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Date: May 5, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
By: Jamie Le, Assistant to the City Manager | [email protected] Subject: City Manager – Approve Side Letter Agreements Between Management and Represented City of Torrance Employee Groups. Expenditure: Approximately $1,513,500 (General Fund).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council:
1. Approve a Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Lead Wireless Technician Training Premiums; and
2. Approve a Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and Management Regarding Special Event Assignment Double-time; and
3. Approve a Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and Management Regarding Holiday Pay; and
4. Approve a Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Police Officers Associations (TPOA) and Management Regarding Special Event Assignment Double-time.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the fiscal year 2025-26 General Fund operating fund and is anticipated to be available in subsequent fiscal years.
DISCUSSION
Management and the various employee groups have produced "side letter'' agreements to address issues that come up in between contract negotiations. A side letter is an agreement between an employer and union that typically: (1) modifies, clarifies, or interprets an existing provision in an MOU; or (2) addresses issues of interest to the parties that are not otherwise covered by the MOU. Such agreements need to be approved by City Council in open session.
This is particularly important if the side letter agreement pertains to potential PERSable income (i.e. salary adjustment) and Premiums. As such, Staff requests the formal approval by City Council of the following side letter agreements:
1. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Lead Wireless Technician Training Premiums
1 City Council
May 5, 2026
2. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and Management Regarding Special Event Assignment Double-time
3. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and Management Regarding Holiday Pay
4. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Police Officers Associations (TPOA) and Management Regarding Special Event Assignment Double-time
ATTACHMENTS
1. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Lead Wireless Technician Training Premiums (Materials Available)
2. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and Management Regarding Special Event Assignment Double-time (Materials Available)
3. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and Management Regarding Holiday Pay (Materials Available)
4. Torrance Police Officers Associations (TPOA) and Management Regarding Special Event Assignment Double-time (Materials Available)
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