Brief

Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Tim McOsker introduced a motion directing the Personnel Department to develop a citywide knowledge transfer and succession planning strategy. The goal is to preserve institutional expertise and ensure continuity when experienced employees retire or leave. Council adopted the motion 13-0-2 in August 2024. The Personnel Department has since submitted follow-up reports, and the matter is currently pending in the Personnel and Hiring Committee, most recently continued without a set return date as of September 2026.

Full summary

This motion, introduced in December 2023 by Blumenfield and McOsker with support from Eunisques Hernandez, addresses a common government challenge: the loss of specialized knowledge when long-tenured employees depart. The motion directs the Personnel Department to create a citywide succession planning framework that includes identifying critical roles, documenting institutional knowledge, developing training tools, and establishing knowledge transfer protocols across all city departments. The motion was adopted by Council on February 6, 2024, with the Personnel Department asked to report back with recommendations. In March 2024, the Personnel Department submitted an overview of succession plans submitted by various departments. The motion was then referred again to committee and ultimately adopted a second time on August 30, 2024, by a vote of 13-0-2 (with 2 councilmembers absent or abstaining). Following the August 2024 adoption, the Personnel Department submitted an additional document in July 2025. The matter has since returned to the Personnel and Hiring Committee, where it has been continued multiple times without a scheduled return date, most recently on September 9, 2026. The file remains open and does not expire until September 9, 2028. Related Council File 23-1020 is also referenced in the record.

Activity (21)

• 2026-09-09 Personnel and Hiring Committee continued item to a date to be determined.
• 2026-09-04 Personnel and Hiring Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 9, 2026.
• 2025-08-08 Personnel and Hiring Committee continued item to a date to be determined.
• 2025-08-04 Personnel and Hiring Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 8, 2025.
• 2025-08-01 Personnel Department document(s) referred to Personnel and Hiring Committee.
• 2025-07-31 Document submitted by Personnel Department, dated June 27, 2025.
• 2024-09-03 Council action final.
• 2024-08-30 Council adopted item as amended by , subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2024-08-27 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on August 30, 2024.
• 2024-08-20 Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee noted and filed item(s). 3/7/24 Personnel Department Report
• 2024-08-16 Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 20, 2024.
• 2024-03-19 Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee continued item to a date to be determined.
• 2024-03-15 Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on March 19, 2024.
• 2024-03-07 Personnel Department document(s) referred to Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee.
• 2024-03-07 Document(s) submitted by Personnel Department, as follows:Personnel Department report, dated March 7, 2024, relative to the Overview of Submitted Succession Plans.
• 2024-02-07 Council action final.
• 2024-02-06 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2024-02-02 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on February 6, 2024.
• 2024-01-16 Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee approved item(s) .
• 2024-01-12 Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on January 16, 2024.
• 2023-12-12 Motion referred to Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee.

Documents (10)

• 2026-09-09 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2025-06-27 Report from Personnel Department · report
• 2024-09-03 Council Action · council_action
• 2024-08-30 Amending Motion 5A (Blumenfield - McOsker) · other
• 2024-08-30 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2024-08-20 Report from Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee · report
• 2024-03-07 Report from Personnel Department · report
• 2024-02-07 Council Action · council_action
• 2024-01-16 Report from Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee · report
• 2023-12-12 Motion · motion

Council votes (1)

• 2024-08-30 Vote — 13-0-2 · Regular