San Diego Civil Service Commission Meeting - December 8, 2023
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San Diego Civil Service Commission Meeting - December 8, 2023
The San Diego Civil Service Commission held its regular meeting on December 8, 2023, at 7:30 PM. Commissioners Moore, Portillo, and President Gover were present; Commissioner Olson was absent. The meeting covered closed session appeals, consent agenda, election of officers, several leave requests, multiple special salary adjustments, and updates on personnel department initiatives.
Closed Session Report
- Public employment appeal of Ernie J. Asevis (disqualification for grounds maintenance worker 2): Motion to deny appeal passed unanimously.
- Public employment appeal of Roberto J. Gutierrez (disqualification for field representative): Motion to deny appeal passed.
- Public employment appeal of Francisco Santian (medical disqualification for laborer): Motion to deny appeal passed 2-1, with President Gover voting no.
- Appeals of Bradley Fontana and Gustavo E. Lozano were withdrawn.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the November 2, 2023, meeting. Motion passed 3-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tim Douglas (President, Local 127) expressed support for the building service technician and locksmith special salary adjustments, thanking personnel for the study.
- Angela Colton (Risk Management Department Director) and Carla Stevens (Insurance Program Manager) supported the new insurance analyst classification and thanked personnel for their diligence.
- Nick Wright (Labor Relations Manager, MEA) argued for a 10% SSA for senior zoning investigators, citing recruiting problems, and for a 7.5% SSA for area managers to maintain salary differentials.
- Rima Curry Velez (Assistant Director, Development Services) supported a 10% SSA for senior zoning investigators, noting a 38% vacancy rate.
- Lewis Merlin (Deputy Director, Parks and Recreation) supported the 7.5% SSA for area managers and agreed to eliminate the unused area manager one classification.
Discussion Items
- Election of Officers for 2024: President Sunday Gover and Vice President Portillo were re-elected unanimously by written ballot.
- Item 26 – Adriana Green (Police Officer 2): Requested one-year leave without pay (ending October 15, 2024) with job saved for family care and her husband’s Coast Guard activation. The police department initially recommended modification to name on eligible list, but after hearing additional details (husband’s orders, child care, father’s cancer treatment), Deputy Director Sylvia Satram changed the department’s posture to support job saved. Motion approved 3-0.
- Item 27 – Alana Moore (Police Officer 1): Requested one-year leave without pay (ending November 29, 2024) with job saved for child care and outside employment. The department noted she had obtained a job with Monabello PD and recommended modification to name on eligible list. Motion for leave with modification passed 3-0.
- Item 28 – Jorge Zingaretti (Parking Enforcement Officer 1): Requested a one-week extension of leave without pay (ending November 10, 2023) with name on eligible list, to allow completion of background process. Motion approved 3-0.
- Item 29 – Special Salary Adjustments:
- Building Service Technician: 23% SSA recommended due to recruiting problems. Approved 3-0.
- Insurance Analyst: New classification (Insurance Analyst 1 and 2) created with monthly salaries of $7,049 and $8,106 respectively, plus underfill provisions. Approved 3-0.
- Locksmith: 8% SSA recommended due to recruiting problems. Approved 3-0.
- Senior Airport Operations Assistant and Airport Operations Assistant: 21% SSA recommended due to turnover. Approved 3-0.
- Criminalist 2: Staff recommended no SSA (no recruiting problem found). Motion to not approve SSA passed 3-0.
- Senior Zoning Investigator: Staff recommended no SSA (city pays more than local agencies). MEA requested 10% SSA; commission voted 3-0 to approve 10% SSA for the series.
- Item 30 – Area Manager 2 (MEA request): Staff recommended no SSA, but to delete the unused Area Manager 1 classification and rename Area Manager 2 to Area Manager. Commission voted to delete Area Manager 1 and rename. Then a separate motion for a 7.5% SSA for area managers passed 3-0.
- Item 31 – Update on Employee ID Numbers: Interim Personnel Director David Dallager reported that the pilot program for electronic submission of new hire PCRs has launched, with IT security included. Full implementation timeline moved from March to January 2024.
- Item 32 – Personnel Department Updates: Whistleblower training scheduled for January 29, 2024 (virtual). Over 500 class specifications updated (first since 1999). Pre-employment medical evaluations expanded to Chula Vista Concentra. Joint interview process for senior and supervising management analysts completed in one day with nine panel members. Example of success: creation of I&C trainee classification led to all positions being filled or with offers pending, preventing outsourcing.
- Item 33 – Deputy COO Comments: Deputy Chief Operating Officer Alia Korea praised David Dallager’s leadership, noting improved outstation program, engagement with department directors, collaboration with HR, and progress on the personnel working group reimagining.
- Item 35 – Recruitment for Personnel Director: Discussion on options for the upcoming recruitment (internal, worldwide NeoGov, or consultant). Commission decided to form an ad hoc committee (Commissioners Moore and Gover) to develop a recommendation, to be formalized at the February 2024 meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Closed session appeals: Three denied, two withdrawn.
- Consent agenda approved.
- Officers re-elected: President Gover and Vice President Portillo for 2024.
- Leave requests: Adriana Green and Jorge Zingaretti approved as requested; Alana Moore approved with modification to name on eligible list.
- Special salary adjustments approved: Building Service Technician (23%), Locksmith (8%), Airport Operations series (21%), Senior Zoning Investigator series (10%), Area Manager series (7.5%).
- New classification created: Insurance Analyst 1 and 2.
- Classification deleted: Area Manager 1; Area Manager 2 retitled to Area Manager.
- Criminalist 2 SSA not approved.
- Staff updates: Employee ID number process improved; class specs updated; medical evaluation site expanded; joint interview process implemented; whistleblower training scheduled.
- Personnel director recruitment: Ad hoc committee formed to explore options; formal action at February 2024 meeting.
- Next meeting: February 1, 2024 (no January meeting).
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the civil service commission meeting. I'm Commission President Sunday Gover. We're going to do a quick roll call to confirm commissioner attendance. When I call your name, please say present. Commissioner Moore. Present. Commissioner Portillo. Commission Commissioner Olson is absent. Thank you. Your attendance has been noted. Also joining us today are interim personnel director, David Dallager, assistant personnel and Laman Aban. I will now call on Saba to report on the commission's actions and closed session. I will now the report the actions of the commission from closed session. Public employment appeal of employment disqualification pursuant to California government code section 54957B1. The motion to deny the appeal passed unanimously. And that was the case of Ernie J. Asevis appealing their conviction record disqualification for the position of grounds maintenance worker two. Number two, public employment appeal of employment disqualification pursuant to California government code section five four nine five seven B1. Roberto J. Gutierrez appealing their conviction record disqualification disqualification for the position of field representative. Public employment appeal of employment disqualification pursuant to California government code section five four nine five seven B1. Francisco Santian appealing their medical disqualification for the position of labor. The motion to deny the appeal passed two to one president sundae gover voting no. The employment disqualification appeals of Bradley Fontana and Gustavo E. Lozano were withdrawn. Is there anyone who wishes to make a public comment on item not on the agenda? That is within the purview of the civil service commission. We will take in-person public comment first and move to public comments via Zoom second. Do we have a new one on Zoom? No one on Zoom. Okay. Okay, so the consent agenda. Would anyone like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda, which includes the minutes from the November 2nd, 2023 Commission meeting? I move to Saboard election of officers be first. So if you want to do that now, you can, or if you want to do it after consent. Okay. Okay, we'll direct consent. I'll uh move the consent agenda. Okay. Move to approve the consent items on the consent agenda. And we have a motion in a second. Is there any discussion? Now we will take a vote. Oh hang on one second. I will call your name and you will respond with a yes, no, or abstain. Commissioner Moore. Yes. Commissioner Portillo. Yes. And my vote is yes.
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