HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-023 Rachelle Rickard CM Agreement EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR
RACHELLE RICKARD
CITY MANAGER
CITY OF ATASCADERO
AS OF JUNE 28, 2013
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into and effective on
June 28, 2013, by and between the City of Atascadero (hereinafter called "City") and Rachelle
Rickard (hereinafter called "City Manager").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City desires to employ the services of Rachelle Rickard, as City Manager of the
City of Atascadero, and
WHEREAS, the City desires to provide certain benefits, establish certain conditions of
employment, and to set working conditions of said City Manager, and
WHEREAS, the City desires to (1) retain the services of City Manager and to provide
inducement for her to remain in such employment, and (2) to make possible full work
productivity by assuring City Manager's morale and peace of mind with respect to future
security; and provide an equitable means of terminating her services, and
WHEREAS, City Manager desires to be employed as the City Manager of the City of
Atascadero
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
SECTION 1. TERM
The City hereby employs City Manager for a term of five (5) years commencing on June 28,
2013 ("Commencement Date") at 12:00 pm, and continuing through the end of business on
June 30, 2018 or until terminated pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement ("Term"). The
Anniversary Date shall be June 28th of each year.
This Agreement shall automatically extend for subsequent one (1) year terms ("Extended
Term") on each Anniversary Date unless the City provides written notice of non-extension or of
termination of this Agreement to City Manager no less than one month prior to the Anniversary
Date. Upon notification, this Agreement will remain in force for the remaining Term plus
Extended Term of the contract.
SECTION 2. DUTIES
The City agrees to employ City Manager as City Manager of the City to perform the functions
and duties as currently in effect, as set forth in Chapter 4 of the Atascadero Municipal Code, or
as hereafter may be established by ordinance, resolution or action of the City Council. The City
Manager's schedule of work each day and week shall vary in accordance with the work required
to be performed. It is recognized that the City Manager must devote a great deal of her time
outside normal office hours to the business of the City and to that end, will be allowed to take
time off during normal office hours. The City Manager is a full-time, FLSA exempt, employee.
SECTION 3. COMPENSATION
The City agrees to compensate City Manager for her services as City Manager by payment of
salary in a manner consistent with other City employees. City Manager's monthly salary as of
the Commencement Date of this Agreement shall be $ 12,492.36. In accordance Resolution
2011-059, the City Manager shall participate in the furlough program. City Manager shall
receive automatic annual step increases of 5% in salary for each of the next two years upon her
anniversary date. The City Council may, from time-to-time, by resolution, adjust City Manager's
salary.
SECTION 4. TERMINATION
City Manager shall serve at the will and pleasure of the City Council and may be removed from
office (terminated) at any time with or without cause upon a majority vote of the City Council.
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the City Council from terminating this Agreement and
the services of City Manager at its sole discretion.
1. Notice of Termination. In the event City Manager is terminated without cause by the City
during the Term or any subsequent Extended Term of this Agreement, during which time
the City Manager is willing and able to perform her duties under this Agreement, the City
Council agrees to provide the City Manager with ninety (90) days written notice of
termination. Any termination without cause shall be a termination of employment in
good standing.
2. Severance Payment. In the event City Manager is terminated without cause, City
Manager shall be entitled to a severance payment in the amount of twelve months' base
salary and continuation of all existing health benefits for twelve months. If City Manager
finds other employment that provides health benefits and she qualifies to begin receiving
those health benefits, then the health benefits provided by the City shall terminate. The
foregoing salary and health benefits shall be referred to collectively as "Severance Pay."
Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall the total cash value of the Severance Pay
exceed the value of eighteen months' base salary.
3. In addition to the Severance Payment, City Manager upon termination without cause
shall also receive (1) the cash value of all vacation leave, (2) the cash value of unused
administrative leave, (3) the cash value of one-half of the accrued sick leave balance
and (4) cash value of unused floating holiday.
4. In exchange for the Severance Pay, the City Manager hereby expressly waives any right
she may have under any applicable law, City policy, or otherwise to appeal or grieve her
termination and the terms of this Agreement.
5. The above severance provisions are intended to comply with the provisions of
Government Code section 53260, et seq. Any severance payment under this Agreement
is also subject to the forfeiture or repayment provisions of Government Code section
53243, et seq.
6. Transition Waiting Period. During a period of one hundred and twenty (120) days
immediately following the date of installation of any person elected to the Council at a
regular or special City Election, or of any person newly appointed to the Council, the
Council shall take no action, whether immediate or prospective, to remove, suspend,
request the resignation of, or to reduce the salary or benefits of the City Manager.
7. Termination for Cause. In the event that it is determined that City Manager has been
terminated for cause, she shall not be entitled to any Severance Pay. Termination shall
be for "cause" only if City Manager: (i) is convicted of a felony that adversely affects her
reputation or the reputation of the City; (ii) engages in uncorrected drug or alcohol
abuse, (iii) has repeated and protracted unapproved absences; or (iv) engages in the
willful or insubordinate refusal to carry out a lawful directive of the •City Council, provided
that such directive was made in an open session meeting of the City Council and
repeated in at least one subsequent open session meeting. If City Manager is terminated
with cause, then City Manager shall receive upon termination (1) the cash value of all
vacation leave, (2) the cash value of unused administrative leave and (3) cash value of
unused floating holiday. In the event the City Manager is terminated with cause, then
the City Manager shall not be entitled to receive upon termination any payment for
accrued sick leave.
& In the event that City Manager is convicted of a crime involving an abuse of his office or
position, as defined in California Government Code section 53243.4, City Manager shall
be required to fully reimburse the City in accordance with California Government Code
sections 53243, 53243.1, 53243.2 and/or 53243.3.
9. Upon conviction of a covered felony under Government Code section 7522.72 or
7522.74, City Manager may forfeit benefits in accordance with those sections.
SECTION 5. RESIGNATION
1. City Manager may resign at any time with one hundred and twenty (120) days written
notice.
2. Resignation Resulting from City Breach of Agreement. If the City Manager resigns over
a material and uncorrected breach of this Agreement by the City, City Manager shall be
entitled to Severance Pay and (1) the cash value of all vacation leave, (2) the cash value
of unused administrative leave, (3) the cash value of one-half of the accrued sick leave
balance and (4) cash value of unused floating holiday. In such event, City Manager shall
first notify the City in writing of her intention to resign within 30 calendar days of when
she either knew or should have known with reasonable diligence of the acts or
omissions underlying her potential resignation. City Manager shall be entitled to
Severance Pay only if the City fails to correct said act or omission within 30 calendar
days of its receipt of said notice and if City Manager subsequently follows through with
her resignation. City Manager shall also be entitled to Severance Pay if the City
Manager resigns as a result of a request to resign by a majority of the City Council. Any
Severance Pay paid to City Manager under this Section shall be subject to all limitations
on the payment of Severance Pay set forth above.
3. Other Resignations. In the event City Manager resigns for any reason other than those
set forth in the Resignation Resulting from City Breach of Agreement provision, she shall
not be entitled to any Severance Pay.
SECTION 6. COUNCIL COMMITMENTS
1. City Council commits to participate in a duly noticed team building/strategic planning
workshop annually based upon the City's ability to fund.
2. City Council agrees, in concept, to an annual department head strategic planning
workshop. The details and costs of such a workshop will be handled in each annual
budget.
3. City Council commits to an appropriate employee incentive program, to be administered
by City Manager. Annually, funds shall be included in the budget to be used as
employee incentives at the direction of the City Manager.
SECTION 7. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
Upon prior approval of the City Council, City Manager may undertake outside professional
activities for compensation, as agreed to by the parties, which may include consulting, teaching,
training, speaking, and writing, of up to 10 hours per month, provided they do not otherwise
interfere with City Manager's normal duties and are done only during non-business hours,
personal leave, or holiday time and are not done with any existing vendors or contractors of the
City. Under no circumstances shall any outside activities, whether or not for compensation,
create a conflict of interest with the duties of the City Manager and the interests of the City.
SECTION 8. BENEFITS
1. In addition to the compensation set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, City Manager
shall be entitled to receive the same benefits as are accorded all other Executive City
management employees except as herein provided. City Manager shall be entitled to the
following benefits:
a. City Council shall engage in a review of the City Manager's performance annually
City Council and City Manager shall define such goals and performance
objectives which they determine necessary for the proper operation of the City in
the attainment of the City Council's policy objectives, and the City Council and
City Manager shall further establish a relative priority among those various goals
and objectives reduced to writing. These goals and objectives shall be obtainable
generally within the time limits as specified in the operating and capital budgets
and appropriations provided.
b. In addition to benefits described herein, City Manager shall be entitled to the
same benefits granted to Executive Management Positions, as set forth in the
Compensation Pian provided by the City's Personnel Rules and City Council
Resolution No. 2011-059, which may be repealed, replaced or amended by the
City Council. As used herein, benefits include, but are not limited to, vacation,
sick leave, stay well bonus, sick leave payback, personal leave, bereavement
leave, administrative leave [administrative leave to be taken at City Manager's
sole discretion], furlough program, holiday pay, retirement {PERS} benefits and
payments, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance,
Post Retirement Health Benefit for Executive Management, long-term disability
and education incentive pay. Accrual shall be at rates afforded other Executive
Management Employees. Instead of any life insurance benefits provided to
Executive Management, City Manager shall receive additional term-life insurance
with a death benefit of two times the annual salary of City Manager. City
Manager's medical payback is frozen consistent with the City's Executive
Management group.
C. City Manager must take a vacation for at least two consecutive weeks every
calendar year and the balance of her vacation days may be taken by City
Manager on days of her choice.
d. City Manager shall carry over all leaves of absence and benefits that accrued
during her prior positions with the City on an hour-for-hour basis. Any future
accrual of leaves of absence shall be subject to any rules set forth for other
executive management employees, which shall include, but is not limited to,
limitations on leave accrual. Effective June 27, 2013, Rachelle Rickard shall be
entitled to a pay out of 500 hours from her historic leave bank which has a
current balance of 749.61 hours using the salary base of her position as the
City's Director of Administrative Services which payment shall be included in the
pay period ending June 28, 2013.
e. The Sick Leave Payback provides that management and confidential employees
shall be paid for one-half of her accumulated Sick Leave when the employee
terminates employment in "good standing". Termination of the City Manager
without cause will be considered terminating employment in "good standing".
f. City will budget for and pay the travel and subsistence expenses of the City
Manager for official travel, meetings, professional development of the City
Manager and necessary official and other functions for the City, including, but not
limited to, national, regional, state, and local conferences, governmental groups,
and committees. City will budget and pay for necessary professional dues and
subscriptions to organizations, City shall reimburse City Manager for any
expenses incurred under this section 8f in accordance with the City's standard
purchasing policies.
g. City will also budget and pay for the maintenance of City Manager as a Certified
Public Accountant, which includes but is not limited to registration, travel and
subsistence for required continuing education requirements and biannual
licensing fees. City shall reimburse City Manager for any expenses incurred
under this section 8 g in accordance with the City's standard purchasing policies
up to an annual maximum of$1600.00.
h. City shall pay for City Manager's membership in, and for all fundraising "fines" as
may be assessed by a civic organization, dues and other costs associated with
City Manager's involvement in civic organizations, as requested by the City
Council,
i. City Manager shall receive five hundred dollars ($500.00) each month as an
automobile allowance. The allowance is in exchange for (1) City Manager
making available for her own use a personal automobile, and (2) for her use of
her personal automobile for City related business and/or functions during, before
and after normal work hours. City Manager is not precluded from using City
vehicles for City business during before, and after the normal work day. A City
vehicle will not be provided to City Manager for her exclusive use and no City
vehicle shall be utilized by City Manager for commuting purposes. City Manager
will be entitled to mileage reimbursement at standard rates for trips over two
hundred (200) miles.
SECTION 9. DEFERRED COMPENSATION
1. City Manager shall not receive any deferred compensation benefits set forth in City
Council Resolution No. 2011-059. This section 9 solely provides all deferred
compensation benefits to be provided to City Manager.
2. City agrees to contribute the maximum sum allowed by law into City Manager's 457
deferred compensation account with ICMA Retirement Corporation including any pre-
retirement incentives. Such contribution shall be pro-rated equally and shall be paid per
City practice across 24 pay-periods.
3. City shall pay a contribution equal to five percent (5%) of City Manager's base salary to
a tax deferred supplemental retirement plan (i.e 403b, 401a, or other similar plans) in
favor of City Manager. All contributions are fully vested in City Manager and shall not be
available to the City.
SECTION 10. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. This Agreement shall constitute the entire Agreement between the parties.
2. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, successors and assigns of City Manager.
3. In accordance with California Government Code section 53262, this Agreement shall
become effective upon the City Council's ratification in an open session, with the
minutes of the session reflecting such ratification.
4. This contract may be modified only in a writing ratified by the City Council in open
session and signed by all the parties.
5. The failure of any party to enforce against another party any provision of this Agreement
shall not constitute a waiver of that party's right to enforce such a provision at a later
time, and shall not serve to vary the terms of this Agreement.
6. in the event any portion of this Agreement is declared void, such portion shall be
severed from this Agreement and the remaining provisions shall remain in effect, unless
the result of such severance would be to substantially alter this Agreement or the
obligations of the parties, in which case this Agreement shall be immediately terminated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the above parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
CITY OF ATASCADER
BY: . ......Y'19--: -' J
Tom O'Malley,,Ma r Rad elle Rickard, Crty [Vana-ger
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Marcia McClure Torgerson, City C--Nler "�'