8I
Date: November 19, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
By: Brianne Cohen, Civil Service Manager | [email protected] Subject: City Manager – Approve Request to Set Closed Hearing Date to Consider Employee Termination Appeal. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council approve request to set a date of Tuesday, January 14, 2025 to conduct a closed hearing to consider an appeal of the Civil Service Commission’s decision sustaining the termination of a Police Officer (11).
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
The Hearing in the appeal of the termination of a Police Officer (11) was delegated to a hearing officer by the Civil Service Commission on March 13, 2023. The hearing officer heard the appeal on March 25-27, 2024 and submitted their findings on September 22, 2024.
On September 30, 2024, the Civil Service Commission adopted in part and modified in part the hearing officer’s Findings of Facts-Recommendations and upheld the termination of the Police Officer. On October 7, 2024, the Commission formally adopted their decision to sustain the termination. On October 17, 2024, the appellant’s attorney filed a timely appeal of the Civil Service Commission’s decision.
Under the provisions of Torrance Municipal Code Section 14.47.13, an appeal to your Honorable Body must be filed within 10 days of the Commission’s decision. The Appellant filed a timely appeal and staff is recommending that the hearing date be set for Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
The recommended date has been selected to accommodate the availability of the participants.
The hearing is recommended to start at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Pursuant to Penal Code Section 832.7 and Copley Press v. Superior Court, (2006) 39 Cal.4th 1272, consideration of Public Employee discipline may be conducted in a closed session per California Government Code Section 54957. The Appellant requested a closed session.
In hearing this matter, the Council will receive the following items: the transcripts of the hearing; the exhibits submitted; and the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Orders issued by City Council
November 19, 2024
the Commission; and written arguments from the parties, if any. During the hearing, both parties will have an opportunity to present oral arguments.
Copies of the transcripts, all documents and exhibits admitted into evidence, and the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Recommendation of the Commission will be distributed to your Honorable Body prior to the hearing for your review.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Torrance Municipal Code Section 14.47.13 – Appeal to City Council Torrance Municipal Code Section 14.47.14 – Record on Appeal Torrance Municipal Code Section 14.47.15 – Newly Discovered Evidence