Title
Planning and Building Department and Human Resources Department recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 075-2026:
1) Amending the Authorized Personnel Allocation Schedule to add/delete the following allocations:
a) Add 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Chief Deputy Director of Planning and Building;
b) Add 1.0 FTE Program Manager;
c) Add 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst I/II allocation for housing programs;
d) Add 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst I/II allocation for the Economic Development program; and
e) Delete vacant 1.0 FTE Deputy Director of Planning; and
2) Authorizing the Director of Human Resources to make technical and conforming corrections as needed to implement the Board’s action.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In February 2025, with Legistar file 25-0236, the Board reduced Discretionary Transient Occupancy Tax funding by $546,000, representing 50% of the total Economic Development budget in the Planning and Building Department. This reduction, combined with existing vacancies, significantly diminished the County’s capacity to provide economic development services, support the County’s Strategic Plan, collaborate with the Strategic Economic Enhancement Development (SEED) Committee, and advance priority Economic Strategy initiatives.
On August 26, 2025, with Legistar file 25-1332, the Board provided further direction on SEED’s role, the Economic Strategy, and priority projects. The combination of funding reductions, program direction changes, and decreased staffing created an opportunity to reassess and reorganize the department to strengthen service delivery and ensure long-term sustainability.
To restore operational capacity, support essential program areas, and position the department for future success, staff propose the following changes:
• Add 1.0 FTE Chief Deputy Director of Planning and Building
• Add 1.0 FTE Program Manager (25% Housing / 75% Economic Development)
• Add 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst I/II for Housing
• Add 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst I/II for Economic Development
• Delete 1.0 FTE Vacant Deputy Director of Planning
These allocations allow the department to realign resources, stabilize staffing, and ensure ongoing support for the community’s housing and economic development needs.
A 0.25 FTE Program Manager and 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst will support the Housing program, funded through an HCD grant (49%) and the General Fund (51%). A 0.75 FTE Program Manager and 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst will support Economic Development, funded entirely by the General Fund.
Currently, the Deputy Director of Planning oversees a broad range of responsibilities, including the Permit Center, Cannabis, Discretionary and Long-Range Planning, the Planning Commission, and Administration. Increased activity related to SEED, the Affordable Housing Task Force, and Board-directed initiatives has required significant involvement from the Department Director and Deputy Director, an arrangement that is not sustainable. The proposed Program Manager and Administrative Analyst positions will restore needed support in these critical areas.
The addition of the Chief Deputy Director of Planning, West Slope, will enable higher-level strategic coordination across operational areas, implementation of process improvements, prioritization of department-wide initiatives, staff development, and customer service enhancements. This will also allow the Director of Planning and Building to focus more fully on strategic initiatives, interdepartmental coordination, external partnerships, and the oversight of complex departmental functions.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the recommendations and direct Human Resources and Planning and Building to make revisions or conduct additional analysis. This would result in continued reductions to economic development and housing programs capacity.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
02/11/2025 Legistar file 25-0236: The Board reduced the Discretionary Transient Occupancy Tax funding by 50% to Economic Development Division.
08/26/2025 Legistar file 25-1332: The Board directed staff and the Budget Ad Hoc Committee to meet and prioritize the items presented by SEED in their Economic Strategy
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office
County Counsel
El Dorado County Employees’ Association, Local 1, AFSCME Council 57
El Dorado County Managers’ Association
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Department intends to conduct an internal, competitive recruitment for the Chief Deputy Director of Planning, West Slope. If the selected candidate is an internal applicant, the position they vacate will not be refilled, and the existing allocation will be deleted as part of the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget process. This approach ensures the creation of the Chief Deputy Director position does not result in a net increase in departmental allocations when an internal candidate is selected.
The projected cost of the Chief Deputy Director of Planning for the remainder of FY 2025-26 is $4,283. The estimated annual cost for the Program Manager and two Administrative Analyst I/II positions is $455,731, offset by $110,071 from the HCD grant supporting the Housing program’s administrative expenses and $241,703 savings from the deletion of a vacant Deputy Director of Planning and the deletion of 1.0 FTE vacant Administrative Assistant as a part of the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget process.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon Board adoption and approval, please provide a copy of the executed Resolution to Heather Andersen in Human Resources.
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
Karen Garner, Director of Planning and Building