Joint Special Meeting
CC/BFPD/Odesa/Harvey House
06/16/26 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Suzann Nelson
Amendment
Doc ID: 6431
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH ROCHELLE
CLAYTON AS CITY MANAGER, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MANAGER, ODESSA WATER
DISTRICT MANAGER, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY MANAGER TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR
AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS AND INCREASE COMPENSATION
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 authorize the first Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Rochelle Clayton, effective May 19, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
City On March 10, 2025 the City and Rochelle Clayton entered into an Employment Agreement. Among other things, the Employment Agreement provides for periodic performance evaluations of the City Manager, during which potential modifications to the Employment Agreement could be discussed. The City Council conducted a performance evaluation of the City Manager.
Through the evaluation process, the City and the City Manager identified four amendments to the existing Employment Agreement. First, the duration of the agreement will be extended by three years.
Second, compensation will be increased to $300,000 annually. Third, an auto allowance is authorized in the amount of $750 monthly. And fourth, the Limitation on Removal shall be increased from 90 days to 120 days following the appointment of new councilmembers to succeeding any general municipal election held in the city at which a member of the city council is elected, except by a four-fifths vote.
Government Code section 54953(c)(2) contains specific disclosure requirements with regard to executive compensation and benefits. That statute states in relevant part: “Prior to taking final action, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action on the salaries, salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency executive ... during the open meeting in which the final action is to be taken.” To comply with Section 54953(c)(2), the key terms of Mrs. Clayton’s employment agreement are summarized below and will be orally summarized in open session at the June 16, 2026 City Council meeting.
1. Term of Employment. Under the Amendment to Employment Agreement, the term is set at three years for Mrs. Clayton’s Employment Agreement amendment.
2. Compensation. Mrs. Clayton’s current salary is $274,000 per year. The Amendment to the Employment Agreement will increase Mrs. Clayton’s salary to $300,000 per year.
Joint Special Meeting
CC/BFPD/Odesa/Harvey House
06/16/26 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Suzann Nelson
Amendment
Doc ID: 6431
AGENDA ITEM
3. Other Terms and Conditions of Employment. Under the Amendment to Employment Agreement, the additional benefit of Auto Allowance shall be set at $750 per month.
4. Limitation on removal. The city manager shall not be removed from office during or within a period of 120 days next succeeding any general municipal election held in the city at which election of a member of the city council is elected, except by a four-fifths vote of the mayor and whole city council, an increase from 90 days as set in the Municipal Code; the purpose of this provision being to allow any newly elected members of the City Council or a reorganized City Council to observe the actions and ability of the City Manager in the performance of the powers and duties of his/her office.
Attachments:
1. First Amendment to Employment Agreement (Clean)
2. First Amendment to Employment Agreement (Redline)
3. Updated Publicly Available Pay Schedule (PAPS)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The First Amendment to Employment Agreement will result in an increase in annual salary and benefit costs to the City of approximately $35,000, which is included in the Proposed FY26/27 Budget.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Approve the first amendment to the employment agreement between the City of Barstow and Rochelle Clayton.