Administrative
Report
H.13., File # 23-6881 Meeting Date: 10/17/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOE HOFFMAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
TITLE
APPROVE A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE REDONDO BEACH POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (POA) TO MODIFY THE REFERRAL BONUS PROVISION IN THE JANUARY 1, 2023 TO DECEMBER 31, 2025 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY AND
THE POA
APPROVE A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE REDONDO BEACH POLICE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION, POLICE MANAGEMENT UNIT (PMU), TO MODIFY THE REFERRAL BONUS PROVISION IN THE JANUARY 1, 2023 TO DECEMBER 31, 2025 MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY AND PMU
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council previously approved Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the Redondo Beach Police Officers Association (POA) and the Police Management Unit (PMU) for the term January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025. Both MOU’s include a lateral candidate incentive bonus and referral bonus provision. The negotiated side letters modify the MOU’s to add a referral bonus provision for the positions of Police Recruit and Pre-Service Police Officer. The MOU change is expected to improve the City’s recruitment ability for essential Police Department positions.
BACKGROUND
The current MOU’s with the Police Officers Association and Police Management Unit offer a Lateral Police Officer incentive bonus and a referral bonus for current association members.
Currently, lateral Police Officers hired by the City receive a $10,000 lateral incentive bonus. The lateral incentive bonus is paid as follows: $2,500 upon hire as a City of Redondo Beach employee, $2,500 when the new lateral officer completes field training, and $5,000 when the new lateral officer successfully completes probation which is typically one year from the hire date.
Current Redondo Beach POA or PMU members who refer a lateral candidate that is hired by the City are eligible to receive a $5,000 referral bonus. To be eligible for the referral bonus, the new lateral officer must list the existing employee on the job application at the time of application. The referral incentive bonus is paid as follows: $2,500 when the lateral officer begins his/her first day as a sworn RBPD officer, and $2,500 when the new lateral officer completes the field training program which typically takes three to six months.
The negotiated side letters modify the existing MOU’s, adding a referral bonus provision for the
H.13., File # 23-6881 Meeting Date: 10/17/2023
The negotiated side letters modify the existing MOU’s, adding a referral bonus provision for the positions of Police Recruit and Pre-Service Police Officer, subject to authorized funding. This additional provision would allow for current Redondo Beach POA and PMU members who refer a Police Recruit candidate that is hired by the City to receive a $2,000 referral bonus. As with the already established lateral police officer referral, the Police Recruit candidate must list the existing employee on the job application at the time of application. The referral incentive bonus would be paid as follows: $1,000 when the Police Recruit is hired, and $1,000 when the Police Officer completes the field training program.
A Pre-Service Police Officer is a candidate that has successfully completed the Police Academy prior to being hired by the City of Redondo Beach but has not completed a probationary period and, therefore, does not qualify to be hired as a lateral Police Officer. Current Redondo Beach POA or PMU members who refer a Pre-Service Police Officer candidate that is hired by the City would be eligible to receive a $3,000 referral bonus. As with the other positions, the Pre-Service Police Officer candidate must list the existing employee on the job application at the time of application. The referral incentive bonus for Pre-Service Police Officer would be paid as follows: $1,500 when the PreService Police Officer is hired, and $1,500 when the Police Officer completes the field training program.
The Police Department is actively recruiting Police Officers (lateral and pre-service) as well as Police Recruits. Recruitment in Law Enforcement has presented challenges in recent years and, as an organization, the Police Department continues to identify and implement creative solutions for maximizing recruitment efforts in order to achieve and maintain fully authorized staffing levels. With approval, both side letters shall expire on December 31, 2025, in conjunction with the expiration date of the existing MOU’s. It is expected that the modification to the referral bonus program will be included in future MOU’s.
COORDINATION
The Police Department coordinated preparation of the agreement with the Human Resources Department and the City Attorney’s Office. The side letters were negotiated and agreed to by the POA and PMU.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional appropriation of funds is requested associated with the approval of these recommended side letter agreements. The proposed MOU modifications specify that payment of any referral bonus is subject to the amount of authorized funding in the Police Department operating budget for the current fiscal year.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Side Letter POA
· Side Letter PMU