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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Side Letter of Agreement between the City of Glendale and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 18.
1. Motion Approving the Side Letter Agreement Modifying Language in the IBEW Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) effective August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2027 regarding the provision of pay for Fiber Optic Cable Splicing.
2. Motion Approving the Publicly Available Pay Schedule for the Pay Period Including October 20, 2026 for IBEW, Local 18.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for October 20, 2026 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a contracting agency of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the City of Glendale is subject to statutory and regulatory requirements governing the reporting of compensation for pension calculation purposes. These requirements include the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), and applicable provisions of the California Code of Regulations (CCR).
Recently the City learned that the Fiber Optic Cable Splicing Assignment Pay provision, as written in the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), did not meet CalPERS regulatory requirements and was not considered pensionable compensation by CalPERS. The City has since ceased reporting this assignment pay to CalPERS as special compensation. To address this issue, the City and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18 (IBEW) negotiated a Side Letter Agreement modifying their MOU, which covers the period of August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2027. The Agreement revises compensation, job duties, and training requirements related to Cityowned fiber optic cable.
Effective immediately, the Agreement provides a five percent salary increase for employees in eight job classifications currently occupied by nineteen employees. The Agreement also deletes the existing one and three quarters percent (1.75%) Fiber Optic Cable Splicing Assignment Pay provision.
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The corresponding job descriptions will be updated to include duties involving the installation, splicing, and maintenance of City-owned fiber optic cable, establishing fiber optic cable splicing as an essential function of each affected classification.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Side Letter of Agreement between the City of Glendale and IBEW Local 18 regarding fiber optic cable duties and compensation and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement. Approve the Publicly Available Pay Schedule for the Pay Period Including October 20, 2026 for IBEW, Local 18.
ANALYSIS
During a recent meeting with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18 (IBEW), and City representatives, the City learned that the Fiber Optic Cable Splicing Assignment Pay provision, as written in the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), did not meet CalPERS regulatory requirements and was not considered pensionable compensation by CalPERS. The City has since ceased reporting this assignment pay to CalPERS as special compensation.
The current MOU includes Article Two, Section XIII, Assignment Pay – Fiber Optic Cable Splicing. Under this provision, employees in specified classifications receive assignment pay of 1.75% above their current base salary upon voluntary completion of a formalized training program on the splicing and maintenance of City-owned fiber optic cable.
The assignment pay applies to all regular work hours and overtime hours worked.
Effective October 20, 2026, the proposed Agreement deletes the existing assignment pay provision and provides a 5% salary increase for employees in the following eight job classifications, which are currently occupied by a total of 19 employees:
• Electrical Test Technician I
• Electrical Test Technician II
• Senior Electrical Test Technician
• Station Electric/Operator Apprentice
• Station Electric/Operator
• Station Electric/Operator Supervisor I
• Electrical Mechanical Assistant
• Electrical Mechanic Supervisor I
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The Agreement requires the job description for each listed classification to be amended to include duties involving the installation, splicing, and maintenance of City-owned fiber optic cable. It also requires all employees covered by this provision to receive formalized training on the splicing and maintenance of City-owned fiber optic cable.
Together, the salary increases, revised job descriptions, and training requirement establish fiber optic cable responsibilities within these classifications, while deletion of the existing assignment pay provision eliminates the separate compensation provision for these duties. Formalized training in the splicing and maintenance of City-owned fiber optic cable will be mandatory for all employees covered by the provision. Because the classifications receiving the 5% salary increase differ from those covered by the assignment pay provision being deleted, implementation must account for the employees affected by each provision.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
The net impact of the 5% increase is an increase of approximately $72,490 in salaries, and $34,281 in benefits, for a total increase of $106,771 for the remainder of the fiscal year. The entirety of the cost will be within the Electric Works Revenue Fund (Fund 5820), which can absorb this increase within its existing FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget.
No additional appropriation is being requested.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
This item is exempt from CEQA/NEPA requirements as an administrative activity.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. The City Council may decline to approve the Agreement. Consequently, the proposed salary increases, job description changes, training requirement, and deletion of assignment pay would not be implemented under this Agreement. Failure to approve the Side Letter will fail to bring the Fiber Optic Cable Splicing compensation into compliance for pension calculation purposes and result in adverse impact to retirees.
2. The City Council may direct staff to return to discussions with IBEW Local 18 regarding revised terms. Any revised agreement would require agreement by the parties and subsequent Council consideration.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
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Submitted by:
Scott Mellon, General Manager, Glendale Water and Power Paula Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer
Prepared by:
Paula Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
1. Side letter agreement between the City of Glendale and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18.
2. Publicly Available Pay Schedule for the Pay Period Including October 20, 2026.