HomeMy WebLinkAboutRickard Amendment 12-15-11 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AMENDED
THIS AGREEMENT, (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") was made and entered into the 1 st day
of November, 2006, by and between the City of Atascadero, County of San Luis Obispo, State of
California, a municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "City") and Rachelle Rickard
(hereinafter referred to as "Rickard"). Consistent with the provisions of AB 1344, this Agreement is
hereby amended to include the addition of Item F under Section 3, effective this 15 1h day of December,
2011 .
SECTION 1 EMPLOYMENT
A. The City agrees to and shall employ Rickard as the Administrative Services Director of the
City of Atascadero. Rickard agrees to perform the functions and duties of the position of
Administrative Services Director of the City of Atascadero as described by state law, the Municipal
Code of the City of Atascadero, the job description of the position of Administrative Services Director
as developed by the City Manager of the City, and all other duties and functions as the City Manager of
the City shall from time to time assign.
B. Rickard agrees to perform all such functions and duties to the best of her abilities and in a
competent and efficient manner. Rickard agrees to focus her full professional time, ability and
attention to City business during the term of this Agreement and agrees not to engage in any other
business pursuits whatsoever or, directly or indirectly, render any services of a business, commercial or
professional nature to any other person or organization, whether for compensation or otherwise,
without the prior written consent of the City Manager. However, Rickard shall be permitted to provide
incidental support to any business owned by Rickard in whole or in part.
SECTION 2 TERM
A. Rickard shall serve at the will and pleasure of the City Manager. Nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of the City Manager to terminate the
employment of Rickard at any time and for any reason, or for no reason, subject only to the provisions
specified in Section 3 of this Agreement.
B. This Agreement shall become effective on November 1, 2006, and unless otherwise
terminated under the provisions of Section 3, shall remain in effect indefinitely.
C. Nothing in this Section shall or is intended to prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the
right of the City or Rickard to terminate the employment of Rickard prior to the expiration of this
Agreement, or any extension thereof, in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement.
SECTION 3 TERMINATION
A. The City Manager and Rickard may agree mutually in writing to terminate Rickard's
employment.
B. The City may terminate Rickard's employment at any time without cause. In the event that
Rickard is terminated by the City, and Rickard is otherwise ready, willing and able to perform her duties
under this Agreement, the City shall pay Rickard severance compensation equal to six (6)) months of
salary and benefits. In consideration of this severance payment, Rickard agrees that she shall not be
entitled to any other payment or compensation of any kind from the City in connection with the
termination of her employment.
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C. Rickard may terminate her employment at any time for any reason by providing 90 days
prior written notice to the City Manager. In the event that Rickard provides such written notice, she
shall be entitled to receive at the termination of this employment only such accrued unused and other
such benefits as may be due and payable under applicable City rule, regulation or policy, and/or under
applicable local, state or federal law. Rickard shall not, however, be entitled to any severance pay or
other compensation at the termination of her employment. During the period subsequent to Rickard's
submission of her notice terminating her employment, she shall continue to perform her duties as
Administrative Services Director pursuant to this Agreement unless removed from those duties and/or
terminated by the City Manager pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. However, in the event that
Rickard is then removed from those duties and/or terminated by the City Manger, Rickard shall continue
to receive compensation in the form of salary and benefits through the completion of the 90 (ninety)
day notice period.
D. The City Manager may terminate Rickard's employment for cause. In the event that Rickard
is terminated for cause, she shall not be entitled to the payment of any severance pay or
compensation, other than the payment of accrued unused vacation leave. In the event that Rickard is
terminated for cause, Rickard shall be entitled to prior written notification of the reason(s) for the
termination, the facts upon which such reason(s) are based, copies of all supporting evidence and
investigations regarding the facts and reason(s) for the termination, and the right to respond, orally or
in writing or both, to the City Manager within five (5) working days of receipt of the notice of such
termination. Furthermore, if requested by Rickard, Rickard shall have the right to a hearing before the
City of Atascadero City Council which shall be a hearing de novo. In the event the decision to
terminate for cause is reversed by the City Council and the City Manager terminates Rickard's
employment without cause, the terms of Subsection B hereof shall apply.
E. The City Manager and/or Rickard may terminate this Agreement in the event that Rickard
has been unable to perform the essential functions of her position due disability for a period of three (3)
months and it is medically determined that Rickard is permanently disabled from performing the
essential functions of his position.
1 . A determination that Rickard is permanently disabled shall be made by the City
Manager based upon competent medical evidence and evaluation and in accord with the
applicable state and federal laws pertaining to the protection of disabled persons and in accord
with the laws governing the City's membership in CaIPERS.
2. In the event it is determined by the City Manger that a question exists as to
Rickard's ability to perform the essential functions of his position, based upon objective facts,
the City Manager may require Rickard to undergo a fitness for duty examination. Nothing in
this subsection shall obligate Rickard to waive her right to privacy under California Civil Code §
56.10(c)(8), nor shall the City seek any report pursuant to this subsection beyond that to which
it would be entitled under California Civil Code § 56.10(c)(8).
F. In the event Rickard is convicted of a crime involving an abuse of his office or position as
defined in California Government Code section 53243.4, Rickard shall be required to fully reimburse the
City in accordance with California Government Code sections 53243, 53243.1, and/or 53243.2.
SECTION 4 SALARY AND COMPENSATION
A. Effective upon the commencement of this Agreement, the City shall pay to Rickard a base
salary within the range established for the Administrative Service Director. This salary shall be paid on
a pro rata basis in regular installments pursuant to the City's normal payroll procedures.
B. The City Manager may set forth annually in writing certain goals consisting of duties and
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responsibilities above and beyond Rickard's ordinary duties and responsibilities. In the event that
Rickard achieves such goals, she may be entitled to receive other compensation in addition to her
regular salary and benefits. The City Manager shall set forth the amount of additional compensation to
which Rickard would be entitled in the same writing setting forth the annual goals. Any such additional
compensation will be at the discretion of the City Manager with the approval of the City Council if
necessary.
C. The City shall deduct or withhold from Rickard's salary any and all sums as Rickard may
from time to time direct, or as required by law, including, but not limited to, sums for the payment of
federal, state and/or local income taxes and retirement or pension plans.
D. In addition to the compensation set forth in Sub-Section A above, Rickard shall be entitled
to receive the same benefits as are accorded all other mid-management employees except as herein
provided. Rickard shall be entitled to the following benefits:
a. In addition to benefits described herein, Rickard shall be entitled to the same
benefits granted to mid-management employees. As used herein, benefits include, but
are not limited to, vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, retirement (PERS) benefits and
payments, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and life insurance but
do not include Administrative Leave.
b. Eighty (80) hours of Administrative Leave shall be granted per fiscal year, to
be used within that fiscal year.
C. The death benefit of life insurance provided shall be equal to one (1) times
annual salary.
E. In its sole discretion, the City may increase Rickard's base salary and/or other benefits
beyond those set forth in this Agreement in such amounts and/or to such an extent as may be
recommended by the City Manager on the basis of a salary review made at least annually by the City
Manager. Any such increases shall be subject to the approval of the City of Atascadero City Council as
required.
F. The City shall budget for and pay the travel and subsistence expenses of Rickard's for a
reasonable number of local, state and national conferences relevant to her duties and responsibilities as
Administrative Services Director with the approval of the City Manager. Further, the City will budget
and pay for the maintenance of Rickard as a Certified Public Accountant. This includes but is not
limited to registration, travel and subsistence for required continuing education requirements and
biannual licensing fees.
G. Rickard shall receive three hundred dollars ($300.00) each month as an automobile
allowance. The allowance is in exchange for employee making available (1) for her own use a personal
automobile, and (2) her use of her personal automobile for City related business and/or functions
during, before and after normal work hours. Employee is not precluded from using City vehicles for
City business during, before and after the normal workday. A City vehicle will not be provided to
Employee for her exclusive use and no City vehicle shall be utilized by Employee for commuting
purposes.
H. The City Manager shall fix any other terms and conditions of employment relating to
Rickard's performance as the City Manager may from time to time determine, provided that such other
terms and conditions of employment are not contrary to or inconsistent with the terms set forth in this
Agreement, the City's rules, regulations and ordinances, local, state and/or federal law.
I. Any provisions of the City code, rules, regulations and ordinances relating to management
employee benefits as they now exist or may later be amended shall also apply to Rickard, in addition to
any benefits set forth in this Agreement, except as those provisions of the City code, rules, regulations
and ordinances relating to management employee benefits may conflict or be inconsistent with the
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terms of this agreement, in which case the terms of this Agreement shall control.
SECTION 5 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
A. Annually, the City Manager, with the assistance of Rickard, may define such goals and
performance objectives which the City Manager determines necessary for the proper operation of City's
Administrative Services Department and shall further establish a relative priority among those various
goals and objectives. These goals and objectives shall be reduced in writing and should be reasonably
attainable within the time limitations specified by the City Manager and in light of the appropriations
provided through the annual operating and capital budgets.
B. The City Manager shall review and evaluate Rickard's performance annually. This
review and evaluation shall take into account any goals that may have been developed by the City
Manager, as well as Rickard's performance of other functions and duties. The City Manager shall
provide to Rickard a summary written statement of the evaluation and shall provide Rickard with the
opportunity to discuss the evaluation with the City Manager.
SECTION 6 GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. This Agreement constitutes the sole understanding and agreement of the City and Rickard
with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, statements,
instructions, representations or agreements, whether written or oral.
B. The parties agree and acknowledge that no representations, inducements, promises or
agreements, oral or otherwise, have been made by any party, or by anyone acting on behalf of any
party, which are not contained herein and that any agreement, statement or promise not contained in
this Agreement shall not be valid or binding on either party.
C. Any amendment to this Agreement shall be valid only if in writing approved and signed by
both parties, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement.
D. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect.
E. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs in
addition to any other relief to which that party may be entitled.
F. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of California.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as of the date and
year first written above.
CITY: Rickard:
Wade G. McKinney Rac elle Rickard
City Manager Administrative Services Director
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