FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
4.	CONSIDER RECLASSIFYING THE METER COORDINATOR POSITION TO WATER RESOUCES TECHNICIAN POSITION
Meeting Date:			April 14, 2025	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Jonathan Lear	Cost Estimate:	$14,049
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Finance and Administration Committee reviewed this item and recommended __________________.
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, District Engineer, two Assistant Hydrologists, and the Meter Program Coordinator. On 3/25/2025, the employee in the Meter Program Coordinator position tendered a letter of resignation, and the employee’s last day was 4/10/2025. This position was managing the Well Metering Program and supporting the technical aspects of the Water System Permitting process for the Water Demand Division.

The Water Resources Division is seeking to reclassify the Meter Program Coordinator position into a Water Resources Technician position. The Water Resources Technician position is a journey-level class position that could be filled at the Water Resources Technician I or II level, based on experience. The purpose of reclassifying the position is to restructure the Water Resources Division and expand the duties of the current position. The Meter Program Coordinator managed the Well Reporting Program and was responsible for registering wells and meter inspections. The new position would continue with these duties but would also maintain the technical databases related to the District’s property files and land use, as well as support the District’s hydrologic monitoring programs.

This position will require a skill set in Geographic Information Systems and database operations and a Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences or conservation/resource management; whereas the Meter Program Coordinator position did not require these skill sets. The Water Resources Technician will prepare detailed written reports related to historic water production, land use, and property history for legal review to support the Water System Permit process. The Water Resource Technician will be able to explain the Water System Permit process in the field to the landowner when performing meter inspections. Additionally, the new position will be able to lend support to the Hydrologic Monitoring Programs during winter times when tasks require two employees for safety reasons. This will allow the Assistant Hydrologists to operate the Aquifer Storage Program and monitor streamflow at the same time, as well as free up the Assistant Hydrologists to further develop the District’s Drone and Bathymetry Programs.

Staff proposes a salary range of 29 ($102,020.86 at Step E) for the Water Resources Technician position as per the District’s salary schedule. This range is proposed using a survey of comparable positions and the job description for this role. Compared to the Meter Program Coordinator position, this will result in an additional annual cost of $14,048.59 plus benefits at Step E for FY 2025-2026.

RECOMMENDATION: The Finance and Administration Committee should recommend that the Board approve the Water Resources Technician position as per the attached job description with a salary range of 29, and approve recruitment for this position.

BACKGROUND: Over the last five years, the Water Resources Division has seen a turnover of three positions out of the approved five positions. Many of the previous employees were long-term District employees who retired with over 30 years of tenure at the District. Staff proposes restructuring the Water Resources Division to better adapt to the current functions of the District. Some of the additional functions needed in the Division include the maintenance of the Property Files, technical wells database, field meetings with landowners to explain District rules, as well as as-needed support for rescue operations, streamflow, groundwater, Aquifer Storage and Recovery, and Bathymetry programs. This change in position seeks to fill these gaps.

EXHIBIT

4-A Water Resources Technician Job Description

U:\staff\Board_Committees\FAC prev Admin\2025\041425\ActionItems\04\Item-4.docx