CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3212
CUPERTINO.GOV
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Date: October 20, 2026
Subject
Consider First Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement with Tina Kapoor; Amendments to the Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program Recommended Action
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-___ (Attachment A) approving the First Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement between the City of Cupertino and Tina Kapoor and authorizing the Mayor to execute the amendment; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 26-___ (Attachment C) amending the Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program
Background
On November 18, 2025, the City Council approved an Employment Agreement appointing Tina Kapoor as the permanent City Manager. Ms. Kapoor has served in the City Manager role since May 2025. During her tenure, Ms. Kapoor has overseen City operations through a period of organizational transition and fiscal challenges, with a focus on maintaining municipal services, strengthening organizational operations, and advancing City Council priorities. Her responsibilities have also included aligning organizational and performance goals with Council direction and supporting the City's long-term fiscal and operational stability. During this period, the City also maintained core services, advanced Council-approved priorities, implemented organizational improvements, and addressed significant fiscal and operational matters.
Additional accomplishments are documented in the City’s adopted budget and departmental reports.
Reasons for Recommendation
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the City Manager Employment Agreement (Attachment F), the City Council conducted an annual performance evaluation and salary review covering Ms. Kapoor's service through August 2026. The agreement provides for consideration of annual performance goals and objectives, Council input, and evaluation criteria established by the City Council and City Manager. In recognition of her performance and responsibilities, the proposed First Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement (Attachment B) includes the following amendments:
• Section 2.1 (Compensation): A 5% merit increase in the City Manager’s base annual salary to $353,650, inclusive of the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment and retroactive to July 1, 2026. • Section 5.2 (Annual Evaluation): Annual performance and salary reviews beginning in the first two weeks of July 2027 and each July thereafter, with proposed annual performance goals and objectives submitted by June 30.
• Section 6.3 (Vacation Leave): Vacation accrual of 120 hours per year, with an 80-hour increase fora maximum accrual of 320 hours.
The Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program will be updated to reflect the revised annual salary of $353,650, inclusive of the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment and retroactive to July 1, 2026.
Except for the compensation, vacation accrual, and annual evaluation timing changes described above, all other provisions of the original Employment Agreement remain unchanged. The redline and clean versions of the proposed amendments to the Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program are provided as Attachments D and E, respectively.
Sustainability Impact
No sustainability impact.
Fiscal Impact
The additional costs associated with the contract amendment will be absorbed through available salary savings within the City Manager's Office budget.
City Work Program (CWP) Item/Description
None.
Council Goal:
Public Engagement and Transparency.
TBD Item:
No.
California Environmental Quality Act
The proposed action does not constitute a “project” subject to CEQA. _____________________________________
Prepared by: Kirsten Squarcia, Deputy City Manager
Reviewed by: Michael Woo, Senior Assistant City Attorney Attachments:
A - Draft Resolution Approving First Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement B – Draft First Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement C – Draft Resolution amending Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program D – Amendments to the Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program (Redline) E – Amendments to the Appointed Employees’ Compensation Program (Clean) F – City Manager Employment Agreement Approved November 18, 2025