CITY OF COSTA MESA
Agenda Report
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
File #: 24-052 Meeting Date: 2/20/2024
TITLE:
DESIGNATION OF CITY NEGOTIATORS FOR THE COSTA MESA CITY FIRE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION (CMFMA) MEET AND CONFER AND AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT MOU PER THE TRANSPARENCY IN LABOR
NEGOTIATIONS COUNCIL POLICY
DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE- HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION PRESENTED BY: KASAMA LEE, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: KASAMA LEE, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER (714) 754- 5169
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Designate City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, Human Resources Administrator Fanni Acosta and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’srepresentatives in negotiations with the CMFMA.
2. Authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMFMA 2017-2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) completed per the requirements of the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy.
BACKGROUND:
Per the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy, the City Council must designate a Principal Negotiator who “shall have extensive prior experience in negotiating public employee collective bargaining agreements and shall be free from any actual or potential conflict of interest with respect to the bargaining unit.” The City shall also be represented by legal counsel whether or not legal counsel is designated as the Principal Negotiator.
The City Council may also designate one more employee(s) to be present during negotiations and to assist the Principal Negotiator as the City Council and/or Principal Negotiator deem appropriate.
ANALYSIS:
Staff recommends that City Council designate City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, Human Resources Administrator Fanni Acosta and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’s representatives in negotiations with the CMFMA. Staff also recommends that Liebert Cassidy
File #: 24-052 Meeting Date: 2/20/2024
representatives in negotiations with the CMFMA. Staff also recommends that Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Partner Peter Brown serve as legal counsel during negotiations with CMFMA.
Furthermore, Section 2 Economic Analysis of the policy requires that the Finance Director prepare an economic analysis that must be verified by an independent auditor. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMFMA MOU completed per the requirements of the policy.
ALTERNATIVES:
An alternative is to propose other designated representative(s).
FISCAL REVIEW:
The funds are budgeted in the General Fund in the Human Resources Division budget for outside legal counsel for negotiations.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the report and approved as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goals:
· Recruit and Retain High Quality Staff
· Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improvement Quality of Life CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Designate City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, Human Resources Administrator Fanni Acosta and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’srepresentatives in negotiations with the CMFMA.
2. Authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMFMA 2017-2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) completed per the requirements of the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy