Pursuant to the provisions of Division 5, Chapter 1, Articles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Government Code of the state, whereby authority is granted to the legislative body of any city within the state to adopt a personnel, merit or civil service system, the city council adopts the following civil service system for the city.
(Prior code § 2-300)
In addition to establishing a civil service system, this chapter, Chapter 2.18 and Chapters 2.32. through 2.52 provide for working conditions, vacation and sick leave policies, responsibilities of officers and employees, and the integrated duties and responsibilities of the various governmental departments and divisions within the city.
(Prior code § 2-301)
This chapter, Chapter 2.18 and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52 shall be known and cited as the official civil service ordinance of the city.
(Prior code § 2-302)
"Advancement"
means a salary increase within the limits of the pay range established for a class as determined by the city council.
"Allocation"
means the assignment of a single position to its proper class in accordance with the duties performed, and the authority and responsibilities exercised.
"Applicant"
means a person who has submitted an application to take a civil service examination, or one who has applied for a position within the classified service of the city.
"Appointing officer or appointing power"
means the officer, commission, board or governmental body having power of appointment, or election to or removal from any position in the classified service.
"Armed forces"
means the United States Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Revenue Marine Service and the Army and Navy Nurse Corps.
"Board"
means the board of review, civil service commission, or personnel board established pursuant to Chapter 2.18.
"Civil service commission"
means the personnel board, civil service board and commission established by Chapter 2.18 to administer the provisions contained in Chapter 2.18, this chapter and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52.
"Class"
means a group of positions sufficiently similar with respect to duties and responsibilities that the same title may reasonably and fairly be used to designate each position allocated to the class and that the same minimum qualifications may be required.
"Classified service"
means the positions and employments occupied by officers and employees which may hereafter be included in this personnel system through legislative enactment by the city council.
"Demotion"
means a change in employment status from one position to another having a lower maximum rate of pay or a change in duties which are allocable to a class having a lower maximum rate of pay.
"Department"
means a divisional branch composed of classes of employees wherein heterogeneous activities of the classes reasonably and fairly warrant their combination and the administration of duties and responsibilities are under one supervisory officer.
"Department head"
means the chief executive officer or employee of a designated department having supervisory duties and responsibilities in the administration of the functions of that department.
"Eligible"
means a person who may be appointed to a vacant position in the classified service because of successful qualifications under the provisions of Chapter 2.18, this chapter and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52.
"Eligible list"
means a list of names of persons who have qualified for a position in the classified service under the provisions of Chapter 2.18, this chapter and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52 and thereafter ranked and classed according to the score attained.
"Employee"
means a person holding a position in the classified service responsible for the carrying out of proprietary functions as distinguished from governmental functions and ordinarily a subordinate of a responsible officer.
Examination.
a. 
"Assembled examination" means a test conducted at a specific time and place under the supervision of an examiner, competitive in nature, for the purpose of determining the qualifications and ability of an applicant. Assembled examinations include the following types, such as open competitive, departmental promotional, and interdepartmental promotional.
b. 
"Unassembled examination" means a test consisting of an appraisal of training, experience, work history, education or any other means for evaluating other relative qualifications of applicants without the necessity for a personal appearance at a specified place for a test, competitive in nature, although it may be required for the applicant to appear for oral interview. Unassembled examinations include the following types, such as labor registration, noncompetitive, scientific and professional.
"Lateral entry"
means the initial employment by the city of a person who is employed or has recently been employed in a like or similar position in another governmental agency or private firm, thereby providing the city with an employee who is experienced and/or certificated, licensed or otherwise possesses special credentials. The determination of like or similar position, experience, training, certification, licensing or other special credentials, and all other relevant factors regarding lateral entry, shall solely be determined by the civil service commission, whose decision shall be final and absolute. The determination to engage in lateral entry recruitment shall only be made by the city council and then only upon a finding made by them that it is in the interests of efficiency and economy for the city.
"Military leave"
means the leave of absence status of a permanent employee who leaves a permanent position to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States in time of national emergency or state military emergency and who has the right under Chapter 2.18, this chapter and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52 to be reinstated after military service to return to his position.
"National emergency"
means any period in which the United States is at war as declared by the Congress of the United States, or any period officially declared a national emergency by the President of the United States.
"Permanent employee"
means an employee who has successfully completed his probationary period and has been retained as provided in Chapter 2.18, this chapter and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52.
"Permanent position"
means a position the duties of which are not expected to terminate at any stated time.
"Probationary employee"
means an employee eligible to fill a permanent position who has not completed a probationary period.
"Probationary period"
means a time element of one year after becoming an employee in the classified service, or after being promoted from a subordinate position to a superior permanent position.
"Promotion"
means a change in employment status from one position to another which is allocated to a class with either a higher maximum rate of pay and/or more responsible and supervisory duties.
"Promotional list"
means an eligible list resulting from a promotional examination.
"Punitive action"
means dismissal, demotion, suspension, reprimand or other disciplinary action.
"Reduction"
means a salary decrease within the limits of the pay range established for a class.
"Rejection"
means a separation of an employee from the classified service because of failure to satisfactorily complete his probationary period.
"Seasonal employment"
means employment in city departments at certain specified periods during the year because of weather or unusual conditions within the city.
"State military emergency"
means an emergency declared and terminable by the governor of the state by proclamation during a period necessitating military action.
"Substitute employee"
means an employee replacing a permanent employee while the latter is on military or other authorized leave.
"Suspension"
means the temporary separation from the classified service of an employee without pay for disciplinary purposes.
"Veteran"
means any person who has served full time in the Armed Forces in time of national emergency or other military emergencies or during any expedition of the Armed Forces and who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. A disabled veteran means any veteran who is currently declared by the United States Veterans' Administration to be ten percent or more disabled as a result of service in the Armed Forces.
(Prior code § 2-303; Ord. 1221 § 1, 1980)
The mandatory provisions of California Government Code, Title I, Division 4, Chapters 9.5 and 9.7, to the extent applicable to political activities of employees of the city, shall regulate and govern political activities of employees of the city.
(Ord. 1206 § 2, 1980)
Nothing in Section 2.30.050 shall prevent any officer or employee in the classified service from:
A. 
Becoming or continuing to be a member of a political group or organization;
B. 
Attendance at a political meeting;
C. 
Enjoying entire freedom from all interference in casting his vote;
D. 
Seeking or accepting election or appointment to public office.
E. 
Acting as a worker at the polls, circulating petitions, participating in any campaign, or distributing badges, pamphlets or literature directly affecting his rate of pay, hours of work, retirement, civil service or other working conditions;
F. 
No person in the classified service shall be permitted to carry on the activities enumerated in subsection E of this section during regular hours of work or while dressed in the uniform required in any department of the city government.
(Ord. 1243 § 2, 1981)
No rule or regulation of any body, board, appointing authority or supervisory employee and no question in any examination or application form nor in any other personnel proceeding shall be so framed as to attempt to elicit information concerning political or religious opinions, race, color or affiliations of an applicant, person on an eligible list, employee or officer. No appointment to or removal from a position in the classified service shall be affected or influenced in any manner by any political or religious opinion, affiliation, race, creed or color. Violation of this section shall be grounds for dismissal or other means of punitive action.
(Prior code § 2-317)
Minimum or maximum age limits shall not be established for any position in the classified service, nor shall minimum or maximum age limits be established as a prerequisite for the taking of a civil service examination except in the following instances:
Nothing in this section shall prevent the city from establishing minimum and maximum age limits for the employment of policemen or firemen.
(Prior code § 2-318)
All persons in the classified service who have satisfactorily completed the probationary period as established in this chapter shall be considered permanent employees entitled to the rights, benefits and protection as provided in Chapter 2.18, this chapter, and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52.
(Prior code § 2-319)
There is established a one-year period of probation before an appointment or promotion is made complete during which period a probationer may be discharged or reduced by the appointing power without right of appeal if the appointing power deems him or her unfit or unsatisfactory for service. No position, either subordinate or promotional, shall become permanent until the full probationary period has been served.
(Prior code § 2-320)
Persons holding a seasonal position or a part-time position are not members of the classified service and shall not be credited for satisfactorily completing any part of a probationary period because of such part-time or seasonal employment.
(Prior code § 2-321)
Persons holding a substitute position shall be members of the classified service but shall not be eligible for permanent status. In the event a permanent vacancy occurs in the position for which there is a substitute, the appointing power may immediately, in his or her discretion, appoint the substitute as a permanent positioner or probationary positioner. The appointing power shall not designate permanent status unless a substitute appointee has satisfactorily served in the position not less than the required probationary period. All substitute employees must qualify for the position being held pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 2.18, this chapter, and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52.
(Prior code § 2-322)
During a national emergency, state military emergency, whenever there are insufficient applicants for examination, or whenever a valid eligible list containing at least three names does not exist, the city manager may provide for the emergency employment of any person to fill an office or position in the classified service. Such person shall not be subject to the requirements, regulations and qualifications of the civil service system as provided in Chapter 2.18, this chapter, and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52. An emergency appointee shall not acquire any type of civil service status because of the emergency appointment. If the emergency appointee subsequently qualifies under the requirements of Chapter 2.18, this chapter, and Chapters 2.32 through 2.52 for a position in the classified service, the appointing power may in his or her discretion place him or her in a permanent or probationary status. The appointing power shall not designate a permanent status for the emergency appointee unless said appointee has satisfactorily served in the position not less than the required probationary period. If an eligible or probational list containing three or more names of persons willing to accept employment in that position exists for the position, the appointing power must dismiss the temporary or emergency employee and fill the position from the eligible or promotional list.
(Prior code § 2-323)