ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
13.	CONSIDER CONVERTING THE HYDROGRAPHY PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION TO AN ASSOCIATE HYDROLOGIST POSITION THAT CAN BE FILLED AT THE ASSISTANT HYDROLOGIST LEVEL
Meeting Date:			October 18, 2021	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Jonathan Lear	Cost Estimate:	Cost Savings of $23,970 to $37,970
General Counsel Approval:  N/A
Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on October 11, 2021 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance:  This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

SUMMARY: The Water Resources Division currently holds the employee positions of Division Manager, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Hydrography Program Coordinator, Associate Hydrologist, and the recently filled Assistant Hydrologist. On 9/16/21, the employee in Hydrography Program Coordinator tendered a letter of resignation and will retire on 12/30/21 after over 30 years of service to the District. This position was originally classed as a Hydrologist position with a ladder between the Assistant and Associate levels. After 16 years of experience, the current position was re-classed into the Program Coordinator position. The Water Resources Division is seeking to convert the Hydrography Coordinator position back into the laddered Hydrologist position prior to refilling the position. The purpose of converting the position is to restructure the Water Resources Division to allow for more cross-program coordination by bringing the surface water program under the Division Manager whom is already the lead for all other hydrologic monitoring, project operations, technical databases, and permitting and compliance support. Staffing these programs with Hydrologists that can work in all of the programs will bring a more robust and adaptable work force to the District. Converting the position to a laddered position will allow the District to recruit and both levels and reach a larger applicant pool.

Converting the position has an annual cost savings of $23,970 to $37,970 due to the difference in salary between the positions. Hiring this position will allow the District to take advantage of the new positions skill set to offset costs elsewhere. For example, the WRD will be able to perform in Division GIS work and only use the GIS consultant for technical support and not work product. Currently the WRD relies on Lynx Technologies for GIS work product. A budget adjustment will not be necessary for this action because the Program Coordinator is compensated at a higher range of the District salary scale.

At the District, the Hydrologist position is a journey level position offering a career ladder and the Hydrologist Technician is not. The WRD is looking to attract a type of employee that is interested in a career track with the District that can be utilized in succession plans in the Water Resources Division. By re-classifying this position, the District can begin the recruitment process immediately and minimize the time the Water Resources Division is down one employee.

RECOMMENDATION:  The Administrative Committee recommends the Board convert the Hydrography Program Coordinator Position to either an Assistant Hydrologist Position at Range 30 or an Associate Hydrologist at Range 37 to be determined by applicant pool.

BACKGROUND:  Greg James accepted his position as an Associate Hydrologist at the District on 9/3/1991. He was promoted to the Hydrography Program lead in 2007. On 9/16/2021, Greg tendered his resignation indicating he was retiring from District service effective 12/30/2021. Greg has been a great asset to the District for over 30 years and has created a robust surface water monitoring network collecting high quality data. The data his program generates helps to inform ASR operations, fish rescues, water rights applications, and was used to build the Carmel Valley Hydrologic Groundwater Model. 

EXHIBITS

13-A Assistant Hydrologist Job Description

13-B Associate Hydrologist Job Description

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