REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Approving and Adopting Updated Salary Plans for Classified, Unclassified, and As-Needed Positions
Report
BACKGROUND
Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated Classified and Unclassified Salary Plan
Section 9 of the Personnel and Salary Resolution requires City Council approval of compensation plans for classified and unclassified positions. In addition, the City of Santa Clara contracts with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) to provide retirement benefits for employees in both classified and unclassified positions. When the City makes modifications to the salary schedules for its classified, unclassified or as-needed positions, the City Council must approve and adopt the publicly available salary schedules to comply with the CalPERS requirements stated in California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 570.5. If the City Council does not approve these resolutions, the City will be non-compliant with CalPERS record keeping and reporting requirements. The City of Santa Clara is a contracting agency with CalPERS and is required to comply with its requirements. The proposed Council action satisfies these applicable requirements.
The updated classified and unclassified salary plans reflect the negotiated and Council approved Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) included in each agreement for the City of Santa Clara Employees Association (hereafter, “Unit 578”); the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 101 (hereafter, “Unit 6”); the Unclassified Miscellaneous Management (hereafter, “Unit 9); and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (hereafter, “Unit 10”). All classifications that are covered by the listed bargaining units, shall receive an automatic wage increase as described below effective December 21, 2025.
Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated As-Needed Salary Plan
The City is required to comply with Section 9 of the Personnel and Salary Resolution, as well as California Code of Regulations Section 570.5 for as-needed salaries, just as it would for the classified salaries described above. The As-Needed Salary Plan has been modified to reflect the change in the City of Santa Clara minimum wage effective January 1, 2026. The minimum wage for the City of Santa Clara will be increased to $18.70/hour, which is based on the Regional Consumer Price Index per the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
DISCUSSION
Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated Classified and Unclassified Salary Plans
The Classified Salary Plan has been modified to reflect negotiated wage increases for several bargaining groups. All classifications that are covered by the respective bargaining units shall receive an automatic increase effective the pay period beginning on December 21, 2025, which is the first pay period of calendar year 2026. The bargaining units and their respective wage increases are:
• City of Santa Clara Employees Association (Unit 578): A wage increase of approximately 3.0%. This adjustment was previously approved by City Council in open session as part of an agreement on a successor Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) on or about June 4, 2024.
• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 101 (Unit 6): A wage increase of approximately 3.5%. This adjustment was previously approved by City Council in open session as part of an agreement on a successor Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) on or about January 14, 2025.
• Unclassified Miscellaneous Management (Unit 9): A wage increase of approximately 3.0%. This adjustment was previously approved by City Council in open session as part of an agreement on a successor Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) on or about November 19, 2024.
• Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10): A wage increase of approximately 4.0%, except Public Safety Dispatcher classifications (Public Safety Dispatcher I (Job Code 339), Public Safety Dispatcher II (Job Code 340), and Senior Public Safety Dispatcher (Job Code 725). This adjustment was previously approved by City Council in open session as part of an agreement on a successor MOU on or about August 19, 2025. Please note the dispatcher classifications are excluded because of the different timing for those wage increases.
Adopt a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated As-Needed Salary Plan
The As-Needed Salary Plan is recommended to be modified as follows, in order to comply with the City’s Minimum Wage Ordinance increase from $18.20 per hour to $18.70 per hour, effective January 1, 2026:
• Crossing Guard (Job Code 362) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $28.50,
• Emergency Medical Technician (Job Code 100) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $20.19,
• Instructor/Lifeguard (Job Code 501) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $25.31,
• Laborer (Job Code 502) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $24.85,
• Law Clerk I (Job Code 524) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $20.16,
• Library Page (Job Code 542) - with a flat hourly rate of $18.70,
• Library Technology Aide (Job Code 537) - with a flat hourly rate of $18.70,
• Nutrition Meal Server (Job Code 608) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $20.81,
• Records Assistant (Job Code 606) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $18.41,
• Recreation Instructor (Job Code 699) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $30.91,
• Recreation Leader I (Job Code 681) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $21.56,
• Recreation Office Assistant (Job Code 698) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $21.56,
• Sr Library Page (Job Code 756) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $20.96,
• Student Intern I (Job Code 497) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $22.00; and
• Temporary Employee (Job Code 349) - with an hourly range of $18.70 - $214.06.
The changes to the As-Needed Salary Plan will be effective on December 21, 2025, the pay period that coincides with the January 1, 2026 effective date.
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
The general wage increases have a salary cost of approximately $3.3 million (all funds), of which approximately $1.8 million is in the General Fund and $1.5 million is in other funds. These increases were factored into the FY 2025/26 Adopted Biennial Operating Budget.
|
Bargaining Unit |
General Fund |
All Funds |
|
Employees Association (Unit 578) |
$0.66 M |
$1.25 M |
|
AFSCME (Unit 6) |
$0.31 M |
$0.51 M |
|
Unclassified Misc. Management (Unit 9) |
$0.62 M |
$1.32 M |
|
PSNSEA (Unit 10) (excludes dispatchers) |
$0.23 M |
$0.26 M |
|
TOTAL |
$1.82 M |
3.34 M |
The fiscal impact to the FY 2025/26 Operating Budget to update as-needed class specifications that are covered under the City’s Minimum Wage Ordinance increase from $18.20 per hour to $18.70 per hour effective December 21, 2025 to coincide with the pay period that includes January 1, 2026 is approximately $21,000 annually. This additional cost will be absorbed by the various departments in their existing budgets for FY 2025/26 and will be factored into the FY 2026/27 budget.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and 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
Adopt a Resolution in the form presented to approve and adopt the revised salary plans for various classified, unclassified, and as-needed positions (effective December 21, 2025) to satisfy the requirements of California Code of Regulations Section 570.5.
Staff
Reviewed by: Marco Mercado, Acting Director of Human Resources
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Classified Salary Plan eff 12-21-2025 (for Council 11-18-2025)
2. Unclassified Salary Plan eff 12-21-2025 (for Council 11-18-2025)
3. As-Needed Salary Plan eff 12-21-2025 (for Council 11-18-2025)
4. City of Santa Clara Minimum Wage Ordinance No. 1969
5. Resolution for Updated Classified, Unclassified, and As-Needed Salary Plans (for 11-18-2025)