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Home My WebLink AboutR-11619 authorizing the City Manager to appoint Randall Harris a CALPERS retired annuitant to serve as Interim Fire Chief during the national search for a permanent Fire ChiefR 11619 RESOLUTION NO. 11619 (2025 SERIES) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPOINT RANDALL HARRIS, WHO WILL BE A CALPERS RETIRED ANNUITANT AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT, TO SERVE AS INTERIM FIRE CHIEF DURING THE NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A PERMANENT FIRE CHIEF PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 7522.56 and 21221(h) WHEREAS, in compliance with Government (Gov.) Code section 7522.56 of the Public Employees’ Retirement Law, the City Council must provide CalPERS this certification resolution when hiring a retiree before 180 days has passed since their retirement date; and WHEREAS, Randall Harris (“HARRIS”) is retiring from the City of El Paso De Robles on December 20, 2025, in the position of Deputy Fire Chief; and WHEREAS, Gov. Code section 7522.56 requires that post-retirement employment commence no earlier than 180 days after the retirement date, which is June 19, 2026 (date of 181st day after retirement), without this certification resolution; and WHEREAS, Gov. Code section 7522.56 provides that this exception to the 180 - day wait period shall not apply if the retiree accepts any retirement-related incentive; and WHEREAS, the City Council, the City of San Luis Obispo, and HARRIS certify that HARRIS has not and will not receive a Golden Handshake or any other retirement-related incentive; and WHEREAS, an appointment under Gov. Code section 21221(h) requires the retiree is appointed into the interim appointment during recruitment for a permanent appointment; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has the authority and responsibility to conduct the recruitment for a permanent Fire Chief, as there is no formal process for the City Council to initiate it; the City Manager is engaging a professional executive recruiter and will ensure the recruitment is posted no later than the end of February 2026; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby appoints HARRIS as an interim appointment retired annuitant to the vacant position of Fire Chief for the City of San Luis Obispo under Gov. Code section 21221(h), effective January 5, 2026; and WHEREAS, this Gov. Code section 21221(h) appointment shall only be made once and shall end once the City hires a permanent Fire Chief and they start work; and Docusign Envelope ID: 1D049D98-5464-46D1-9732-D7CCF439A0D5 Resolution No. 11619 (2025 Series) Page 2 R 11619 WHEREAS, the entire conditional job offer between HARRIS and the City of San Luis Obispo has been reviewed by this body and is attached herein; and WHEREAS, no matters, issues, terms or conditions related to this employment and appointment have been or will be placed on a consent calendar; and WHEREAS, the employment shall be limited to 960 hours per fiscal year for all CalPERS employers; and WHEREAS, the compensation paid to retirees cannot be less than the minimum nor exceed the maximum monthly base salary paid to other employees performing comparable duties, divided by 173.333 to equal the hourly rate; and WHEREAS, the maximum base salary for this position is $21,690.50 per month and the hourly equivalent is $125.14, and the minimum base salary for this position is $17,350.67 per month and the hourly equivalent is $100.10; and WHEREAS, the hourly rate paid to HARRIS will be $120.20; and WHEREAS, HARRIS has not and will not receive any other benefit, incentive, compensation in lieu of benefit or other form of compensation in addition to this hourly pay rate; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby certifies the nature of employment of HARRIS, as described herein and detailed in the attached conditional job offer, and finds that this appointment is necessary to fill the critically needed position of Fire Chief for the City of San Luis Obispo effective January 5, 2026 to ensure continuity of command within the City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department while the City conducts a national recruitment for a permanent Fire Chief. SECTION 2. The City Council determines that each of the findings set forth above is true and correct, and by this reference incorporates those findings as an integral part of this Resolution. Docusign Envelope ID: 1D049D98-5464-46D1-9732-D7CCF439A0D5 Resolution No. 11619 (2025 Series) Page 3 R 11619 SECTION 3. The City Council authorizes approval of this Resolution. SECTION 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately following passage and adoption thereof. Upon motion of Vice Mayor Francis, seconded by Council Member Marx, and on the following roll call vote: AYES: Council Member Boswell, Marx, Shoresman, Vice Mayor Francis, and Mayor Stewart NOES: None ABSENT: None The foregoing resolution was adopted this 15th day of December 2025. ___________________________ Mayor Erica A. Stewart ATTEST: ______________________ Teresa Purrington City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ______________________ J. Christine Dietrick City Attorney IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________. ___________________________ Teresa Purrington City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 1D049D98-5464-46D1-9732-D7CCF439A0D5 12/15/2025 | 3:10 PM PST City of San Luis O bispo, Title, Subti tle Conditional Employment Offer Letter November 26, 2025 Dear Randy, I am pleased to extend a conditional offer of employment to serve as Interim Fire Chief (retired annuitant) with the City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department. This appointment is necessary to fill the critically needed position of Fire Chief to ensure continuity of command within the City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department while the City conducts a national search for a permanent Fire Chief. This offer is contingent upon the City Council adopting a resolution to meet CalPERS requirements, tentatively scheduled for December 15, 2025 (draft resolution attached), CalPERS approving your interim appointment as a retired annuitant , and your successful completion of a California Department of Justice Live Scan criminal background check. If the above conditions are satisfied, the following terms and conditions will be presented to you in a formal offer letter. 1. Your start date will be January 5, 2026, and shall end once the City hires a permanent Fire Chief which is estimated to take six months. In no case shall you exceed working 960 hours in a fiscal year. 2. Your hourly salary will be $ 120.20 or $9,616 biweekly based on a 40-hour work week. 3. You will be eligible to work a 9/80 schedule. 4. As a CalPERS Retired Annuitant, you are not eligible to receive any other benefit, incentive, compensation in lieu of benefit or other form of compensation in addition to the hourly pay rate. 5. Your scope of work includes the duties outlined in the Fire Chief job description. Let me again express my appreciation for your willingness to step into the role of Interim Fire Chief. Your leadership will be essential in maintaining operational stability and supporting the Fire Department during this period of transition, and I am excited to work together during this time. Sincerely, ________________________________ _________________________ Whitney McDonald Date Docusign Envelope ID: C5C3D9A1-731A-422D-83EC-699BC3349F6A 11/26/2025 | 6:19 PM PST Docusign Envelope ID: 1D049D98-5464-46D1-9732-D7CCF439A0D5 City of San Luis O bispo, Title, Subti tle Conditional Employment Offer Letter I have reviewed the above conditional offer of employment and accept the terms and conditions: __________________________ _________________ Randy Harris Date Attachment: Draft Council Resolution Fire Chief job description cc: Personnel File Docusign Envelope ID: C5C3D9A1-731A-422D-83EC-699BC3349F6A 11/27/2025 | 7:23 PM PST Docusign Envelope ID: 1D049D98-5464-46D1-9732-D7CCF439A0D5