S.J. supervisors to consider adding information officer
STOCKTON — The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider hiring a public information officer that will be tasked with not only interfacing with the community and departments, but creating a message and brand for the county.
Supervisor Tom Patti suggested creating a public information officer position at a Jan. 25 meeting to highlight county achievements, programs and services.
According to Tuesday's agenda, a potential PIO's duties would also include appearing before special interest groups and community organizations, monitor and respond to crisis communications, and inform the public of services provided by the county, among others.
If the position is approved, salary and benefits would be determined by staff at a later date, according to the agenda.
The county and Board of Supervisors had a public information officer for a little more than two years, according to Record archives.
Karen McConnell served as spokeswoman for the county from 2007 to 2009, and related information on West Nile virus, flood insurance and AgVenture, among other subjects, according to Record Archives.
Board Chairman Chuck Winn in January said the position had been eliminated during the recession.
Also to be discussed Tuesday will be a permit for the Demonstration Recharge Extraction and Aquifer Management project located within the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District.
The purpose of the project is to determine the feasibility of recharging the county's groundwater basin using surface water from an outside agency, and returning a portion of banked groundwater to that agency under certain conditions.
According to the agenda, the project involves supplying as much as 1,000 acre-feet of water from the Mokelumne River to developed farmland currently irrigated by an existing well.
During the board's afternoon session, supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider an appeal to the San Joaquin County Planning Commission's approval of Harvest Power's planned expansion of 20 acres at 916 Frewert Road in Lathrop.
Residents of the nearby Haven Acres River Club say the expansion will invite more traffic on an already heavily traveled road.
Supervisors will also hear the appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of a skilled nursing facility near the Highway 99 frontage road and Appian Way in Stockton.
Dr. Gurpeet Singh has proposed to turn a vacant 3.16acre site zoned for agriculture into a nearly 60,000square-foot nursing facility with 170 beds. The Planning Commission in February deadlocked 2-2 on the project, and without a majority vote, the project was denied.
In addition, supervisors will hear an appeal to a Planning Commission denial of a 1,560-square-foot agricultural store at Lower Sacramento and Armstrong roads in Lodi.
The Planning Commission in November voted 4-0 to deny the project, stating it was incompatible with the Williamson Act, which prohibits the sale of food on agricultural lands.
Tuesday's meeting begins at 9 a.m. in board chambers at 44 N. San Joaquin St., 6th Floor, in Stockton. The afternoon session is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. The full agenda can be found online at