STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
December 9, 2025
CONSENT
17 SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA
BEACH AND THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TERM OF JANUARY 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Resolution titled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, RATIFYING THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION” approving the Agreement between the City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Police Employees' Association;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the related Memorandum of Understanding, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
3. Find that the action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1), approving the Agreement between the City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Police Employees’ Association (LBPEA) for the term January 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026. The Agreement provides for salary adjustments, benefit clarifications, and updates to several personnel provisions affecting both sworn and non-sworn employees.
The Agreement is the result of a collaborative negotiation process and, in addition to a salary increase, includes several improvements intended to enhance clarity and consistency. These include updated language on vacation and sick leave accruals, streamlined processes for promotional and salary steps, and technical edits to reduce administrative ambiguity. Additionally, the Agreement reflects efforts to align with current legal standards and City practices.
The shortened nine-month term allows the City to revisit compensation terms following the expected completion of a comprehensive Classification and Compensation Study, which will provide updated market data. The study is anticipated to be concluded by the end of 2025, with findings scheduled for presentation to the City Council in January 2026.
The estimated cost of implementing the Agreement is approximately $518,000 annually, with $259,000 allocated for the remaining six months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26. This cost has been incorporated into the adopted FY 2025-26 budget. The action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is therefore exempt from environmental review.
APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH AND
THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TERM OF JANUARY 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
December 9, 2025
DISCUSSION
.The Laguna Beach Police Employees' Association represents both sworn and professional (non-sworn) employees of the Police Department. The prior agreement was set to expire on December 31, 2025.
Negotiations for a successor agreement commenced in Fall 2025 and concluded with a Tentative Agreement reached on October 29, 2025.
Notable terms of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) include:
• Term: January 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026
• Salary Adjustments:
o 4.0% base salary increase for sworn classifications
o 3.5% increase for Dispatchers and Support Services Supervisor o 3.0% increase for all other professional classifications • Clarifications to holiday provisions
• Added Administrative Sergeant Pay
o Additional compensation at 5% of base pay
The Association ratified the Tentative Agreement on November 13, 2025, and staff recommends City Council adoption.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The estimated cost associated with the Tentative Agreement for the term of January 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026, is approximately $535,842. These costs for the period from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026, have been budgeted in the adopted FY 2025-26 operating budget. No additional appropriations are required.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it does not result in a physical change in the environment.
Accordingly, no CEQA review is required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution – Approving the Tentative Agreement with the LBPEA (Pgs. 4-5)
2. Exhibit A – Memorandum of Understanding: January 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026 (Pgs. 6-46) Submitted By: Approved:
.David A Kiff
Gavin Curran, Assistant City
Manager Dave Kiff, City Manager
APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH AND
THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TERM OF JANUARY 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
December 9, 2025
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Gavin Curran, Assistant City Manager Michelle Bannigan, Finance Director Peter Brown, Labor Attorney