New hires aim to strengthen Clayton’s city services

CLAYTON, CA (Feb. 18, 2025) — As we embarked on a new year in the city of Clayton, one of my highest priorities was to ensure that our city administrative team has the support they need to be successful now and in the future.

Many residents may be surprised to know that our entire city staff is made up of just 26.6 employees, 13 of which are employees in the Police Department (11 sworn officers, 2 civilians). That leaves just 13.6 employees to manage the city’s other departments: Human Resources, Finance, Maintenance and Community Development.

We have often supplemented our staffing by the use of consulting firms, which has had a short-term benefit but is not the same as having consistent, year-round, full- and part-time employees.

Back in July, our then interim city manager proposed a reorganization of the duties of the staff and the creation of new positions, including an assistant city manager/Administrative Services director who would oversee HR and Finance, elevating the positions of city clerk to include assistant to the city manager and promoting our accounting technician to full-time accountant.

The City Council approved those changes, including the outsourcing of our Community Development Services until we could determine exactly what the needs of the department and community would be.

Staff Changes

After an extensive review process by the Budget & Audit Committee and a number of City Council meetings and discussions, the Council unanimously approved the following changes to the city’s staffing lineup on Jan. 21:

• Fill the full-time administrative clerk and part-time/hourly Community Services leader (formerly facilities attendant) positions, both of which are already budgeted in Fiscal Year 2024-’25.
• Reclassify the Community Development director and assistant planner positions with a senior planner.
• Add a management analyst position to support the city manager, assistant city manager, accountant and city clerk as needed.
• Add a Community Development technician to oversee complaint-based code enforcement issues, handle temporary use permits, special event permits, park and facility rental applications, and aid the senior planner.

Filling these positions will provide our city leadership team with the support they need to be successful and will offer our residents and community the services they require.

Kudos to local officers

I would also like to recognize the outstanding work done by Officer Wiggins and Sgt. Enea of our Clayton Police Department. On Jan. 25, they responded to a distress call by the husband of a woman who was in her car and had stopped breathing and had no pulse. They administered CPR until ConFire arrived and performed CPR until they could get a pulse. Because of their quick response and efforts, this woman is alive today.

The city honored them with a Certificate of Appreciation for exceptional bravery, quick thinking and unwavering dedication to duty, exhibiting the highest standards of public service resulting in the saving of a life.

Remember, We Are Stronger Together.

Please feel free to contact me at kimt@claytonca.gov or 925-673-7324.