Title
Recommendation to Approve Amended Agreement for the City Attorney Effective June 19, 2022. (Human Resources 10025060)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 7, 2022, the City Council conducted the annual evaluation of City Attorney Yibin Shen. As part of the evaluation discussion, in recognition of his performance, responsibilities and comparable salaries for City Attorneys in Bay Area the City Council expressed a desire to authorize an increase in the City Attorneys salary from $262,293 to $277,818 annually.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Shen has been the City Attorney since May 2019 and his salary has not been adjusted to reflect his performance or new responsibilities during his tenure with the City. Consistent with longstanding practice, the City maintains an individual employment agreement with its City Attorney, which establishes the terms and conditions of employment for the City Attorney. The agreement may be subject to updating and modification as part of the annual review process. The City Council completed the City Attorney’s annual evaluation during its June 7, 2022 City Council Meeting.
DISCUSSION
As part of the City Attorney’s June 7, 2022 evaluation, the City Council considered the City Attorney’s performance, responsibilities and comparable Bay Area City Attorney salaries and expressed a desire to authorize a one-time equity increase of 6% ($15,725) in the City Attorney’s annual salary. This is the first equity adjustment the City Attorney has received during his tenure with the City. He has been eligible to receive the same cost of living salary increases received by City department heads.
Since joining the City, the City Attorney has implemented a prosecution unit and will also be assuming responsibility for the Rent Program. The City of Alameda is the only bay area city to have a state law prosecution unit or oversight for the Rent Program in the Office of the City Attorney.
Human Resources staff prepared appropriate amendments to the City Attorney’s employment agreement and it is now presented to the City Council for final approval, consistent with earlier City Council direction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds for this position are already included in the City Attorney’s department budget. No additional funds are required in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA guidelines, because it involves the governmental fiscal activities which does 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 Amended Employment Agreement for City Attorney Yibin Shen effective June 19, 2022.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Bronstein, Human Resources Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. City Attorney Employment Agreement