Spark Civil Service Commission Meeting - July 9, 2026

The Spark Civil Service Commission met on July 9, 2026, at 5:32 PM, with President Alice Memorial Marcella presiding. The meeting included standard quarterly reports on employee actions, recruitment advertising, and candidate testing, as well as approvals for reemployment lists, list removals, a nepotism exception, and a seniority lot draw for new police recruits. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the Agenda: Unanimously approved.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the April 8, 2026 meeting were unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during either public comment period.

Discussion Items

• 6.1 Report on Civil Service Employee Actions (March–May 2026): Staff presented a quarterly summary of new hires, rehires, probation completions, resignations, retirements, terminations, and position changes for Community Services, Police, and Fire departments. A commissioner noted four police officer retirements; staff confirmed they are being filled as academies open.
• 6.2 Report on Recruitment Advertising (April–June 2026): Seven police postings, one fire posting, two community services postings, and two Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility postings were reported. Emergency communications dispatcher and police officer positions remain open. Commissioners clarified reporting date ranges and payroll calendar alignment.
• 6.3 Report on Candidate Testing (April–June 2026): Staff detailed testing for multiple civil service positions, including police officer recruit, emergency communications dispatcher, property evidence technician, fire apparatus operator, and wastewater plant operator. Numbers for invited, passed, and completed stages were provided. Questions addressed candidate no-shows and reapplication timelines.
• 7.1–7.2 Reemployment List Requests: Two former employees, Steve Bessow (police office assistant) and Michael Bartelheim (police officer), requested placement on reemployment lists per Civil Service Regulation 9, Section 4. Both requests were approved unanimously.
• 7.3 Removal of Names from Firefighter Recruit Eligibility List: Staff requested removal of names due to candidates declining interest or failing background checks. The list has a two-year validity. Commissioners confirmed no cross-agency sharing of candidate information. Approved unanimously.
• 7.4 Nepotism Exception for Wastewater Plant Operator: An exception to Civil Service Regulation 3, Section 2, was requested to allow hiring an operator at Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility whose brother is already employed there. Both report to different supervisors. The facility director supports the hire. The candidate is in background. Approved unanimously.
• 7.5 Seniority Lot Draw for Police Recruits: A random draw was conducted to determine seniority for five police recruits hired on June 29, 2026: Benjamin Bowers, Charles Brown, Paul Hamlin, Hector Jimenez, and Austin Paulis. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All motions passed unanimously (votes tallied as all ayes, no nays).
• Reemployment lists approved for two former employees.
• Names removed from firefighter recruit eligibility list.
• Nepotism exception granted for wastewater plant operator hire.
• Seniority order determined by lot draw for five police recruits.
• Announcements included the swearing-in of Commissioner Elise Monroy for another term and a note that no department head presentations are planned due to vacancies.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:01 PM.