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March 4, 2025
ITEM TITLE
Employee Compensation, Bargaining Agreement and Amended Position Counts: Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with IAFF; Revised Compensation Schedule; and Amended Position Counts
Report Number: 25-0063
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Human Resources
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: No
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt resolutions: A) approving a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Chula Vista and International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2180 (“IAFF”) related to compensation and other terms and conditions of employment; and B) approving the revised Fiscal Year 2024 -25 Compensation Schedule effective March 7, 202 5, as required by California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5 ; and (C) amending the authorized departmental position count in the Fire Department.
SUMMARY
The Memor andum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Chula Vista and the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2180 (“IAFF”) expired on December 31, 2024. Over the last few months, representatives from IAFF and the City have worked collaboratively toward the development of a mutually beneficial MOU. An agreement was reached on a successor MOU to include the term of the MOU, salary adjustments, and various provisions of the MOU. Salary adjustments for positio ns represented by IAFF necessitate amendments to the City’s Compensation Schedule.
Staff is also recommending approval of (1) the revised Fiscal Year 2024-25 Compensation Schedule effective March 7, 2025, to reflect salary adjustments for positions represented by IAFF and their unclassified hourly P a g e | 2
counterparts and (2) amendments to the fiscal year 2024-25 budget to allocate nine Firefighter-A positions to the Measure A Sales Tax Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Allocation of the nine Firefighter-A positions to Measure A was presented at a Special Meeting of the Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee on February 27, 2025. Their recommendation was not available at the time of publication.
DISCUSSION
IAFF Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understa nding (“MOU”) between the City of Chula Vista and the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2180 (“IAFF”) expired on December 31, 2024. Over the last few months, representatives from IAFF and the City have worked collaboratively toward the dev elopment of a mutually beneficial MOU.
The City and IAFF have met and conferred in good faith, as required by the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (Govt.
Code Section 3500 et. seq.; “MMBA”) and reached agreement on the terms of a successor MOU, including the term of the MOU (to expire December 31, 2027), salary adjustments, the addition of a sixth step and longevity pay, and language clean-up to various provisions of the MOU. Below is a summary of the significant points of the agreement reached:
1. Term and Effect: March 4, 2025 - December 31, 2027
2. Salary Adjustments
a. 7% salary increase in the first full pay period following City Council approval via resolution in open session
b. 6% salary increase the first full pay period of January 2026 c. 6% salary increase the first full pay period of January 2027
3. Addition of Sixth Step
A sixth salary step, 5% above the current fifth step, will be created and added to the salary schedule for all IAFF represented classifications.
4. Longevity Pay
3.5% increase in base pay when the y have served fifteen (15) or more complete years of full -time service with the Chula Vista Fire Department in a classification represented by this IAFF MOU.
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The IAFF membership ratified their vote on a successor MOU to include the proposed salary and benefits on February 26, 2025.
Compensation Schedule Requirement
California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5 requires that, for purposes of determining a retiring employee's pension allowance, the pay rate be limited to the amount listed on a pay schedule that meets certain requirements, including approval by the City’s governing body in accordance with the requirements of applicable public meeting laws. The revised Fiscal Year 2024-25 Compensation Schedule ("Compensation Schedule") was last approved by the City Council at their meeting on February 11, 2025.
Adoption of Resolution B approves the revised Fiscal Year 2024-25 Compensation Schedule effective March 7, 2025, reflecting the salary adjustments for positions represented by IAFF and their unclassified, hourly counterparts.
The Compensation Schedules reflecting these revisions is Attachment 2 to this staff report.
Authorized Position Count in the Fire Department
Measure A Sales Tax Fund currently funds the fourth Firefighter-A position at various stations throughout the City to implement 4-0 staffing to enhance public safety and operational efficiencies. Currently there are nine Firefighter-A positions that are not funded by Measure A Sales Tax Fund located at Stations 1, 3 and 7.
Staff is recommending allocating the remaining nine Firefighter-A positions to the Measure A Sales Tax Fund, as shown on the table below, creating uniformity with this classification citywide.
Department Position Title FTE
General Fund
Fire Firefighter – A -9.00
General Fund Total -9.00
Measure A Sales Tax Fund
Fire Firefighter – A 9.00
Measure A Sales Tax Fund Total 9.00
All Funds Total 0.00
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
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Staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The current-year fiscal impact this action is estimated to total $1,391,969 across all funds, as reflected in the table below:
Fund Personnel
General Fund $ 635,666
Measure A Sales Tax Fund 719,750
Transport Enterprise Fund 36,553
Total Fiscal Impact $ 1,391,969
A portion of these costs were included within the fiscal year 2024 -25 adopted budget. Staff anticipates that the additional costs will be mitigated within the current appropriations of the General Fund, Measure A Sales Tax Fund, and Transport Enterprise Fund. Staff will continue to monitor throughout the year and bring forward any necessary adjustments with future Quarterly Financial Reports.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The ongoing fiscal impact of th is action is estimated to total $4,681,575 in fiscal year 2025 -26 and $7,828,429 in fiscal year 2026 -27, and 10,108,263 in fiscal year 2027 -28. Ongoing personnel costs will be incorporated into the subsequent fiscal year budgets. The fiscal impact in all funds is reflected in the following table:
Fund FY2025-26 FY2026-27 FY2027-28
General Fund $ 2,000,945 $ 4,175,465 $ 5,731,457 Measure A Sales Tax Fund 2,567,708 3,403,732 4,067,639 Transport Enterprise Fund 152,922 248,231 309,167 Total Fiscal Impact $ 4,681,575 $ 7,828,428 $ 10,108,263
ATTACHMENTS
1. Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Chula Vista and International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2180, for the Period of March 4, 2025 to December 31, 2027
2. Revised Fiscal Year 2024-25 Compensation Schedule Effective March 7, 2025
Staff Contact: Tanya Tomlinson, Director of Human Resources/Risk Management