Staff reported that the civil service sections of the charter date to 1951 (with a 1958 update) and contain language that does not align with current state law or city practice. The committee heard that the charter’s list of positions categorized as 'unclassified' is out of date and that, by default, anyone not listed is treated as 'classified.'

Why it matters: Civil service language determines which employees fall under classified protections and which are exempt; changes can affect hiring, probationary periods, union representation and organizational flexibility.

What staff said: Sue Reuter explained the plan to modernize the civil service provisions and to replace position-specific listings with broader class-based descriptions so future organizational changes are not constrained. Reuter said staff will work to bring the language into alignment with current practice and legal requirements and will coordinate meet-and-confer processes with affected stakeholders such as employee groups.

Committee action: Group 5 volunteers appointed Beckman as chair, Peters as vice chair and the presenter as secretary. The subcommittee set the next two meetings for Dec. 10, 2025 and Jan. 5, 2026 and plans to begin with charter sections 10.10 and 10.11.

Next steps: Staff will prepare updated lists and draft language for subcommittee review; stakeholders identified by staff (including unions and affected departments) will be consulted during drafting to reduce legal risk and align practices.