TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Salvador Llamas, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: New Classification Specification
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider the adoption of Resolution No. 26-027 approving the following new classification for the Office of the General Counsel, Legal Office Administrator/Senior Paralegal.
Staff Contact:
Emily Sutkus Cruz, Director of Human Resources
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - High-Performing Workforce
Initiative - Employee Recruitment, Training and Retention
Classification specifications are essential for various aspects of human resources management, influencing personnel decisions and contributing to the District’s strategic goals and initiatives. Current classification specifications serve as a foundation for a variety of human resources functions that include talent management, workforce development, and compensation determination.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
This staff report requests approval of a new classification. The approval of a new classification does not have a fiscal impact.
Should the Board approve the new classification of Legal Office Administrator/Senior Paralegal, and should the General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer (General Counsel/CLO) elect to recruit using this classification, a current position at a similar level within the Board-adopted FY 2026/27 budget will be repurposed, ensuring that any hiring remains within the current budget and maintains the District’s approved authorized headcount.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The proposed Legal Office Administrator/Senior Paralegal classification is intended to meet the evolving operational and legal support needs of the Office of the General Counsel. The Office’s current administrative support structure, including use of the Executive Coordinator classification, was established decades ago and no longer fully reflects the level and nature of legal, supervisory, and confidential support required by the General Counsel/CLO. The proposed classification is intended to replace the future use of the Executive Coordinator classification within the Office and combines administrative support to the General Counsel/CLO with advanced paralegal responsibilities and direct supervision of the Office’s legal support staff.
Because the classification will routinely review and coordinate legal and administrative work prepared for the General Counsel/CLO and will have access to confidential and privileged matters involving the District’s legal and labor relations affairs, the classification is designated as unrepresented. This designation is consistent with the confidential nature of the role and with the existing designation of the Executive Coordinator classification that currently provides direct administrative support to the General Counsel/CLO.
Human Resources conducted a market review to evaluate comparable classifications. Based on the market data and the scope of the proposed classification, staff recommends placement at Unrepresented Salary Plan Grade 08. The recommended salary grade reflects the classification’s advanced paralegal responsibilities, direct supervision of legal support staff, confidential support to the General Counsel/CLO, and responsibility for reviewing and coordinating work prepared for the General Counsel/CLO. Placement at Unrepresented Salary Plan Grade 08 also maintains appropriate internal alignment within the District’s classification structure.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Developing and revising classification specifications is essential to ensuring alignment with evolving business needs, maintaining consistency with industry standards, and supporting career development, internal mobility, and succession planning. No disadvantages have been identified with the adoption of the proposed classification. The new classification addresses the operational needs of the Office of the General Counsel by optimizing the use of existing human capital resources while remaining responsive to the District’s current financial realities.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
The alternative would be to maintain the existing classification and current organizational structure within the Office of the General Counsel. This approach is not recommended, as the existing structure does not fully reflect the Office’s current legal, supervisory, and confidential support needs. Retaining the current structure would not provide the level of oversight, coordination, and specialized legal support needed to effectively support the General Counsel/CLO and the Office’s operations.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-027 and related Exhibit.
Prepared by:
Anne Kennedy Hayes, Human Resources Manager
Approved/Reviewed by:
Paul Kincaid, Assistant General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Emily Sutkus Cruz, Director of Human Resources
Aimee L. Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Salvador Llamas, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer