Fremont City Council Meeting: 01/20/26 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Resources
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5617) DOC ID: 5617 B
Updated: 1/16/2026 9:48 AM by Dina Lewis B Page 1
FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - Consideration of an Amendment to the Employment Agreement between City Manager Karena McGee Shackelford and the City of Fremont Contact Persons:
Name: Tina Gallegos
Title: Human Resources Director
Div/Dept: Human Resources
Phone: 510-494-4652
E-Mail: [email protected]
Executive Summary: As provided for by the City Manager’s employment contract, the Mayor has requested that the City Manager receive a one point three percent (1.3%) salary adjustment equal to the percentage wage increase provided to the Fremont Association of Management Employees (FAME) on Augus 10, 2025. Consistent with FAME, the proposed salary increase for the City Manager would also be implemented retroactively to August 10, 2025.
BACKGROUND: City Manager Karena Shackelford has been employed by the City of Fremont as City Manager since October 2021. The City entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Shackelford on October 20, 2021, and that agreement provides that the City Council may grant Ms. Shackelford periodic cost of living increases.
The Mayor now desires to provide Ms. Shackelford with a one point three percent (1.3%) salary adjustment commensurate with the negotiated wage increase provided to the Fremont Association of Management Employees (FAME) as a result of the City’s concluded labor negotiations in 2025.
Ms. Shackelford currently receives an annual salary of $423,242, and a bi-weekly salary of $16,278. If this recommended general wage increase is approved, Ms. Shackelford’s new annual salary will be $428,744, or $16,490 bi-weekly.
FISCAL IMPACT: The annual cost of the recommended one point three percent (1.3%) general wage increase is approximately $5,502 and will be absorbed by the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This action is not a project as defined by Pub. Res. Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2), as an administrative, fiscal, personnel and policy action. The action is further exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), as the creation of a government funding mechanism or other government fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution - Fifth Amendment to the Employment Agreement with the City Manager
Council Staff Report (ID # 5617) Meeting of January 20, 2026 Updated: 1/16/2026 9:48 AM by Dina Lewis B Page 2
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt attached Resolution and authorize the Mayor to execute the Fifth Amendment to the City Manager’s employment agreement which authorizes a one point three percent (1.3%) salary adjustment, retroactive to August 10, 2025.