Management and Operations Reviews

County of Kern

Waste Management Department Plan

1998 - 2000

Client Needs

As Kern County’s Waste Management Department (KCWMD) embarked upon the 21st Century, they and the County Board of Supervisors realized a need for an overarching mission and vision and plan for achieving them.  The County wanted to understand:

• Which programs and services KCWMD was required, uniquely capable, and/or most cost-effective in providing;
• How to balance KCWMD’s environmental, customer service, and economic concerns in achieving their mission;
• How diversion programming and facility development should fit into KCWMDs mission; and,
• What strategic and/or business opportunities existed for KCWMD.

HF&H Solutions

HF&H worked closely with both the County Administrator’s Office and KCWMD to develop a comprehensive plan for the department which addressed each of the key questions raised by the County Board of Supervisors and KCWMD staff.  Specifically, HF&H:

• Authored a Mission, Vision, and Values statement for KCWMD;
• Developed a plan for the strategy and tactics to be used by KCWMD to achieve their Mission, Vision, and Values; and,
• Analyzed the historical and projected costs of programs and facilities comprising the future solid waste management system for Kern County.

Results

HF&H’s “Department Plan for the Kern County Waste Management Department” has been used by KCWMD managers and staff to provide strategic direction for County’s waste management and recycling operations during the eight years since it’s adoption by the County Board of Supervisors.  KCWMD managers report back to the Board of Supervisors regularly on their status against the plan.  In 2008, Kern County hired HF&H to update this plan and provide guidance for the next ten years for KCWMD.