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AGENDA ITEM NO. 10.
CITY OF HAWTHORNE City Council AGENDA BILL For the meeting of 02/10/2026 Originating Department: Human Resources |
City Manager:
Department Head:
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTION NO. 8587 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA APPOINTING ERIC LANE AS THE POLICE CHIEF, APPROVING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, AND ADOPTING THE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE CHIEF
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 8587, appointing Eric Lane as the Police Chief, approving an employment Agreement, and adopting the salary schedule for the position of Police Chief.
DISCUSSION:
Eric Lane is currently serving as Acting Police Chief following the retirement of former Chief Gary Tomatani, who served as Police Chief from 2002 until December 2025. Acting Chief Lane has been employed with the City since 2001, initially as a patrol officer and then rising through various divisions of the Hawthorne Police Department, with promotions to Sergeant in 2008, Lieutenant in 2014, and Captain in 2020. Acting Chief Lane is proposed to be appointed as the Police Chief on February 9, 2026.
Chief Lane’s annual salary as Police Chief will be $360,000, as specified in the Employment Agreement attached to the Resolution. He will be eligible to receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment of up to 2% subject to the City Manager’s approval and the City’s positive fiscal condition. He will not be eligible for longevity pay or any other compensation or benefits provided under the Hawthorne Police Management Group (HPMSG) Memorandum of Understanding.
The terms of Chief Lane’s Employment Agreement provide that the City will contribute $1,500 per month to Chief Lane’s deferred compensation plan. Chief Lane will be given health insurance, vision insurance and dental insurance at the rate specified in the employment agreement (Exhibit A of the attached Resolution).
Chief Lane will be entitled to holiday pay for specified and standard recognized holidays, and he will accrue vacation leave at the rate of 8.7 hours per bi-monthly pay period and sick leave at the rate of 5.06 hours for each bi-weekly pay period. Chief Lane may cash out up to 140 hours of vacation time annually, and he may cash out up to 140 hours of sick time annually. Chief Lane is entitled to 200 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Administrative leave accrues at the rate of 7.70 hours per biweekly pay period and accrues on an unlimited basis, and he will be entitled to any accumulated administrative leave at the time of separation or retirement. Chief Lane will be entitled to bereavement leave of five (5) consecutive days for the death of specified family members. Chief Lane will be provided the use of a city-owned, take-home vehicle.
Chief Lane will be provided with a term life insurance policy of $50,000, accidental death & dismemberment insurance policy of $50,000, a long-term disability plan, outpatient element of the Managed Health Network and all qualified dependents, and a complete medical examination at City expense each 36 month period. The City will pay the entire 9% portion of Chief Lane's contribution to Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the City will continue to provide Chief Lane with the PERS 3% at 50 plan and specified optional public agency contract provisions.
The City will also provide the following optional contract provisions:
The proposed Resolution also approves the salary schedule for the position of both the Police Chief, which is a requirement of the California Public Employees Retirement System’s (PERS) rules and regulations. The salary schedule is required to be formally adopted by the City Council and be made publicly available consistent with PERS regulations. The salary ranges for the Police Chief as shown on Exhibit B of the attached Resolution are hereby effective for the period February 9, 2026.
Chief Lane’s annual salary as Police Chief will be $360,000, as specified in the Employment Agreement attached to the Resolution. He will be eligible to receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment of up to 2% subject to the City Manager’s approval and the City’s positive fiscal condition. He will not be eligible for longevity pay or any other compensation or benefits provided under the Hawthorne Police Management Group (HPMSG) Memorandum of Understanding.
The terms of Chief Lane’s Employment Agreement provide that the City will contribute $1,500 per month to Chief Lane’s deferred compensation plan. Chief Lane will be given health insurance, vision insurance and dental insurance at the rate specified in the employment agreement (Exhibit A of the attached Resolution).
Chief Lane will be entitled to holiday pay for specified and standard recognized holidays, and he will accrue vacation leave at the rate of 8.7 hours per bi-monthly pay period and sick leave at the rate of 5.06 hours for each bi-weekly pay period. Chief Lane may cash out up to 140 hours of vacation time annually, and he may cash out up to 140 hours of sick time annually. Chief Lane is entitled to 200 hours of administrative leave per calendar year. Administrative leave accrues at the rate of 7.70 hours per biweekly pay period and accrues on an unlimited basis, and he will be entitled to any accumulated administrative leave at the time of separation or retirement. Chief Lane will be entitled to bereavement leave of five (5) consecutive days for the death of specified family members. Chief Lane will be provided the use of a city-owned, take-home vehicle.
Chief Lane will be provided with a term life insurance policy of $50,000, accidental death & dismemberment insurance policy of $50,000, a long-term disability plan, outpatient element of the Managed Health Network and all qualified dependents, and a complete medical examination at City expense each 36 month period. The City will pay the entire 9% portion of Chief Lane's contribution to Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the City will continue to provide Chief Lane with the PERS 3% at 50 plan and specified optional public agency contract provisions.
The City will also provide the following optional contract provisions:
- One-year highest compensation (Gov’t Code Section 20042)
- Military service credited as public service (Gov’t Code Section 21024)
- 1959 Survivors Benefit (Gov’t Code Section 21573)
- Post-retirement survivor allowance to continue after remarriage (Gov’t Code Section 21635)
- Pre-retirement death benefit (Gov’t Code Section 21548)
- Continuance of death benefits after re-marriage (Gov’t Code Section 21551).
The proposed Resolution also approves the salary schedule for the position of both the Police Chief, which is a requirement of the California Public Employees Retirement System’s (PERS) rules and regulations. The salary schedule is required to be formally adopted by the City Council and be made publicly available consistent with PERS regulations. The salary ranges for the Police Chief as shown on Exhibit B of the attached Resolution are hereby effective for the period February 9, 2026.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN:
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No impact.
NOTICING PROCEDURE:
72 hours posted notice pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act.