06 09 26 Executive Continuity Program

City of Tolleson — City Council (2026-06-09)

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Executive Continuity Program 
Purpose 
 
The Executive Continuity Program is designed as a strategic workforce initiative to preserve 
institutional knowledge, maintain operational stability, and ensure uninterrupted service delivery 
during executive retirements and leadership vacancies. As the City experiences retirements 
among key leadership positions, the program establishes a structured process to retain 
executive leadership, department directors, and other critical senior management positions 
approved by the City Manager. 
Executive and senior management positions possess significant operational, regulatory, 
strategic, and organizational responsibilities that are often difficult to immediately replace. 
Vacancies within these positions may create operational disruptions, delays in strategic 
initiatives, loss of institutional knowledge, and increased workload demands on remaining 
leadership staff. The Executive Continuity Program allows experienced retired leaders to 
provide operational continuity support, mentorship, strategic guidance, and leadership stability 
in critical executive and senior management positions. 
Government agencies throughout the country utilize similar workforce continuity and retiree 
reemployment programs to support continuity of operations and address critical leadership 
gaps. Programs such as California’s Retired Annuitant Program and federal reemployed 
annuitant practices are designed to preserve institutional knowledge, maintain continuity of 
operations, and provide experienced leadership support during executive retirements and 
workforce shortages. 
Program Objectives 
The Executive Continuity Program is intended to: 
• 
Preserve institutional knowledge and operational expertise 
• 
Maintain operational stability during executive retirements and leadership vacancies 
• 
Support continuity of strategic initiatives, regulatory oversight, and departmental 
operations 
• 
Provide leadership continuity in critical executive and senior management positions 
• 
Reduce operational disruptions associated with executive vacancies 
• 
Promote fiscal stewardship through cost-effective workforce strategies 
• 
Minimize long-term employment liabilities through third-party agency arrangements 
• 
Support mentorship, strategic guidance, and organizational continuity 
Program Parameters 
• 
Applicable only to executive leadership, department directors, and approved senior 
management positions 
• 
Limited exclusively to retirees of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) 
• 
Engagements must be operationally justified and approved by the City Manager 
• 
Retirees will be engaged through approved third-party agency arrangements 
• 
Assignments will be aligned with operational continuity and organizational stability needs

• 
Compensation and contractual arrangements will be administered in accordance with 
applicable laws, policies, and agency agreements 
Financial and Operational Benefits 
The Executive Continuity Program provides measurable financial and operational benefits. By 
utilizing retirees through third-party agency arrangements, the City avoids many long-term 
employment costs typically associated with traditional employment models, including medical 
benefit expenditures, retirement system contributions, paid leave accruals, and other benefit-
related liabilities. The program also minimizes operational disruptions associated with executive 
vacancies while supporting fiscal stewardship and organizational stability. 
To support cost savings and responsible stewardship of public resources, compensation for 
retirees participating in the Executive Continuity Program shall generally be established at a rate 
approximately 25 percent (25%) lower than the individual’s final base salary with the City, unless 
otherwise approved by the City Manager based on operational necessity or market conditions. 
Compensation for external executive continuity appointments shall be evaluated based on 
operational necessity, market conditions, experience, and overall fiscal impact to the City, and 
should generally remain below the total compensation cost of a traditional full-time executive 
position whenever operationally feasible. 
The program further reduces costs associated with executive recruitment, onboarding, and 
productivity loss by retaining experienced leadership professionals who possess existing 
operational knowledge, regulatory familiarity, and established organizational relationships. 
When external executive recruitment is necessary, compensation and contractual arrangements 
should be evaluated in consideration of market conditions, operational needs, and overall fiscal 
impact to the City. The Executive Continuity Program is intended to provide a cost-effective 
workforce continuity strategy that supports operational stability while minimizing long-term 
financial obligations. 
Organizational Alignment 
The Executive Continuity Program reflects the City of Tolleson’s commitment to stewardship, 
accountability, collaboration, and service excellence by supporting operational stability, 
workforce continuity, and the continued advancement of the City’s strategic goals.