COUNCIL AGENDA: 10/6/2026
FILE: 26-1066
ITEM: 3.3
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk
SUBJECT: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
INTERVIEW
DATE: September 23, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
(a) Interview applicants and consider appointment to fill the following seats on the Civil Service Commission:
i. One (1) Member-at-Large seat with an unexpired term ending November 30, 2027. ii. One (1) Member-at-Large seat with a term beginning on December 1, 2026 and ending November 30, 2030.
(b) If any vacancies remain, direct the City Clerk to continue recruitment efforts and bring forward additional applicants for consideration.
OUTCOME
Appointment to the vacant seat and upcoming vacancy on the Civil Service Commission will allow the commission to continue conducting business.
BACKGROUND
The Civil Service Commission is established in the City Charter, Section 1001. The Commission consists of five members appointed by Council, no more than four members shall be of the same sex, and at least one member shall be an attorney-at-law. The attorney must be licensed to practice law in the State of California and shall have practiced law in the State for at least five years prior to appointment. There are no term limits for the Civil Service Commission.
Under the City Charter, Section 1001, the Civil Service Commission has the following functions, powers, and duties:
A. To recommend to the Council the adoption, amendment or repeal of Civil Service Rules relating to the matters specified in Section 1102 of Article XI of this Charter; B. To make any investigation which may consider desirable concerning the administration of personnel in the Classified Service;
C. To make recommendations to the Council, the City Manager or to any other appointive power on matters relating to the administration of personnel in the Classified Service; and D. To exercise and perform such other powers and duties as are expressly given to it by other provisions of this Charter; and to exercise such other powers and perform such other functions and duties as may be prescribed by the Council not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 6, 2026
Subject: Civil Service Commission Interview
The Council may appoint up to two applicants total, for the following seats on the Civil Service Commission: (a) one Member-at-Large for an unexpired term ending November 30, 2027 and (b) one Member-at-Large seat with a term ending November 30, 2030. Commissioner Joan Smith resigned from the Civil Service Commission as of August 31, 2026, leaving her unexpired term available for appointment. Commissioner Thomas Cochran is currently a Member-atLarge, serving a term which expires November 30, 2026; he is seeking reappointment to the Commission. Thomas Cochran is currently in compliance with required AB 1234 training as well as Form 700 and Family Gift reporting. Civil Service Commission members do not have term limits.
ANALYSIS
The applicants have been invited to be interviewed by the City Council on October 6, 2026. As required by the Municipal Code, a successful applicant must receive six (6) or more votes to be appointed to the Civil Service Commission. If any seat remains unfilled, it is recommended that the recruitment be referred back to the City Clerk to secure additional applicants for consideration by the Council in 90 days.
The applications of the candidates are attached. A memorandum from the Office of the City Attorney regarding their review for potential conflicts of interests is also included. The applicants were reviewed by Planning Building and Code Enforcement with no issues found. The qualified applicants for consideration are Thomas Cochran (incumbent), Lisa Pate, Nick Finan, Allan Jones, and Lynden Price. As Thomas Cochran is currently serving a term which will end on November 30, 2026, he is eligible for a full term beginning December 1, 2026 and ending November 30, 2030. All other applicants are eligible for either a full term or the unexpired term ending November 30, 2027.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
A duty of the Office of the City Clerk is to minimize vacancies on the Boards and Commissions.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The memorandum has been posted on the City Clerk’s website as part of the October 6, 2026 City Council Meeting Agenda.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the Office of the City Attorney.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-010, City Administrative Activities, resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 6, 2026
Subject: Civil Service Commission Interview
TONI J. TABER, MMC
City Clerk
For questions, please contact Toni Taber, City Clerk, at (408) 535-1260.