Report Prepared by: John Tresidder, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Personnel Board Appointments
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider appointing two employee nominated individuals and one Council nominated individual to the Personnel Board.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Appointing Andrew Guzman and Jessica Fernandez to serve as employee nominated replacement members of the Personnel Board with terms expiring on July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2023 respectively; and,
B. Appointing one individual from the remaining applicants to serve as a Council nominated replacement member of the Personnel Board to a term expiring on July 1, 2022 and to the subsequent term expiring on July 1, 2026.
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
History and Past Actions
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.
There are four vacancies on the Personnel Board. Two of the vacancies are currently being filled by members with expired terms awaiting the appointment of qualified individuals to fill those seats. A third vacancy recently occurred with the resignation of Lynn White due to a work conflict. The fourth vacancy is a Board nominated position and will come before the Council at a future date as more applications are received and reviewed by the Board.
The impact of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was evident in all City boards and commissions with fewer meetings being held due to cancellations, members resigning, and fewer applications being received to fill vacancies.
Recent months have seen an uptick in applications and staff was able to nominate both Andrew Guzman and Jessica Fernandez to replace the current seated members whose terms have expired and are awaiting replacement.
Additionally, there are several more applications for Council consideration to appointment one individual to serve as the Council nomination to the Personnel Board.
These appointments are being requested before the yearly Council board and commission appointments occurring in July due to a series of previously scheduled Personnel Board hearings.
The matter of appointment to fill three seats on the Personnel Board is now before the Council.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No impact on City resources.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Personnel Board Roster
2. Applications (Employee Nominated)
3. Applications (Council Nominated)