CITY OF COSTA MESA
Agenda Report
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
File #: 26-117 Meeting Date: 2/3/2026
TITLE:
DESIGNATION OF CITY NEGOTIATORS FOR THE COSTA MESA POLICE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION (CMPMA), THE COSTA MESA POLICE ASSOCIATION (CMPA) AND THE COSTA MESA CITY EMPLOYEES’ASSOCIATION (CMCEA) LABOR NEGOTIATIONS PROCESSES AND
AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT
MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING (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:
1. Designate City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly as the City’sPrincipal Negotiator, Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’s representatives in negotiations with the CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA.
2. Designate Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Partner Peter Brown to serve as legal counsel during negotiations with the CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA.
3. Authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) completed per the requirements of the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy.
BACKGROUND:
Per the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy (300-8), 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 and/or Principal Negotiator may also designate additional employee(s) to be present during negotiations and to assist the Principal Negotiator as the City Council and/or Principal Negotiator deem appropriate.
File #: 26-117 Meeting Date: 2/3/2026
ANALYSIS:
The current Memoranda of Understanding for CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA expire on June 30, 2026.
Representatives from CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA have requested the City begin discussions on successor MOUs.
Staff recommends that City Council designate City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’srepresentatives in negotiations with the CMPMA, CMPA, and CMCEA. Staff also recommends that Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Partner Peter Brown serve as legal counsel during the negotiations process.
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 CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA MOUs completed per the requirements of the policy.
ALTERNATIVES:
An alternative is to propose other designated representative(s).
FISCAL REVIEW:
The funds for outside legal counsel for labor negotiations are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget in the City Manager’s Department in the General Fund (Fund 101).
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 Improve the Quality of Life · Achieve Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability
File #: 26-117 Meeting Date: 2/3/2026
CONCLUSION:
1. Designate City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly as the City’sPrincipal Negotiator, Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’s representatives in negotiations with the CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA.
2. Designate Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Partner Peter Brown to serve as legal counsel during negotiations with the CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA.
3. Authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMPMA, CMPA and CMCEA MOUs completed per the requirements of the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy.