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Westminster names Steven Mendoza interim community development director, Council authorizes retired-annuitant contract
Summary
Council voted 5-0 to appoint Steven Mendoza as interim community development director and authorized the city manager to enter an agreement with him as a CalPERS retired annuitant; staff said the hire is a stopgap to maintain momentum on planning and development initiatives.
The Westminster City Council on Aug. 27 adopted a resolution, 5-0, approving the appointment of Steven Mendoza as interim community development director and authorized the city manager to enter into an agreement with Mendoza as a CalPERS retired annuitant.
City Manager Christine Cordon told the council the community development director post has been difficult to fill and that the city needs an experienced leader to sustain policy and process improvements already under way. "We don't want to lose any momentum with some of the progress that we've made," Cordon said, noting the department has expanded responsibilities, including returning code enforcement to community development.
Cordon provided Mendoza's background during the staff presentation: he served as assistant city manager and previously as executive director for community development in Santa Ana, was director of community development and public works in Los Alamitos, and has more than three decades of local government experience in planning and economic development.
The council discussed the contract form. Cordon said Mendoza would be hired as a CalPERS retired annuitant at a flat hourly rate (staff listed an approximate $102 per hour in discussion) and that the arrangement would not carry the fully burdened salary or benefits a permanent hire would. She said the retired-annuitant appointment is limited by CalPERS hour caps and that the city expects to use the position to mentor staff and advance items in the Little Saigon blueprint and department strategic goals.
Councilwoman Fan West moved to adopt the resolution and Vice Mayor Monzo seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
The resolution authorizes the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement consistent with CalPERS retired-annuitant rules; staff said the hours worked and exact duration will depend on departmental needs and that the city will not incur full salary-and-benefit costs for a permanent director while the interim serves.
