CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
11/14/2022
1 SUBJECT:
Side letter agreement between the City of Pacifica and the Pacifica Police Officer's Association (PPOA) regarding compensation adjustment for Police Officer Trainee classification.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a side letter agreement between the City of Pacifica and PPOA to amend the salary structure for the Police Officer Trainee classification to bring compensation for this position closer to market and make it more attractive for future recruitments.
STAFF CONTACT:
Yulia Carter, Assistant City Manager
650-740-2604
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Irene P. Camarena, Human Resources Manager
650-738-7303
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
Like many Bay Area agencies, the City has been experiencing critical recruitment and retention challenges, having to conduct multiple recruitments citywide. The current salary for the City's Police Trainee classification is much lower than in comparable cities. The Police Department has recently lost an applicant to a nearby city with a more generous compensation package. The most current applicant pool produced no qualified applicants to fill two (2) vacant positions, not including an upcoming retirement in November.
Due to recent failed recruitment efforts and in preparation for the restart of this ongoing recruitment, staff recommends setting the Police Trainee classification's salary at 5% below the Police Officer's classification beginning base salary. This action may help attract candidates to join the Pacifica Police department to fill vacancies due to retirements and medical leaves, which in turn helps improve department morale by reducing the amount of overtime required of officers and provides stability in the Police Department.
In compliance with the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) that regulates labor-management relations in California local government, staff has met and conferred in good faith with the PPOA to develop a Side Letter Agreement to memorialize the classification change as it relates to compensation for Police Trainee class. The proposed side letter is in recognition of the essential nature of services provided by this classification and to coincide with the City's efforts of bringing consistencies and internal alignment in compensation structure within all labor groups. In addition, adjusting the salary for this Police Trainee classification will bring the compensation level closer to comparable positions in the market and make upcoming recruitment more competitive.
Pacifica City Council 2
November 14, 2022
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Do not approve the recommended action and/or provide alternative direction to staff. Not approving this side letter will create operational hardship within the police department and present future recruitment challenges.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
The recommended action is consistent with the following Council goal:
"A Strong City Workforce Infrastructure" includes strategies to address employee retention and attraction challenges, engaging staff in decision-making, and recognizing staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fully-burdened budget impact of adjusting the Police Trainee classification from $5,799 to $7,180 per month (5% below the beginning salary step of the Police Officer classification of $7,539) is approximately $40,000 for a full year for two vacancies. However, the FY 2022-23 impact is projected to be marginal due to the timing of these recruitments and the Police Academy schedule and will be absorbed by current salary savings in the Police Department's budget, so no budget amendment is being requested at this time. If approved, this cost will be factored into the salary and benefits projections for the FY 2023-24 Base Budget.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Manager's Office
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Side Letter Agreement with PPOA & City - Police Trainee Compensation Final (DOCX) Pacifica City Council 3
November 14, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. -2022
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER IN A SIDE LETTER BETWEEN THE CITY OF
PACIFICA AND THE PACIFICA POLICE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION REGARDING ADJUSTING COMPENSATION FOR POLICE OFFICER TRAINEE CLASSIFICATION.
WHEREAS, on September 27, 2021, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute Memoranda of Understanding with Pacifica Police Officers Association for agreements effective from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023; and WHEREAS, the Memoranda of Understanding terms include a description of classifications represented by each labor group and salaries paid to each group's respective classifications; and
WHEREAS, said side letter agreement between the City of Pacifica and the Pacifica Police Officer's Association is detailed in Exhibit A, attached; and WHEREAS, it is the City's desire to maintain equity within the Police Department and attract and retain highly qualified employees to staff public safety services; and WHEREAS, City Manager recommends that the City Council approve the compensation adjustment for Police Trainee classifications effective after City Council approval November 14, 2022; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pacifica to authorize the City Manager to enter into a side letter providing compensation adjustment to the Police Trainee classification with an effective date of November 14, 2022. • • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on November 14, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________________
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Mary Bier, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ _________________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, City Attorney