaddressed.