Sparks City Charter Section 1.080 states, “Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the City Manager shall appoint the heads of each department.”  The City Manager has selected Alyson L. McCormick for the department head role of Assistant City Manager.

Reporting to the City Manager are two Assistant City Manager positions to support functions across a wide array of city services and operations.  Policy direction is determined by the City Council, and the City Manager and his two Assistant City Managers are responsible for executing policy and translating it to operational action.  Ms. McCormick would join Assistant City Manager John Martini as the second Assistant City Manager.  Ms. McCormick will lead the internal support services division, including Human Resources, City Clerk and Customer Services, and Community Relations. 

Ms. McCormick attended law school at the University of Oregon, graduating in 2013. She then began her legal career as a judicial clerk at the Nevada Supreme Court, where she prepared legal memoranda for judges and drafted Court orders and opinions. In 2015, she joined the Nevada Attorney General's Office as a Deputy Attorney General, primarily handling civil rights lawsuits against the Nevada Department of Corrections and its employees.

Ms. McCormick came to the City of Sparks as an Assistant City Attorney in July of 2016. Since that time, she has represented the City in litigation regarding officer-involved shootings, land use matters, and various issues in between. Ms. McCormick also provides day-to-day advice to the Police Department, Community Services Department, Human Resources, the City Clerk, Parks and Recreation Department, and other departments as needed.

The approach taken by Ms. McCormick is thoughtful and informed, and she expertly researches and supports her positions.  She is well versed in public records requests and expectations of transparency.  This will complement City Manager Krutz’s desire to make informed decisions based upon available resources and data, and to communicate effectively with City Council, the community, employees and other entities and partners.

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 Ms. McCormick is attached.

The term of the agreement begins November 9, 2020, and the initial expiration date is July 30, 2022.  After the initial term, the Agreement renews automatically to a two-year agreement, tied to the end of the City’s fiscal year. However, the City Manager may limit the renewal term to the upcoming fiscal year.

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 $175,000 is within the established pay range. Ms. McCormick would be eligible for merit increases until her pay reaches the maximum of the pay range.

Benefits include health insurance, deferred compensation, annual leave, sick leave, and long-term disability.  The entirety of benefits are described in the attached employment contract. 

There is no financial impact.  Budget impacts were presented as part of the City Manager’s budget recommendations for FY21.

1. The Council may choose to approve the Employment Agreement between the City of Sparks and Alyson L. McCormick for the position of Assistant City Manager.
2. The Council may choose not to approve the Employment Agreement between the City of Sparks and Alyson L. McCormick 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-5707) with Alyson L. McCormick for the position of Assistant City Manager, effective November 9, 2020, with a yearly salary of $175,000 plus benefits.