Ordinance No. 1451 An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, Amending Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 2.52.705(F), "Accrued Vacation Time Buy-Back," to Establish Annual Irrevocable Election Procedures, Increase Eligible Buy-Back Amounts, and Authorize a Limited Initial Implementation Transition Election Period Whereas, the City of Palm Desert ("City") maintains personnel rules governing vacation leave benefits for eligible City employees; and Whereas, Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 2.52.705(F) currently authorizes eligible employees with one hundred twenty (120) accrued vacation hours to receive monetary compensation for up to eighty (80) hours of accrued vacation per calendar year, upon written request; and Whereas, the City Council desires to update the vacation leave buy-back program to provide clearer eligibility tiers, increase flexibility for employees with higher vacation leave balances, and support consistent payroll administration; and Whereas, the City Council desires to structure the program to require a written, irrevocable election before the applicable vacation leave is accrued, except for a limited initial implementation transition election period authorized by this Ordinance; and Whereas, the City Council finds that prior-year irrevocable election procedures and clear administrative controls are intended to reduce the risk of unintended tax consequences, including issues related to constructive receipt of income, and to support consistent payroll reporting; and Whereas, the City Council desires to authorize the City Manager or designee to establish administrative procedures, forms, and deadlines necessary to implement the amended vacation leave buy-back program; and Whereas, the City Council finds that this Ordinance is an administrative personnel action and is not a "project" within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act because it has no potential to result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; and Whereas, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred. The City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, Does Ordain as Follows: Section 1. Recitals. The City Council finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of this Ordinance. Section 2. Amendment to Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 2.52.705(F). Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 2.52.705(F), "Accrued Vacation Time Buy-Back," is hereby amended to read as set forth in Exhibit "A," attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. Section 3. Implementation Authority. The City Manager or designee is authorized to take all actions necessary to implement this Ordinance, including preparation of election forms, payroll procedures, administrative guidelines, transition election procedures, and employee notices consistent with Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 2.52.705(F), as amended. Section 4. No Conflict With Controlling Agreements. This Ordinance shall not supersede any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or other controlling personnel policy to the extent such agreement or policy provides otherwise. Section 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portions of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, and portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more portions may be declared invalid or unconstitutional. Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption. Within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk shall cause the Ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be published in the manner required by law. Adopted on June 11, 2026. Evan Trubee Mayor Attest: Anthony J. Mejia City Clerk I, Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, California, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. 1451 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was introduced at a regular meeting of the Palm Desert City Council on May 28, 2026, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on June 11, 2026, by the following vote: Ayes: Harnik, Moreno, Nestande, Pradetto, and Trubee Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None Recused: None /s/Anthony J. Mejia City Clerk Please note, Exhibit A is available by request at the City Clerk's office in person or by email: cityclerk@palmdesert.gov. June 25 2026 LYRK0542689