REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to execute a Side Letter Agreement between the City of Santa Clara and the Unclassified Miscellaneous Management Employees that provides stadium detail pay for work performed by the Communications Operations Manager when working as a Public Safety Dispatcher at Levi's Stadium
Report
BACKGROUND
The City has experienced significant recruitment challenges for the Public Safety Dispatcher positions in the Police Department. Public agencies across the State are experiencing similar recruiting challenges. In the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Adopted Operating Budget, the City has 21.0 budgeted Dispatcher positions (16.0 Public Safety Dispatchers and 5.0 Senior Public Safety Dispatchers). As of June 2025, the City has 7 Public Safety Dispatcher vacancies.
Although the City continuously recruits for these positions and receives many applications, a substantial number of candidates do not successfully complete the Police Department's background process. The City has implemented several initiatives to attract and retain qualified Dispatcher candidates; however, staffing shortages persist.
The Police Communications Manager (Job Code 068) is an exempt, salaried, unclassified management employee whose primary responsibility is to lead and oversee operations of the Dispatch Division. Due to ongoing staffing shortages, the Police Department has requested flexibility to allow the Police Communications Manager to temporarily perform Public Safety Dispatcher II duties at Stadium events when necessary. To alleviate staffing shortages, through December 31, 2026, the Police Communications Manager will receive the hourly rate of Step 5 of the Public Safety Dispatcher II classification (Job Code 340) for each hour worked when assigned to Levi's Stadium in the capacity of a Public Safety Dispatcher II. This compensation is in addition to the Police Communications Manager's regular salary.
This additional compensation and Stadium D...
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