Agenda Item Wording:
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Revised salary schedule and employment terms update -Adopt the revised salary schedule for full-time employees, City Manager, and City Council members of the City of Visalia and authorize changes to terms and conditions of employment by and between the City of Visalia and City Manager.
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Agenda Date: 06/01/2026
Prepared by: Amy Powell, Human Resources Manager, Amy.Powell@visalia.gov, (559)713-4575;
Rachel Archer, Management Analyst HR/Risk, Rachel.Archer@visalia.gov, (559)713-4417;
Shonna Oneal, Administrative Services Director, Shonna.Oneal@visalia.gov, (559)713-4053
Department Recommendation: Authorize changes to terms and conditions of employment by and between the City of Visalia and City Manager and adopt the revised salary schedule for full-time employees, City Manager, and City Council members of the City of Visalia effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2026.
Summary:
The attached 6th Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement reflects a 4% increase effective the pay period including July 1, 2026, and the updated salary schedule reflects a 4% salary increase for all full-time employees and the City Manager, effective the pay period including July 1, 2026. This increase consists of the originally approved 2% adjustment and an additional 2% increase triggered by the City’s General Fund sales tax revenues. Although the additional 2% increase was initially scheduled to take effect in October 2026, both adjustments could be implemented concurrently as a single 4% increase effective July 2026. City Council salaries are included for transparency and compliance purposes and remain unchanged.
The schedule also includes classification and reclassification changes approved by the City Manager during the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Additionally, new classifications, including Senior Code Enforcement Officer, Building Official, and Parts Specialist, have been added as part of the 2026/2027 budget and are reflected in the updated salary schedule.
Background Discussion:
CalPERS requires that public agency salary schedules be approved and adopted by the governing body in accordance with applicable public meeting laws. Additionally, salary schedules must be publicly available and include compensation for executive positions, including the City Manager, as well as elected officials.
The City Council previously authorized a 2% salary increase for full-time employees to take effect the pay period that includes July 1, 2026. In addition, labor agreements included a provision for an extra 2% salary increase if the City’s General Fund sales tax revenues met or exceeded $46.6 million. This revenue threshold was achieved, triggering the additional 2% increase.
While the additional 2% increase was originally scheduled to take effect during the first pay period of October 2026, the proposed action would instead implement the full 4% adjustment effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2026.
Advancing the effective date of the additional increase would provide employees with earlier relief from ongoing inflationary and cost-of-living impacts, while also supporting the City’s continued efforts to remain competitive within the regional labor market.
Implementing the additional 2% increase ahead of schedule will result in a one-time personnel cost increase of approximately $466,778 during Fiscal year 2026/2027, including approximately $292,417 from the General Fund. Sufficient funding for this increase has been identified within the proposed budget. Approval of this action will also require an amendment to the City Manager’s Employment Agreement to reflect the revised compensation adjustments.
Leslie Caviglia was appointed City Manager on August 28, 2021 and entered into an Employment Agreement on September 4, 2021. Pursuant to Section 3(A) of the Employment Agreement, the City may periodically adjust the City Manager’s salary during the term of the agreement. Historically, the Council has authorized compensation and benefit adjustments for the City Manager comparable to those approved for the unrepresented department head bargaining group.
The City Council previously authorized the 2% salary increase for the department head bargaining group effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2026, along with a 2% increase effective October 2026, contingent upon achievement of the sales tax target. Approval of this Sixth Amendment to the City’s Manager’s terms and conditions of employment would provide the City Manager with the same compensation adjustments on the same schedule.
Throughout the 2025/2026 fiscal year, the City Manager also approved various classification changes to support operational needs; additionally, new classifications, including Senior Code Enforcement Officer, Building Official, and Parts Specialist, have been added as part of the 2026/2027 budget and are reflected in the updated salary schedule.
City Council salaries are set by Municipal Code and may only be adjusted at the beginning of a new term of office. The most recent adjustment occurred in November 2024 for newly elected Council Members.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: Accelerated implementation of the 2% increase triggered by General Fund sales tax revenues meeting or exceeding $46.6 million will result in one-time increased personnel costs in the 2026/2027 Fiscal Year totaling approximately $466,778. Sufficient funding for this increase has been identified within the budget. City Manager annual rate will change from $258,137 to $268,462 and experience pay from $20,651 to 21,477. The accelerated one-time cost for City Manager is included in the amount above.
Prior Council Action: June 16, 2025
Alternatives: Wait to implement the additional 2% increase until the first pay period of October 2026.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Recommended Motion: I move to authorize changes to terms and conditions of employment by and between the City of Visalia and City Manager and adopt the revised salary schedule for full-time employees, City Manager, and City Council members of the City of Visalia and proceed with the 4% negotiated increase effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2026.
Alternative Motion: I move to adopt the revised salary schedule for full-time employees, City Manager, and City Council members of the City of Visalia with the 2% negotiated increase effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2026 and another 2% increase, triggered by General Fund sales tax revenues meeting or exceeding $46.6 million, effective the first pay period in October 2026 and authorize changes to terms and conditions of employment by and between the City of Visalia and City Manager.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 07/01/2026
Attachments: City Manager Sixth contract amendment; Salary Schedule (Job Classifications and Salary Ranges)
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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