body,date,page,text,path
CivilServiceBoard,2007-07-11,1,"OF
of
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2007
1.
The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m.
2.
ROLL CALL: Board President Michael Robles-Wong, Avonnet Peeler, Michael Rich, Linda McHugh and
Executive Secretary Karen Willis.
ABSENT:
Member Roberto Rocha
STAFF PRESENT: Jill Kovacs, Senior Management Analyst, and Stacey Meier, Administrative Technician
I, Human Resources.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Pam Sibley, Frances Gong, Linda Justus, Terry Flippo and Alan Elnick
3.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the regular meeting of April 4, 2007 were presented for Board
approval. Member Rich moved to accept, Member Peeler seconded, and carried by a
4-0 vote.
4.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Member McHugh moved to accept the consent calendar, Member Peeler seconded and carried by a 4-0
vote.
SUMMARY REPORT FOR EXAMINATION ELIGIBLE LISTS AND CLASSIFICATIONS FOR THE
MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 2007.
4A.
ELIGIBLE LIST ESTABLISHED
DATE ESTABLISHED
EXAM NO.
Administrative Tech I
5/2/2007
207-31PR
Assistant Engineer (Traffic)
4/17/2007
206-561
CATV Network Engineer
5/24/2007
207-22
Communications Center Supervisor
4/16/2007
207-12
Development Manager
3/27/1997
207-24PR
Fleet Mechanic
5/4/2007
207-15
Junior Engineer
5/30/2007
207-36
Junior Engineer
6/22/2007
207-36
Line Working Supervisor
5/23/2007
207-20
Office Assistant
6/20/2007
207-39
Police Records Supervisor
4/17/2007
207-13
Public Safety Dispatcher (Lateral)
6/28/2007
207-29
Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry)
6/28/2007
207-28
Sales and Service Supervisor
6/7/2007
207-23
Senior Account Clerk
5/10/2007
207-21R
System Dispatcher
6/20/2007
207-25
Transportation Engineer
6/6/2007
207-33PR
4B.
ELIGIBLE LIST EXTENDED
DATE ESTABLISHED
EXAM NO.
Administrative Technician I (HR)
11/29/2006
206-70
Construction Inspector & Survey Supervisor
6/9/2006
206-22PR
Customer Service Representative
7/20/2006
206-09
Deputy City Attorney Il
5/31/2006
206-16
Library Technician (Volunteer Services)
1/30/2007
206-58",CivilServiceBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
CivilServiceBoard,2007-07-11,2,"City of Alameda
Page 2
Civil Service Board Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 11, 2007
Police Sergeant
11/14/2006
206-52PR
Program Specialist I/II (Int. Waste Mgmt Program)
1/25/2007
206-63
Program Specialist Il (Clean Water Program)
11/2/2006
206-48
Stock Clerk
2/28/2007
207-19
Supervising Librarian (Children's Services)
1/17/2007
206-49
Transportation Coordinator
1/5/2007
206-71
4C.
ELIGIBLE LIST EXPIREDICANCELLEDI
DATE ESTABLISHED
EXAM NO.
EXHAUSTED
Accounting Technician
12/15/2005
205-57
Junior Engineer
2/15/2007
206-64
Plan Check Engineer
2/16/2007
206-73
Police Lieutenant (Promotional)
7/6/2005
205-36PR
Police Officer (Academy Graduate)
2/26/2007
206-75
Police Officer (Lateral)
2/26/2007
206-74
PW Maintenance Team Leader (Plumbing)
11/2/2006
206-62PR
Recreation Program Coordinator
1/31/2007
206-68
Senior Electrical Engineer
2/1/2007
206-10PR
Supervising Librarian (Adult Services)
1/18/2007
206-50
4-D
LIST OF SPECIFICATIONS:
Information Technology Manager (Retitled and Revised)
Purchasing and Payables Coordinator (New)
Stock Clerk (Revised)
Transportation Engineer (Revised)
5.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
5-A Activity Report - Period of March 1, 2007 through May 31, 2007
Board Member Rich stated that there seemed to be a high number of probationary releases. Karen
Willis explained that it may be an indication of problems in the selection process or the candidate
who was chosen may not have been a good fit for the department. Board President Robles-Wong
stated that it seems as though the City is having retention issues with regard to Police and Fire
positions.
5-B
Reclassification - From Administrative Services Coordinator to Purchasing & Payables
Coordinator
Executive Secretary Karen Willis shared that the Purchasing and Payables Coordinator is a unique
classification. Member Rich asked if this reclassification was different from the previous one in the
Police department, and Karen Willis confirmed that it was. Member Peeler moved to accept the
reclassification, Member Rich seconded and carried by a 4 - 0 vote.
5-C
EMS Education Coordinator Correction, April 4, 2007 CSB Agenda, Item 4 - C
Jill Kovacs presented the EMS Education Coordinator eligible list which should have been cancelled
and not extended at the April 4, 2007 Civil Service Board meeting. Member Rich moved to accept
the change, Member McHugh seconded and carried by a 4 - 0 vote.
5-D
Civil Service Rules Review
Executive Secretary Willis shared that Human Resources sent a notice to the Bargaining Units, but
that they had not received anything back. Member Peeler questioned whether there had been a date",CivilServiceBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
CivilServiceBoard,2007-07-11,3,"City of Alameda
Page 3
Civil Service Board Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 11, 2007
listed in the letter as to when the Bargaining Units needed to respond, and Karen Willis confirmed
that there was. Board President Robles-Wong asked for input from members of the audience. Linda
Justus, ACEA President, stated that they were supposed to have received copies of the Civil Service
Rules that contained suggested changes, and that she was interested to see what changes the
Board wanted to make. Board President Robles-Wong shared that Member Peeler's copy of the
Rules had highlighted sections that she had questions about but did not include changes. Member
Rich stated that the reason the letter had been sent out was because the Board wanted input from
the Bargaining Units regarding things that needed to be changed or updated. Pam Sibley stated that
she had attended the meeting to hear about the proposed changes and that the Rules language
needed to be changed. Board Members, Rich, Robles-Wong and Peeler all agreed that the Board
intended the changes to be ""housekeeping"" to update outdated language, but that if something in the
Rules is wrong it needs to be changed. Board President Robles-Wong explained it was policy versus
procedure. Member Rich stated that the Board's role is to maintain the Civil Service System, not to
be change agents. Board President Robles-Wong stated that if an issue was procedural, any rule
related questions should go to Administration. Executive Secretary Karen Willis stated that the
process would be for Human Resources to send recommended changes to the Bargaining Units and
ask for their input, and would then bring those changes back to the Civil Service Board.
6.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA (PUBLIC COMMENT)
Alan Elnick shared with the Board that there had recently been a reassignment of a non-confidential
classification that currently existed within one Bargaining Unit, to a confidential position within another
Bargaining Unit. He stated that this reassignment had caused a reduction in force for the original
Bargaining Unit. Karen Willis stated that there had not been a reduction in force because it provided
another opportunity for the person who had held the reassigned position. Alan Elnick stated that the
person had to compete for the position with other applicants. If the incumbent had not been hired into the
new position they would have in turn, been laid off. He also stated that the position had in fact been
removed from Alameda City Employees Association. Karen Willis stated that there was a memorandum
sent to the Bargaining Units regarding the change and that Human Resources did not receive a response.
She also stated that the department had requested the change because the position had become
confidential. Linda Justus stated that she did not agree with the exam process and the new probation
period for a person who had already been doing that job. Board President Robles-Wong stated that there
are Bargaining Unit requirements under State and Federal law and that the City has responsibility as to its
part of those requirements. Alan Elnick stated that the person had been promoted into a new position with
a one year probation and that person could be eliminated at any time with in that period, and that because
the previous classification had been eliminated there was now no position for the promoted person to fall
back on. He also shared that he was concerned about the situation under the current Rules. Member Rich
stated that the Civil Service system has rules and management has discretion as to how to administer
these rules. Some of these things may affect areas that are bargainable. Board President Robles-Wong
asked Mr. Elnick if he thought there should be a new rule throwing everything open to competitive exam or
was there specific language he would like to propose. Member Rich asked Mr. Elnick if he thought a rule
was not applied correctly or if the rule is flawed. Mr. Elnick responded that he was not sure. Member Rich
stated that the rules do not say that no one gets laid off. Member Rich suggested something be prepared
for review. Executive Secretary Willis advised Mr. Elnick to submit a letter from Alameda City Employees
Association to include in the next Civil Service Board Packet which will go out one week before the
meeting, and Mr. Elnick in turn agreed to do so.
Pam Sibley stated that employees never know when to expect a reclassification or an exam, and that there
is no protection in the screen-to-list process. She also stated that the Civil Service Rules are great but the
interpretation is muddy. Board President Robles-Wong asked her to put her comments in writing so that
the Board has something to look at in order to better understand. He also asked that Human Resources
send a strikeout copy of the Rules to the Bargaining Units and requested that the Agenda for the next Civil
Service Meeting include reviewing the current Rules page by page, as well as to vote for a new set of Civil",CivilServiceBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
CivilServiceBoard,2007-07-11,4,"City of Alameda
Page 4
Civil Service Board Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 11, 2007
Service Officers.
7.
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD COMMUNICATIONS (COMMUNICATIONS FROM BOARD)
Board President Robles-Wong shared that this would be his last meeting due to the fact that his term was
now up. Member Rich stated that he wished to thank Board President Robles-Wong and Karen Willis
shared that staff would miss him. All thanked him for his time that he served on the Board.
8.
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD COMMUNICATIONS (COMMUNICATIONS FROM STAFF)
Executive Secretary Willis thanked the Board Members for attending the Board appreciation breakfast.
10.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Willis
Human Resources Director &
Executive Secretary to the Civil Service Board",CivilServiceBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
LibraryBoard,2007-07-11,1,"CITY
OF
TERKA
Minutes of the
ALAMEDA FREE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
July 11, 2007
The regular meeting of the Alameda Free Library Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Karen Butter, President
Ruth Belikove, Vice President
Leslie Krongold, Board Member
Alan Mitchell, Board Member
Mike Hartigan, Board Member
Absent:
None
Staff:
Jane Chisaki, Library Director
Marsha Merrick, Recording Secretary
President Butter welcomed new member Hartigan, saying it was really nice to have a colleague
who helped build the Library join the Board. The Board looks forward to Member Hartigan's
help as they move ahead with renovating the branches and planning Library services for the
future.
President Butter made mention of the recent death of Archie Waterbury, long-time Library
supporter. He will be sorely missed by the community, and especially missed at the Friends
book sales. The Board will honor the memory of Mr. Waterbury as the meeting adjourns with a
moment of silence.
CONSENT CALENDAR
An asterisk indicates items so enacted and adopted on the Consent Calendar.
A.
*Report from Library Director highlighting Library Department activities for the month
of July 2007. Accepted.
B.
*Draft Minutes of the Regular Library Board meeting of June 13, 2007. Approved.
C.
*Library Services Report for the month of May 2007. Accepted.
D.
*Report from Finance Department reflecting FY 2006-07 Library expenditures (by fund)
through June 2007. Accepted.
E.
*Bills for ratification. Approved.",LibraryBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
LibraryBoard,2007-07-11,2,"Page 2 of 5
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
July 11, 2007
President Butter questioned the June meeting minutes where a decision had been made that
Director Chisaki would report for Board Member Mitchell in his absence. Prior to that meeting,
Member Mitchell had requested a leave of absence from the Library Board, and it was assumed
he would not attend the Foundation meetings either. Because Director Chisaki attends these
meetings herself, she would report to the Board on Foundation activities.
President Butter mentioned the continued decline in checkouts at the branches. Vice President
Belikove reiterated that it would be helpful to have some books on display to draw patron
interest. Director Chisaki indicated that it is hard to do that at the branches because there really
is no extra space. The shelving is lower in the children's area, so there are always books
displayed on the tops of those shelves. Vice President Belikove believes that displaying books
on top of the shelving would add a certain warmth to the library as well.
President Butter asked for a motion to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. Member
Mitchell so moved; Member Krongold seconded the motion which carried by a 5-0 vote.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA (Public Comment)
Audience member Marc Lambert asked if the Board had approved the Library's policy that all
patrons must have their library card in order to use library services, particularly to access the
Internet on the computers. Director Chisaki responded that it was merely a procedural issue, and
did not go before the Board for approval. Furthermore, notices that library cards would be
required had gone out for a month prior to this procedure being instituted.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A.
Strategic Planning Consultant Responses (J. Chisaki)
President Butter asked Director Chisaki to cite the history of this subject for the benefit of
new member Hartigan. After a brief explanation, Chisaki went on to say that the re-
released RFP was out on the Library website, and would be advertised in upcoming
issues of the Library Hotline. The new due date for RFP responses is September 28;
proposal evaluation and candidate interviews will occur approximately the third week of
October, with an expected award date coming by the end of the month. Ideally, the
whole process should be wrapped up by early spring.
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Nomination and Election of Officers (K. Butter)
President Butter opened the floor for nominations. Member Mitchell nominated Butter
for Board President, however, she declined wanting to give someone else a chance at the
position. Butter asked Member Krongold if she was interested in the nomination and she
agreed. The Board voted unanimously to elect Member Krongold as the new President.",LibraryBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
LibraryBoard,2007-07-11,3,"Page 3 of 5
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
July 11, 2007
Member Butter asked Vice President Belikove if she would like to continue in her role
and she declined. Member Mitchell then nominated Member Butter for the Vice
President position, and she agreed. The Board voted unanimously to elect Member
Butter as the Board's Vice President. Incoming President Krongold encouraged outgoing
President Butter to continue to lead the rest of the meeting.
B.
Across the Pages: An Alameda Community Reads (A. Meyer)
Supervising Librarian Annemarie Meyer was in attendance to report on this upcoming
event. During the months of February, March and April 2008, a community reading
program will occur. The books chosen are ""Bee Season"" for adults, ""A View from
Saturday"" for children, with a third title for in-between readers yet to be selected. There
will be community programs around the topics of the books, perhaps a community-wide
spelling bee. Unfortunately, the author of ""Bee Season"", Myla Goldberg, has declined to
come out and speak, so Member Belikove suggested that video-conferencing might be an
option. Ms. Meyer will check into that possibility. Books will be handed out around
town in the first or second week of February with a wrap-up program scheduled for the
third week in April. A press release will be sent out closer to the program's start date.
C.
Alameda Free Library Foundation (J. Chisaki)
Director Chisaki reported that the Foundation is in the process of trying to formulate a
budget plan. They again talked about the green touch screen for the Library, and would
like to have Chisaki make her proposal to the Bechtel Foundation first as an alternative
funding source. The Ann Miller Muir Art Fund Silent Auction to raise money for the two
unfunded Library art pieces is scheduled for Sunday, August 5 at the Main Library. New
Foundation officers are Ben Reyes, President and Luzanne Engh, Vice President-
President Elect.
D.
Friends of the Alameda Free Library (D. Fullerton)
Director Chisaki said that the Friends are also formulating a budget for this new year.
Money raised for the Main Library is under discussion on whether funds remaining might
be used for branch work. Income from the book sales is currently steady, however, the
amount of money the Library asks for each year exceeds the amount coming in, so that is
a concern. The Café is still going strong and making money, and their neon sign is due in
soon. The Friends will have a meeting the following Monday.
E.
Alameda Free Library Newsletter (M. Merrick)
The main focus of the recent newsletter had been upcoming events, with one article
relaying the need for volunteers to sit on the Art Exhibit Committee. Recording
Secretary Merrick indicated that the newsletter should be on a regular release schedule",LibraryBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
LibraryBoard,2007-07-11,4,"Page 4 of 5
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
July 11, 2007
around the end of each month now. Member Butter wondered whether a new logo should
be developed for the newsletter, instead of using the library rendering.
Director Chisaki shared that Expressions College is currently working on developing an
Alameda Free Library logo for our use. It is just in the beginning stages, and staff is
seeing the rough drafts at this point. Everyone is looking forward to ""branding"" our
library and getting that brand out into the public eye, so putting it on the newsletter will
work very well.
F.
Patron suggestions/comments (Speak-Outs) and Library Director's response.
Director Chisaki was unable to find the speak-outs she had put in her binder so they will
be brought to the board at the August meeting.
LIBRARY BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
President Krongold was curious about what types of programs could be made available to adults
at the branches in order to increase door count. One of the big name narrators in audio book
recording had been scheduled to come, but backed out at the last minute. Author programs
might be an option but they are not a big draw. Audience member Marc Lambert commented
that unfortunately the only things that will bring more people through the door are more
computers. Director Chisaki shared that she now has a load of information on laptop lending and
intends to move forward with that idea.
Vice President Belikove commented that she had requested several books to be on reserve and
they are all coming in at the same time now. What wasn't working well before is now working a
little too well. Director Chisaki explained that the acquisitions department sends out new book
orders every week. Fiction, non-fiction and children's books are now all in one cart.
DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS
The Library is starting to receive letters of interest for sitting on the Art Exhibit Committee, so
these will be copied and put in the next board packet for review. Candidate selections could
potentially be made at the August meeting. Director Chisaki has been sending out the exhibit
policy and procedures to interested parties as she receives inquiries.
Summer reading is almost halfway through, and there are over 1,400 children participating. The
Supervising Children's Librarian has started movie afternoons on Thursdays, and there was a
very successful puppet show the previous day. A gaming program called ""Active Afternoons @
the Alameda Free Library"" will start on August 1.
The library is looking at statistics and use of the building so open hours might be adjusted. Other
libraries of comparative size are being surveyed for staffing levels, such as how many full-time
versus part-time staff there is; do the part-time people get any benefits (ours do not), etc. Chisaki",LibraryBoard/2007-07-11.pdf
LibraryBoard,2007-07-11,5,"Page 5 of 5
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
July 11, 2007
would like to increase full-time staff and decrease part-time staff to have a more consistent work
schedule. The board will stay informed as this project moves forward.
ADJOURNMENT
A moment of silence was shared in memory of Archie Waterbury, then Member Butter asked for
a motion to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. Member Mitchell so moved; Member Krongold seconded the
motion which carried by a 5-0 vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Chisaki
Library Director and
Secretary to the Library Board
This meeting's agenda was posted 72 hours in advance in accordance with the Brown Act.",LibraryBoard/2007-07-11.pdf