Dare to Stair

Step up and join Employee Wellness’ first challenge of 2019. In Dare to Stair, participants will log their steps and stairs climbed to reach their New Year’s fitness goals and even win prizes.

To register, search for “Stairwell/Walking Campaign” in LMS. Employees requiring accommodation should email DHRWellness.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Dare to Stair runs through March 1. Download and print the log sheet today to track your activities during the challenge.

The last day to turn in the log is March 15.

County Participates in MLK Jr. Day Parade

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office, Probation and the African American Association of County Employees (AAACE), an Employee Resource Group, honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by marching in the 39th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Monday.

County Facilities – What’s New for 2019?

THE INVESTIGATIONS, CRIME LAB AND EVIDENCE BUILDING

You work here so you know. The County of San Diego is always looking for new and better ways to improve customer service and operations. And that includes building new facilities that are technologically up to date, energy-efficient and better designed to help us help those who need our services.

This last year alone, General Services delivered on several huge projects: A new Investigations, Crime Lab and Evidence building in Kearny Mesa, the North Coastal Live Well Health Center in Oceanside, and a trifecta ­– a new library, park and Sheriff’s office on a 19-acre property in Borrego Springs. A new Probation Training Center opened its doors in Scripps Ranch and a new fire station in Pine Valley celebrated its grand opening Dec. 18. 

So, what’s next for 2019? Take a look below:

Openings

Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk East County Operations and Archive: Construction is underway on a new 23,900-square-foot facility in Santee. The current El Cajon facility is located inside a converted bank that was built in 1957. The new structure will include modern archival storage of historical documents. Completion is scheduled for the fall.    

Santa Ysabel Nature Center: The Parks Department has begun construction on a 6,000-square-foot nature center that will include interpretive and educational exhibits, a conference room for up to 100 people, an outdoor patio, an information area, restrooms and staff offices. The center will be located next to Highways 78 and 79 in Santa Ysabel. Construction will be completed in the fall.

New Beginnings  

Sheriff’s Technology and Information Center (STIC): Construction is underway on a new project that will house the Sheriff’s Data Services and Wireless Services Divisions. This project replaces the last two remaining buildings of the original 1960s County Operations Center campus. The new center, next to the Emergency Operations Center, will include a 40,000-square-foot administration building, a 7,000-square-foot technology building and a new radio tower to replace the existing one. The larger facility will include a 2,000-square-foot media center that can be used for news conferences during regional disasters. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2020.

Lakeside Library: The County has purchased a site for a new approximately 17,000-square-foot library which will triple the size of the current branch built in 1962. The new zero-net-energy facility will include children and teen spaces, plus a community room. Procurement of a design-build contract is underway, with completion expected in 2021.

Southeastern Live Well Center: Procurement is also underway for a design-build contract for a new Live Well Center. The facility will consolidate the existing Southeast Family Resource Center, Public Health and Mental Health Services in one location. The center will also house Probation staff and offer meeting spaces to community groups. Completion is anticipated in fall 2021.

Cedar/Kettner Development Property: Negotiations began on developing the vacant land adjoining the Cedar/Kettner parking structure for a private residential and commercial project with 57 affordable housing units. Construction could start in late 2019/early 2020.  

Ohio Street Probation Office: Design-build procurement is underway for a new facility to replace the old Ohio Street office. The new building will be designed to provide rehabilitation and treatment support services. Completion is expected in late summer 2021.

Emergency Vehicle Operations Course: The project is in the design stage and a general contractor will be hired in early 2019. Construction will begin after the property closes escrow in 2019. Completion is anticipated in 2020.    

Palomar Mountain Fire Station Living Quarters: Design is also underway for new living quarters behind the existing fire house. It will provide approximately 1,900-square-feet of living space for six personnel. The project includes renovating an office in the fire house and other site improvements. Completion is expected in 2020.

Major Renovations and Remodeling

San Diego Juvenile Justice Campus: The Kearny Mesa site will be renovated and redeveloped to include an urban camp setting, new community supervision services, housing and support facilities. The first of three phases could be completed in late 2021.  

County Administration Center: Procurement of the design and construction team for the major systems upgrade will be completed in early 2019. The mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire/life safety systems are approaching the end of their useful life and will be replaced in phases.

Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library Expansion: Design-build procurement will complete in early 2019 for the expansion of the Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library. Plans include a new children’s area, an expanded area for teens and various interior improvements. Completion is anticipated in fall 2020.

Planning Stages

Casa de Oro Library: A search is underway for a site to build a new approximately 15,000-square-foot library to replace the current branch located in a strip mall. The new facility will include for the first time a community room as well as specific areas for teens and children.  

Health Services Complex Replacement: Planning is underway to redevelop the Health Services Complex in the Midway District into a County Live Well Campus. The project would replace the Rosecrans facility, consolidate associated HHSA functions in the new building and provide a parking structure. The site will also be evaluated for the addition of affordable housing.  

For more information on planned and proposed construction projects, see General Services’ Current Capital Projects list.

W-2 Forms Are Coming Soon

If you’re itching to get your tax documents in order, W-2 forms will be sent to employees’ mailing addresses by the end of the month. You can also obtain a copy of your W-2 form on PeopleSoft Employee Self Service starting Jan. 31.

Central Payroll Administration has put together several resources for your reference. You can view W-2 frequently asked questions, learn how to reconcile your W-2 to your paycheck and 2019 tax changes.

For more information, visit the Central Payroll Administration InSite page.

County Employees Share Resolutions

With each new year comes new resolutions. Some of our employees share what their goals are for 2019 - from drinking more water to living a healthier lifestyle and even reconnecting with loved ones.

What’s your resolution for 2019? Tell us in the comments!

More Volunteers Needed to Count Homeless People

We’re almost there but not quite.

Thank you to the hundreds (about 700, in fact!) of employees who have responded to our call and signed up for the annual Point in Time Count of the homeless population.

The County is still looking for about 200 more volunteers to help count homeless people, especially in the north and east regions.

The count takes place Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 from 4 to 8 a.m. The registration deadline is Jan. 23.

What will you be doing during that time?

This year, volunteers will count and survey homeless people they see in a certain area.

This is what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calls an “engaged” survey-based approach, where the homeless will be asked a list of questions when they are counted. To learn more about the 2019 changes, please watch this brief, three-minute video.

Last year, the region’s combined total came to 8,576 people, the fourth highest number in the nation. The count helps the region identify the scope of the problem and find solutions on how to best serve this vulnerable population.

The Regional Task Force on the Homeless is leading the local point-in-time effort with the WeALLCount campaign. Hundreds of County workers from departments across the organization have taken part in past years.

If you would like to volunteer, review the FAQs and then obtain approval from your supervisor via the supervisor approval form.

You will get paid County time, so if you’re interested sign up here.

County Officials Sworn In

Two new supervisors and four incumbent County officials were sworn in to four-year terms in a ceremony at the County Administration Center downtown Monday.

Watch the ceremony below.

County Social Worker Is Contestant Queen

County social worker Geana Richardson has more than a winning personality—she is a winner. Richardson has won countless prizes in various contests over the years. In the past few months alone, she’s scored concert tickets, a restaurant gift card and even cash.

The enthusiastic and animated New York native has a winning history. She got her first taste of luck as a child when she won tickets to see boy band Menudo at Madison Square Garden. One time she called a radio station to check on tickets that she won and was the lucky caller again, taking a second prize.

“This is not new for me,” said Richardson, who has been with the County for 18 years. “I’ve always won calling radio stations. What is new is being a contestant on TV.”

Recently Richardson was selected to come on stage to play a matching game on the “The Steve Harvey Show.”  She won $4,000 but called the experience priceless.

“Steve Harvey was really funny. I felt so comfortable with him,” said Richardson.

The video clip has more than 106,000 views on both Facebook and YouTube already. And dozens of comments.

Her appearance on “The Steve Harvey Show” came just a few weeks after she got to “come on down” to “The Price Is Right.” While she didn’t take home a brand-new car, she did win smaller prizes.

Richardson is already planning her next win. She’s attempted to get tickets to “The Ellen Show,” tried out for “Family Feud,” and is hopeful she’ll get onto the “The $100,000 Pyramid,” “Let’s Make a Deal” or “The Joker’s Wild.”

Plus, NBC producers have called Richardson to gauge her interest in returning to the studio. We’ll have to wait and see when Richardson gets on TV again!

County Ethics and Compliance Director Named

The County’s commitment to a culture of ethical conduct and the highest compliance standards has a new leader. Assistant County Counsel Claudia Silva has been appointed director of the County Office and Ethics and Compliance.

Silva joined the County in 2016 after 23 years of experience as a deputy city attorney at the City of San Diego and city attorney for National City. She earned her undergraduate degree in sociology from UCLA and her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego.

Since joining the County, Silva has worked on numerous land use issues, in addition to her role as assistant county counsel.

“She has earned a reputation as an exceptional attorney and highly respected leader by adeptly overseeing complex litigation, managing department operations, and meeting a wide variety of client needs,” said Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer. “She is held in high esteem by all members of the Board of Supervisors, the County executive team and her peers.”   

Robbins-Meyer said with her extensive law practice experience, Silva will expand and elevate the role of OEC and build a broader more extensive compliance practice.

“We have a strong foundation,” said Silva. “We can build on that foundation and take ethics and compliance to the next level.” She said she is striving for the County’s OEC to become a national model of its kind.

Silva, who will start in her new role on Jan. 11, will also serve as the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) executive liaison and serve on the Diversity & Inclusion Executive Committee. She replaces Joe Cordero, who retired last year.

InTouch – Happy New Era!

Happy New Year!  Are you ready to roll?

I hope so, because this new year kicks off a new era at the County. On January 7, two new members will be sworn in to our Board of Supervisors. Welcoming two at one time is a first for me and all but the most veteran County employees. It’s been 24 years since two new board members were sworn in!

When I say a new era, I’m talking not only about the current board transition, but the practice of regular turnover in elected leadership since term limits are in place. The maximum time an elected official can serve as a supervisor is two terms. So our culture must adapt to continuous change.

New elected leadership means new policies and more dynamic shifts in priorities. Our successes of the past will be the foundation for the successes of the future. Old ways of doing things may be reviewed, tweaked or maybe even discarded.  And new ideas and initiatives will be implemented. 

Where we direct our energies might shift. But who we are won’t. We’ll remain dedicated to exceptional public service and the principles of HEART. We’ll demand the highest ethical standards. We’ll encourage innovation and continuous improvement in all areas of our operations.  We’ll be outcome driven and expect excellence in all that we do. 

Over the past several decades, we’ve never stood still, and we’ve shown great flexibility in responding to new demands. Now we’ll need to step it up and be even more nimble than we’ve ever been, as individuals and as an organization.

Our new supervisors and their staffs have an adjustment to make as well. Think back to the learning curve you faced when you got to the County. It’s a big, complex operation. All those acronyms! They’ll need our help in showing them how we function and how the fresh ideas they bring to the table can make their way into what we do.  

The familiar is comforting – but change is exciting. Invigorating, even. Embrace it! And as you do, reflect on some new year’s resolutions of your own. As I’ve talked to employees over the past couple weeks here are a few they’ve shared:

• Solve problems, don’t just share them.

• Be a positive force in our residents’ lives.

• Listen more.

• Appreciate and help co-workers.

• Become more tech savvy.

• Use social media to help, not to criticize.

• Take a daily walk or run to enjoy the beauty of San Diego (exercise is a side benefit!).

• Turn off the TV, set the phone aside and have a face-to-face conversation.

• Smile more.

• Relax – everything isn’t a crisis.

• Make at least one unexpected good thing happen every day for someone.

As we close 2018, let me reiterate how grateful I am to each of you for your hard work and dedication this past year. Your commitment was extraordinary. Now, let’s ring in the new era together. We have many exciting achievements ahead. Let’s get going!