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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 14265 City of Palo Alto (ID # 14265) City Council Staff Report Meeting Date: 4/18/2022 Report Type: Consent Calendar City of Palo Alto Page 1 Title: Approval of the Appointment of Sandra Blanch as Human Resources Director From: City Manager Lead Department: Human Resources RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the City Council confirm the City Manager’s appointment of Sandra Blanch as Human Resources Director. BACKGROUND The Palo Alto Charter and Municipal Code establish the City Manager as the appointing authority for all officers, department directors, and employees under the City Manager’s areas of responsibility. The Charter and Municipal Code (2.08.020) additionally specify that appointments of department heads are subject to approval of the Council. The Municipal Code (2.08.040) establishes the general responsibilities of the City’s Department Directors, including: • Formulating and recommending policies and procedures for the operation of their department; • Awareness of the latest practices in their particular fields that are of benefit to the municipal service and to the public; • Providing advice and assistance to other department heads and council-appointed officers; and cooperating with each other on matters of mutual concern. Specific to the role of Human Resources Director, the Municipal Code identifies that the Director is responsible for HR matters such as: • Administration of the merit system; • Recruitment, employment and promotion of City personnel; • Salary schedules and job classifications; • Training, safety programs, and workers’ compensation; • City insurance programs, loss control and risk; • Union meet and confer negotiations. City of Palo Alto Page 2 According to the fiscal year 2022 budget, the Human Resources Department consists of 16 full- time staff positions and $16.2 million in authorized annual expenditures for the performance of its responsibilities. DISCUSSION Palo Alto’s current Human Resources (HR) Director, Rumi Portillo, plans to retire at the end of May, creating a vacancy in the HR Director role. The City Manager has selected Sandra Blanch to serve as the City’s next Human Resources Director and recommends that Council approve the appointment. Ms. Blanch currently serves as the Department’s Assistant Director, and has served the Palo Alto community for the past 28 years including service as interim HR director in 2011-12. Ms. Blanch is an expert in all areas of human resources, with focused expertise in workplace health and safety. In addition to experience and skills, Sandra Blanch has excellent working relationships throughout the City, support of the Human Resources staff, and has demonstrated her ability to operate with a steady and caring demeanor. Over the past six years, HR Director Portillo and Assistant HR Director Sandra Blanch have worked in close collaboration to lead the City through many difficult personnel and policy issues. Most recently, their strong management, effective leadership and around-the-clock support helped the organization navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. Palo Alto is fortunate that Ms. Blanch has the qualifications, leadership, and skills to fill the position of Director. Ms. Blanch has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from San Jose State University, with a minor in Business. Assistant Director Blanch also serves as the City of Palo Alto’s Board Member representative and the Secretary for the California Cities Excess Liability Risk Pool. Sandra Blanch will be an “at-will” employee, which means she will serve at the pleasure of the City Manager and can be terminated or asked to resign at any time. Her annual salary will be $238,450, which is within the Council-approved salary range for the Human Resources Director position which has a maximum salary of $251,410. The benefits and terms of employment for the appointment of Sandra Blanch to HR Director are those found in the City’s Management and Professional Compensation Plan as adopted by Council. There are no special or additional provisions included in this appointment. The City Manager will coordinate the appointment of Sandra Blanch to HR Director to coincide with Director Portillo’s retirement near the end of May. This internal promotion is a continued testament to the strong culture of professional development and succession planning in the Palo Alto workforce. RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS The Human Resources Director position is included in the FY 2022 Adopted Budgets. Therefore, no budget modifications or additional funding are necessary.