Hermosa Beach Civil Service Board approves updated management analyst job description

The Hermosa Beach Civil Service Board approved revisions to the class specification for the management analyst on Sept. 18, 2024, voting 4-0 with Member Williams absent.

Board members said the updates are intended to modernize qualifications and better reflect the work performed in the city manager's office and the public works department. Staff told the board the descriptions had not been updated in over eight years and that the redlined revisions aim to broaden the classification so it can be used for roles that emphasize communications, contract-management or budgeting.

During the discussion, a staff presenter said, "these descriptions have not been updated in over 8 years," and described the edits as aligning qualifications and desired attributes with the modern workforce. Staff noted the city is currently recruiting for one management analyst position in the public works department that has been vacant for several months and that there are currently three employees in the same classification in the city manager's office.

Board members raised concerns about the use of the word "negotiate" in the duties section. A member said the term "is a very loaded term, and particularly in public sector." Staff clarified that the wording was not intended to convey authority to sign contracts or conduct formal labor negotiations and said, "Negotiate is kind of a misnomer. It's more dealing with the, face to face communication with vendors" and that the classification is not deputized to sign on behalf of the city. The board agreed to substitute the word "interact" (or a similar synonym) for "negotiate."

A board member also asked whether vision or hearing requirements in the job description would exclude candidates with sensory impairments. Staff responded that there is nothing in the duties that would preclude applicants with disabilities from consideration for this office position, aside from any standard physical requirements a prospective employee must meet for the role.

Following discussion, a motion to approve the revised class specification (as edited to replace "negotiate" with an appropriate synonym) was made and seconded. The roll call vote was recorded as: Member Ellman — yes; Member Wolf — yes; Member Williams — absent; Member Jones — yes; Member Collins — yes. The motion carried, and the board approved the updated classification.

Separately, staff told the commission that the city is entering a new bargaining cycle with its bargaining units and that revisions to job descriptions could arise from those negotiations. Staff also introduced incoming Human Resources Manager Tiffany Nguyen and said she will chair upcoming commission meetings and bring experience from work in other municipalities and Southern California Edison.

The board approved the minutes correction requested earlier in the meeting and then adjourned.