City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: June 3, 2025
From: Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Lilia Hernandez, Assistant to the City Administrator Subject
Appointment of Su W. Tan as Director of Human Resources Recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-018 appointing Su W. Tan to serve as the Director of Human Resources of the City of Vernon effective June 30, 2025, and approving and authorizing the execution of a related at-will employment agreement.
Background
Following the retirement of the former Director of Human Resources in 2024, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for recruitment firms to conduct four executive level recruitments.
Based on the RFP process conducted, the firm Bob Murray & Associates was selected to conduct the City Administrator, City Clerk, Director of Finance/City Treasurer and Director of Human Resources recruitments.
Recruitment Summary
The recruitment period to fill the Director of Human Resources position began on February 20, 2025 and closed on March 23, 2025. Bob Murray & Associates received a total of 103 resume and questionnaire packets. Following an in-depth review of the resumes and questionnaires submitted, 12 candidates were interviewed by the recruitment firm and five candidates were recommended to move forward. Five candidates were invited to participate in a dual panel interview process consisting of City and external evaluators on April 28, 2025 and the final four were interviewed by the City Administrator. Subsequently, the City Administrator is recommending the appointment of Su Tan to serve as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Vernon.
At-Will Employment Agreement
The At-Will Employment Agreement for Director of Human Resources has been presented to Ms. Tan and is included as Exhibit B to Resolution No. 2025-018. The agreement establishes an effective date of June 30, 2025, and a starting salary of $219,467 per year, plus all benefits provided to executive personnel.
The proposed agreement is consistent with other City of Vernon executive employment agreements, albeit with the following exceptions:
• Added language to Section 5B indicating Employee shall receive an initial balance of 80 hours of Vacation time and 80 hours of Sick leave during the first year of City employment, which cannot be cashed out and shall not carry over.
These initial balances are categorized as “use it lose it” and would expire upon the one-year anniversary of the Employee.
Candidate Summary
Su Tan has over 20 years of municipal Human Resources experience. Most recently, Ms. Tan served as the Human Resources Manager for the City of Monrovia and previously served the City of Rosemead also in that capacity. Ms. Tan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management from the University of Southern California.
Given Ms. Tan’s qualifications and considerable experience in Human Resources, she is well suited to meet the needs of the City and lead the Human Resources Department.
At its regular City Council meeting on June 3, 2025, prior to taking final action to approve Resolution No. 2025-018, the City Council received an oral report summarizing the recommended appointment and compensation, in accordance with Government Code Section 54953(c)(3).
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is estimated at approximately $280,800 including salary and benefits ($219,467 base salary and $61,333 in benefit costs). Sufficient funds for the appointment of the Director of Human Resources are available in the General Fund, Human Resources Department, Salaries, Taxes and Benefits Accounts for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted in subsequent fiscal years.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 2025-018