Chapter 2.32 — PERSONNEL

In order to establish an equitable and uniform procedure for dealing with personnel matters; to attract to municipal service the best and most competent persons available; to assure that appointments and promotions of employees will be based on merit and fitness; and to provide a reasonable degree of security for qualified employees, the following personnel system is hereby adopted. The provisions of Ordinance No. 962, an ordinance of the City of Woodland, pertaining to the establishment of a Library Board, and the duties thereof relative to personnel matters, are hereby incorporated herein and made a part of this chapter. (Prior code § 16A-1-1)

The City Manager shall be the Personnel Officer. The City Manager may delegate any of the powers and duties conferred upon him or her as Personnel Officer under this chapter to any other officer or employee of the City or may recommend that such powers and duties be performed under contract. Appropriate notice of delegation shall be given to all interested parties. The Personnel Officer shall:

• A. Administer all the provisions of this chapter and the personnel rules not specifically reserved to the City Council;

• B. Prepare personnel rules and revisions and amendments to such rules;

• C. Prepare or cause to be prepared a position classification plan, including class specifications, and revisions of the plan. The plan, and any revisions thereof, shall become effective upon approval by the City Council;

• D. Prepare or cause to be prepared an employee compensation plan including base salary and fringe benefits provisions. The plan, and any revisions thereof, shall become effective upon approval by the City Council;

• E. Provide for the publishing or posting of notices of tests for positions in the classified service; the receiving of applications therefor; the conducting and grading of tests; the certification to the appointing power of a list of all persons eligible for appointment to the appropriate position in the classified service.

• (Prior code § 16A-1-2)

• A. There is hereby created a Personnel Board to consist of five members to be appointed by the City Council. A majority vote of the City Council shall be required to appoint a member of the Personnel Board. Members of the Personnel Board shall be residents of the City. No person will be appointed to the Board who holds a salaried office or employment with the City of Woodland.

• B. The term of office of each member of the Personnel Board shall be four years and each term shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

Upon expiration of each member's term, successors shall be appointed for full four-year terms as provided above. Each member, unless sooner terminated, shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

(Prior code § 16A-1-3)

• A. The Personnel Board shall determine the order of business for the conduct of its meetings, and shall meet regularly or on call of the chair or a majority of the members of the Board. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

• B. The functions of the Board shall be:

  1. As provided by this chapter and by the rules, to hear appeals submitted by any person in the classified service relative to any disciplinary action, dismissal, demotion, interpretation or alleged violation of this chapter or the personnel rules and to certify its findings and recommendations as provided in the personnel system rules.

  2. The Personnel Board, upon its own motion may, or when requested by the City Council, or the City Manager shall, investigate and make recommendations on any matter of personnel policy.

(Prior code § 16A-1-4)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all offices, positions and employments in the service of the City, except:

• A. Elective officers;

• B. Members of appointive boards, commissions, and committees;

• C. The City Manager and assistant City Manager;

• D. All department heads (i.e., Community Development Director, Finance Director, Fire Chief, Library Services Director, Park and Recreation Director, Personnel Director, Police Chief and Public Works Director);

• E. Persons engaged under contract to supply expert, professional, technical or any other services;

• F. Volunteer personnel, including police and fire reserves who receive no regular compensation other than reimbursement for expenses from the City. Volunteers shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the department head;

• G. City Attorney and assistant City Attorney;

• H. Emergency employees who are hired to meet the immediate requirements of an emergency condition, such as an extraordinary fire, flood, earthquake, or other disaster which threatens life or property. Emergency employees shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority;

• I. Employees, other than those listed elsewhere in this section, who are expected to or do work less than six months in any one fiscal year. These employees shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

(Prior code § 16A-1-5)

Personnel rules shall be adopted by the City Council. The Personnel Officer shall give reasonable written notice to each recognized employee organization affected by the ordinance, rule, resolution, or regulation or amendment thereof proposed to be adopted by the City Council, if within the scope of representation. The rules shall contain regulations governing the personnel system including:

• A. Preparation, installation, revision and maintenance of a position classification plan covering all positions in the classified service, including employment standards and qualifications for each class;

• B. Preparation, implementation, revision and maintenance of an employee compensation plan including base salary and fringe benefit provisions;

• C. Public announcement of all tests and acceptance of applications for employment;

• D. Preparation and conduct of tests and the establishment and use of resulting employment lists containing names of persons eligible for appointment;

• E. Certification and appointment of persons from employment lists and the making of provisional appointments;

• F. Establishment of probationary periods;

• G. Evaluation of employees;

• H. Transfer, promotion, demotion, reinstatement, disciplinary action and layoff of employees in the classified service;

• I. Separation of employees from the City service;

• J. The establishment and maintenance of adequate personnel records;

• K. The establishment of appeal procedures concerning the interpretation and application of this chapter and any rules adopted hereunder.

• (Prior code § 16A-1-6)

Any person holding a position included in the classified service who, on the effective date of this chapter, shall have served continuously in such position, or in some other position in the classified services, for a period equal to the probationary period prescribed in the rules for the class shall assume regular status in the classified service in the position held on such effective date without qualifying examination, and shall thereafter be subject in all respects to the provisions of this chapter and the personnel rules. Any other persons holding positions in the classified service shall be regarded as probationary employees who are serving out the balance of their probationary periods as prescribed in the personnel rules before obtaining regular status. (Prior code § 16A-1-7)

The provisions of the personnel rules relating to attendance and leaves shall apply to the incumbents of exempt positions as noted in Section 2.32.050, unless otherwise specified. (Prior code § 16A-1-8)

The political activities of City employees shall conform to pertinent provisions of State law. (Prior code § 16A-1-9)

No person in the classified service, or seeking admission thereto, shall be employed, promoted, demoted or discharged, or in any way favored or discriminated against because of political opinions or affiliations, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religious creed, sex, age, or physical or mental handicap not constituting bona fide occupational qualifications. (Prior code § 16A-1-10)

• A. The City Council hereby delegates to the Personnel Board its authority to issue subpoenas in those cases in which a disciplinary appeals hearing is pending before the Board.

• B. The Personnel Board may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of any witness or the production of books or other documents in any disciplinary appeals hearing pending before it, either on its own motion or upon the request of any party to the hearing. Such subpoenas shall be signed by the Mayor on behalf of the Board and shall be attested to by the City Clerk, and shall be enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as subpoenas issued by the City Council pursuant to Government Code Section 37105.

• (Prior code § 16A-1-11)

Pursuant to Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code, the City hereby declares that it wishes to receive State aid for the recruitment and training of peace officers, and that the City will adhere to recruitment and training standards established by the State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training if State aid is received. (Prior code § 16A-2-1)