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Outstanding Job Performance Recognitions for Fiscal Year 2025 / 2026
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Meeting Date: August 5, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Dana Anderson / Human Resources
Phone Number: 310-253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agenda (07/31/2026); (Email) All City Staff (07/31/2026)
Department Approval: Dana Anderson, Chief Human Resources Officer (07/24/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
The attached memorandums detail recommendations from City departments for city-wide annual employee Outstanding Job Performance Recognition, which were approved by the City Manager, and award the following employees in accordance with Civil Service Rule 15.3 for their outstanding job performance during Fiscal Year 2025 / 2026.
City Attorney’s Office is awarding the following employees approved recognitions:
• Deputy City Attorney III Michael Cobden with three (3) working days off with pay;
• Paralegal Marcella Gray with three (3) working days off with pay.
City Manager’s Office is awarding the following employees approved recognition:
• Economic Development Project Manager Elizabeth Garcia with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award;
• Economic Development Project Manager Luis Gonzalez with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award;
• City Clerk Specialist Jacquelyn Gordon with two (2) working days off with pay;
• Senior Executive Assistant to the City Manager Janee Prieto with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award;
• Government and Legislative Affairs Coordinator Shelly Wolfberg with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Chief Human Resources Officer Dana Anderson with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Finance Department is awarding the following employees approved recognitions:
• Senior Management Analyst Punit Chokshi with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award;
• Associate Analyst James Lambert with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Accountant II Donald Washington with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Fire Department is awarding the following employees approved recognitions:
• Fire Captain Nicolas Mendes with one (1) working day off with pay; and
• Secretary Amber Solomon with one (1) working day off with pay.
Housing and Human Services Department is awarding the following employee an approved recognition:
• Case Manager / Outreach Worker Monique Montenegro with two (2) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Rent Stabilization Coordinator Shannon Louis with two (2) working days off with pay and $1000.00.
Human Resources Department is awarding the following employees approved recognition:
• Human Resources Analyst Ofelia Garcia with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Human Resources Technician Josseline with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Information Technology Department is awarding the following employees approved recognition:
• Senior Computer Programmer Analyst Gregory La Manna with two (2) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Information Systems Analyst Zoe Sandan with two (2) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department is awarding the following employees approved recognitions:
• Recreation and Community Services Coordinator Stephanie DaVall with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Recreation and Community Services Supervisor Daniella Gutierrez with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Planning and Development Department is awarding the following employees approved recognition:
• Planning and Development Director Emily Stadnicki with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award;
• Associate Planner Gabriela Silva with two (2) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Secretary Ruth Martin del Campo with two (2) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Police Department is awarding the following employees approved recognition:
• Police Officer Katlyn Stulp with three (3) working days off with pay and $500.00 cash award;
• Police Sergenat John Tropeano with three (3) working days off with pay and $500.00 cash award; and
• Police Officer Michael Miller with three (3) working days off with pay and $500.00 cash award.
Public Works Department is awarding the following employees approved recognitions:
• Street Lights Technician Alejandro Garcia with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award; and
• Mobility and Traffic Engineering Manager Andrew Maximous with three (3) working days off with pay and $1000.00 cash award.
Transportation Department is awarding the following employees approved recognition:
• Accountant II Robin Martin with a $1000.00 cash award.
The awards before you tonight are for public acknowledgement in accordance with Civil Service Rule 15.4.
The Human Resources Department staff will present a summary of these recognized employees in department order. Then, if applicable, the recognition tonight may include a brief summary of the employee’s outstanding job performance from any manager along with the opportunity for the employee to publicly accept the recognition.
AUTHORITY
15.3 Outstanding Job Performance Recognition Program:
a. Oral recognition by the appointing authority.
b. Written recognition by the appointing authority with copies to the employee and the Human Resources Department for placement in the employee’s personnel file.
c. City Council resolution commending the employee, i.e., City Council commendation.
d. Granting of up to three (3) working days off with pay.
e. Increase in compensation (step advancement within range prior to scheduled date or additional step beyond that scheduled).
f. Cash award, up to $1,000. Cash award will be taxable, non-PERSable and subject to available funds within the awarding department’s budget.
g. A combination of any of the recognition awards set forth above.
15.4 Procedures:
The appointing authority may recommend an employee for an outstanding job performance which meets the criteria of the program. The appointing authority shall prepare written recommendations and shall forward them to the City Manager for approval, disapproval, or modification. The recognition award and/or commendation (excluding oral and written recognition by the appointing authority) shall be forwarded to the Commission for public acknowledgment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026-08-05 - ATT 1 Merit Award Michael Cobden
2. 2026-08-05 - ATT 2 Merit Award Marcella Gray
3. 2026-08-05 - ATT 3 Merit Award Elizabeth Garcia
4. 2026-08-05 - ATT 4 Merit Award Luis Gonzalez
5. 2026-08-05 - ATT 5 Merit Award Jacquelyn Gordon
6. 2026-08-05 - ATT 6 Merit Award Janee Prieto
7. 2026-08-05 - ATT 7 Merit Award Shelly Wolfberg
8. 2026-08-05 - ATT 8 Merit Award Dana Anderson
9. 2026-08-05 - ATT 9 Merit Award Punit Chokshi
10. 2026-08-05 - ATT 10 Merit Award James Lambert
11. 2026-08-05 - ATT 11 Merit Award Donald Washington
12. 2026-08-05 - ATT 12 Merit Award Nicholas Mendes
13. 2026-08-05 - ATT 13 Merit Award Amber Solomon
14. 2026-08-05 - ATT 14 Merit Award Monique Montenegro
15. 2026-08-05 - ATT 15 Merit Award Shannon Louis
16. 2026-08-05 - ATT 16 Merit Award Ofelia Garcia
17. 2026-08-05 - ATT 17 Merit Award Josseline Hernandez
18. 2026-08-05 - ATT 18 Merit Award Gregory La Manna
19. 2026-08-05 - ATT 19 Merit Award Zoe Sandan
20. 2026-08-05 - ATT 20 Merit Award Stephanie DaVall
21. 2026-08-05 - ATT 21 Merit Award Daniella Gutierrez
22. 2026-08-05 - ATT 22 Merit Award Emily Stadnicki
23. 2026-08-05 - ATT 23 Merit Award Gabriela Silva
24. 2026-08-05 - ATT 24 Merit Award Ruth Martin del Campo
25. 2026-08-05 - ATT 25 Merit Award Katlyn Stulp
26. 2026-08-05 - ATT 26 Merit Award John Tropeano
27. 2026-08-05 - ATT 27 Merit Award Michael Miller
28. 2026-08-05 - ATT 28 Merit Award Alejandro Garcia
29. 2026-08-05 - ATT 29 Merit Award Andrew Maximous
30. 2026-08-05 - ATT 30 Merit Award Robin Martin