San Diego Civil Service Commission Meeting – October 6, 2023

The San Diego Civil Service Commission convened on October 6, 2023, at approximately 7:30 PM, with Vice President Nico Portillo presiding. Commissioners present included Gover, Moore, Olson, and Portillo. The meeting covered closed session actions, consent calendar approval, multiple leave requests, classification studies, a salary adjustment recommendation, a reinstatement waiver, a personnel director recruitment discussion, and the election of a new commission president.

Closed Session Actions

• Disciplinary appeal (employee not named): The Commission voted 4‑0 to grant the appeal, rescind a five‑day suspension and termination, and restore the appellant to her position effective October 14, 2023, with back pay at 7% interest from termination to reinstatement.
• Benjamin Weber appeal: The Commission voted 4‑0 to deny the appeal and uphold the termination.
• Interim Personnel Director: The Commission voted 3‑1 (Commissioner Olson dissenting) to appoint David Dallagar as interim personnel director, effective October 9, 2023.

Consent Calendar

• The Commission approved the minutes from the September 9, 2023 regular meeting and the September 18, 2023 special meeting. The motion passed with three votes in favor and one abstention (Commissioner Portillo initially voted yes but corrected to abstention).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Timothy Douglas, President of Local 127, addressed Item 17, requesting that the full equipment operator classification series be studied, not just Equipment Operator 2. He emphasized the potential for salary compaction and stated the union had submitted detailed documentation. No other public comments were made on other items.

Discussion Items

• Item 11 – Marcus Dean (Laborer): One‑year second extension of special leave without pay ending September 1, 2024, with name placed on eligible list. Requested for family care. Public Utilities Department recommended approval. Motion passed unanimously.
• Item 12 – Joshua Parr (Fleet Technician): One‑year special leave without pay ending October 5, 2024, due to outside employment. General Services Department recommended modification to name on eligible list to maintain continuity of operations and fill vacancies. Motion to approve per department recommendation passed unanimously.
• Item 13 – Summer Quillen (Police Detective): One‑year special leave without pay ending October 17, 2024, due to military spouse relocation. Ms. Quillen requested job‑to‑be‑saved; Police Department recommended name on eligible list. A motion to approve with job‑to‑be‑saved passed 3‑1 (Commissioner Moore opposed).
• Item 14 – Celia Ramirez (Special Event Traffic Controller 1): Sixth one‑year extension of special leave without pay ending September 14, 2024, for medical reasons, name on eligible list. Police Department recommended approval. Motion passed unanimously.
• Item 15 – Raina Rendon Rojas (Assistant Engineer Civil): First one‑year extension of special leave without pay ending October 5, 2024, for child care. Engineering and Capital Projects Department recommended modification to name on eligible list. Motion passed unanimously.
• Item 16 – Suspension of Competition (Environmental Scientist Series): Public Utilities Department requested to appoint six incumbents to Senior Environmental Scientist, 28 to Environmental Scientist 3, 28 to Environmental Scientist 2, and three to Environmental Scientist 1 due to recent reclassification. Staff recommended approval; motion passed unanimously.
• Item 17 – Local 127 Request for Equipment Operator Study: After public comment, a motion was made to include Equipment Operator 1, Equipment Operator 3, Landfill Equipment Operator, Light Equipment Operator, Sewer Maintenance Equipment Operator, Motor Sweeper Operator, and Traffic Striper Operator in the salary study for Equipment Operator 2. Staff clarified that while they would study Equipment Operator 2 and related series, the additional classifications were not part of the standard series. Motion passed 3‑0‑1 (Commissioner Olson abstained).
• Item 18 – Special Salary Adjustment for Environmental Biologists: Staff recommended increases for Environmental Biologist 1, 2, and 3 (agenda had listed only 3). Motion to approve the whole series passed unanimously.
• Item 19 – Felipe Vega Reinstatement Waiver: Mr. Vega requested a waiver of the one‑year deadline to be placed on the reinstatement list for Environmental Scientist 2 (resigned February 11, 2022; applied September 5, 2023). Public Utilities Department indicated he was in good standing. Motion to place him on the eligible list passed unanimously.
• Item 21 – Program Coordinator Exemption (Communications Department): Continued from September 7, 2023, meeting. Department requested another continuation to meet with MEA. Motion to continue to the next meeting passed unanimously.
• Item 20 – Personnel Director Recruitment Procedures: Staff reported on past recruitments (2007 – outside consultant; 2018 – internal applicants only). Deputy Chief Operating Officer Ally Ocori noted an existing citywide contract with Bob Murray & Associates for executive recruitment. The Commission discussed setting a process for selecting a new personnel director; Vice President Portillo will agendize the topic for the next meeting.
• Supplemental Item – Election of President: Following the resignation of Tammy Lynn, the Commission held a written ballot. Commissioner Olson expressed desire to wait for a new commissioner before voting. Commissioner Gover was nominated and received three of four votes (one “none”) to fill the remainder of the presidential term through January 2024.

Key Outcomes

• Closed session actions: One appeal granted with reinstatement and back pay; one appeal denied; interim personnel director appointed (3‑1).
• Consent calendar: Approved with one abstention.
• Leave requests: Items 11, 12, 14, 15 approved as recommended; Item 13 approved with job‑to‑be‑saved (3‑1).
• Environmental scientist appointments (Item 16): Approved.
• Equipment operator study (Item 17): Approved to include additional classifications (3‑0‑1).
• Salary adjustment for environmental biologists (Item 18): Approved for the entire series.
• Reinstatement waiver for Felipe Vega (Item 19): Granted.
• Program coordinator exemption (Item 21): Continued to next meeting.
• Personnel director recruitment (Item 20): Discussion only; next steps to be agendized.
• President elected: Sunday Gover elected to complete the current term (3‑1).