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Fox Canyon GMA reports reduced vacancies, new hires; incoming executive officer to start Aug. 11
Summary
Under Assembly Bill 2561 reporting requirements, agency staff told the board staffing shortfalls from early 2024 have been substantially reduced, interim arrangements are in place and a new, full-time executive officer is scheduled to begin Aug. 11.
The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency on July 23 presented a staffing update prepared under Assembly Bill 2561 that documented earlier vacancies and set out next steps to fill remaining positions.
Agency staff said the GMA’s organizational chart had shown many vacancies in early 2024 and that the executive officer and clerk-of-the-board positions were open at that time. Staff told the board those shortfalls left the agency with fewer than half of the positions filled during that period. Since then, recruitment efforts have reduced vacancies and two proposed positions — a hydrologist and an administrative assistant — are recommended on a phased basis.
County staff member Jeff Ponglow told the board the executive officer position has been filled and the new executive officer is scheduled to start on August 11; the name had not been announced because the new hire was in the process of informing his current employer. Ponglow also said the county has completed interviews for the groundwater manager position and is working through human-resources steps to finalize that hire. Agency staff said extra-help resources (named in the presentation as Arnie Anslem and Ms. Riddell) are available to help onboard new staff.
The board held a public hearing on the AB 2561 report and then moved to receive and file the staffing update. The motion to receive and file passed on roll call.
Why it matters: AB 2561 requires agencies to report on vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts; the agency reported improved staffing levels and identified two proposed hires to support hydrology and administration. Filling these roles is central to restoring the agency’s operational capacity.
Details recorded in the presentation included the earlier vacancy level (about 4 of 11 positions filled in early 2024), the planned start date for the new executive officer (August 11, 2025) and recommendations to phase in a hydrologist and an administrative assistant.
