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Legislative Public Meetings

File #: 23-0791   
Type: Report to Council Status: Passed
Meeting Body: City Council
On agenda: 12/12/2023
Title: Consider Amending the Employment Agreement between the City of Sunnyvale and City Manager Kent Steffens to Increase the City Manager's Salary and Modify Certain Benefits
Attachments: 1. CM Employment Agreement, 2. CM Employment Agreement Amendment 1, 3. CM Employment Agreement Amendment 2, 4. CM Employment Agreement Amendment 3, 5. CM Employment Agreement Amendment 4, 6. CM Employment Agreement Amendment 5, 7. 2023 City Manager Salary Compensation Survey
REPORT TO COUNCIL

SUBJECT
Title
Consider Amending the Employment Agreement between the City of Sunnyvale and City Manager Kent Steffens to Increase the City Manager's Salary and Modify Certain Benefits

Report
BACKGROUND
The City Council Salary Subcommittee met on October 26, 2023 and December 4, 2023 to discuss the City Manager's annual compensation survey. The Council met in Closed Session on November 14 and 28 for City Manager Kent Steffens' annual performance evaluation and on December 5, 2023 with the Council Salary Subcommittee negotiating this amendment to his employment agreement. The City Manager is entitled to a 3% annual salary increase effective December 24, 2023, pursuant to Section 3.3 of his employment agreement. However, the City Council has discretion to modify that amount based on performance. The City Manager's compensation must be determined in a public meeting.

EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.1 Legislative Management - Goals and Policies, Goal 7.3D: Maintain a quality work force, consistent with state and federal laws, City Charter, and adopted policies in order to assure that City services are provided in an effective, efficient, and high-quality manner.

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)(4) in that is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.

DISCUSSION
The salary range for the City Manager classification is $302,041 - $422,749. The City Manager, Kent Steffens, was hired on December 31, 2017 with an annual salary of $302,041. Effective January 1, 2019, the City Manager's annual salary increased by 4.5%. The City Manager received a 5.5% salary increase effective December 29, 2019; a 6.5% salary increase effective December 27, 2020; a 6.0% salary increase effective Dece...

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