REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Approval of (1) Second Amendment to the City Attorney Employment Agreement, and (2) Resolution Approving and Adopting the Updated Salary Plan that includes the Classification of City Attorney
Report
BACKGROUND
The City Attorney, Glen R. Googins, has been employed by the City of Santa Clara since March 1, 2023. The initial salary for this position (Section 3.1 of the Employment Agreement) was $345,000 per year. On December 3, 2024, the City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Employment Agreement that adjusted his annual base salary by 3.25% retractive to March 1, 2024, resulting in a new salary of $356,212.50. The cost-of-living adjustment was for a 12-month rating period.
For the 2024 rating period, a facilitator was retained to assist with the performance evaluation process. Upon completion of the performance evaluation, a sub-committee comprised of three Councilmembers was formed to review the compensation for the City Attorney. As part of this review process, the Human Resources Department provided a total compensation survey which included ten other agencies in the Bay Area; wage history information for the classification of City Attorney for the surveyed agencies, population size, number of budgeted positions, and organization structure in the City Attorney's Office and for the agency's surveyed; wage history information for the classification of City Attorney in the City of Santa Clara; year-over-year Consumer Price Index; and wage increases provided to classifications represented by the Unclassified Management bargaining unit. The sub-committee discussed the compensation with the City Council in Closed Session on July 15, 2025, and August 19, 2025.
Government Code section 20636(b)(1) and California Code of Regulations section 570.5 require that public salary schedules include specific information and be approved by the governing body whenever they are updated or revised.
DISCUSSION
Based upon Cit...
Click here for full text