Report Prepared by: Kirsten Waller, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Annual Appointments to the Personnel Board to Appoint One Council Appointed Individual
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers appointing one individual to the Personnel Board.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Appointing a member to serve as the Council Appointed member for the Personnel Board; or,
B. Accepting nominations and appointing as many members as Council sees appropriate and directing staff to continue the recruitment of applicants.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Appoint nominated individuals to the Personnel Board; or,
2. Refer to staff with direction to resume recruitment of applicants.
AUTHORITY
Article VII, Sections 700, 702, 702.1, 707, and 708 of the Merced City Charter.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Personnel Board
The Personnel Board, created by City Charter, recommends to City Council the adoption, amendment, or repeal of civil service rules and regulations, in addition to other personnel matters. The Board consists of five members who serve four-year terms of office.
The members of the Personnel Board shall be nominated and appointed in the following manner:
Two members shall be appointed by the City Council from a list of five persons to be nominated by election by the employees in the classified service; two members shall be appointed by the City Council directly, and the fifth shall be appointed by the City Council from a list of three persons nominated by a majority of the four thus appointed. In the event the majority of the four thus appointed is unable to nominate three persons after sixty (60) days, the City Council may appoint from a list of less than three persons nominated. In the event the employees are unable to nominate five persons after sixty (60) days, the City Council may appoint from a list of less than five persons nominated. The successor of any member of the Board shall be nominated and appointed in the same manner as such member was nominated and appointed.
Past Council Actions
At the Council meeting of March 21, 2022, staff was directed to return to a yearly appointment process for the reappointment of eligible members and the appointment of new applicants to vacant board or commission seats.
Recruitment
The Clerk’s office began a recruitment campaign that consisted of a social media post coordinated with the Public Information Officer to alert citizens of the vacancies and expiring terms and an email blast was sent to over 3,000 subscribers on the boards and commissions list notifying them of the recruitment.
Applications
Council Appointed - The term of Pamela Z Toconis expired on July 1, 2026. Ms. Toconis has not shown interest in being re-appointed. The applicant appointed to this position will serve a full term ending on July 1, 2030. The Clerk’s Office received eligible applications from Amanda Estrada (District 1), Sabrina Abong (District 3), and Alberto Escobedo (District 6).
The matter of appointment to fill one seat to the Personnel Board is now before the Council.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No impact on City resources.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Personnel Board Roster
2. Applications