TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Quinn Barrow, City Attorney
SUBJECT:Title
Employment Agreement with New City Manager (City Attorney Barrow).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the attached three year employment agreement with Mark Danaj.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The contract provides for an annual salary of $250,000 as well as medical benefits, deferred compensation, automobile allowance and other fringe benefits. These costs are provided for in the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget.
The agreement also provides the framework for a housing assistance package which will be approved separately.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council has worked the past few months with Teri Black & Co. to recruit the best candidate to serve as the City Manager for Manhattan Beach. After a comprehensive search and screening process, the City Council has selected Mark Danaj to serve in this capacity.
Mr. Danaj currently serves as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Fremont, California. Prior to joining the City of Fremont, Danaj was a member of the senior staff of the San Jose, serving as Human Resources Director and team lead of the Strategic Support City Service Area. In San Jose, he facilitated the service-delivery outcomes, performance measures, and budget development of five city departments. Before coming to California, Danaj served as an Assistant County Administrator and in a variety of department head roles for Lake County, a large suburban county in the northern Chicago area.
Mr. Danaj holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Marquette University. He is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School's Senior Executives in State and Local Government program and is a credentialed City Manager by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Contract Highlights
Attachment #1 is the recommended employment agreement. The contract includes the following major provisions:
- Monthly salary of $20,833.33 ($250,000 annually)
- CalPERS retirement plan - 2% @ 55
- Annual City contribution of $17,500 to a 401(a) deferred compensation plan
- General leave (combined vacation and sick leave) of 280 hours per year with a credit of 160 hours to start
- Group medical consistent with that offered to the management/confidential employees (currently the City pays 95% of the PERS Choice plan premium at the level enrolled).
- Auto allowance of $400 per month
- Annual City contribution of 2% of salary to a retirement health savings account
- Temporary housing allowance of $3,500 per month for 3 months
- Severance (12-18 months based on tenure)
In addition, the City will provide housing assistance (loan) in order for Mr. Danaj to reside in the community. The basic terms and conditions are set forth in the employment agreement. A separate agreement for the loan will be considered and approved by the City Council separately at a later date.
Mr. Danaj will commence employment with the City on Monday, July 7, 2014.
CONCLUSION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the proposed employment agreement with Mark Danaj.
Attachment:
1. Employment Agreement