CORRECTING A CLERICAL ERROR IN THE
MOU FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA’S UNIT
9 – POLICE SAFETY MANAGEMENT
City Council Meeting
July 26, 2022
Amy Reeve,
Director of Human Resources
Human Resources Department
1 BACKGROUND
The Police rank and file unit has bilingual pay of
5% for officers who are verbally fluent in Spanish
and a 3% pay incentive for officers who are not
verbally fluent but are able to converse in Spanish
well enough to complete a basic investigation.
Prior to 2007, the Police Managers Association
(PMA), 2006-2009 Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) covered only Sergeants and
provided for the same two levels of levels of bi-
lingual benefits as the police rank and file unit.
2 BACKGROUND
In March 2007, and January 2009, the Council
passed two separate resolutions recognizing the
PMA as the exclusive representative for the
Lieutenants and Captains.
The 2009-2011 PMA MOU, which was
subsequently negotiated, continued to provide
3% and 5% levels for Sergeants, but only the 5%
level for Lieutenants and Captains.
3 BACKGROUND
In March 2022, while reviewing payroll elements
it was discovered that, despite the MOU language
only providing a 3% level for Sergeants, the City
paid eligible Lieutenants and Captains at the 3%
and 5% levels, depending on their skill levels.
Once this was discovered, the City stopped paying
the benefit.
4 Analysis
The City investigated the omission of the 3% level
from the text of the PMA MOU and concluded that
the omission was a clerical error.
Because the employees actually received the
premium, this correction shall be deemed
retroactive to March 6, 2007, for pension
purposes. Employees who previously received
the premium would be reimbursed for the period
of March 1, 2022, to the date of Council approval
of the agreement.
5 Fiscal Impact
There will be no fiscal impact in the FY 2022-23
budget as the bilingual premium has been
included in the budget for salaries and benefits.
No additional funds for FY 2022-23 are required.
6 RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Human Resources
that Council, by resolution, authorize the City
Manager to execute a Side Letter Agreement to
correct a clerical error in the MOU for Santa
Rosa’s Unit 9 – Police Safety Management,
represented by the PMA that all Unit 9
employees will continue to be eligible for the
3% bilingual premium.
7 QUESTIONS?
8