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11 <br />complexity of this project, and the May 25 memo on the new department <br />indicated that Shaping Orange County's Future coordination could move <br />to the ERCD pending its completion next year. This would make sense, <br />especially given the fact that many of the issues and goals of Shaping <br />Orange County's Future have a strong linkage to environment and <br />resource conservation. Related to this is the Commissioners goal on <br />sustainability, which uses Shaping Orange County's Future as a <br />springboard for launching a County program to integrate sustainability into <br />County policies and programs. Since these issues are intertwined, and <br />much of the underpinnings of sustainability lie in the environmental area, <br />ERCD staff could continue to coordinate efforts in this regard working <br />closely with the Commission for the Environment, Economic Development <br />and other County departments. <br />III. Evaluating Resource Needs for the New Department <br />Using the mission and tasks outlined above, the staff work group has evaluated <br />and assessed the resource needs of the new department (personnel, equipment, <br />budgetary and space). <br />One method to adequately accomplish this evaluation is through adual-modal <br />approach -with two trains of thought. <br />In the first approach, the ERCD is looked at as if it were a new department <br />"starting from scratch", with no available resources to call on. Once needs are <br />assessed using this approach, the second model is a parallel assessment of the <br />new department, given known resources and opportunities that exist within the <br />County. <br />Review of these two models together enables a clearer picture of the necessary <br />resources for the new department, and might point up any gaps between needs <br />and available resources. <br />A. Evaluation Model #1 - "Starting from Scratch" <br />1. Personnel <br />Personnel needs for a new department would be based around the <br />mission and tasks, as previously noted. Using this a base, these would <br />appear to include: <br />a) Background and knowledge of surface and ground water planning and <br />management <br />b) Background and knowledge in biological resources, air quality, <br />sustainability and general environmental issues <br />8 <br />