TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Diego Chavez, Administrative Services Director
PREPARED BY: Michelle Tamez, Human Resources Analyst
SUBJECT:
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Third Amendment and Restatement of the Comprehensive Pay Schedule Fiscal Year 2026/27, Updating the Schedule of Authorized Positions for Fiscal Year 2026/27, and Adopting Classification Specifications
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ABSTRACT
The City Council is being asked to consider adopting a Third Amended and Restated Comprehensive Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026/27, approving an updated Schedule of Authorized Positions, and adopting related classification specifications. The proposed changes include new Emergency Services Manager and Traffic Signal and Lighting Superintendent classifications, an increased pay range for the Administrative Manager, and related staffing adjustments. The updates are intended to keep the City’s pay schedule, authorized positions, and classification structure aligned with current organizational and operational needs.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 26-4980 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Adopting the Third Amended and Restated Comprehensive Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026/27; and
Approve the Updated Schedule of Authorized Positions; and
Adopt Classification Specifications.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On June 16, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-4949, Approving the Comprehensive Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026/27 and approving the Updated Schedule of Authorized Positions (Vote: 5-0).
On July 7, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-4955, Approving the Amending and Restating the Comprehensive Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026/27 and approving the Updated Schedule of Authorized Positions (Vote: 5-0).
On October 6, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-4973, Adopting the Second Amended and Restated Comprehensive Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026/27; approved the Updated Schedule of Authorized Positions; and adopted Classification Specifications (Vote: 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
This item aligns with the City Council goal to maintain a high performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability and organizational efficiency.
DISCUSSION
Amended and Restated Pay Schedule
The City of Murrieta (City) maintains a Comprehensive Pay Schedule (Pay Schedule) that is periodically presented to the City Council for review and consideration. According to the City’s Personnel Rules (Resolution No. 91-64), the City Manager recommends adjustments to the Pay Schedule as compensation is adjusted and negotiated, and job classifications are created or revised.
The proposed Resolution No. 26-4980 (Attachment 1) amends and restates the Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 previously adopted under Resolution No. 26-4949, and most recently amended by the adoption of Resolution No. 26-4973. The changes to the Pay Schedule are described in more detail below.
New Classifications and Pay Ranges
• Emergency Services Manager - The Emergency Services Manager classification is proposed to be created and added with a pay range of $131,138.57 - $159,399.76 annually. The Emergency Services Manager is a reclassification of the existing Disaster Preparedness Coordinator classification. The proposed Emergency Services Manager will serve as the City’s principal emergency management official, managing the City’s emergency management program. The classification will direct the City’s emergency plans, serve as Emergency Operations Center Manager during activations, and manage the program budget, State and federal emergency management grants, and disaster cost recovery. The bargaining unit allocation and the meet-and-confer process are complete, and the classification will be allocated to the unrepresented Management, Professional, and Confidential Employees’ (MPC) Compensation & Benefits Plan. If the new classification is approved, the Disaster Preparedness Coordinator classification will be removed from the Pay Schedule, the MPC Compensation & Benefits Plan, and the Schedule of Authorized Positions.
• Traffic Signal and Lighting Superintendent - The Traffic Signal and Lighting Superintendent classification is proposed to be created and added with a pay range of $105,527.55 - $128,269.39 annually. This classification would provide dedicated supervisory oversight of the City’s Traffic Signal and Lighting Maintenance Program within the Municipal Services Department. The Superintendent plans, organizes, and supervises the installation, maintenance, repair, and operation of the City’s traffic signals, street lighting, park lighting, and related electrical and communication infrastructure. Creating a dedicated classification ensures that the City’s signal and lighting infrastructure, which is critical to public safety, is reliably maintained and subject to clear supervisory accountability. The bargaining unit allocation and the meet-and-confer process are complete, and the classification will be allocated to the Murrieta Supervisors’ Association.
Pay Range Increase To Existing Classification
• Administrative Manager - The pay range for the Administrative Manager classification is being increased from $120,500.95 - $146,469.64 to $131,138.57 - $159,399.76, annually. The classification has been on the City’s pay schedule since 2022. It is covered by the Management, Professional, and Confidential Employees’ Compensation and Benefits Plan, but until now it has had no adopted class specification. The specification presented for adoption at this meeting defines the class as the manager responsible for all administrative and fiscal support for an operating department. That covers budget development and administration, grant administration and compliance, contract and procurement administration, cost recovery, departmental personnel administration, and records management. The Administrative Manager reports to the department head, serves as the department head’s main advisor on administrative and fiscal matters, and directly supervises professional analytical and administrative support staff.
Schedule of Authorized Positions
New positions, staffing changes, position reclassifications, and title corrections are periodically necessary to ensure the City's organizational structure accurately reflects operational needs and prior City Council actions. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed updated Schedule of Authorized Positions for Fiscal Year 2026/27 (Attachment 2).
The City Council most recently updated the FY 2026/27 Schedule of Authorized Positions on October 6, 2026. The proposed update to the Schedule of Authorized Positions reflects changes not previously approved by the City Council. The update includes adding one (+1) Emergency Services Manager, one (+1) Traffic Signal and Lighting Superintendent, and one (+1) Administrative Manager, while removing one (-1) Disaster Preparedness Coordinator and one (-1) Senior Management Analyst. These changes result in a net increase of one (+1) authorized Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) position.
Presenting the updated Schedule of Authorized Positions concurrently with the Comprehensive Pay Schedule ensures both documents remain accurate and consistent with the City’s currently authorized positions and approved classification pay ranges.
Classification Specifications
In addition to amending the Pay Schedule and updating the Schedule of Authorized Positions, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the classification specifications for the Emergency Services Manager (Attachment 3), Traffic Signal and Lighting Superintendent (Attachment 4), and Administrative Manager (Attachment 5).
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
The budgetary impact of the amended and restated pay schedule will be incorporated into the FY 2026/27 Second Quarter Operating Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Resolution No. 26-4980
ATT 2 - FY 2026/27 Schedule of Authorized Positions
ATT 3 - Emergency Services Manager - Classification Specification
ATT 4 - Traffic Signal and Lighting Superintendent - Classification Specification
ATT 5 - Administrative Manager - Classification Specification