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Report regarding a resolution approving a second amendment to the employment agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Rosa Govea Acosta for service as City Clerk. (Sky Woodruff, City Attorney and Leah Lockhart, Human Resources Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving a second amendment to the employment agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Rosa Govea Acosta.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On November 6, 2018, Rosa Govea Acosta was duly elected as City Clerk of the City of South San Francisco (“City”). On March 13, 2019, the City and Ms. Acosta entered into a City Clerk Employment Agreement effective March 13, 2019. Ms. Acosta was reelected on November 8, 2022, and was sworn in on December 13, 2022. On December 13, 2022, the City Council also approved the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the City and Ms. Acosta (“Agreement”). The Agreement provided several clarifications to align with the parties’ intent that Ms. Acosta would receive the same across-the-board cost-of-living adjustments and benefits as City employees covered by the Executive Management Compensation Plan. It also established that the City would conduct a total compensation survey for the position using the same benchmark cities used for the Executive Management Unit. Upon completion of the survey, City Council would consider adjustments to the City Clerk’s salary. The Agreement stipulated that any changes to salary would be retroactive to December 13, 2022, when Ms. Acosta was sworn in for her new term of office. Upon review of the completed total compensation survey, along with a review of internal alignment, City Council determined that the City Clerk salary range should be within the range of Department Heads with similar scope and level of responsibility. Therefore, the salary was adjusted to be equal to the bottom of the range for Deputy City Manager. On April 12, 2023, the City and Ms. Acosta entered into the First Amendment to the Agreement to accordingly amend the compensation amount effective December 13, 2022.
The Agreement does not include step increases for the term of office for City Clerk. Typically, other City Department Heads are eligible for adjustments within the salary range annually, as determined by the City Manager, on the basis of merit. As such, Ms. Acosta has requested consideration for a salary increase to Two Hundred Fifty-Three Thousand, Three Hundred Sixty-Five dollars ($253,365.00) annually, which is the current control point (midpoint of the range) for the Deputy City Manager position. This represents an increase of approximately ten percent (10%) over the current salary. Ms. Acosta shall remain eligible for annual cost-of-living adjustments granted to the Executive Management unit on a fiscal year basis pursuant to the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The increased salary pursuant to the Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement results in an additional cost of approximately $14,200 for salary and benefits for Fiscal Year 2025-26. There is no budget amendment associated with this Agreement, however, these costs will be included in the Budget amendment for all labor group Memorandums of Understanding/Compensation Plans once those are finalized and brought before Council for approval.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
This action supports all elements of the City’s strategic plan, by ensuring that the City maintains competitive and cost-effective compensation plans in order to attract and retain a high-performing workforce to carry out the City’s priorities and action plans.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving a second amendment to the employment agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Rosa Govea Acosta to provide for a salary increase in line with other City Department Head positions.