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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10101989 - 1.4 (3) M 1-040 ro: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ----- Contra Y_. FROM Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Costa n; s County DATE: October 3, 1989 SUBJECT: CONSOLIDATING COUNTY SERVICES SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION• Accept the report by the County Administrator on the review of consolidating County services. BACKGROUND: During the Budget Hearings in August, a representative from the Taxpayers Association suggested to the Board that the County Administrator be directed to "propose the consolidation of County services in order to reduce the span of control and administrative overhead. " We have researched past activity by the county in this area and have isolated some of the factors applied in consolidating services. Over the last ten years consolidations and/or reorganizations have involved the, departments listed below. • Public Health and Medical Services Departments were consolidated into a Health Services Department. • Parts of the Public Works Department and the Planning Department were consolidated into a Community Development Department. • A division of the Public Works Department was reorganized into the General Services Department. • The Marshal' s Department was merged into the Sheriff ' s Department. • The administrative staffs of the four Municipal Courts were consolidated. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: 2=-, RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON - Octo.ber, 10 P 1989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: County ,Administrator ATTESTED October. 10, 1989 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) ' At -2- • The Brentwood and Eastern Fire Districts were combined to form East Diablo Fire District. • The West County Fire District contracted its management and dispatching functions with the City of Richmond. Some of the considerations which were applied to these consolidations and/or reorganizations are presented below. 1. Can productivity be improved through a reorganization or consolidation? This question involves how well the services provided "match" with other department services. The elements involved in this issue are: • the types of persons served • the location of persons served • the facilities available to merge staff • the nature and extent of support staff necessary to deliver the service. 2. Can the span of control be reduced? Examination of •the diversity and complexity of the work being managed are key to this issue. 3 . Can the costs of delivering services be reduced by consolidating, reorganizing, or contracting out? An estimate of short-term and long-term costs are usually formulated. Also, various types of costs are examined such as direct and indirect, variable and fixed and unit. 4. Does state or federal law or regulation prohibit a consolidation or reorganization? In some cases, consolidations or reorganization require a vote of the people. Often times, a study involves workload and work flow analysis as well as productivity comparisons with other jurisdictions. As can be seen, consolidation or reorganization of County services involves complex organizations, operational, financial and legal analysis. The County' s financial situation requires the Board and County departments to make continuous decisions aimed at improving productivity. Consolidation or reorganization is one tool to improving productivity and will be pursued under appropriate conditions.