Matzke: Advisor to city manager
City officials are asking the Vallejo City Council to sign off on the creation of a temporary position for Slater Matzke, an economic development and marketing consultant, in the city manager’s office.
If approved by the council on Tuesday, Matzke would be named as special advisor to the city manager and make $184,771 per year for the next three years. He would also start to collect about
$100,000 in health benefits from the city.
Staff noted in the agenda report to the council that such a position is necessary as the city works with the Nimitz Group for the short and longterm development of Mare Island. Matzke has also coordinated the city’s marketing strategy, and identified initiatives and investments to promote the city’s economic growth during his time with the city.
The council will also be asked to ratify Matzke’s current consulting contract for the fourth time bringing his total compensation to an amount not to exceed $515,000 to fix a previous staff error approved by the council.
Matzke first began working for Vallejo in September 2016 as a FUSE Executive Fellow — tasked with improving the city’s image and also bringing investment opportunities to Vallejo.
Following his year commitment, then-City Manager Daniel Keen kept Matzke on as a consultant and both sides agreed to a contract with a term of service from October 2017 through April 30, 2018. During that initial term, Matzke made $95,000. Then in April 2018, the council approved an amendment to the contract, extending Matzke’s time with Vallejo by two months, and adding $40,000 to the contract for a total amount of $135,000.
Just two months later the council again amended the contract extending Matzke’s time by a full fiscal year to end on June 30 of this year. Matzke’s compensation was increased by $45,000. City staff say this was an error, which caused Vallejo to over-spend that amount by $120,000 from October 2018 through May 2019.
When the council added another year on the contract in June, the total amount of the contract was listed at $395,000, when it should have been $515,000, staff said.
If approved, Matzke will begin in his position on Nov. 23. According to staff, the impact to the general fund will be $280,000 each year for salary and benefits, Will Morat, assistant to the city manager, confirmed on Monday. The pro-rated amount for the fiscal year is $168,000 from Nov. 23 through June 30, 2020. The impact will be off set by terminating the consultant contract and then using about $105,000 in unused funds from the executive department’s professional services budget.
Matzke’s new position is included in the salary schedule with other city positions including chief innovation officer, human resources director, finance director, public works director. Those positions make between $152,011 to $184,771.
The Vallejo City Council will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, inside the Vallejo City Hall Council Chambers, 555 Santa Clara St.