Sparks City Charter (NRS Chapter 470), Section 1.080 states, Appointive positions:  “2. Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the City Manager shall appoint heads of each department.”  The City Manager has selected John A. Martini to the department head role of Assistant City Manager.

John Martini started his career with the City of Sparks in 1999 as a Civil Engineer in the newly created Community Services Department.  In 2001, John was promoted to Engineering Manager for Community Development where he managed the engineering functions of new development including surveying, civil improvements, and construction and inspection services.  In 2006, John was promoted to Deputy Director for Community Development where he managed the Engineering, Planning, and Building Divisions.  During the great recession of 2009, John was reassigned to the Public Works Department where he served as a Civil Engineer in the Utilities Division managing capital improvement projects for the City’s sanitary sewer system.  In 2011, John was promoted to Assistant Director and City Engineer for the newly created Community Services Department where his responsibilities included management of the Utility Enterprise Funds, Development Services Enterprise Fund, budgeting for the Community Services Department and the day-to-day operations of the Engineering and Building and Safety Divisions.  In April 2016, John was promoted to a department head as the Community Services Director.  The Community Services Department is the City’s largest department with 173 authorized positions.

Over the years, John has represented the City of Sparks on many interlocal committees including Regional Transportation Commission, Truckee Meadows Flood Management Authority, Storm Water Permitting, Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission and currently serves as a director of the Nevada Water Innovations Institute. 

John holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada and is licensed to practice Civil Engineering by both the State of Nevada and the State of California.  John has successfully completed the Harvard Negotiation Institute: Program on Negotiations, and Negotiations for Leaders.  

The City of Sparks utilizes pay resolutions to define salaries and benefits for unrepresented employees, such as the department heads, not covered by collective bargaining agreements under NRS 288.  The position of Assistant City Manager is covered under the Executive Resolution, with no changes required.  The employment agreement defines terms not contained in the Executive Resolution.

Following is a summary of the agreement reached between the parties.  This summary outlines portions of the negotiated contract. The full proposed agreement between the City of Sparks and John A. Martini is attached.

The term of agreement begins May 13, 2019 and the initial expiration date is December 31, 2019.  The agreement may be renewed before December 31, 2019 and at that point the agreement becomes year to year with the contract year beginning January 1 and ending December 31^st.

The Council adopted a classification system and compensation program which is used to determine base pay.  Korn Ferry Hay Group, an international leader in this type of work, set the level for the Assistant City Manager at 23.  The proposed salary of $197,579 is within the pay range. Mr. Martini would be eligible for merit increases until his pay reaches the maximum of the pay range.

Benefits of the position are defined in the attached Executive Resolution approved by City Council on September 10, 2018.

There is no financial impact.  Budget impacts were presented as part of the City Manager’s budget recommendations for FY20 heard at the April 22, 2019 City Council meeting.

1. The Council may choose to approve the Employment Agreement between the City of Sparks and John A. Martini for the position of Assistant City Manager.
2. The Council may choose not to approve the Employment Agreement between the City of Sparks and John A. Martini for the position of Assistant City Manager.
3. The Council may choose not to approve the Employment Agreement and direct the City Manager toward another alternative.

I move to approve the Employment Agreement (AC-5569) between the City of Sparks and John A. Martini and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract.