Agenda Item No. 7
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: DATE: October 10, 2023
FROM:
PREPARED BY:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Matthew Bronson, City Manager
Karla Mattocks, Human Resources Officer
Adoption of a Resolution Appointing Interim Public
Works Director/City Engineer
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution appointing Steve Kahn as Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer.
BACKGROUND
The City’s Public Works Director/City Engineer (Greg Ray) is currently off work on medical leave for an undefined period of time. Staff members within the Public Works Department have served as rotating Acting Director to date to provide management continuity within the department.
However, given the continued uncertainty and the impacts on department workload, the City Manager has sought out potential individuals from outside the City who could serve as an Interim Director while Mr. Ray remains on leave. Staff is subsequently recommending adoption of a resolution appointing Steve Kahn in the position of Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer.
Mr. Kahn is a retired annuitant with extensive experience in Public Works management including over 18 years as the Director of Public Works for the cities of Atascadero and Santa Maria. He has also completed several interim assignments since his retirement from full time employment including most recently in Arroyo Grande as Interim Public Works Director.
Because the selected candidate is an interim retired annuitant under Government Code section 21221(g) (per written CalPERS guidance), the City Council must make the appointment and approve the employment agreement by resolution. This appointment will also be subject to applicable laws under Government Code section 7522.56(d), which limits the number of hours which may be worked in any fiscal year to 960 hours. Pending Council appointment, this interim appointment is scheduled to begin on October 16 and conclude on January 31, 2023 to provide approximately three months of management continuity and coincide with the timing of Mr. Ray returning from leave though this exact timing has not been finalized.
The compensation paid to retired annuitants cannot be less than the minimum nor exceed the maximum monthly base salary paid to other employees performing comparable duties. For this position of Interim Public Works Director, the applicable hourly rate is $86.24 or $14,948 monthly, which is the top step for the Public Works Director/City Engineer position on the approved salary schedule. Lastly, in accordance with the applicable law, the interim employment does not provide for any other benefit, incentive compensation in lieu of benefits, or any other form of compensation in addition to this hourly pay.
Staff Report: Appointment of Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Page 2 October 10, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action would result in an approximate cost of $47,500 for the remainder of the Fiscal Year 2023-24. However, this cost will be offset by the cost savings of the current Public Works Director/City Engineer Ray’s medical leave.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Adopt the Resolution appointing Steve Kahn as Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer; or
2. Provide alternate direction to staff.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 23-__ appointing Steve Kahn as Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer.
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. 23-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH,
CALIFORNIA, TO APPOINT STEVE KAHN AS INTERIM PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER.
WHEREAS, the representatives of the City propose to appoint Steve Kahn as Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer;
NOW, THERFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DOES DELARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Council of the City of Grover Beach does hereby adopt this Resolution ratifying the above-referenced Interim Appointment.
On motion by Council Member _____, seconded by Council Member ____, and on the following roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members –
NOES: Council Members –
ABSENT: Council Members –
ABSTAIN: Council Members –
RECUSED: Council Members –
the foregoing Resolution was PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grover Beach, California this 10thTH day of October, 2023.
KAREN BRIGHT, MAYOR
Attest:
WENDI B. SIMS, CITY CLERK
**DRAFT**