Council authorizes HR position control and wages for confidential HR role

The Crescent City Council on July 7 voted to adopt two resolutions: Resolution No. 2025-30 updating position control for fiscal year 2025–26 to add two human-resources positions, and Resolution No. 2025-31 establishing wages, benefits and working conditions for an unrepresented confidential position (the proposed HR manager).

City Manager described the city's use since December 2023 of an out-of-area contract HR service and said that arrangement had been effective but lacked the local presence and day-to-day attention the city needs. The council directed staff at a prior budget workshop to recruit for an in-house HR position; staff proposed creating two positions in position control — an HR analyst (budgeted for the current fiscal year) and an HR manager (to be recruited if needed). The manager position would be a confidential unrepresented classification because the incumbent would participate in labor negotiations and should not be part of the represented bargaining units.

City Manager said the analyst salary at step 3 is included in the current-year budget and that if the city hires the manager the increased salary would be a future-year budget consideration. Staff also explained a planned overlap with the contracted HR service for approximately four months to allow for transition. The council voted unanimously to adopt both resolutions.

The council directed staff to proceed with recruitment immediately. The contract HR firm has indicated it will fill the city's spot on short notice as the city moves to a different model.

The council's recorded votes were: Dooley — yes; Marino — yes; Tinkler — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Wright — yes; Mayor Altman — yes.