REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Side Letter with Communication Officer’s Association (COA); and Adopt a Resolution (1) Amending the Classification Plan to Add the Classifications of Control Systems Manager, Emergency Services Manager, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher, and Update Classification Titles of Administrative Services Manager, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, Library Specialist 1/2/3 and Wastewater Operations Manager; and (2) Making Corresponding Updates and an Administrative Correction to the City’s Salary Resolution
Report
BACKGROUND
This report recommends amending the Classification Plan to:
• Add the newly established classifications of Control Systems Manager, Emergency Services Manager, and Community Engagement Coordinator that were adopted in the 2026-27 Budget;
• Add the new classification of Supervising Dispatcher to implement the result of a classification study negotiated with the Communication Officers’ Association (COA) in their last contract, and authorize the City Manager to execute a corresponding side letter with COA; and
• Update classification titles for Administrative Services Manager, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, Library Specialist 1/2/3 and Wastewater Operations Manager to better align with industry standards.
An update to the City’s Salary Resolution is also requested to implement these changes and correct an administrative error in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator classification pay steps.
EXISTING POLICY
Section 1103, entitled Classification, of the City Charter states that additions or changes to the classification plan may be adopted from time to time by the City Council upon the recommendation of the City Manager.
Section 1104, entitled Pay Plan, of the City Charter states that amendments to the pay schedule may be adopted from time to time by City Council upon the recommendation of the City Manager.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
New Classifications
The following new classifications were approved through the budget process, and this action creates the classifications and pay ranges:
Control Systems Manager
The proposed Control Systems Manager classification is responsible for planning, directing, and supervising the control systems functions in the Environmental Services Department. This includes overseeing the complex Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition control systems at the wastewater plant, the water distribution system, and the SMaRT Station. This position will also be responsible for developing and implementing division policies and procedures, providing technological support, and supervising subordinate classifications. The Control Systems Manager classification will be represented by the Sunnyvale Managers Association (SMA). SMA was provided with notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed pay rate and job description for the represented classification.
Emergency Services Manager
The proposed Emergency Services Manager classification provides strategic leadership and oversight of the City's comprehensive all-hazards emergency management program by planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating emergency preparedness, mitigation, prevention, protection, response, recovery, continuity, and resilience initiatives. The position ensures Emergency Operations Center (EOC) readiness and effective activation, coordinates citywide emergency planning, training, and exercises, and strengthens community preparedness and interagency collaboration. This also replaces this as a rotational assignment for sworn personnel freeing up that resource for the department to deploy more effectively in another assignment. The Emergency Services Manager classification will be represented by the Sunnyvale Managers Association (SMA). SMA was provided with notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed pay rate and job description for the represented classification.
Community Engagement Coordinator
The proposed Community Engagement Coordinator will develop and implement comprehensive communications strategies for high-profile, sensitive, and complex programs and initiatives. The position ensures effective public outreach, manages citywide communications projects, and supports transparent, timely, and consistent communication between the City and the community. This classification will be represented by SEA/ IFPTE Local 21. SEA/IFPTE Local 21 was provided with notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed pay rate and job description for the represented classification.
Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher
The proposed Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher classification reflects a substantially broader scope of responsibilities than those currently assigned to the Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification. The classification encompasses advanced dispatch duties and the planning, direction, and supervision of training and administrative functions across the Public Safety Communications Division. Establishing this classification formalizes a clearly defined promotional career pathway, supporting employee development, succession planning, and the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel. This classification results from a study requested during negotiations with the Communication Officers Association (COA) bargaining unit. This classification will be represented by COA. COA was provided with notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed pay rate and job description for the represented classification.
Staff also requests approval for the City Manager to execute a side letter with COA to enact a two-month extension of a temporary premium pay for an incumbent who has been performing duties of the new classification. Section 22.2 of the COA MOU included a timeline to complete the classification study by March 1, 2026, and a temporary premium pay through June 30th. Due to staffing changes and other high priorities within the Department of Human Resources, the classification study was delayed and was delivered to COA on May 12, 2026. The two-month extension aligns with the delay in the City's delivery of the classification study results to COA.
Title Changes
Staff proposes updates to the existing classification titles listed below to provide a clearer representation of classification responsibilities, align with classification titles in comparable agencies, and establish consistent naming conventions within departments and across the City. The title changes have been agreed to by the associated bargaining units.
|
Current Classification Title |
New Classification Title |
|
Administrative Services Manager |
Customer Service Manager |
|
Environmental Engineering Coordinator |
Environmental Programs Coordinator |
|
Library Specialist 1 |
Library Page |
|
Library Specialist 2 |
Senior Library Page |
|
Library Specialist 3 |
Library Clerk |
|
Wastewater Operations Manager |
Wastewater Collections Manager |
Salary Table Correction
This section corrects an administrative error in RTC 25-1063 which established the GIS Coordinator classification. The hourly pay rates for Steps 1-5 of the GIS Coordinator classification were listed incorrectly; however, the top step rate was accurate. This is an administrative correction only and does not affect the budget, as the classification was budgeted correctly. This classification is represented by SEA/ IFPTE Local 21. SEA/IFPTE Local 21 was provided notice of this correction.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2026/27 Adopted Budget appropriates sufficient funding for the newly proposed Control Systems Manager, Emergency Services Manager, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher positions. Additionally, the top step for GIS Coordinator was correct, therefore the FY 2026/27 Adopted Budget appropriates sufficient funding for this as well. There is no fiscal impact associated with the title changes for the Administrative Services Manager, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, Library Specialist 1/2/3 and Wastewater Operations Manager positions.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute a side letter with Communication Officer’s Association (COA) extending the Special Assignment/Lead Worker Premium; and Adopt a Resolution (1) Amending the Classification Plan to Add the Classifications of Control Systems Manager, Emergency Services Manager, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher, and Update Classification Titles of Administrative Services Manager, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, Library Specialist 1/2/3 and Wastewater Operations Manager; and (2) Making Corresponding Updates and an Administrative Correction to the City’s Salary Resolution.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
_X_ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
___ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Delanie LoFranco, Human Resources Manager
Reviewed by: Heather Ruiz, Director, Human Resources
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution