Personnel director proposes assistant director position, councilors press for posting and process

Personnel Director Carol Garcia asked the Budget & Finance Committee on June 1 to include funding in the FY27 budget for a new assistant director of personnel. Garcia said the personnel office currently consists of three staff plus a benefits coordinator and that the city’s workforce of roughly 600 employees across 10–12 collective bargaining units justifies additional capacity.

Garcia explained the administration proposes to reallocate the confidential secretary salary line to fund the assistant director position and said the change is intended to provide decision-making authority and meeting coverage the current confidential secretary role does not provide. "So we're asking for this one position, an assistant director of personnel...we are not necessarily funding the position in its entirety," Garcia said.

Councilors pressed for transparency and process. Several members requested the job be posted publicly and the ordinance and job-grading steps be completed before a hire is made. Councilors said they were concerned about timing—if the budget funds a position on July 1 before the ordinance and posting are completed, it could create the appearance of preselection.

Garcia said administrators have begun drafting a job description and recommended placing an item on the full council agenda to review the position and process, whether or not the line is ultimately funded. Councilors asked that the personnel office return with the posted job description and a timeline for ordinance action before a final appointment.

The committee did not take a vote on the position; the matter will return for additional review as part of the FY27 hearings.