Personnel Board
Special Meeting Minutes
May 28, 2025
ROSS ANNEX ROOM 1600
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
6:30 PM
VACANT
City-wide Rep
VACANT BERENICE BALLINAS
Ward 1 Ward 4
GABRIELA HERNANDEZ- VACANT
CASTILLO Ward 5
Ward 2
DAVID CROCKETT ANGIE RIVERA
Vice Chair Ward 6
Ward 3
JAMES MURRAY
Board Secretary
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need special assistance to participate in this Meeting, contact Michael Ortiz, City ADA Program Coordinator, at (714) 647-5624. Notification 48 hours prior to the Meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting. The City Council agenda and supporting documentation can be found on the City's website - www.santaana.org/city-meetings.
Personnel Board 1 5/28/2025
CALL TO ORDER
ATTENDANCE
Board Members:
Gabriela Hernandez-Castillo
David Crockett
Angie Rivera
Berenice Ballinas
Staff:
James Murray, Board Secretary
Josephine Ho, Human Resources Staff
Minutes: The Personnel Board meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. on May 28, 2025.
ROLL CALL James Murray, Board Secretary
Minutes: All Board Members were present on May 28, 2025.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Minutes: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board Secretary James Murray.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Minutes: There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
1. Excused Absences
Minutes: All Board Members were present on May 28, 2025.
2. Approve the minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Board for March 6, 2025.
Moved by Boardmember Crockett, seconded by Boardmember Ballinas to Approve.
YES: 4 - Angie Rivera, Berenice Ballinas, Gabriela Hernandez-Castillo, David Crockett NO: 0- ABSTAIN: 0 - ABSENT: 2 - Ernesto L Gomez, Nathaniel Greensides Status: 4 - 0 - 0 - 2 - Pass
***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***
Personnel Board 2 5/28/2025
BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. Discuss the Personnel Board scheduling for Case 2022-02.
Minutes: Both the City's and the Appellant's attorneys acknowledged reading the Personnel Board rules. The parties discussed the timeline and expressed their concerns regarding the scheduling of Case 2022-02 and all other pending Personnel Board cases.
Legal Advisor Burns clarified that the current meeting is the Personnel Board Rule 2.4 meeting for Case 2022-02. The City acknowledged this and indicated a willingness to proceed with scheduling the hearing if the Appellant's attorney and his client were ready.
The Appellant's attorney stated their client is currently medically unavailable to attend, but was open to scheduling a future prehearing date. Appellant's attorney noted that his client is unable to sit for extended periods due to medical reasons. The City's attorney objected to Appellant's assertion that he is unable to attend the hearing due to medical reasons and offered for Appellant to attend the hearing virtually.
Vice Chair Crockett inquired whether other cases could proceed, given the Appellant's attorney's representation that their client is unable to attend the hearing either virtually or in- person. The City requested a medical document from the Appellant's physician confirming their unavailability for both in-person and virtual meetings. Vice Chair Crockett expressed that he would like to move quickly and efficiently, and asked to hear the City's position regarding moving forward with Case No. 2022-04 prior to Case No. 2022-02. The City objected to proceeding with another case until a medical document from Appellant's physician is provided. Vice Chair Crockett asked for input from the other Board members.
Board Member Hernandez-Castillo supported postponing Case 2022-02 and proceeding with Case No. 2022-04 before Case No. 2022-02. She noted that since the Board has generally heard cases in-person, it should continue to do so. Board Member Ballinas agreed with Board Member Hernandez-Castillo and believed proceeding even with a medical clearance from the Appellant in Case No. 2022-02 could create further complications. Board Member Rivera agreed with the previous two statements. The Board declined to seek medical documentation from the Appellant.
With the consensus from the Board to proceed with Case No. 2022-04 before 2022-02, Legal Advisor Burns advised that the Personnel Board Rule 2.4 meeting for Case 2022-04 would be added to the agenda for the next meeting. After consultation with the parties and the Board as to availability, it was determined to hold a special meeting for June 25 at 6:30 p.m. for the Personnel Board Rule 2.4 meeting for Case No. 2022-04. The Secretary noted that the Board now meets regularly on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, with meetings starting at 6:00 p.m. to maximize available time.
Vice Chair Crockett encouraged all parties to review the Personnel Board rules prior to the next meeting.
Per correspondence dated April 4, 2025, the City noted for the record that the Appellant Personnel Board 3 5/28/2025
notified the City that the Appellant was medically unavailable to attend the hearing. The parties agreed that the continuation of Case 2022-02, as of May 25, 2025, was due to the Appellant's request.
***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
COMMENTS
4. Board Member Comments
Minutes: Board Member Castillo-Hernandez expressed appreciation to staff for documenting the concerns and issues in the official record.
5. Staff Member Comments
Minutes: There were no staff member comments.
ADJOURNMENT
Minutes: The Personnel Board regular meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. on May 28, 2025.
Respectfully submitted
James Murray, Board Secretary
Personnel Board 4 5/28/2025