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ITEM: |
CONSENT
CALENDAR |
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10. |
CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION OF
MITIGATION FUNDS TO CONTRACT FOR ONE WATER RESOURCES ASSISTANT POSITION |
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Meeting
Date: |
June 21,
2004 |
Budgeted: Yes |
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Staff
Contact: |
Dave
Dettman |
Program/Line Item No.:
Fisheries 2-4-2B |
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Cost Estimate: $16,000 |
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General
Counsel Approval: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on June 7, 2004
and recommended
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CEQA
Compliance: N/A |
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SUMMARY: The limited-term Water Resources Assistant position is designed to assist with the District=s fisheries and aquatic resources program, as well as assist staff in groundwater and surface water monitoring programs within the Water Resources Division. Funding for this position is included in the 2004-2005 Fiscal Year (FY) budget. Authorization is requested to rehire a contract Water Resources Assistant, with that individual entering into an agreement with the District for up to 1000 hours of work between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the expenditure of funds to rehire a limited-term Water Resources Assistant to assist the fishery biologists and hydrologists with field and administrative tasks, for up to a total of 1000 hours during FY 2004-2005 at a salary of $13.75 per hour. The Administrative Committee considered this item at its June 7, 2004 meeting and
IMPACTS TO STAFF/RESOURCES: The budget for FY 2004-2005 includes funds to pay the part-time, limited-term Water Resources Assistant position for a maximum of 1000 hours. Funds totaling $16,000 are included in the Fisheries Mitigation Program as line item 2-4-2B in the Summary of Project Expenditures section of the FY 2004-2005 Budget. A similar amount was budgeted during FY 2003-2004. The Board should note that other than an hourly wage, this employee receives no District benefits except for those required by law (e.g. workers compensation coverage.) In the process of analyzing possible budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year, staff has investigated the consequences of not funding this limited-term position. If this position is not continued through FY 2004-2005, the following impacts on staff and resources are projected to occur:
1) As in the case of the Fish Rescue Workers, if staff attempted to conduct rescue with fewer workers, more fish would be lost because a smaller crew cannot effectively keep up with the number needing rescue and cannot work fast enough to keep up with the retreating river front.
2) If other fisheries staff were required to spend more time on fish rescues, their hours would have to be reduced on other tasks. This might affect weekend coverage at the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.
3) The Districts ability to adequately monitor spawning habitat and perform population surveys would be significantly reduced.
BACKGROUND: The
Water Resources Assistant position was created in December 1998 to assist staff
in the Water Resources Division with field and administrative tasks,
including rescuing of juvenile
steelhead in the lower Carmel River, surveying of steelhead spawning habitat,
and monitoring of groundwater and surface water resources within the Monterey
Peninsula Water Resources System. This position is needed to help ensure that
tasks for the District=s
Fisheries Mitigation Program are completed on schedule. The duties of the Water Resources Assistant
are listed in the job description attached as Exhibit
10-A. The Assistant works in the Water Resources Division and will
be supervised by the Senior Fisheries Biologist.
U:\staff\word\committees\Admin\20040607\10\item10.doc