City Manager’s Office
www.santa-ana.gov/cm
Item # 24
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 15, 2026
TOPIC: Paid Military Leave
AGENDA TITLE
Ordinance to Extend Paid Military Leave Benefit
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Adopt a Resolution to provide a continuation of partially paid temporary military leave.
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA PROVIDING FOR CONTINUATION OF
PARTIALLY PAID TEMPORARY MILITARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR CITY
EMPLOYEES CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMED FORCES AND
CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES AND ELIGIBLE
DEPENDANTS
2. Introduce an Ordinance for first reading to expand partially paid leave for employees called to active military duty.
ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXXX entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING ARTICLE VI (LEAVES, HOLIDAYS AND ABSENCES) OF CHAPTER 9 (CIVIL SERVICE) OF THE SANTA ANA
MUNICIPAL CODE TO EXPAND PAID LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES CALLED TO
ACTIVE DUTY WITH RESERVE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE
NATIONAL GUARD
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
As required by California Military and Veterans Code §395.02, the City currently provides 30 days of paid military leave each year for employees who are reserve members of U.S. armed forces or the National Guard and are called to active duty. These employees must have been with the City for at least one year to receive the paid benefit provided by Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) Section 9-144.
Paid Military Leave
September 15, 2026
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7 9
“Members of the reserve forces of the United States, or the National Guard, granted temporary leave when ordered to duty, in accordance with the Military and Veterans Code, will be granted leave with pay for not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days in each calendar year after one (1) year’s service with the city, upon presenting satisfactory proof of orders to and from such temporary active duties.”
To help a military employee and their family avoid financial hardship due to extended periods of military leave, the City Council has previously approved Resolutions covering temporary periods and granting additional partial pay for military leaves exceeding 30 days. The latest example is Resolution No. 2021-021 (Exhibit 3), which expired June 30, 2022.
Staff has prepared an Ordinance for City Council to consider (Exhibit 2) which would extend the paid military leave in the SAMC and eliminate the need for future temporary Resolutions. To limit the City’s exposure to long-term costs, the proposed extension of partially paid military leave beyond the initial 30-day period would be subject to the following limits.
•Military leave pay beyond the initial 30-day period would be limited to the difference between the employee’s military pay and their City pay and benefits, similar to past Resolutions.
•The additional pay would be limited to six months each calendar year, with the City Manager having the authorization to terminate payments earlier if there is a forecasted budget deficit for the applicable fiscal year. The City would provide appropriate notice to any affected employee prior to termination of payments. •Military orders for the extended period must be involuntary.
If City Council approves the staff recommendation, the Ordinance would be scheduled for adoption on the October 6, 2026 agenda and become effective 30 days later on November 5, 2026.
The City currently has one Police Department employee on involuntary military leave, which has been extended to end December 13, 2026. The 30-day period of paid military leave ends September 3, 2026. To provide an additional benefit as outlined above for the period between September 3 and November 5 (the potential effective date of the Ordinance), staff has prepared a proposed Resolution (Exhibit 1), similar to Resolution No. 2021-021. The proposed Resolution would be effective for a four-month period beginning September 1, 2026 to allow for any agenda delays.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
Paid Military Leave
September 15, 2026
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7 9
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated fiscal impact of additional pay and benefits for September 3 through December 13 is $30,421, which can be absorbed by the Police Department employee compensation budget. Any future fiscal impact would be limited to six months per year for each impacted employee and would be contemplated as part of the applicable department budget.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX to provide a continuation of partially paid temporary military leave.
2. ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXXX to expand partially paid leave for employees called to active military duty.
3. Resolution No. 2021-021
Submitted By: Kathryn Downs, Assistant City Manager
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager