Joint Special Council/BFPD
12/2/24 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Matthew Summers
Resolution
Doc ID: 5826
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR ANDREW ESPINOZA, JR. AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, AND POLICE CHIEF AND APPROVAL OF SUCCESSOR EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR ANDREW ESPINOZA, JR. AS
POLICE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On January 16, 2024, the City Council appointed Mr. Andrew Espinoza, Jr. as Acting City Manager and Public Safety Director. On February 5, 2024, the City Council, Fire Protection District Board of Directors, and Successor Agency Board of Directors adopted a formal Resolution of Appointment, appointing Mr.
Espinoza as Interim City Manager and Public Safety Director and Police Chief, Fire Protection District Interim Administrator, and Successor Agency Interim Executive Director, and approving an at-will Employment Agreement. At this meeting, the City Council will consider, and may adopt, a Second Amendment to the Interim City Manager, Public Safety Director, and Police Chief Employment Agreement, extending its term through April 1, 2025, and a successor employment agreement for Mr.
Espinoza to then continue service to the City as Police Chief for three years.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council unanimously appointed Mr. Espinoza as Acting City Manager, with Mr. Espinoza also retaining his existing roles as Public Safety Director and Police Chief on January 16, 2024. After consideration, the City Council also directed the City Attorney to negotiate an agreement for Mr. Espinoza to serve as Interim City Manager and Public Safety Director, and to retain his existing additional appointment as Police Chief, or appoint a new Police Chief, as he determines necessary. The City Council unanimously appointed Mr. Espinoza as Acting City Manager, and on February 5, 2024, formally approved his appointment as Interim City Manager, Public Safety Director, and Police Chief, with full confidence in his ability to continue the City, Fire District, and Successor Agency’s traditions of high quality public service to the community and to guide the community to the future. The City later approved a minor amendment to his Interim City Manager, Public Safety Director, and Police Chief employment agreement on April 15, 2024.
Mr. Espinoza has served 26 years in the Barstow Police Department and has been the Chief of Police for 2 years and 10 months. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach.
The City Council’s active recruitment for the City of Barstow’s next permanent City Manager is underway, and expected to take several months. To ensure strong leadership in the interim, the Council will consider approval of a Second Amendment to Mr. Espinoza’s Interim City Manager, Public Safety Director, and Police Chief employment agreement extending its term to April 1, 2025 or appointment of a permanent City Manager, whichever happens first.
The City Council will also consider approval of a successor employment agreement for Mr. Espinoza to continue service as just the City’s Police Chief, after the appointment of a permanent City Manager.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Joint Special Council/BFPD
12/2/24 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Matthew Summers
Resolution
Doc ID: 5826
AGENDA ITEM
The attached proposed Secondment Amendment to Employment Agreement for Interim City Manager, Public Safety Director, and Police Chief has a term until April 1, 2025, or until a permanent City Manager is appointed, and provides for an annual base salary of $273,493.08, plus an additional 3% per month above the base salary as educational incentive pay because Mr. Espinoza possesses a Master’s Degree and an additional 2.5% per month above the base salary as the Mr. Espinoza earned the POST Executive Management Certificate; and a cafeteria plan for medical/dental/vision insurance benefits. Mr.
Espinoza will continue to participate in the PERS Retirement system as a classic safety member, will be eligible for a 2% contribution in a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, and be eligible to accrue 208 hours of vacation leave, 104 hours of sick leave, and 90 hours of executive leave each year. These terms and conditions, except for the term extension, are all the same as his current contract.
For the successor employment agreement as Police Chief, the term will be three years. The base salary will be $262,000, plus an additional 3% per month above the base salary as educational incentive pay because Mr. Espinoza possesses a Master’s Degree and an additional 2.5% per month above the base salary as the Mr. Espinoza earned the POST Executive Management Certificate; and a cafeteria plan for medical/dental/vision insurance benefits. Mr. Espinoza will continue to participate in the PERS Retirement system as a classic safety member, will be eligible for a 2% contribution in a Deferred Compensation Plan, and will earn other benefits equivalent to the Unit 8 Barstow Police Department Management Association MOU. The cost of the salary and benefits for both positions is within the present budget.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Resolution Approving a Second Amendment to the Interim City Manager, Public Safety Director, and Police Chief Employment Agreement, extending its term through April 1, 2025; and a successor Employment Agreement for Mr. Espinoza to continue service to the City as Police Chief for three years.