Chapter 3.14

SUGGESTION AWARD PROGRAM

Sections:

• 3.14.050 Persons ineligible for cash awards.

• 3.14.060 Right of city to revise or terminate system.

• A. A suggestion award system is hereby established to encourage employees of the city to submit original and constructive suggestions for improvement of operations of the city by providing rewards for certain suggestions at the discretion of the suggestion award commission.

• B. Each and every city employee is hereby invited to offer such suggestions. Any employee desiring to offer any such suggestion pursuant to these provisions shall address the same to the suggestion awards commission, established pursuant to Section 2.08.4400 of this Code.

• (Ord. 25211.)

• A. In evaluating suggestions, the commission shall consider not only any improvement of operations of the city government that might result from implementation of such suggestion, but also any and all other reasons why such suggestion should or should not be implemented, or why the person offering such suggestion should or should not be given any monetary or other award therefor.

• B. Before concluding its investigation of any suggestion, the commission may cause a copy of such suggestion to be given by its secretary to the city manager or to such other officer or employee as the city manager may designate, for reasonable opportunity to investigate such suggestion and make recommendations with respect thereto to the commission.

• C. If after investigation the commission determines that a suggestion is worthy of implementation, it shall transmit to the council its rec-

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§ 3.14.050

ommendation that such suggestion be implemented and be put into effect and operation.

• D. The commission may reject, for any reason or reasons, any suggestion or suggestions submitted to it pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Any such action shall be final, conclusive and nonappealable.

• (Ord. 25211.)

• A. The commission, after a suggestion recommended by it to the council has been implemented and put into effect, or after it shall have determined that no good reason exists for failure to implement a suggestion and putting it into operation and effect, may, if it finds such suggestion to be worthy of a monetary award, order payment of a monetary award to the person who submitted such suggestion to the commission.

• B. Such award shall be in such amount as the commission may deem reasonable under the circumstances. In determining the amount of any such award, the commission shall consider the net savings or net increase in revenue, if any, which will accrue to the city because of the implementation of such suggestion.

• C. In no event shall the amount of any such reward exceed the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars or fifteen percent of the first year's savings or increases in revenue to the city, as estimated by the commission, whichever is the lesser.

• D. If and when the commission finds and determines that a suggestion is worthy of a cash award in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars, it may recommend to the council that the council authorize payment of such higher award. If the council approves such recommendation, it may authorize and order payment of a cash award in excess of said two thousand five hundred dollars, up to but not to exceed the sum of thirty thousand dollars, or fifteen

percent of the first year's savings or increases in revenue to the city, as estimated by the commission, whichever is the lesser.

• E. The commission may at any time award noncash certificates of commendation or other forms of recognition not involving the payment of any money for any suggestions whenever it deems such to be appropriate.

• F. The commission may conduct special promotional award programs which may allow cash or merchandise or other prizes or awards to be given to suggestors, which awards may be determined by drawings.

• (Ord. 25211.)

• A. No cash awards shall be made and no money shall be expended pursuant to the provisions of this chapter unless money has been appropriated therefor by the city council and there exists an unencumbered balance of such appropriation sufficient for such purpose.

• B. The commission shall make recommendations to the council respecting the amount of moneys which should be appropriated for these purposes.

• (Ord. 25211.)

• A. No cash awards for any suggestion shall be made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to any of the following persons:

  1. Any person who is not an officer or employee of the city at the time the suggestion is received by the commission;

  2. Any officer or employee of the city who is in the unclassified service of the city with the exception of a provisional employee;

  3. Any officer or employee of the city whose suggestion falls within the scope of his or her assigned duties or responsibilities.

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§ 3.14.050

• B. Payment of a cash award, otherwise payable, shall be made to a former employee or to the estate of a deceased former employee.

• C. Nothing in this section, however, shall be deemed to prevent the giving of any commendatory noncash award to any of the persons mentioned in subdivisions 1 through 3 of subsection A. above for any suggestion made by any such person.

• (Ord. 25211.)

The City of San José has the exclusive right to determine suggestion award policy and structure, and reserves the right to revise the terms and conditions of the suggestion award system or to terminate it, at any time, without notice. (Ord. 25211.)

II. RETIREMENT PLANS*