RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MARIA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A NEW EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT WITH DAVID W. ROWLANDS
FOR CITY MANAGER SERVICES
WHEREAS, the City Council entered into an Employment Agreement with David W. Rowland for Services Rendered as City Manager dated October 1, 2024, which was adopted by Resolution No. 2024-22 (“2024 Employment Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2025, the City Council conducted a performance and compensation review of the City Manager in Closed Session; and WHEREAS, the City Council negotiated the terms of a new employment agreement with a compensation increase over the prior 2024 Employment Agreement, reflecting outstanding performance, and with consideration to compression issues and a need for differential between the City Manager, City Attorney and Department Directors; and
WHEREAS, a new 2025 Employment Agreement has been prepared for Mr.
Rowlands for City Manager Services , which shall supersede and replace the 202 4 Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Section 36506 of the California Government Code requires the City Council to fix the compensation of all appointive officers and employees of the City by resolution or ordinance; and
WHEREAS, Section 54953 of the California Government Code requires the City Council, prior to taking final action, to orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action on the salaries, salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency executive such as the City Manager, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3511.1, during the open meeting in which the final action is to be taken ; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-3.03 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code states: “The City Manager shall receive such compensation and benefits as the Council shall fix from time to time by ordinance or resolution.”
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, that the City Council:
SECTION 1. Acknowledges and affirms that an oral report of a summary of the recommendation for a final action on the compensation and benefits to be paid the City Manager under the proposed new City Manager Employment Agreement is required by state law and was, in fact, provided in a public meeting held on June 17, 2025 prior to the City Council’s action to adopt the new City Manager Employment Agreement; SECTION 2. Approves the new 2025 Employment Agreement (herein referenced as Exhibit A) with Mr. Rowlands for City Manager Services , which shall supersede and replace the 2024 Employment Agreement;
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SECTION 3 . Sets Mr. Rowlands’ pay in accordance with the Employment Agreement, at $365,799.00 annually;
SECTION 4 . Will undertake an annual review of the performance of the City Manager utilizing a process, form, criteria, and format for the evaluation which shall be mutually agreed upon, and begin in May and shall be completed by the third week in June each year; and
SECTION 5. That the Mayor is authorized to sign said Employment Agreement on behalf of the City Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, held this 17th day of June 2025, by the following roll call vote:
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
_______________________________
Department Head
_______________________________
City Manager