City Council Item
https://www.santa-ana.org/city-council
Item # 32
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
August 20, 2024
TOPIC: Affirm Approval of City Manager Employment Agreement
AGENDA TITLE
Affirm Approval of City Manager Employment Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Direct and authorize the Mayor to execute the attached City Manager Employment Agreement with Alvaro Nuñez.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
Section 500 of the City Charter of the City of Santa Ana authorizes the City Council to appoint a City Manager. The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City who, under the direction of the City Council, is responsible for the proper administration of all affairs of the City.
The proposed Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A, is an Agreement negotiated between the candidate and the City Council. The City Council announced the appointment of the City Manager on August 6, 2024 and the approval of the terms of the Agreement which shall be deemed effective as of that date. The Agreement provides for all of the following:
*Term: The agreement is for a term of three (3) years. The Agreement contains a renewal option for two, one-year extensions, unless notice is provided by the Council. The renewal options are necessary to accommodate the 12-month severance provision, however, the Council may provide notice to limit the term to three years as negotiated. *Salary: The agreement provides an annual salary of $315,000. *457 Plan Contribution: The agreement provides for the maximum contribution provided by the IRS Code and is the same as was provided to previous employees holding this position.
*Benefits: The agreement provides for the same benefits that Executive Directors are provided pursuant to the Resolution adopted by Council and as that may be revised from time-to-time, except as expressly provided for in the agreement.
City Manager Employment Agreement
August 20, 2024
3 9
8 *Termination: The agreement provides for at-will employment, a severance provision of 12 months if terminated without cause, and an election cooling period in which termination may not occur six months prior to or after a municipal election at which officers are elected.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The consideration and approval of the agreement does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City Council approved the budget for the City Manager’s Office for Fiscal Year 2024-
25. The budget assumptions for City Manager salary and benefits exceed the fiscal impact of the negotiated terms of the Agreement, thus there are more than sufficient funds in the City Manager’s Office account budget to fund this Agreement.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. City Manager Employment Agreement
Submitted By: City Council Consultant Jacob Green and Associates