REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve the Modifications to Classified Position Specifications and Adopt a Resolution Approving and Adopting Updated Salary Plans for Classified Positions
Report
BACKGROUND
Sections 4 and 6 of the Personnel and Salary Resolution require City Council approval of the creation of new classifications, the combining or other modification of existing classifications, and the deletion of existing classifications.
Modifications to the Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519) Class Specification
The Human Resources Department and the City Attorney’s Office coordinated to update the Legal Office Specialist III (Job Code 519) class specification and retitle it to Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519).
These modifications were approved by Unit 578 prior to approval by the Civil Service Commission on June 11, 2026.
Addition of the Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hour (Job Code 233) Class Specification
Currently, there is an Assistant Training Officer (Job Code 233S) classification. However, the current salary plan only provides for a salary range for the 24-hour shift Assistant Training Officer. The Human Resources Department and the Fire Department coordinated to add the Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hour (Job Code 233) class specification to the salary plan. The salary range is consistent with other Santa Clara Firefighters, International Association of Firefighters, Local 1171 (Unit 1) classifications that have both a 24-hour shift and a 80-hour shift.
Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated Classified Salary Plan
Section 9 of the Personnel and Salary Resolution requires City Council approval of compensation plans for classified 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 salary plans reflect the negotiated and Council approved Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) included in each agreement for the Police Officers Association (hereafter, “Unit 2”); the Engineers of the City Of Santa Clara (hereafter, “Unit 4”); 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 July 5, 2026.
DISCUSSION
Modifications to the Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519) Class Specification - with an annual salary range of $93,902.28 - $119,658.60. The City Attorney’s Office coordinated with the Human Resources Department to update the class specification for Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519). The Legal Office Specialist is a confidential clerical classification assigned to the City Attorney’s Office. This classification supports the work of the City Attorney and other Attorneys and staff members in the City Attorney’s Office. An incumbent in this classification is expected to possess considerable expertise in legal procedures, confidentiality, and must exercise considerable tact, discretion, and sound independent judgment in the performance of duties with a relatively high consequence of error. Performs related duties as assigned. The requested approval does not modify the salary ranges for the classification.
Addition of the Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hour (Job Code 233) Class Specification - with an annual salary range of $193,791.72 - $247,795.68. The Fire Department coordinated with the Human Resources Department to create the class specification for Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hour (Job Code 233). The Assistant Training Officer is an entry level professional managerial position in the classified service that assumes the role of officer in charge of the suppression division when the shift Battalion Chief is not on duty and assists the training Battalion Chief in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and evaluating in-service training programs of the Fire Department (including the Volunteer Reserve Division). An incumbent in this classification exercises independent judgment and discretion; manages and directs employees at emergency and non-emergency operations; helps in formulating administrative policies for the effective use of assigned personnel; and actively supports the direction established by the Fire Chief and City Manager and policies established by the City Council for the delivery of Fire Department services to the citizens. As noted above, there is an existing Assistant Training Officer (Job Code 233S) with a salary range for the 24-hour shift, but not for a corresponding salary range for the 80-hour shift.
Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated Classified 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 July 5, 2026, which is the first pay period of FY 2026/27. The bargaining units and their respective wage increases are:
• Police Officers Association (Unit 2): 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 July 15, 2025.
• Engineers of the City of Santa Clara (Unit 4): A wage increase of approximately 4.5% for classification Senior Electric Utility Engineer (Job Code 730, 730L, 730I, 730D, 730E and 730A) and approximately 4.0% for all other classifications. This agreement was previously approved by City Council in open session as part of an agreement on a successor Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) on or about December 17, 2025.
• Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10): A wage increase of approximately 3.0% for 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.
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 $2.15 million (all funds), of which approximately $1.62 million is in the General Fund and $0.53 million is in other funds. These increases were factored into the FY 2026/27 Adopted Biennial Operating Budget.
|
Bargaining Unit |
General Fund |
All Funds |
|
POA (Unit 2) |
$1.38 M |
$1.38 M |
|
ECOSC (Unit 4) (Sr. EUE only) |
$0 M |
$0.19 M |
|
ECOSC (Unit 4) (All others) |
$0.12 M |
$0.46 M |
|
PSNSEA (Unit 10) (Dispatch only) |
$0.12 M |
$0.12 M |
|
TOTAL |
$1.62 M |
$2.15 M |
There is no fiscal impact to update the Classified Pay Plan to modify the Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519) or create the Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hours (Job Code 233) classification as these are existing budgeted positions.
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
1. Approve various modifications to the classification plan, as follows, as detailed in the corresponding Class Specification attachments:
a. Approve the Modifications to the Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519) Class Specifications, and
b. Approve the Addition of the Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hour (Job Code 233) Class Specification.
2. Adopt a Resolution in the form presented to approve and adopt the revised salary plans for various classified positions (effective July 5, 2026) to satisfy the requirements of California Code of Regulations Section 570.5.
Staff
Reviewed by: Marco Mercado, Acting Director of Human Resources
Approved by: Jōvan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Class Specification (clean), Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519)
2. Class Specification (track changes), Legal Office Specialist (Job Code 519)
3. Class Specification (clean), Assistant Training Officer - 80 Hour (Job Code 233)
4. Classified Salary Plan eff 07-05-2026 (for Council 6-23-2026)
5. Resolution for Updated Classified Salary Plan (for 6-23-2026)