Regular Meeting
02/18/25 06:00 PM
City Clerk / Records
Maribel Hernandez
Appointment
Doc ID: 5885
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF APPOINTMENT OF ROCHELLE CLAYTON AS CITY MANAGER,
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MANAGER, ODESSA WATER DISTRICT MANAGER, AND
SUCCESSOR AGENCY MANAGER AND APPROVAL OF AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
With the approval of this item, the Barstow City Council, Barstow Fire Protection District Board of Directors, and Barstow Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency Board of Directors may appoint Rochelle Clayton as City Manager of the City of Barstow, District Manager of the Barstow Fire Protection District, District Manager of the Odessa Water District, and Executive Director of the Successor Agency to the former Barstow Redevelopment Agency, and approve an at-will Employment Agreement, effective March 10, 2025.
DISCUSSION:
In December 2024, the City Council began an extensive recruitment for a new City Manager. The City received a dozen applications for the position of City Manager. The finalists for the position were interviewed separately by the City Council and by a community-representative panel composed of City residents selected by each Council Member. The City Council was unanimous in its selection of Rochelle Clayton as the top candidate for Barstow City Manager.
Ms. Clayton has been providing top-tier executive management services to local governments for over 30 years, with 17 years with the County of San Bernardino, and service most recently as Interim City Manager of the City of San Bernardino, and previously as Assistant City Manager for the City of Menifee and Deputy & Interim City Manager/Administrative Services Director for the City of Banning. She has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and comes prepared to lead Barstow to its next level of excellence. Ms. Clayton intends to fully engage with the community and is looking forward to delivering her skills and expertise for the community’s benefit.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem have negotiated the attached Employment Agreement, for City Council approval. The Agreement is for at-will basis and provides for an annual salary of $274,000, and a cafeteria plan for medical/dental/vision insurance benefits equivalent to those provided by the Unit 6 MOU (management employees). The City Manager is an at-will position, not a member of any union.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City Council, Fire Protection District Board of Directors, Water District Board of Directors, and Successor Agency Board of Directors are recommended to each formally appoint Ms. Clayton as City Manager, Fire Protection District Manager, Odessa Water District Manager, and Successor Agency Executive Director by adopting the attached Resolution of Appointment and approving the attached Employment Agreement. Ms. Clayton’s start date will be March 10, 2025.