Title
WITHDRAWN - Recommendation to Approve the First Amendment to the Employment Agreement for the City Manager, Retroactive to the First Pay Period in January 2025. [Will not be heard on April 1, 2025]
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 4, 2025, the City Council conducted the annual evaluation of City Manager Jennifer Ott. As part of the evaluation discussion, in recognition of her performance, responsibilities and comparable salaries for other City Managers, the City Council expressed a desire to authorize an increase in the City Manager salary from $323,567 to $339,745 annually, retroactive to the first pay period in January 2025. The recommendation is for the City Council to approve this increase.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Ott has been the City Manager since 2023 and her salary has not been adjusted, other than by the same cost of living increases received by City of Alameda (City) department heads. Consistent with longstanding practice, the City maintains an individual employment agreement with its City Manager, which establishes the terms and conditions of employment for the City Manager. The agreement may be subject to amendments as part of the annual review process. With the assistance of a facilitator (Rick Haydon with the Municipal Resource Group), who coordinated the City Council’s collective evaluation of Ms. Ott and conducted a salary survey, the City Council completed the City Manager’s annual evaluation during its March 4, 2025 City Council Meeting.
DISCUSSION
As part of the City Manager’s March 4, 2025 evaluation, the City Council considered the City Manager’s performance, responsibilities and comparable City Manager salaries in the Bay Area. Based thereon, City Council expressed a desire to authorize a one-time equity increase of 5% ($16,178) in the City Manager’s annual salary, retroactive to the first pay period in January 2025. This would be the first equity adjustment the City Manager has received during her tenure with the City. As mentioned, she has received the same cost of living salary increases and other benefits received by City department heads.
An amendment to the City Manager’s employment agreement has been prepared and it is now being presented to City Council for approval, consistent with earlier City Council direction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds for this position are already included in the City Manager’s department budget. No additional funds are required in Fiscal Year 2024-25.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
City Council’s approval of this amendment to the City Manager’s employment agreement is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA guidelines, as it involves governmental fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the First Amendment to the Employment Agreement for the City Manager, retroactive to the first pay period in January 2025.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Haydon, Municipal Resource Group
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Acting Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Original Employment Agreement
2. First Amendment to Employment Agreement