BACKGROUND:
The Cathedral City Fire Management Association (CCFMA) represents all full-time sworn employees of the Cathedral City Fire Department of the rank of Fire Captain and above, with the exception of the Fire Chief. On September 28, 2023, the City Council ratified the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is in effect from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
With the addition of the Deputy Fire Chief position, which would fall under the CCFMA based on their MOU, staff entered into negotiations to remove the position from the CCFMA MOU in order to make the position a non-represented employee based on their responsibilities, which are more in-line with the Fire Chief position, which is exempt.
DISCUSSION:
At the conclusion of the negotiations with the CCFMA, it was agreed to enter into a side letter agreement to include the following:
A. The Cathedral City Fire Management Association is recognized under the provisions of the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act of the State of California as the majority representative of the following employees: All full-time sworn employees of the Cathedral City Fire Department of the rank of Fire Captain and above, except the Deputy Chief and Fire Chief.
8.2 (e).
1. For employees hired prior to January 7, 2015, only, a 7.5% longevity pay adjustment shall occur after fifteen (15) years of City employment; an additional 5% longevity pay adjustment shall occur after twenty (20) years; and an additional 2.5% longevity pay adjustment shall occur after twenty-five (25) years of City employment.
2. For employees hired on or after January 7, 2015, a 2.5% longevity pay adjustment shall occur after fifteen (15) years of City employment; an additional 5% longevity pay adjustment shall occur after twenty (20) years; and an additional 7.5% longevity pay adjustment shall occur after twenty-five (25) years of City employment. This provision shall not apply retroactively and is only effective prospectively, following ratification.
A side letter is a supporting document added to an existing contract clarifying or supporting certain terms within. A side letter agreement makes it easy for contract parties to provide clarifying or supporting information to the existing agreement, which eliminates the need to draw and sign a new contract. The side letter agreement can make it possible for an existing agreement to become more legally enforceable versus the existing language within. The City Manager has the authority to enter into a side letter agreement with the exception of those that include special compensation under CalPERS regulation Section 571 (b). Under this regulation, the aforementioned side letter would need to be approved by the governing body.
Staff recommends the City Council approve the longevity special compensation 8.2(e) as required by CalPERS Section 571(b) allowing the City Manager to enter into a side letter agreement amending the fire management group representation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None