STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 17
10/13/2026
TN
Date: October 13, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: George N. Harris II, Deputy City Manager/Treasurer Trolis Niebla, City Manager
Subject: First Amendment to the Teamsters Local 986 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), amending the Employee Classification and Compensation Schedule, and Increasing FTE count.
Recommendation:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26__, amending Resolution 26-XX, establishing the first amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Lancaster and the California Teamsters Public, Professional, and Medical Employees Union, Local 986, establishing newly represented classification of employees and the following changes:
• Addition of the following full-time classifications to the California Teamsters Public, Professional, and Medical Employees Union, Local 986
o Administrative Assistant
o Technician I
o Technician II
o Engineering Technician
o Senior Engineering Technician
o Dispatcher Trainee
o Dispatcher I
o Dispatcher II
o Specialist I
o Specialist II
o Senior Specialist
o Code Enforcement Officer
o Senior Code Enforcement Officer
• Amendment to Article 6 – Overtime: employees designated by the City as exempt from FLSA overtime pay requirements do not receive FLSA-Exempt employees are exempt
• Amendment to Article 12 - the Uniforms & Boot/Pant Reimbursement • Addition of Article 25, Section 13 – Dispatcher Training Pay • Addition of Appendix B – Salary Schedules including the newly recognized classifications
2. Adopt Resolution No. 26__, amending Resolution 26-XX, establishing a compensation schedule for various classifications of employees of the City of Lancaster and establishing the following changes:
• Adding one (1) full-time equivalent (FTE) position to the Lancaster Police Department, increase the City of Lancaster’s total FTE count from 372 to 373. • Reclassifying one vacant Police Officer position in the Lancaster Police Department to a Dispatcher I position
• Removal of the following classifications from the 4000 series Tier 1 employee group:
o Specialist II, Senior Specialist, Accountant, Inspector, and Senior Engineering Technician
• Removal of the following classifications from the 4000 series Tier 2 employee group:
o Specialist I/II, Senior Specialist, Administrative Assistant, Engineering Technician and Senior Engineering Technician
• Removal of the following classifications from the 5000 series employee group:
o Technician I/II and Dispatcher I/II/Trainee
• Addition of the following classifications to the 6000 series employee group:
o Technician I/II and Dispatcher I/II/Trainee
• Establishing the 6500 series Tier 1 employee group classifications and associated benefits
• Establishing the 6500 series Tier 2 employee group classifications and associated benefits
• Addition of the following classification to 8000 series:
o Police Communications Call Taker
3. Appropriate $24,000 in additional funds to support the addition of one (1) Dispatcher I position in the Lancaster Police Department
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
The reclassification of the vacant Police Officer position in the Lancaster Police Department to a Dispatcher I position will have a net saving for the 2026 – 2027 fiscal year. The addition of a Dispatcher I position with the net saving applied from the reclassification of the Police Officer position will need an estimated $24,000 in additional funding. Actual costs may vary based on the hire date and the salary step at which the position is filled.
Background:
On June 12, 2026, the City Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Lancaster and the California Teamsters Public, Professional, and Medical Employees Union, Local 986 (Teamsters). Following the MOU’s adoption, employees voted on whether additional classifications would be represented by the Teamsters 986 union. The classifications identified previously under Recommendations No. 1, have elected to join the California Teamsters Public, Professional, and Medical Employees Union, Local 986 (Teamsters). With the addition of these new classifications to the Teamsters Union additional amendments to the MOU were needed to clarify provisions concerning uniform & boot/pant reimbursement, overtime pay, and dispatcher training pay.
As the Lancaster Police Department approaches full staffing and assumes traffic responsibility from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, executive leadership has identified a need for additional dispatcher support. To address this need, the City proposes repurposing the funding and one FTE from a vacant Police Officer position to establish two additional Dispatcher I positions. This change would increase the City’s total FTE count by one, from 372 to 373, and require an additional estimated $24,000 in funds. The actual funding required will depend on hire dates and step placement.
Attachment:
Resolution 26-XX Compensation Schedule
First Amendment to MOU between the City of Lancaster and California Teamsters Public, Professional, and Medical Employee Union, Local 986
Appendix B