People

Scott Kenley

Consultant

t: 415.678.3828
f: 415.678.3838
skenley@publiclawgroup.com

Job History

January 26, 1971 thru April 5, 1992 – City of Montclair Fire Department rising to the level of Division Chief.
April 6, 1992 thru December 23, 1996 – Fire Chief for the City of Brisbane, CA.
December 26, 1996 thru December 30, 2000 – Fire Chief for the City of Lodi, CA
September 2001 thru November 2005 – Consultant for Citygate Associates, LLC
April 16, 2003 thru June 1, 2010 – Part-time Fire Chief for the City of Angels Camp, CA
September 2004 to present – Senior Consultant with the Public Law Group

Adjunct Experience

Elected to the first Board of Directors of the Chino Valley Independent Fire District, serving as the Board’s first President – November 1990 to September 1992.
Adjunct Faculty for the University of Phoenix
Chair of Curriculum Development for the Management Series of the California State Fire Marshal’s Certification program.
Appointed to the State Board of Fire Services by Governor Wilson in 1994.
Served as President of the California Fire Chiefs Association – 1999/2000

Related Experience

In his role as Personnel Officer and Fire Chief, Mr. Kenley participated in the negotiation of successor agreements in the Cities of Montclair, Brisbane, Lodi and Angels Camp.

Mr. Kenley joined the firm in 2004 as one of the firm’s non-attorney labor negotiators. He represents public agencies as a lead negotiator in labor negotiations and provides assistance in arbitration cases and compensation and benefits surveys. His client list includes:

• City of Ceres in negotiations with all City bargaining units.
• City of East Palo Alto in negotiations with Police Officers Association.
• Town of Los Gatos in negotiations with the Police Officers Association
• City of Modesto in negotiations with Police Managers, Police Non-Safety and City Employees Associations.
• City of Napa in negotiations with Firefighters Association.
• City of Richmond in negotiations with Fire, Police and Non-safety negotiations.
• San Joaquin County in negotiations with Sheriff and Correctional Officer bargaining units.
• County of Sonoma in negotiations with the Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement Managers Associations and the Western Council of Engineers.
• City of Vallejo in concession bargaining with Police Officers and Firefighter Associations prior to the City’s declaration of bankruptcy.
• City of Walnut Creek in negotiations with the Police Officers and Police Managers Associations
• City of Watsonville in negotiations with Firefighters, Police Officers and Police Managers Associations.
• Yolo County in negotiations with In-Home Support Services and assistance in two arbitrations

Interim Fire Chief

As a Fire Chief in three separate organizations, Mr. Kenley has demonstrated his ability to provide leadership and motivate positive change. His unique skills can be an asset to any agency faced with the untimely or unplanned vacancy at the executive fire officer level. Not only is Mr. Kenley able to provide day-to-day management of an agency’s fire operations, but his proven abilities in organizational analysis and team building can assist in brining about positive change in the organization as an added benefit.

Mentorship and Succession Planning

Mr. Kenley is also capable of assisting in succession planning and mentoring newly appointed executive fire officers. As a result of his involvement in the development of the Fire Chief Certification process for the State Fire Marshal, Mr. Kenley is acutely aware of the specific knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to be a successful fire chief.

As a teacher and developer of curriculum for the California State Fire Academy, Scott has developed courses in interpersonal dynamics and company officer development. He has designed and delivered a one-week company officer academy for the City of San Bernardino. This course was targeted towards the newly appointed company officer.

Executive Recruitment and Promotional Testing

Mr. Kenley involvement at all levels of curriculum development for management and command classes for the State Fire Marshal’s office has given him an acute understanding of the specific knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to be successful at every level of management within the local fire agency. He has designed and facilitated several promotional assessment center processes for fire agencies throughout the State of California. Mr. Kenley’s testing process has never been grieved by any labor group associated with the more than fifteen different agencies where he has conducted promotional testing. His previous client list includes the cities/fire districts of: Brisbane; Foster City; Livermore/Pleasanton; Lodi; Mid-Carmel; Montclair; Monterey; Orange; Petaluma; Redwood City; Salinas; San Mateo; and, Woodside. He has also conducted executive recruitments for Fire Chief for the Mid-Carmel Fire District and Finance Director for the City of Brisbane.

Organizational Analysis

Mr. Kenley has applied the knowledge gained in his Masters studies in the completion of over fifteen management audits of organizations including fire agencies and non-profit groups. In every project, a significant number Mr. Kenley’s recommendations have been adopted, resulting a significant positive change in the level of service provided to the community and enhanced organizational channels of communication. Mr. Kenley’s client list in this discipline include: Saginaw Township, MI; City of Peoria, AZ; Fresno County, CA; City of Brentwood, CA; East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, CA; City of Sierra Madre, CA; Salida Fire Protection District, CA; North Tahoe Fire Protection District, CA; Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove and Lodi; and, City of Lodi.

Review and Development of Policies and Procedures

Mr. Kenley has developed the policy and procedures for four separate fire service organizations. His experience as adjunct faculty for the University of Phoenix has given him the expertise in the areas of human resource management and adherence to labor law.

Training and Facilitation in resource management; Interpersonal dynamics, employee development, and team building

Mr. Kenley has a diverse level of knowledge, skills and abilities when it comes to training, employee development and facilitation of team building. His studies in organizational behavior has resulted in the proven ability to analyze, identify and resolve interpersonal and organizational conflict. In addition, his innate ability to focus on the positive has resulted in successful resolution of extremely complex and potentially harmful organizational conflicts.

Certification

State of California Certified Fire Chief