AAACE Accepting Nominations for Board Positions

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The African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) is accepting nominations for the following Board Positions: secretary, social media manager, student outreach and treasurer. Apply now.

The mission of AAACE is to recruit, promote and inspire County employees to connect and succeed through education and charitable causes and to accomplish County initiatives and unifying goals that result in improved career opportunities.

Interested? See the position descriptions and submit a nomination to aaace@sdcounty.ca.gov by Oct. 31.

Qualifications to serve as a Board of Director:

  • You must be a County of San Diego employee

  • You must have some experience in the area of choice

If you have questions, email aaace@sdcounty.ca.gov.

County Launches New Program – Conflict Resolution Services

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"conflict resolution" written on spiral notepad with 3 pens

Conflict is a part of life. The secret is how you deal with it. And maybe you’ve figured out how to easily settle family squabbles and disagreements.

But at work, it gets trickier. Perhaps you’re having a hard time dealing with a coworker. It can be hard to complain. You don’t want to make waves.   

And that’s why the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Labor Standards (OECLS) started its new Conflict Resolution Services program.

“This program is designed to handle issues before they escalate,” said OECLS Director Branden Butler. “We want to resolve matters quickly and now we have the means to do it.”  

The program is based on one in central California. Butler saw a need for something similar here at the County and worked within the organization to develop it.  

“Conflicts can create a ripple effect. They may affect you, your fellow employees, your department and ultimately, how we serve the public,” said OECLS Conflict Resolution Specialist Ingrid Lenz. “This voluntary program is designed to guide you through the conflict resolution process, to the other side and beyond it.”

Lenz affirms that requesting this level of assistance is a very positive step in addressing conflict.

The program can help individual employees and small teams. Lenz will listen to what’s happening, exploring the length, depth and breadth of the issue and help craft viable resolutions. She may also recommend coaching or training.

The program is voluntary, and employees can use work time.

“We want every employee to know they don’t have to live with workplace conflict,” said Lenz. “The tendency for most people is to step away rather than constructively engage with conflict and work through the issues. Since conflicts generally do not resolve on their own, it’s better for you as a person, an employee and the overall workplace for us to choose to work together and resolve conflicts on our timetable, rather than waiting for conflicts to potentially escalate.”

If you’re interested in Conflict Resolution Services, or to find out more, contact your departmental HR representative who can coordinate with their Group Human Resources Director to initiate the process.   

Learn What’s New for 2025 Open Enrollment

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2025 Open Enrollment. Oct. 1 -24, 2024. Elections are effective Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025.

You can easily access plan information from any computer!

Review the What’s New flyer for more information.

  • Delta PPO Plan Enhancements:

    • The annual maximum benefit is increasing to $2,500

    • New orthodontia benefit! Members can now visit any orthodontist and receive a lifetime benefit up to $2,500 per member

  • VSP Plan Enhancement:

    • Members can use their $150 allowance for non-prescription eyewear (blue light or sunglasses)

  • Supplemental Spouse Life insurance is now available for $10,000 coverage

Join a Virtual Open Enrollment Seminar to learn more about specific plans.

  • Registration is not required. Use the presenter links in the Virtual Seminar Schedule to join.

  • During the Q&A session, submit your questions and the representative will respond to all participants.

  • Can’t attend a session? No problem! Recordings of all Open Enrollment Seminars will be available after the sessions.

PeopleSoft Navigation Help

If you need a little help navigating the system, you can attend an Open Enrollment Help Session for PeopleSoft Navigation.

Need Assistance During Open Enrollment?

  • Your Benefits Ambassadors are here to help. Please reach out to them for assistance with resources and navigating PeopleSoft

  • Employee Benefits is available Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm at 888-550-2203 or by email at DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov

  • Do you have a more complicated scenario and need assistance navigating your options? Schedule a 20 minute one-on-one session with an Employee Benefits representative.

  • Don’t delay. Make your elections early and ask questions now, do not wait until the final week of Open Enrollment.

 Reminders….

  • Elections made during Open Enrollment will be effective 1/1/2025 – 12/31/2025.

  • Spending Accounts – You must re-enroll annually. This includes the Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and the Health Savings Account. If you do not re-enroll, funds will not be contributed into a spending account for 2025.

  • Waiving Medical Coverage – If you waived your medical coverage in 2024 and want to continue to waive in 2025, you are required to participate in Open Enrollment. If you do not make an election in PeopleSoft Employee Self Service to waive coverage for 2025, your medical election will automatically be defaulted to the Kaiser HMO employee only plan. Excess Flex Credits, if any, will be deposited into a Health Reimbursement Account.

  • Prepare Your Dependent Documents Now. If you plan to add a new dependent to any of your benefit plans, you will need to provide proof of relationship documents (e.g., marriage certificate for a spouse and birth certificates for children) by securely uploading them into PeopleSoft Employee Self Service.

Review the Open Enrollment website for more information.

Temporary Employees: For Open Enrollment options and instructions, visit the Temporary Employees page.

For questions regarding Open Enrollment, your Benefits Ambassadors are here to assist.

For more information, contact the Department of Human Resources Employee Benefits Division at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Other Resources:

EDI Digest: Embracing Independence

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The latest EDI Digest is out! This interactive newsletter with a focus on empowerment and independence has curated videos, podcasts, and articles that will help educate, build connections and spark inclusive conversations. It is designed to be used as a learning resource throughout the quarter for County employees. 

Check out the Connecting the Dots section featuring our new Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and D&I Executive Council Member Dahvia Lynch. 

Explore it now (open in Edge).  

Your View: Rainbow Greetings

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A beautiful rainbow welcomed many employees to work on Friday morning. Chief of Staff Natalia Bravo caught this image outside the County Administration Center.

Share your photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or a wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it.

Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. Images may be posted to InSite and shared on social media. 

See more of Your View photos. 

Rewind: Shining Light on Invisible Disabilities

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Did you miss the Employee Resource Group Council’s “Fireside Chat” on Shining Light on Invisible Disabilities? You can now watch the virtual session on InSite.

The ERG Council’s Fireside Chats are quarterly sessions with County leadership on the secrets to their career success. This quarter, DiverseAbility employee resource group hosted a lively discussion with Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright, HHSA Administrative Analyst Karen Brain and Public Health Services Division Chief Patrick Loose to shine a light on invisible disabilities.

Invisible Disability: A physical, mental, or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities.   

Resources from this session include:

If you are interested in learning more about DiverseAbility or hosting the ERG for a presentation/discussion at your next meeting or event, please reach out to DiverseAbilityERG@sdcounty.ca.gov

To learn more about accommodations, speak with your departmental human resources officer.

Get Involved: Are you interested in participating in further opportunities on the topic of neurodiversity? Click here to give your input on the types of resources/events you'd like to see.

Get to Know PISCE President Isobel Kinsang

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The County has 11 great Employee Resource Groups. They are each led by a respective board of directors who all demonstrate commitment and stewardship of its members to the various sectors of our community. 

Get to know Pacific Islander Society of County Employee President Isobel Kinsang, an office support specialist with Medical Care Services (MCS).

Q: What do you do in your role/what are your job responsibilities?

A: I’ve worked at the County for 19 years with the Health and Human Services Agency. In my current role as the office support specialist to the Medical Care Services department, I provide a wide variety of intricate and technical administrative support to the entire administration.

Some of the many duties I manage involve P-Card Holder, submitting ServiceNow requests for Medical Care Services admin and San Diego Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal staff, managing invoices for vendors and contracts with the County, processing payments for subscription renewals, professional licensure, and membership renewals for the physicians. In addition, I also assist with maintaining inventory control for the department.

At MCS, our mission is to ensure San Diego is home to America’s premier local wellness delivery system with an emphasis on quality, equity, sustainability and transparency.

Q: What’s your workplace superpower?

A: My workplace superpower is humility. I strongly believe that humility puts us directly in the learner’s seat and frees us to design environments that drive authentic connections, meaningful collaboration, and improved performance.

Being humble in a workplace and having a sense of respect for others can also boost work performances, improve the quality of relationship among peers, and even supports mental wellbeing in the face of adversity.

As “Learner” being one of my five top strengths, I’m one who’s always interested and eager to learn new things, but often I’ve also learned and grew through my humbling experiences. 

Q. Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

A: While there are numerous amazing people I consider as my mentors, I’d like to give a shoutout to Marc Otto, founder and principal consultant of Strengths Consulting. He has been an amazing, positive, encouraging, world changer, big time supporter, “strength-finder” and a professional career coach whom I’ve been very blessed and fortunate to call my mentor. He basically brings out and sharpens the authenticity and uniqueness of the employees he mentors through his professional coaching skills and made them feel that the works they do are valued and appreciated. 

Additionally, the two most inspirational and influential people in my life beyond a shadow of a doubt were my parents. They were exceptional, loving parents, dedicated, and hard workers. They’ve sacrificed so much and have raised me to become the person I am today. Their faith was their core foundation in life. They’ve inspired me in their humblest ways to never give up but rather be resilient! There is always room for growth, and that the sky is never the limit unless you limit your ambitions. 

PISCE members with Former CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?

A: “Feel proud for taking the rest.” Rest renews strengths and gets us ready for the next level of accomplishment. A balanced lifestyle is essential for maintaining a good physical and mental health.

Q: What are some resources that you find useful and recommend to others?

A: The Employee Resource Groups of the County of San Diego. The ERGs are the fundamental melting pots that connect bridges between groups, departments, people, and their ideas in an inclusive and safe space for the employees. It is a one-stop shop where you can find great resources on how to engage with the communities through community outreach programs, workshops, and professional development.

The Knowledge Center is the HHSA training and organizational development department where they offer numerous online and instructor-led classes, professional development programs, and services. For someone who’s always eager to learn and grow, this is a great resource to tap into and search for specific training topics you might be interested in.

If you love outdoor activities, the Park and Recreation’s Experience the Outdoors program is a must for you to check it out. This program offers so much that you can possibly do whether you’d like to lace up your hiking boots and venture through an extensive network of trails, explore lush parks and open spaces, or take up thrilling activities like biking. San Diego’s diverse range of outdoor recreational opportunities will, without any doubt, keep you constantly on the move.

Q: Who are you outside of work and types of activities do you enjoy?

A: Outside of work and PISCE, I still engage in a lot of cultural and community outreach activities. I serve passionately along my fellow Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander community leaders, attending various cultural and community events.

I am an active member of the Pacific Islander Festival Association (PIFA),  the Micronesian Outreach Ministries USA (MOMUSA), and I also serve as a board member of the MOMUSA Sports Committee.

When I don’t do work, my husband, daughter, and I love to go on sunset walks at the beach, hiking a trail at sunrise, or going on road trips with friends and extended families, exploring and sightseeing.

Additionally, I also enjoy going to music concerts, especially of the artists that I love listening to their music.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: Overall, I’m very passionate about serving and helping others. I find joy and comfort when I know I’ve lifted someone else’s spirit just by lending a helping hand. It’s the simplest gestures that don’t even cost a penny. It made my heart full!

PISCE received a proclamation from District 3

Q: Tell us about your ERG.

A: PISCE ERG provides cultural awareness of the many island nations that make up the Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian regions in the Pacific basin, and is dedicated to building community and belonging. PISCE’s passion focuses on preparing the next generation of Pacific Islander leaders and establishing collaboration with community partners. Our mission is to work collaboratively with County initiatives, and to interactively embracing County Employees and the community by providing cultural awareness, outreach programs, and professional development.

Q: How has being in your ERG improved your experience working at the County?

A: Ever since I joined the ERG and later became a part of the ERG council, the network has been incredible! I’ve had the opportunity to meet such knowledgeable and experienced people who works at the executive level, and I have also met so many people from different departments and sister ERGs.

I’ve been fortunate to attend professional seminars that I’ve never had connections with before, and I’ve also had the opportunity to speak as keynote speaker at other department’s events. My involvement in the ERG has helped me a lot in ways to overcome my fear of public speaking. I still get nervous at times, but I’m more confident and relaxed now whenever I’m given the opportunity to share.

PISCE MEmbers

Q: What are your 3 favorite places to eat in San Diego?

A: I love to eat and I’m always open to trying new places, so it’s hard to narrow it down. My Current favorites are:

For breakfast, it’s definitely The Original Pancake House. Their German pancake is my die for, and if you know, you know what I meant.

Secondly, it’s the Manna Korean BBQ. Aside from their wide selection of high-quality meats, Manna Korean BBQ is very interactive and communal. Guests get to sit around a grill where they can cook their chosen meats and vegetables to their liking. Employees there are super nice and friendly.

Thirdly, it’s got to be Jake’s Del Mar. The location by Del Mar beach is incredible especially at sunset, and the menu is diverse enough that provides you with different options to choose from. I usually go for either the Chef’s Burger or the Ahi Tostada.

Q: Name one (or more) musicians/bands you are listening to right now?

A: I’ve got an endless playlist on my Spotify, but currently I’m listening to The Glory in Me by The Tonga Sisters.

Also read:

Public Records Requests: Who, What, Why? 

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Central to the mission of the County is our responsibility to serve with transparency and accountability. We do that in a variety of ways, including through compliance with the Public Records Act (PRA).   

The PRA gives members of the public and the media access to public records maintained by the County unless they are exempt from disclosure by law. Those exemptions include personnel, medical and similar documents related to County employees, and records pertaining to pending litigation.   

The County maintains an online PRA request portal to facilitate access to these records. Every County employee plays a role in ensuring those records are delivered as transparently and timely as they can be.   

Record requests can include copies of your emails, reports, documents and even text messages.  

Why It Matters  

Supporting transparency and accountability are pillars of the County’s Strategic Plan. These efforts enhance public trust and facilitate the kind of meaningful community engagement that is at the center of the County’s General Management Strategy.  

It is important to note that as a government employee you may become the subject of a PRA request. A member of the public can request all your emails, assignments you have completed, and even your personnel file. Although some of the information would be exempt, not all of the responsive records would be protected from release.   

How It Started  

While the County has been subject to the California PRA and responded to requests accordingly, the PRA Unit in the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors department was created to centralize the County’s PRA requests.  

In late March 2024, the PRA Unit implemented NextRequest—an online platform for constituents to submit and receive responses to their PRA requests.  

How It’s Going  

In the less than six months since launching the online request center, the PRA Unit has helped process more than 2,200 PRA requests, released more than 20,000 documents to the public and maintained 100% compliance with response requirements.   

How It Works  

Requests for records can be made online, verbally, by email or letter. This means that any community member may ask you to provide records to them.  

When an individual submits a PRA request, whether that’s using the online system or another method, the responsible staff person refers it to the appropriate department’s PRA Coordinator within 24 hours, in compliance with our “Public Records Act Policy.”    

Next the records are gathered. Those records are then reviewed for responsiveness (whether they answer the question asked) and releasability (whether they should be given to the requestor).  

There are a number of considerations given to whether a record is responsive and releasable because privacy is just as important as transparency. Under California law, there are more than 75 specific exemptions. Personal identifying information such as social security numbers and home addresses, attorney-client privilege, and law enforcement records are a few examples of items that are exempt from disclosure.  

The County must provide a status update to a requester within 10 calendar days after receiving a request, and we must also do our best to assist the requester in finding what they are seeking.   

When records are released to the requester, they are also released to the public on NextRequest three days after they were released to the original requestor.  

Who Is My PRA Coordinator?  

Each department has at least one public records coordinator. To find who is your PRA Coordinator, email COBrecords@sdcounty.ca.gov.  

Key Takeaways  

Our work documents and correspondence are public records. They can be released to the public. And we are all responsible to share requests for information with our department’s public records coordinator within 24 hours.  

Learn more about the public records center, visit this FAQ.