TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: David Morrison, Director, Planning Building and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Brian Bordona, Assistant Director, Planning, Building and Environmental Services
SUBJECT: PBES Department Meeting - Office Closure
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES) requests adoption and approval for an office closure on Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm for a department-wide team building workshop.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The PBES Director requests approval to close the PBES offices from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2022 to provide department-wide team building workshop. PBES staff has experienced turnover of more than 30 percent in the past two years, while many long-term staff now serve in new roles. In addition, the Department continues to take on new programs and responsibilities in response to an ever-changing regulatory environment. The meeting will provide training for staff to address these issues, as well as to reconnect employees who have been teleworking and/or quarantined for the past two years.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Costs for the workshop will be borne by the PBES budget as well as from funds provided by the Organizational Development Advisory Committee. |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
PBES staff has experienced turnover of more than 30 percent in the past two years. In addition, as we emerge from the pandemic, there is a need for staff to reconnect within the workplace given the past two years of increased employee and family illnesses, required quarantines and isolation. This meeting would provide an opportunity for all Department staff to engage in structured team building to help promote internal communication and coordination between divisions, enhance individual problem-solving skills of shared challenges, and strengthen the PBES team for the challenges that lie ahead. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
PBES will continue to budget for workshops of this nature. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Team building of all department staff promotes internal communication and coordination between divisions, shared vision and goals, and individual problem-solving of shared challenges. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
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Additional Information |
None |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Staff is requesting approval to close the office on May 5, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm for a department-wide team building workshop would enable department staff to participate in team building and leadership training exercises. The meeting will be held at Fairview Napa located at Kennedy Park. This would be the first department meeting held since 2016.
PBES staff has experienced turnover of more than 30 percent in the past two years. In addition, as we emerge from the pandemic, there is a need for staff to reconnect within the workplace given the past two years of increased employee and family illnesses, required quarantines and isolation. This meeting would provide an opportunity for all Department staff to engage in structured team building to help promote internal communication and coordination between divisions, enhance individual problem-solving skills of shared challenges, and strengthen the PBES team for the challenges that lie ahead.
The Department currently closes from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm for the lunch hour, so the closure from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm would represent a reduction of four hours relative to normal operating hours. To minimize disruption to the public and other who rely on PBES, staff will notify customers in advance of the anticipated closure date. The closure would be noticed in the PBES lobby and on the Department website. Notifications on email signatures would also be used as well as social media outlets. The Department will also work with the County PIO to assist in providing broad notification.