Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign the negotiated Letter of Agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding between the County of El Dorado and the Operating Engineers Local No. 3 representing employees in the Trades and Crafts Bargaining Unit to memorialize and implement negotiated provisions regarding a pilot Wildlife Trapper Canine Stipend.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
County of El Dorado (County) and the Operating Engineers Local No. 3 representing employees in the Trades and Crafts (TC) Bargaining Unit (Collectively, the Parties), have an executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the period through June 30, 2024. Though the term has expired, the MOU provisions, except where specifically stated, remain in effect status quo until replaced by a successor MOU or agreement.
The County contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA Trapper) for wildlife damage management services. The USDA Trapper supports the County’s Wildlife Specialist and provides necessary equipment, including trained working hounds (canines), for the provision of services. However, the continued availability of the USDA Trapper is uncertain due to the current fluidity of federal government contracts and their ability to retain or hire personnel for use as contractors. Because mountain lion activity has presented an increased safety concern within the County following a confirmed fatality in 2024, and numerous attacks on and loss of livestock and domestic animals, the Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures has a current need to ensure the continuity of working hounds that may be used to supplement the canines provided by the USDA Trapper.
Though the Parties are currently engaged in good faith successor MOU negotiations, the Parties have separately met and conferred in good faith regarding the establishment of a pilot initiative for the use of County’s Wildlife Specialist incumbent’s privately owned canines in the course and scope of County duty, providing a stipend to remunerate the employee as full compensation for use of the employee’s privately owed, trained, and maintained canines. Throughout the term of the pilot, the employee shall track and compile usage metrics each month, including the frequency and purpose of canine use (i.e., bear, mountain lion, scat detection, etc.), number and type of canine(s) needed, presence and availability of USDA (or other contracted) Trapper, etc. These metrics will be used to determine if the business need driving the associated stipend is operationally warranted by the County on an ongoing basis.
In consideration of the imminent need identified by the Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures, Human Resources Department recommends the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign the negotiated Letter of Agreement (LOA) at this time.
The LOA shall become of full force and effect the first full pay period following approval and adoption by the Board of Supervisors and shall remain in effect for a period of twenty-six pay periods thereafter.
ALTERNATIVES
The County negotiated this MOU in good faith with the Association under authority and direction of the Board, thus there are no recommended alternatives.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
03/22/2022 Legistar file 22-0493: Board adopted the most recent MOU for this bargaining unit.
05/10/2022 Legistar file 22-0636: Board adopted a LOA on the contracting out of custodial services and modifying the reduction in force provisions of the most recent MOU.
11/15/2022 Legistar file 22-2015: Board adopted a LOA modifying the life insurance provisions of the most recent MOU.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures
Operating Engineers Local No. 3
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The approximate annual cost is $3,500. It is anticipated that the Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures will be able to cover the increased costs with salary savings.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Human Resources will provide the Clerk with three original LOAs for the Chair to sign upon ratification by the Union; and
2) The Clerk will return two original LOAs to Misty Garcia in Human Resources once fully executed by the Chair and retain one fully executed agreement for the Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Workforce Excellence
Priority: Enhance Employee Retention
Action Item: Attract and retain the best employees by providing competitive compensation, training, and advancement opportunities, and creating a positive and thriving culture.
CONTACT
Joseph Carruesco, Director of Human Resources