Commission extends department-head residency radius from 8 to 10 miles

The Pittsburg City Commission voted to adopt ordinance G1375 on Sept. 23, amending section 7-72 of the Pittsburg city code to extend the residency requirement for certain city department heads from an 8-mile to a 10-mile radius.

Commissioners discussed the rationale: some said the change reflects practical recruitment realities, allowing the city to widen its candidate pool for specialized positions; others argued that people living outside city limits do not contribute equally to city services and that a residency requirement should favor residents.

Commissioner Cheryl asked staff to explain the reason for the change; the mayor and other commissioners noted the amendment is linked to recruitment needs prompted by a new director of finance. "We're just moving it from 8 to 10," one commissioner said. Commissioners also noted the city has broader housing availability issues that affect recruitment.

The motion to adopt the ordinance was moved by Doc and seconded by Stu. The mayor conducted a roll-call vote: Brooks, Height, McNay, and Sigley voted yes; Lin South voted no. The mayor announced the motion carries.

The ordinance change applies to "certain city department heads" as specified in section 7-72; no wage or personnel policy changes beyond the residency radius amendment were made in this meeting. Commissioners indicated ongoing attention to recruitment and housing availability.

Because this action amended the city code, staff will incorporate the change in the code and apply it when hiring for applicable department head positions.