A Shasta County analysis of a possible merger between the Public Works and Resource Management departments found no obvious improvement in customer service, collaboration or efficiency from combining them.
The county presentation says the departments have one clearly connected service area: land development, involving Public Works’ Development Services and Resource Management’s Planning and Land Use functions. Building and Grading and Development Services were identified as adjacent services, as were Community Education and Solid Waste.
The analysis also flags conflicts involving Resource Management’s Environmental Health function and Public Works’ Solid Waste and Water and Wastewater functions, as well as between Air Quality and Solid Waste.
Public Works’ listed responsibilities include roads and bridges, capital projects, water and wastewater, solid waste, facilities management and fleet management. Resource Management’s listed responsibilities include building and grading, planning and land use, code enforcement, environmental health, air quality and community education.
County staff warned that a merger could disrupt operations while new processes and structures were created. The presentation also said a combined department could have a diluted mission, reduced flexibility and responsiveness, diminished decision-making and leadership capabilities, and increased employee uncertainty.
Instead, the analysis says the departments are positioned to serve the public through their existing arrangements. Their shared location supports a seamless process for connected services and makes efficient use of county office space, while each department already has well-defined administrative processes, according to the presentation.
The analysis calls for continued dialogue between the departments to identify areas of connection and refine collaboration, customer service and efficiency where those connections exist.
The county Board of Supervisors’ meeting item was for receiving the presentation, and no vote was required. The available record does not show that the board formally rejected a merger or set a deadline for further action.
