San Diego Civil Service Commission Meeting - July 3, 2025

On July 3, 2025, the San Diego Civil Service Commission convened at 12:00 PM PST with Vice President Will Moore presiding (Commission President Nico Orteo absent). Commissioners Merrill and Fan were present, along with Personnel Director David Dallager, Assistant Personnel Director Wendy Bond, Senior Deputy City Attorney David Carlin, and Assistant to the Personnel Director Sabah O'Neal. The meeting covered closed session reports, a consent agenda, four special leave requests, one appointment to the Joint Apprenticeship Committee, policy revisions, an exemption request, formation of an ad hoc committee, and a personnel director update.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3 through 20 (including the May 1, 2025 meeting minutes) were approved unanimously (3-0) on a motion by Commissioner Merrill, seconded by Commissioner Fan.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made on non-agenda items or on any consent agenda items.
• For Item 22 (special leave for Christian Del Razo), the applicant briefly expressed appreciation but offered no further public comment.
• For Item 25 (special leave for Diana Penaloza), the applicant initially experienced audio difficulties but later thanked the commission and stated she had no public comment, only hoping to rejoin the department.

Discussion Items

Item 21 – Special Leave Request for Brianna Alvarez Bradley Staff (Carissa Rosemore) presented a request for a one-year special leave without pay ending April 24, 2026, with placement on eligible lists for public information clerk and clerical assistant. The Office of the City Treasurer recommended approval. The employee had been with the city since May 16, 2022, with a "meet standards" evaluation. The commission approved the request unanimously (3-0).

Item 22 – Special Leave Request for Christian Del Razo Staff requested a one-year special leave without pay ending May 26, 2026, with placement on several eligible lists. The Public Utilities Department recommended approval. The employee had been with the city since July 26, 2021, with a "meet standards" evaluation. Mr. Del Razo was present but declined to make a public comment. The commission approved the request unanimously (3-0).

Item 23 – Special Leave Request for Madison Lee Hall Staff requested a two-month special leave without pay ending June 30, 2025 (already past), with job saved. The Parks and Recreation Department recommended denial because the employee was still on probation and the leave created hardship at the ball park activity center. Commissioner Moore noted confusion about the date and inquired about consequences of denial (staff indicated it could become unauthorized leave without pay). The department representative (Mr. Lewis) explained the employee was seeking housing and the leave was detrimental. The commission voted to deny the request 2-1 (Commissioner Merrill voted no, Commissioners Fan and Moore voted yes).

Item 24 – Special Leave Request for Monica Langston Staff requested a one-year second extension of special leave without pay ending May 12, 2026, with placement on eligible lists for administrative aid 2 and 1. The Stormwater Department recommended approval. The employee had been with the city since March 2, 2013, with a "meet standards" evaluation. The commission approved the request unanimously (3-0).

Item 25 – Special Leave Request for Diana Penaloza Staff requested a one-year second extension of special leave without pay ending May 7, 2026, with placement on eligible lists for dispatcher 2 and police 911 dispatcher. The Police Department recommended approval. The employee had been with the city since October 12, 2015, with a "meet standards" evaluation. After audio issues, the applicant expressed thanks. The commission approved the request unanimously (3-0).

Item 26 – Appointment to Joint Apprenticeship Committee Staff (Samuel Hoggos) presented the nomination of Epifanio "Rocky" Rios (plant process control supervisor) for an alternate management member seat. The JAC chairperson submitted the request. The commission approved the appointment unanimously (3-0).

Item 27 – Revisions to Personnel Manual Index Code D3 Staff (Rachel McDonald Hernandez) presented proposed revisions to the addendum to Index Code D3 to reflect classification title changes approved during the salary review process and by the city council. No public comment. The commission approved the revisions unanimously (3-0).

Item 28 – Exemption of Program Coordinator Position from Classified Service Staff requested exemption of a program coordinator position in Environmental Services to oversee process improvement projects and standard operating procedures in the collection services division. Staff found the duties met City Charter Section 117. Commissioner Moore asked about a prior controversy over classified service exemptions; Assistant Department Director Jeremy Bauer confirmed this request was independent and stemmed from a new solid waste management fee adopted June 9, 2025. The commission approved the exemption unanimously (3-0).

Item 29 – Formation of Ad Hoc Committee for Personnel Director Evaluation Commissioner Moore explained the need to form an ad hoc committee to begin the personnel director evaluation, noting the process was behind schedule. He took responsibility for the delay and proposed starting the evaluation in February next year. The commission first voted to form the committee (3-0), then voted to appoint Vice President Moore and President Orteo as the members (3-0). The committee will report back at the September meeting.

Item 30 – Report from Personnel Director Personnel Director David Dallager provided updates:

• Two audit recommendations from the Office of the City Auditor were fully implemented: expanding NeoGov access for hiring transparency and strengthening supervisor accountability through a new performance review requirement within one year of appointment.
• Medical check and drug/alcohol screening requirements for classified non-sworn employees were reviewed and maintained current standards, with all parties concurring.
• Class specification modernization: 500 outdated specs were updated as of December 2023; now all class specs point to a single NeoGov link, eliminating inconsistencies.
• SAP transaction streamlining: electronic workflows for new hire/rehire personnel clearance requests are successful; two additional workflows (organizational reassignments and pay changes) are being tested and will be piloted after meet-and-confer with labor partners.
• A fourth one-stop shop onboarding event was held for the Fire-Rescue Department, processing nearly 60 fire recruit candidates over three days. The model is expected to become standard. Commissioners asked about compliance tracking and class spec update frequency. Staff noted that changes are now made at the exam level, updating the class spec in NeoGov. Commissioner Moore thanked staff for community engagement efforts.

Item 31 – Administration Report No representative from city administration was present. The commission noted the invitation remains open.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items (3-20) were approved unanimously (3-0).
• Special leave requests: Items 21, 22, 24, 25 approved unanimously (3-0); Item 23 denied (2-1).
• Appointment of Epifanio Rios to JAC approved unanimously (3-0).
• Revisions to Personnel Manual Index Code D3 approved unanimously (3-0).
• Exemption of program coordinator position approved unanimously (3-0).
• Ad hoc committee formed for personnel director evaluation, with Vice President Moore and President Orteo appointed (3-0).
• Personnel director’s report accepted; next meeting scheduled for September 2025 (no August meeting).