Title
Department of Child Support Services in coordination with CAO Facilities division recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize a budget amendment to increase the Department revenue and appropriations budget by $75,000 for Fiscal Year 2019-2020, due to an increase in allocation from the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), for the purchase and installation of a generator;
2) Approve the addition of a generator at a cost not to exceed $21,000 to the Department's FY 2019-20 Fixed Asset list; and
3) Direct the Department and Facilities to return to the Board with recommended amendments to the building lease to accommodate installation of the generator. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: State and Federal funding resulting from an increased allocation by State DCSS, provided with re-allocation funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the electrical power provider for the County’s west slope, implemented its “Public Safety Power Shutoff” policy in 2019. This policy provides for de-energization of PG&E’s service areas when gusty winds and dry conditions combine with a high fire risk. In 2019, El Dorado County experienced four multiple-day power shut-offs, some of which affected more than 50,000 customers within the county.
The Department of Child Support Services has calculated that the power outages last October alone cost the department $29,191 in salaries. In addition, there was also the loss of the services to the public because the office had to close.
In an effort to prevent a repeat of last year’s office closures, the Department has requested, and State DCSS has approved, an increase in the allocation to the local program in the amount not to exceed $75,000 to purchase and install a generator. Having this generator in place will not only allow child support services staff to continue serving the public during a power shut off, the non-secure space in the child support office would be made available to other county agen...
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