Disciplinary Appeals If an employee desires to appeal a disciplinary action, he/she (or the representative) shall submit a written notice of appeal. A representative of the City shall contact either the employee or his/her identified representative within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the Notice of Appeal for the purpose of determining whether the parties can agree on an advisory arbitrator to hear the appeal. If the parties can agree, the representative for the City shall contact the agreed upon arbitrator to determine his/her availability for the hearing. If the parties cannot reach agreement on an arbitrator, the Human Resources Director or designee will send a letter to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) requesting a list of seven (7) arbitrators. Once the list is received, the representatives of the parties shall strike names until an arbitrator is chosen. The parties shall toss a coin to determine who shall strike the first name. Once the arbitrator is chosen, the parties will contact the arbitrator to schedule a hearing. During the hearing the formal rules of evidence do not apply. The cost of the list of arbitrators and the arbitrator him/herself, shall be split between the City and the Association unless Association is not financially supporting the appeal by providing representation for the employee. Once the arbitrator issues his/her advisory recommendation he/she will submit it to the City Manager as well as both parties’ representatives. The arbitrator shall provide copies to both parties’ representatives. Within ten (10) calendar days from the receipt of the advisory arbitration's recommendation, both parties’ representatives may submit to the City Manager a brief statement, not exceeding three (3) double-spaced pages, stating whether they believe the advisory arbitrator's recommendation is correct or not and why. Within thirty five (35) calendar days of receipt of the advisory arbitrator's recommendation, the City Manager shall issue and send his/her final written decision to the parties. The City Manager may accept, reject or modify the advisory arbitrator's recommendation or any part thereof. In no case, however, may the City Manager increase the penalty above that imposed by the department head. The City Manager's decision shall be final and binding. In reaching his/her decision, the City Manager shall review the advisory arbitrator's recommendation, the brief statement (if any) on the advisory arbitrator's recommendation submitted by the parties to the City Manager, and the evidence, both documentary and testimonial, and arguments presented to the advisory arbitrator. The employee has the right to appeal the City Manager’s decision in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5.
