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Council authorizes temporary return of retired building official under CalPERS exception
Summary
The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 2025-091 to allow retired city employee Vance Phillips to be rehired as a CalPERS annuitant and serve as interim chief building official for up to six months while the city recruits a permanent replacement.
The San Ramon City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-091 on July 22, 2025, authorizing an exception to the 180-day CalPERS waiting period so retired employee Vance Phillips may serve immediately as a CalPERS annuitant and interim chief building official.
Debbie Chamberlain, director of Community Development, told the council Phillips had retired after 14 years and the city needs continuity in the chief building official role, which oversees permitting, plan check, inspection and code enforcement. “State requirements do mandate that we have a chief building official on staff at all times,” Chamberlain said, and she asked the council to adopt the resolution authorizing Phillips’ temporary appointment effective July 23 through December 30 under the CalPERS annuitant exception.
Chamberlain said the recruitment for the permanent chief building official was posted the same day and will proceed through September; the annuitant appointment would be for the statutory maximum for such exceptions and would return to council if additional extension were needed. Councilmembers asked about the recruitment timeline and the six-month limit; staff confirmed recruitment is underway and the temporary appointment period is aligned with CalPERS rules.
There were no public speakers on this item. A councilmember moved to approve the resolution and the motion passed unanimously.
Staff said CalPERS requires that the exception be authorized in a public meeting via council resolution. The resolution authorizes the city manager to temporarily appoint Phillips as an annuitant and interim chief building official and to continue recruitment for a permanent hire. If the city cannot complete recruitment within the authorized annuitant period, staff said the council would need to take further action.
