San Diego Civil Service Commission Meeting

Date: November 12, 2024
Presiding: Commission President Sunday Gobert
Commissioners Present: Merrill, Moore (3 of 5 members)
Also Present: Personnel Director David Dollar, Assistant Personnel Director, Senior Deputy City Attorney David Carlin, Assistant to the Personnel Director Saba OEL, Fire Chief Logan, Deputy Fire Chief Melinda, and staff from various departments.

The meeting began with roll call, a report of closed session (no actions taken), and public comment (none). The consent agenda was approved and the commission then took up discussion items, including a presentation by Fire Chief Logan, a legal matter arising from a writ of mandate, six employee leave requests, two special salary adjustments, and a personnel department update.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 3-0: Minutes from the October 3, 2024 commission meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comment was limited to individuals speaking on specific agenda items during the discussion of those items:

• Leonardo Travis Botadia (Item 19) – explained his loss of CDL due to a DUI, stating it was his first and only mistake.
• Luis Manriquez Jr. (Item 20) – described personal health issues and family care needs.
• Al Hayel Ramirez (Item 21) – participated via Zoom; no substantive statement recorded.
• Payton Ray (Item 22) – did not appear; department spoke to absence.
• Shavna Shariari (Item 23) – via Zoom, cited postpartum depression, pre‑cancer surgery, and her mother’s death as reasons for extended leave.

Discussion Items

Item 26 – Fire Chief Presentation (taken out of order)

Fire Chief Robert Logan presented his background and vision for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Key points:

• The department serves 323 sq. miles, ~1.4 million people, with 997 sworn firefighters, 50 fire stations, 122 full‑time lifeguards, and performed 7,239 water rescues in 2024.
• He is the third African American fire chief in 134 years.
• Proposed adding an assistant chief for EMS, a dedicated lead attorney for EMS contracts, and a uniformed fire PIO.
• Introduced a free EMT training program in partnership with CalJAC to remove barriers (cost, schedule, childcare) and increase community access to the fire service.
• Emphasized supportive confrontation, employee wellness, and community engagement (e.g., CERT training for flood‑affected Southeast San Diego).
• He invited the commission to scan a QR code for more information on the CERT program.
• Commissioners expressed appreciation and encouraged ongoing communication.

Item 17 – Retention of Legal Counsel for Writ of Mandate

Staff presented a request to retain David, Kate, Morris, & Cameron LLP to represent the commission in a writ of mandate proceeding brought by the City of San Diego challenging a prior commission decision (a termination reversal, vote 4‑1). Commissioner Merrill, who dissented, stated he believed the commission erred and requested a closed‑session briefing from the retained attorney on the merits and possible options, including reconsideration.

• Activity: Motion made to approve retention with a requirement for a closed‑session briefing. Seconded.
• Vote: 3‑0 in favor (Commissioners Merrill, Moore, President Gobert all yes).

Item 18 – Leave Request: Library Assistant 3

Request by Arape S. Delahavi for a one‑year special leave without pay (ending Oct. 2, 2025) with job save. The library department recommended denial, stating she has been out of the country for over five years and they believe she will not return. The commission voted to deny the request.

• Vote: 3‑0 to approve the department’s recommendation of denial.

Item 19 – Leave Request: Sanitation Driver

Leonardo Travis Botadia requested a one‑year special leave (ending Sept. 29, 2025) with job save due to loss of his commercial driver’s license (DUI). The environmental services department recommended modification to name‑on‑eligible‑list. An initial motion for job save failed (no second), then a motion for name‑on‑eligible‑list passed.

• Vote: 3‑0 to approve leave with name on eligible list.

Item 20 – Leave Request: Associate Engineer Civil

Luis Manriquez Jr. requested a one‑year special leave (ending Oct. 3, 2025) with job save for personal medical reasons and family care. The public utilities department recommended modification to eligible list, citing operational challenges and regulatory compliance risks. Commissioner Merrill proposed trailing the item to next month to explore alternatives (FMLA, LTD), but withdrew after the employee indicated ongoing workers’ comp issues. A motion for special leave with name on eligible list passed.

• Vote: 3‑0 to approve special leave with name on eligible list.

Item 21 – Leave Request: Fire Engineer

Al Hayel Ramirez requested a five‑month special leave without pay (ending May 1, 2025) with name on eligible list for outside employment (attending a fire academy). The fire department initially approved job save but clarified correct recommendation was no job save and 30‑day leave. The commission approved five months with name on list.

• Vote: 3‑0.

Item 22 – Leave Request: Police Officer 1

Payton Ray requested a ten‑month special leave (ending Aug. 1, 2025) with job save for child care. The police department recommended modification to eligible list, noting that unlike a similar case (Item 10, approved with job save), the officer’s husband is local. The commission approved job save.

• Vote: 3‑0.

Item 23 – Leave Request: Plan Review Specialist 3

Shavna Shariari requested a one‑year special leave (ending June 9, 2025) with job save for child care and medical reasons. The development services department recommended modification due to a 20% vacancy rate in the class (8 of 41 positions) and delays in permit issuance. The commission approved job save.

• Vote: 3‑0.

Item 24 – Special Salary Adjustments

Staff presented two recommendations based on Charter Section 130 criteria:

1. Senior Control Systems Engineer – 14% increase for the class and 14% increase for the Associate Engineer Control Systems class (series adjustment) to address recruiting problems.
2. Senior Victim Services Coordinator – 10% increase to correct an inappropriate supervisory differential.

• Vote: 3‑0 to approve both adjustments as recommended.

Item 25 – Personnel Director Update

David Dollar reported on three initiatives:

• Joint Hiring Hall (October 2024): 273 interviews over two days using nine panels; over 60 job offers made for laborer/grounds maintenance worker roles.
• Mobile Fingerprinting Machine: Enables off‑site one‑stop pre‑employment processing (5 candidates/hour vs. 2 downtown). Combined with downtown, 7 candidates/hour achieved.
• Public Safety Dispatcher Career Fair: 125 attendees, 45 applications submitted, 15 candidates scheduled for the critical test. Dollar noted plans for similar collaborative hiring events for administrative and analyst positions.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 3‑0.
• Legal counsel (David, Kate, Morris, & Cameron LLP) retained 3‑0, with direction to brief the commission in closed session.
• Leave requests decided:
  • Item 18: Denied (library assistant) – 3‑0.
  • Item 19: Approved with name on eligible list (sanitation driver) – 3‑0.
  • Item 20: Approved with name on eligible list (engineer) – 3‑0.
  • Item 21: Approved with name on eligible list (fire engineer) – 3‑0.
  • Item 22: Approved with job save (police officer) – 3‑0.
  • Item 23: Approved with job save (plan review specialist) – 3‑0.
• Special salary adjustments for senior control systems engineer series (14%) and senior victim services coordinator (10%) approved 3‑0.
• Meeting adjourned at conclusion of Item 25.