Sacramento Civil Service Board Meeting - March 16, 2026
Sacramento Civil Service Board Meeting - March 16, 2026
The Civil Service Board of Sacramento met on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 1:01 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chair Emmanuel Amanfor called the meeting to order. The board considered two appeals of applicant disqualifications, conducted a closed session regarding police officer discipline, and welcomed a new commissioner.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (File ID 2026-00029): The board unanimously approved the meeting minutes from January 26, 2026. Members present were Gwynnae Byrd, Elena Gonzalez-Soto, Kathryn Meola, Julie Stein, and Chair Emmanuel Amanfor.
- Welcome New Commissioner: Commissioner Elena Monique Gonzalez-Soto was formally welcomed to the board.
Public Comments & Testimony
No members of the public submitted comments or speaker slips for the consent calendar, discussion items, or matters not on the agenda.
Discussion Items
-
Appeal of the Disqualification of Wendy Guerrero (Customer Service Specialist - Revenue Services):
- Appellant Wendy Guerrero appeared and spoke, expressing confusion as her application was accepted for the exam (which she passed) but later disqualified for not meeting minimum qualifications. She noted she has been a city employee for almost 30 years and argued the disqualification was related to a clerical error on a previous application regarding CalPERS retirement status.
- Staff from the Human Resources Department stated the disqualification was based on the application's "work experience" section not demonstrating "journey level experience" in customer service, as required by the classification. Staff emphasized the city processes over 55,000 applications annually and applies the same standard criteria to all applicants, requiring the applicant to enumerate their qualifications directly in the application form rather than relying on a resume or job title alone.
- Commissioner Byrd summarized the issue as the applicant failing to fully enumerate her qualifications in the required section of the application.
- Vote: Commissioner Meola moved, seconded by Commissioner Byrd, to waive formal hearing rules and adopt the Director's findings. The motion passed 3-0-2 (Byrd, Meola, Amanfor voted yes; Gonzalez-Soto and Stein abstained).
-
Appeal of the Disqualification of Reyes Ayon (Senior Code Enforcement Officer):
- Appellant Reyes Ayon did not attend the hearing. The board confirmed that Ayon was notified of the hearing by email on January 20, 2026, and received a further follow-up reminder on March 11, 2026.
- Vote: Commissioner Meola moved, seconded by Commissioner Stein, to waive formal hearing rules and adopt the Director's findings. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
-
Closed Session (Police Officer Discipline):
- The board adjourned to closed session at 1:23 PM pursuant to Government Code section 54957(b) to discuss a personnel matter involving the discipline of a police officer.
- Reconvening at 2:29 PM, the board reported out three closed session votes:
- By a 4-0 vote (1 abstention), the board voted to set aside its prior decision and reconsider the case in light of a POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) determination letter.
- By a 4-0 vote (1 abstention), the board denied the appellant's request to augment the record with court briefs.
- By a 3-1 vote (1 abstention), the board adopted the arbitrator's proposed decision in the discipline case.
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved.
- The disqualification of Wendy Guerrero was upheld by a 3-0-2 vote.
- The disqualification of Reyes Ayon was upheld by a 5-0 vote.
- In closed session, the board took three actions regarding the discipline of a police officer, including adopting the arbitrator's proposed decision.
Member Comments and Questions
- Board members provided comments. Commissioner Julie Stein requested that staff ensure materials and information requested by the board are sent to members in a timely manner.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready to floor. All right. Um good afternoon. Welcome to the Monday uh March 16th, 2026, 1 p.m. meeting of the civil service board. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish quorum? Thank you, Chair members. Please unmute for roll call. Member Bird? Here. Member Gonzalez Soto. Here. Member Miola? Here. Member Stein? Here. And Chair and Manfur. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Okay. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip before the item begins. After the item is called, we will no longer accept speakers' slips. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. We will now proceed with today's agenda. Please rise if you are able to for the opening acknowledgement in honor of the Sacramento Indigenous people and tribal lands. So the original people of this land, the Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin, Winton peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgments and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Now the land acknowledgement with phonetics balance. Apologies, it's been rewritten. Apologies. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Next is the approval of the consent calendar. Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Thank you, Chair. We do not have any speakers on this item. Okay. Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on this item? That hearing any. Second. Move by board member Byrd and second by oh my gosh. Miola. Second by board member Miola. Um all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed?
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