REGULAR MEETING OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025, AT 9:00 AM HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, LEARNING AND RESEARCH CENTER 5202 E. BEN WHITE BLVD., SUITE 500, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78741 Some members of the Municipal Civil Service Commission may be participating by videoconference. EXECUTIVE SESSION (No Public Discussion on These Items) The Commission will announce it will go into closed session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel, or to discuss matters of litigation and personnel matters as specifically listed on this agenda. If necessary, the Commission will go into closed session, as permitted by law, regarding any item on this agenda. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Matthew Chustz, (512)974-2859, Matthew.Chustz@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Kevin Mullen, Chair Kavita Gupta, Vice Chair Ayo Akande, Commissioner CALL TO ORDER Melissa Rogers, Commissioner John Umphress, Commissioner AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten (10) speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes from the Municipal Civil Service Commission regular meeting on March 24, 2025. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Conduct a hearing in open session or closed session, pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Government Code (personnel exception), on the appeal filed by Sean Fresch regarding their Discharge from the Watershed Protection Department. 3. Deliberate in open session or closed session, pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Government Code (personnel exception), on the appeal filed by Sean Fresch regarding their Discharge from the Watershed Protection Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Action and approval on the appeal filed by Sean Fresch regarding their Discharge from the Watershed Protection Department. 5. Discussion and approval of the 2025 Municipal Civil Service Commission Annual Review and Report. 6. Discussion and action regarding the election of Vice Chair of the Municipal Civil Service Commission. 7. Discussion and action to approve future meeting dates, times, and locations. STAFF BRIEFING 8. Briefing from Human Resources Department staff regarding the …
2025 Municipal Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting Schedule January 13, 2025 July 14, 2025 January 27, 2025 February 10, 2025 February 24, 2025 March 10, 2025 March 24, 2025 April 14, 2025 April 28, 2025 May 12, 2025 June 9, 2025 June 23, 2025 July 28, 2025 August 11, 2025 August 25, 2025 September 8, 2025 September 22, 2025 October 13, 2025 October 27, 2025 November 17, 2025 December 8, 2025 MCS Commission Meeting Schedule approved on September 9, 2024.
MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Monday, March 24, 2025 MEETING MINUTES MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025 The Municipal Civil Service Commission convened in a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Human Resources Department, Learning & Research Center (LRC) 5202 E. Ben White Blvd., Suite 500, Austin, TX 78741. Commissioners in Attendance: Kevin Mullen, Chair Kavita Gupta, Vice Chair Melissa Rogers John Umphress Commissioners Absent: Vacant Staff in Attendance: Susana Carbajal, Assistant City Manager Nathan Brown, Assistant Director, HRD Matthew Chustz, M&CS Manager, HRD Abby Varela, MCS Coordinator, HRD Sylvester Martin, Jr., MCS Coordinator, HRD Cyndi Gordon, CS Coordinator, HRD Meca Thompson, CS Coordinator, HRD Rogue Huitron, CS Coordinator, HRD Oscar Gonzales, IT Systems Admin., HRD CALL TO ORDER Chair Kevin Mullen called the Commission meeting to order at 9:10 AM. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes from the Municipal Civil Service Commission regular meeting on October 28, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of October 28, 2024, were approved on Vice Chair Gupta’s motion, Commissioner Umphress’ second on a 4-0 vote. 1 MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Monday, March 24, 2025 MEETING MINUTES STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing from Human Resources Department Staff regarding the Municipal Civil Service Commissioner appointment process. Matthew Chustz, Municipal & Civil Service Manager with the Human Resources Department provided a briefing regarding the Municipal Civil Service Commissioner appointment process. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action regarding the nomination of Chair of the Municipal Civil Service Commission to the Austin City Council Audit and Finance Committee. The motion to nominate Kevin Mullen as Chair of the Municipal Civil Service Commission to the Austin City Council Audit and Finance Committee was approved on Commissioner Umphress’ motion, Vice Chair Gupta’s second on a vote of 3-0-1, with Chair Mullen abstaining. 4. Discussion and action to approve future meeting dates, times, and locations. Discussion was held regarding future meeting dates, times, and locations. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Rogers and Commissioner Umphress requested a future agenda item to discuss future meeting dates, times, and locations. ADJOURNMENT Chair Mullen adjourned the meeting at 9:25 AM without objection. 2
Annual Review and Work Plan Municipal Civil Service Commission – Reporting Period 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 Page # 1 Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 Municipal Civil Service Commission The Board/Commission mission statement is: The Municipal Civil Service (MCS) Commission is established and governed by City Charter Article IX (Personnel). The purpose of the Commission is to: 1. hear appeals and make final, binding decisions in the case of municipal civil service employees covered under Article IX of the City Charter who have been discharged, suspended, demoted, denied a promotion, or put on disciplinary probation; recommend the adoption of civil service rules after receipt of proposed rules by the Human Resources Director and perform services under the civil service rules as provided in Article IX, Section 2 of the City Charter; 2. 3. perform other duties regarding the municipal civil service, not inconsistent with Article IX of the 4. City Charter, that the City Council may require; issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to witnesses, whether at the request of interested parties or on its own motion, when reasonably necessary to obtain pertinent evidence at a hearing or investigation; 5. administer oaths to witnesses appearing at a hearing or investigation; and 6. conduct any investigations it may consider desirable or which it may be required by the City Council or the City Manager concerning the administration of municipal civil service and report its findings and recommendations to the City Council. Further information regarding the Municipal Civil Service Commission is found in § 2-1-164 of the Austin City Code, which states: (A) The Municipal Civil Service Commission is established and governed by City Charter Article IX (Personnel). The Charter provisions supersede this chapter to the extent of conflict. (B) The Council Audit and Finance Committee shall review applications received by the city clerk from persons seeking appointment as a commissioner. Notwithstanding § 2-1-4(C), the Audit and Finance Committee, or any council member, may nominate a person for appointment to the commission. (C) A city employee may not serve as a member of the commission. (D) The council shall designate the commission chair annually at the time new commissioners are appointed. (E) Subsection (A) of Section 2-1-43 (Meeting Requirements) does not apply to the Municipal Civil Service Commission. The commission may meet as necessary to carry out its duties under City Charter Article IX (Personnel). Source: …
Municipal Civil Service Contingent Hiring Pilot July 14, 2025 1 Purpose The Municipal Civil Service Commission recommended that the City Council approve a 12-month pilot to waive the posting requirement for specific positions for Citywide hiring. The City Council approved the waiver on November 21, 2024. The pilot focuses on positions that require no experience or where substitution for minimum experience is allowed. The MCS Commission requested a 6-month check-in after the pilot started on January 1, 2025. 2 Pilot Guidelines were developed stating that all departments are eligible to participate in the pilot if they have titles on the approved list. The process eliminated the posting requirement for those titles. Eligible events included in the pilot: City-sponsored job fairs University job events Reentry-initiative programs Community job events City-sponsored, community, or public events where contingent offers are provided are advertised to allow current employees and temporary employees the ability to participate. 3 Pilot All candidates for vacant positions must complete an interview process where they are: Evaluated for Merit and Fitness Merit: Demonstrated education, training, experience, performance, knowledge, skills, ability, licenses, or certifications. Fitness: Physical and/or mental ability to do a job with or without accommodation. Screened to meet minimum & preferred qualifications Contingent offer is made Complete any assessments required for the position. Successfully pass any required background checks. Submit an application 4 Pilot Successes Austin’s 14th Annual Career Expo Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Palmer Events Center 41 vacant positions were available 108 interviews conducted 40 contingent offers made Other Various Events 26 interviews conducted 9 contingent offers made 5 Questions? 6
Human Resources Department – Citywide Guideline – Contingent Offer at Hiring Events Effective: January 1, 2025 Approved by: ___________________________ Date: _____________ 12/26/2024 Susan Sinz, HR Director PURPOSE This pilot program will last twelve months and waive the posting requirement for hiring certain Citywide positions. It focuses on roles that require no experience or those where substitutions for minimum experience are allowed. The list of positions included in this pilot is in Attachment A. The program will be implemented at various qualifying events, including City, Community, and University Job Fairs, commercial driver license school graduations, reentry-initiative programs, and other talent acquisition efforts aimed at attracting new talent. Events, where contingent offers can be extended, will be advertised through City newsletters to ensure internal job seekers are aware and able to participate. All job seekers for open positions will participate in a modified interview process, during which they will be assessed on merit and fitness, as well as screened to verify they meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications. After a contingent offer is issued, successful individuals will then complete an application for the position. Job seekers will be required to complete any necessary assessments and, where appropriate, successfully pass background checks. GUIDELINES All departments are eligible to participate in this pilot program if they have titles included on the approved list. This process eliminates the posting requirement, as approved by the City Council on November 21, 2024, Item 60. However, the procedures below must still be adhered to in accordance with the Municipal Civil Service rules. Eligible Events Only events designed to recruit new talent may be used for this process. Examples include: City-sponsored job fairs University job events Reentry-initiative programs Community job events Once an event has been identified, it must be submitted to HRDCommunications@austintexas.gov to advertise in the Human Resources Department (HRD) and Citywide weekly newsletters. The same information should be shared in any department focused newsletters. All City-sponsored, community, or public events where contingent offers will be provided must be advertised to allow current employees and temporary employees the ability to participate. Departments participating in an event where they are recruiting new talent must pre-identify positions Event Preparation on Attachment A in their department that are vacant. Prior to the event, the Hiring Manager should work with their department's Human Resources (HR) staff to discuss the following: Identify target Job Title(s) and PCNs to be filled. 1. Pre-Event …
