Adopt resolution appointing Dirk Brazil to the position of County Administrative Officer on an interim basis, effective October 14, 2024, and approve related actions. (No general fund impact) (Pogledich)

Current County Administrative Officer, Gerardo Pinedo, recently announced his resignation and his final day is October 4, 2024. The Department of Human Resources is undertaking various tasks in connection with the recruitment for a successor and a contract with a professional recruiting firm is before the Board for approval concurrently with this item. The recruitment will then proceed over the next 4-6 months or so.

The recommended actions, if approved, will appoint Dirk Brazil to serve as County Administrative Officer on an interim basis commencing October 14. Mr. Brazil has the experience, specialized skills, and training necessary to fill the role, having previously served as Assistant County Administrator for Yolo County (2006-2014), City Manager for the City of Davis (2014-2017), and following his retirement as City Manager, as interim City Manager for the cities of Alameda (May 2022-February 2023) and South Lake Tahoe (June-December 2018) as well as interim Executive Director of the Yolo Habitat Conservancy (August 2019-July 2020) and interim Executive Director of the Davis Downtown Business Association (February 2024-May 2024).

Government Code section 21221(h) allows the Board of Supervisors to appoint a CalPERS retired annuitant to a vacant position on an interim basis during the recruitment to permanently fill the vacant position. Section 21221(h) includes various restrictions on the service of retired annuitants, including that the appointment to a specific position may only occur once and that the annuitant may not exceed 960 hours worked in a fiscal year. Government Code section 7522.56 imposes similar restrictions.

The attached resolution includes all terms and conditions required by CalPERS in connection with these provisions of the Government Code. Along with the accompanying employment agreement, the resolution appoints Mr. Brazil to the interim County Administrative Officer position effective October 14, 2024 at a rate of compensation equal to the hourly rate set forth in the current County salary resolution (see additional information in the Fiscal Impact section). The agreement also prohibits Mr. Brazil from seeking permanent employment as the County Administrative Officer and reflects the mutual expectation that his interim service will be full time, or nearly so, during the recruitment process except as may otherwise be requested by the Board.

Altogether, the appointment of Mr. Brazil as interim County Administrative Officer will provide continuity of leadership within the organization and the community while the search for a permanent County Administrative Officer is ongoing. 

This item was prepared at the direction of the Board of Supervisors and in coordination with the Department of Human Resources. CalPERS also advised on the necessary actions.

Not applicable