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Scheduling a Closed Hearing Appeal of a Grievance Decision
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Meeting Date: October 7, 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: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas - Civil Service Commission (09/30/26); (Email) All City Staff (09/30/26)
Department Approval: Dana Anderson, Chief Human Resources Officer (09/25/26)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Civil Service Commission (Commission) schedule a closed hearing for an appeal of a grievance decision and calendar dates for the closed grievance appeal hearing including deliberation date(s).
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On September 2, 2026, the Commission heard the Request for a Closed Hearing Appeal of a Grievance Decision and voted unanimously, 5 - 0, to hear the matter pursuant to Civil Service Rules, Rule 12.5 b. (4). Upon reviewing the possible dates to schedule the closed hearing, it was decided to hold the calendaring of closed grievance hearing dates at the Commission’s regular meeting of October 7, 2026, as the Commission and staff would have a clearer picture of calendar availability by that date.
The Commission will review its calendar along with staff’s availability and the Grievant and City Department’s (the parties) availability, to schedule two to three dates for the requested closed grievance hearing. These dates will be to conduct the hearing, as the parties anticipate the hearing to take two full days, and to hold an additional date for the Commission to begin their deliberations. The Commissioners should have their calendars available to review during the meeting and staff is prepared with their availability.
At the September 2, 2026, regular meeting, the Commission completed its review of the administrative record. The staff report (Attachment 1) is included as reference for background. Following its review, the Commission gathered information from the parties about the anticipated hearing length and possible number of witnesses. The Grievant and City Department anticipates a total of one hearing day each along with three to four witnesses each, and it was unknown at the time if the witnesses are joint witnesses.
AUTHORITY
According to Civil Service Rule 12.2, any permanent classified employee may file a grievance concerning claims that the City has violated, misinterpreted or misapplied an obligation to the employee as such obligation is expressed and written in the Memorandum of Understanding. Further, Civil Service Rules, Rule 12.5 b. (4) iii., Rule 12.9, and Rule 12.12 provide authority to the Civil Service Commission, upon majority vote, to schedule a hearing to review the appeal; adjudicate an appeal without a hearing, at its discretion; or appoint a grievance hearing officer or board to conduct the grievance hearing and make findings and recommendations if it finds and determines that “the use of a grievance hearing officer or board shall be based on a reasonable determination that it would benefit the City and the grievant to ensure the expeditious completion of the grievance hearing process.”
The Chair and Commissioners should have their calendars available to schedule the grievance hearing dates.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with the scheduling of dates for a grievance hearing.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026 10 07_ATT 1_Consideration of a Request for a Closed Hearing Appeal of a Grievance Decision Staff Report from September 2, 2026 Regular Meeting
Recommended Action
MOTION
That the Civil Service Commission:
1. Schedule dates to conduct a closed hearing appeal of a grievance decision, pursuant to Civil Service Rules, Rule 12.5 b (4) iii. a).