Civil Service Commission

Agendas and Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available upon adoption.
For Agendas and Minutes since January 1, 2021, please visit the City's new Agenda Center.
For Agendas and Minutes prior to January 1, 2021, please visit the Agendas & Minutes Archive.

Purpose

The purpose of the Civil Service Commission is to assure that police officers are recruited through open competition, are hired and promoted on the basis of merit, and are demoted, suspended, or discharged for cause. It oversees civil service examinations and certifies eligibility lists.

Organization

The Civil Service Commission consists of 3 members with staggering terms. Once appointed, the commission elects one member to become chairperson. No person shall be appointed a member of such commission who is not a citizen of the United States, a resident of such city for at least three years immediately preceding such appointment, and an elector of the county wherein he resides. They are required to meet at least once a month and may hold such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of their duties.

Membership

The members of the Civil Service Commission are appointed by the Mayor with no confirmation from the council required. The terms are 6 years long and they are allowed to serve up to 2 consecutive terms. An appointment to fill the unexpired portion of a term less than two years in length shall not constitute a full term.

These are the current members of the Civil Service Commission.
Position No. Commissioner Term Expires
Position 1 Susan Venegas September 30, 2022
Position 2 Alex Keefe September 30, 2024
Position 3 Ann Gilcrease September 30, 2026

Board Responsibilities

  • Make rules and regulations for examinations, appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions, and discharges which shall be reproduced for free public distribution
  • Ability to give credit in favor of appointment to those who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces
  • Freedom to inspect all institutions, departments, offices, places, positions and employments affected by this chapter; and ascertain whether this chapter and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed
  • Make like inspections on petition of a citizen, duly verified, stating that irregularities or abuses exist, or setting forth in writing the necessity for such investigation 
  • To hear and determine appeals or complaints respecting the administrative work of the personnel department, appeals upon the allocation of positions, the rejection of an examination and such other matters as may be referred to the commission pursuant to the duties noted in municipal code
  • Maintain a roster of employees covered by civil service
  • Provide for, formulate and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position and establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions as made by the city
  • Ensure that employees laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like cause head the list in the order of their seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed
  • When a vacant position is to be filled, to certify to the appointing authority, on written request, the names of the five persons highest on the eligible list for the class. If there are no such lists, the commission shall make provision in their rules for provisional or temporary appointments for such positions. 
  • Keep such records as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter
  • Appoint a secretary/chief examiner. It may either designate a staff member from the city’s personnel department or may contract with funds provided by the city with an independent contractor to fill the position.
  • It shall be the duty of the commission to begin and conduct all civil suits which may be necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter and of the rules of the commission. The commission shall be represented in such suits by the chief legal officer of the city, or his/her designee, but the commission may in any case be represented by special counsel appointed by it.