City of Santa Clara - File #: 18-324

• File #: 18-324
• Version: 1
• Type: Public Hearing/General Business
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 3/16/2018
• In control: Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting
• On agenda: 3/20/2018
• Title: Actions on the Elected Chief of Police's Cost of Living Request and on the Elected Chief of Police and City Clerk Compensation Setting Process

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
3/20/2018	1	Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting	Declined	Fail
3/20/2018	1	Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting	Approved Staff Recommendation	Pass
3/20/2018	1	Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting	Approved Staff Recommendation	Pass
3/20/2018	1	Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting	Approved Staff Recommendation	Pass

REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Actions on the Elected Chief of Police's Cost of Living Request and on the Elected Chief of Police and City Clerk Compensation Setting Process

Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Charter's procedure for setting the salaries of the elective offices of the Mayor and City Council members does not include the elective offices of Police Chief and City Clerk. Instead the City Council has in the past set the salaries of these two offices through: a council report for council action; an ad hoc salary setting committee; announcements out of closed session based on approvals of MOUs with bargaining groups; and, by delegation of their authority to the former City Manager to award merit increases outside of public meetings.

The following report is being presented to the Council in response to multiple verbal requests by the elected Chief of Police to have the Council increase his compensation by a cost of living adjustment, equal to the Unit 9A--Police Management's bargaining agreement, totaling 8% and other benefits for a 2-year period. Although the elected Police Chief has not submitted a written request for the increase to the current City Manager (at the time of issuance of this report), he has raised this issue verbally with the City Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Human Resource Director. The City Manager has requested a written request from Chief Sellers upon notice from him on March 15 of his absence from the March 20 City Council meeting due to business travel.

Upon notice of this request from the elected Chief of Police, as the new City Manager transitioned into office, it was necessary to review past practices and the current legal requirements regarding compensation increases for elected officials. It became apparent to the City Attorney and the City Manager that the many past practices and procedures for setting the compensation of the elected Police Chief and the elected City Clerk were at variance with state laws and...