Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board to consider the following:
1) Direct staff to pursue an assessment and optimization study for the Code Enforcement Program; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer to amend the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget to add extra help funding in the amount of $36,000 to County Counsel to fund a part-time retired annuitant Deputy County Counsel position for Code Enforcement study work.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Chief Administrative Office and County Counsel would like to employ Darren Pytel as an extra help Deputy County Counsel to lead an assessment and optimization study for El Dorado County code enforcement.
This engagement will provide El Dorado County with a comprehensive assessment of its Code Enforcement Program and related code compliance functions. Darren Pytel most recently completed a similar study for Yolo County and draws on nearly 20 years as a licensed California attorney, 14 years of management experience overseeing code enforcement in a California jurisdiction, and more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, including 9 years as a municipal Police Chief.
The study will evaluate program operations, organizational structure, policies and procedures, staffing and workload, legal and regulatory considerations, technology and data practices, financial sustainability, and overall effectiveness. The assessment will recognize and build upon the County’s existing practices and ongoing improvement efforts and provide recommendations for revised policies and procedures and a prioritized implementation roadmap for short-, mid-, and long-term improvements.
Staff are recommending the Board approve a budget amendment transferring $36,000 of salary savings from Planning and Building to County Counsel and increasing temporary employee appropriations in County Counsel. As this transfer does not increase appropriations in Planning and Building or County Counsel, only a majority vote is needed for approval.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to direct staff to pursue an assessment and optimization study for the Code Enforcement Program and provide alternative direction.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Human Resources
Planning and Building
County Counsel
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 would be approximately $36,000 for an approximate time estimate of 20 hours per week for 20 weeks. CalPERS requires that retired annuitant extra help appointments work no more than 28 hours per week and a maximum of 960 per fiscal year.
Funding for this position is available through Planning and Building salary savings resulting from several positions that are allocated for FY 2026-27 but have not yet been filled, including positions in Code Enforcement. A budget amendment moving funds for this extra help salary from Planning and Building to County Counsel results in no increase to net County cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair’s signature on the budget amendment, if approved. Once signed, please forward the budget amendment to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Strategic Innovation
CONTACT
Sue Phillips, Chief Administrative Officer