REPORT TO SALARY SETTING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Possible Action to Set the Salary for the position of Police Chief (Job Code 141)
Report
BACKGROUND
The Police Chief (Job Code 141) position is an elected position under City Charter Section 600. City Municipal Code Section 2.80.015 requires the Commission to set the Police Chief’s compensation on July 1, 2019 and every two years thereafter. Charter Section 702 provides that salaries so established by the Commission shall not exceed one hundred ten percent (110%) of the previous figure.
DISCUSSION
Police Chief (Job Code 141)
City Charter Section 906 sets forth the duties for the position of Police Chief.
The Chief of Police shall have power and be required to:
(a) Preserve the public peace;
(b) Execute and return all process issued to him/her by legal authority; and
(c) Exercise all the powers that are now or may hereafter be conferred upon sheriffs and other police officers by the laws of the State. (Amended by electors at an election held March 7, 2000, Charter Chapter 11 of the State Statutes of 2000)
The current Charter Section 701.1 was adopted in 2000 (Measure I) and introduced the requirement that the Chief of Police be able to satisfy the state law qualification requirements imposed upon candidates for County Sheriff. Prior to the 2000 election, the only requirements were that the Chief of Police be a City resident and qualified registered voter. The requirements of the state law are not stringent. Government Code Section 24004.3 sets forth the requirements for County Sheriff as follows:
(1) An active or inactive advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
(2) One year of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience, and possesses a master's degree from an accredited college or university.
(3) Two years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience, and possesses a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
(4) Three years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience, and possesses an associate in arts or associate in science degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited college.
(5) Four years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience, and possesses a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Assistant Police Chief (Job Code 027)
Beginning June 2020, in collaboration with the Police Chief, the City Manager appointed two Assistant Police Chiefs. Having two experienced leaders in this role will help broaden the department’s ability to respond to critical, time sensitive matters and lead the department and serve the community.
The classification specification for Assistant Chief of Police requires both an advanced certificate and a management certificate from POST and it is desirable to possess completion certificates from POST Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI), FBI National Academy, or POST Command College. Please refer to Attachment 1, Classification Specification for Assistant Police Chief.
Recently, the organizational structure reverted to the traditional (pre-2020) structure of a single Assistant Chief position, with four Captains, all reporting to the Chief of Police.
Comparator Information for Police Chief
Staff completed a compensation survey that includes comparator agencies for the classification of Police Chief (Attachment 2). At the March 3, 2025 meeting, the Commission requested that compensation information be added to the survey for the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo. The City was able to obtain information from Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, which has been included.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Any costs associated with approved salary increases will be incorporated in the development of future budgets.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff has no recommendation other than to encourage the Commission to consider the available information, and if/when ready, act to set the salary of the Police Chief.
Staff
Reviewed by: Aracely Azevedo, Director of Human Resources
Approved by: Nadine Nader, Chief Operating Officer/Assistant City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Classification Specification for Assistant Police Chief
2. Police Chief Survey
3. Resolution No. 23-3