Title
Declaration of Critical Need to Fill the Chief of Staff to the Mayor Position and Authorization to Hire a Retired Annuitant to that Position
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FileID
File ID: 2025-00476
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) certifying the critical need to hire a Chief of Staff to the Mayor on or after February 12, 2025; 2) waiving the 180-day wait period for initiating post-retirement employment; and 3) authorizing the Mayor to appoint Maria Alvarez as a retired annuitant into the Chief of Staff to the Mayor classification.
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Contact
Contact: Shelley Banks-Robinson, Director, (916) 808-5541, smbanks-robinson@cityofsacramento.org, Department of Human Resources
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Presenter
Presenter: Shelley Banks-Robinson, Director, (916) 808-5541, smbanks-robinson@cityofsacramento.org, Department of Human Resources
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-City Resolution
3-CalPERS Resolution
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: Assembly Bill 340, the Public Employee Pension Reform Act of 2013 also known as PEPRA, was signed into law on September 12, 2012, and went into effect on January 1, 2013. PEPRA created Government Code Section 7522.56 which requires public agency retirees to wait 180 days after retirement before returning to work for a public agency. This waiting period can be waived should the City Council certify the critical need to fill a specific position. The Government Code allows a retired annuitant to fill such a position where the employee has specific experience and skills necessary to perform the functions of the position for a limited time. Therefore, this request is before Council for approval.
The Chief of Staff to the Mayor classification serves in a role that is critical to City operations and to the success of the Mayor’s office. It also requires highly specialized experience if the person filling the job is to be successful. This position must be filled immediately, and must be filled by someone with sufficient experience to perform all of the job duties.
Maria Alvarez will retire from the State of California on February 11, 2025. She has previously served as the District Director and Senior Council Representative to Councilmembers Kevin McCarty and Eric Guerra from November 23, 2004, to August 8, 2015. She also served as the Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. Her extensive knowledge and experience serving in these capacities make her an ideal candidate to fill this critical role in City Hall.
It is staff’s intent for Ms. Alvarez to fill the chief of staff position in order to facilitate the operations of the new mayor’s office for a limited time; ideally until a recruitment for the position can be initiated and completed.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The City Council may waive the 180-day waiting period for retired annuitants.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action is not a project that is subject to CEQA because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines §15378(b)(5)).
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: The City Council may waive the 180-day waiting period for retired annuitants when there is a critical need. Expertise and continuity in the Office of the Mayor requires Maria Alvarez’s expertise and immediate attention.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: The Chief of Staff to the Mayor position is an existing budgeted full-time equivalent position.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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