ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 21, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Job Specs & Salary Updates TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Christi Tenter, Human Resources Director
DATE: January 9, 2026
SUBJECT: Resolutions Approving Salaries and Benefits for Related Units
1. Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding for employees of the Firefighters and Engineers Unit and adopting salary schedule and related benefits.
2. Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding for employees of the Fire Supervisory Units and adopting salary schedule and related benefits.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolutions.
BACKGROUND:
The most current labor negotiations between the City of Bakersfield and the employees in fire classifications, represented by Bakersfield Professional Fire Association (BPFA), were recently concluded and have resulted in a proposed two (2) year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). A summary of MOU terms are highlighted below:
Term is from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027;
General language clean-up; and
Compensation:
o Amended language for education pay eligibility to maintain intended benefit levels; o 2% effective the first full pay period following City Council adoption; o 1.6% effective the first full pay period following July 1, 2026.
This proposed agreement has been tentatively agreed to by both the City and BPFA and is consistent with Council approved guidelines. City staff is appreciative of BPFA for working towards an agreement in a challenging budget environment.
With approval of the Resolution this has all represented units are under agreement with the exception of the Bakersfield Police Officers Association (BPOA). Staff continues to seek agreements and have all units under an agreement.
New salary ranges for included classifications are provided in the MOU for addition to the salary schedule.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the recommended salary increases for the remainder of the current fiscal year is $966,018, estimated at full headcount. Budget allocations will be expended using year-to-date personnel vacancy savings and other operational cost savings initiatives. Future allocations, which will be based on approved headcount, will be allocated in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Fire RES 2026 FFFeng
2. Fire RES 2026 Fire Sup
3. FF ENG MOUT 2025-27
4. Fire Sup MOU 2025-27