Agenda - 04-13-2010 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Specifically, the following areas of benefit are anticipated to accrue due to this reorganization (a complete list of department functions is provided in the attached narrative): • Sharing of resources and knowledge for land stewardship and management and the protection of important natural/cultural resources. • Sharing of resources and knowledge for park management and operation. • Sharing of administrative support resources (including cost savings of freezing one vacant administrative assistant position, and a potential sharing arrangement with Cooperative Extension). • Sharing GIS, GPS and web-based resources and services, including initiatives already underway. • Coordination among all of the agencies on environmental education and programs, energy, sustainability and climate change public outreach, water resources educational initiatives, and low--impact and nature recreation opportunities. This collaboration may present economies of scale and cost savings collaboration through the sharing of staff resources. • Linking preservation and conservation efforts of both natural and cultural resources on resource lands and parklands, and gaining from the skill sets and knowledge of staff members heretofore separated. • Coordination of staffs responsible for parks, open space and trail acquisition, planning and design and those responsible for construction, operation and management. • Sharing of resources and knowledge for youth and adult leadership development and participation in recreational, environmental, nutritional and agricultural interests. • Making federal and state programs for soil and water conservation (and Extension programs related to agriculture and the environment) more accessible to the public and County government. • Consolidating and sharing resources (and equipment) between parks conservation and maintenance and County grounds maintenance functions. • Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan 2030, which envisioned closer coordination among these agencies and functions. Two vacant positions in this department were eliminated as part of Board action on April 8 to reduce costs. A number of possible names for the merged department have been identified to date, including the solicitation of suggestions from all departmental staff. From that list of 21 names, four are recommended to the Board for possible selection as the name of the new department: • Department of Environment and Parks (DEP) ■ Department of Environment, Parks and Agriculture (DEPA) • Parks, Agriculture and Resource Conservation (PARC) Department, and • Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (DEPR— working title) FINANCIAL IMPACT: While the primary purpose of this reorganization was to maximize resource sharing and provide mutual support for similar functions, two vacant positions have been identified and eliminated as of April 8 (Administrative Assistant III and Parks Conservation Technician 1), resulting in a reduction of $115,184 in salaries and benefits. Additional budget reductions and/or adjustments will be addressed as part of the FY 201 0-11 budget. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation and, if desired, select a name for the new merged department.