Brief

The Mayor submitted a request on May 14, 2026, seeking an exemption from civil service requirements to hire an Assistant Chief Grants Administrator for the Economic and Workforce Development Department. This type of exemption allows the Mayor to bypass standard competitive hiring procedures for certain positions. The Personnel and Hiring Committee waived consideration of the item on May 21, 2026. The exemption request remains open and does not expire until May 14, 2028.

Full summary

Mayor Karen Bass is requesting City Council approval to exempt one Assistant Chief Grants Administrator position at the Economic and Workforce Development Department from civil service requirements, under City Charter Section 1001(b). That charter provision allows up to 150 city positions to be exempt from civil service as management, professional, scientific, or expert roles. With 130 already approved and 2 pending, this request would bring the total to 133. The stated rationale is that exempting the position gives the department flexibility to recruit and hire the most qualified candidate with the specialized background the role demands. The position carries significant responsibility: the Assistant Chief Grants Administrator leads oversight and implementation of the city's economic development and jobs creation strategy, including the Jobs and Economic Development Incentive Zones program (JEDI), the Small Business Commission, and the day-to-day operations of the department's Business Assistance Team. The role requires at least two years of supervisory experience at the Senior Management Analyst level in employment, training, housing, community development, or related fields. Mayor Bass reviewed the request alongside the Personnel Department and approved it before transmitting it to the City Council for final action, as required by Charter Section 1001(b)(1). The mayor's approval carries a six-month clock: if the exempt position is not filled within that window, her authorization to fill it may expire. The Personnel and Hiring Committee waived consideration of the item on May 21, 2026, meaning it did not take up the matter for debate or a formal vote, allowing it to move forward without committee action. The file remains open and awaits full Council disposition.

Activity (3)

• 2026-05-21 Personnel and Hiring Committee waived consideration of item .
• 2026-05-14 Mayor document(s) referred to Personnel and Hiring Committee.
• 2026-05-14 Document submitted by Mayor, dated May 14, 2026.

Documents (1)

• 2026-05-14 Report from Mayor · report