STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
September 22, 2026
CONSENT
CALENDAR
18 SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH AND
THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TERM OF OCTOBER 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027, AND AN UPDATE TO THE CITY’S SALARY SCHEDULE TO REFLECT UPDATED TERMS OF
EMPLOYMENT
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, UPDATING THE CITY’S SALARY SCHEDULE, AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT” 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;
3. Approve the updated City of Laguna Beach Classification Title and Range Assignments to reflect the update terms of employment for those members of the Laguna Beach Police Employees' Association; and
4. 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 October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The Agreement provides for salary adjustments, benefit clarifications, implementation of the City’s Class and Compensation Study, and updates to several personnel provisions affecting both sworn and non-sworn employees.
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 September 30, 2026.
Negotiations for a successor agreement commenced this summer and concluded with a Tentative Agreement reached on September 16, 2026. Notable terms of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) include:
• Term: October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH AND THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TERM OF OCTOBER 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027
September 22, 2026
• Implementation of the City’s Class and Compensation Study: The City implemented the revised classification structure, specifications, and salary schedule. In applying the study to current LBPEA
APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH AND THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TERM OF OCTOBER 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027
September 22, 2026
members, employees were placed in the applicable new salary range and step without a reduction in individual salary
• Salary Increase: 3.0% for Sworn; 3.0% for Professional – Non-Sworn • Elimination of Exceptional Performance Pay: Sworn & Professional – Non-Sworn • Addition of Longevity Pay: Sworn, 5% @ 10 years service w/ the City and/or California Peace Officer classifications; Professional – Non-Sworn, 3.5% @ 10 years of service w/ the City; Professional – Non-Sworn Public Safety Dispatchers, 3.5% 10 years of service/ the City and/or in applicable California Dispatcher classifications
The LBPEA has ratified this Agreement and staff recommends City Council authorize its execution. Also attached to the proposed Resolution (Attachment 2) is the updated City of Laguna Beach Classification Title and Range Assignments and Salary Schedule to reflect the update terms of employment for those members of the Laguna Beach Police Employees' Association. Staff recommend approval of this salary schedule with direction to the City Manager, or the City Manager’s designee, to update the salary schedule if there were any calculation or scrivener’s errors.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The estimated increase in costs associated with the Agreement from the last agreement is an increase of $1,009,764 for the term October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The Fiscal Year 2026/27 impact is approximately $757,323. Sufficient funding is available in the General Fund-Non-Departmental Division Budget for Fiscal Year 2026/27 (1101781). Some terms of the Agreement could not be fully costed due to the uncertainty of the financial impact of some of the provisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as defined in CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (b)(5) because this constitutes an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
a. Attachment 1 - MOU with LBPEA
b. Attachment 2 - Amendments to Salary Schedule to Reflect Updated Amounts per MOU Submitted By: Patrick Donegan Approved: .David A Kiff
Patrick Donegan, Assistant City
Attorney
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Patrick Donegan, Assistant City Attorney