8D
Date: July 14, 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 Regarding Uniforms and Certified Tester Premium. Expenditure: Approximately $ 19,000 Annually (General Fund & Non-General Fund).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council:
1. Approve Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Credentialed California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tester Premium; and
2. Approve Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Public Safety Dispatcher Uniforms; and
3. Approve Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association (TPSA) and Management Regarding Public Safety Communications Supervisor Uniforms.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the fiscal year 2026-27 General Fund Operating Fund and Fleet Services Fund Budget and anticipated to be available in subsequent 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 a greement pertains to potential PERSable income (i.e. salary adjustment) and Premiums.
Public Safety Dispatcher and Public Safety Communications Supervisor Uniforms The City and the employee association have reached an agreement to implement uniforms for employees permanently assigned to the classifications of Public Safety Dispatcher and Public Safety Communications Supervisor. The agreement includes a uniform allowance, resulting in an estimated annual City expenditure of approximately $19,000. 1 City Council
July 14, 2026
Uniformed employees are also eligible to receive an Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Uniform Incentive of $2,500 per year in accordance with the Torrance Police Department Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program.
Credentialed California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tester Premium Employees designated by the Department who maintain a valid California Air Resources Board (CARB) Credentialed Tester certification shall receive a special compensation premium of $0.50 per hour while performing CARB testing.
The estimated annual City cost of the Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Uniform Incentive and the CARB Tester Premium is approximately $83,000.
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 Credentialed California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tester Premium
2. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Public Safety Dispatcher Uniforms
3. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association (TPSA) and Management Regarding Public Safety Communications Supervisor Uniforms
ATTACHMENTS
1. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Credentialed California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tester Premium
2. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Municipal Employees AFSCME Local 1117 (TME-AFSCME) and Management Regarding Public Safety Dispatcher Uniforms
3. Side Letter Agreement between Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association (TPSA) and Management Regarding Public Safety Communications Supervisor Uniforms
2 July 14, 2026
TO:Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
FROM:Jamie Le, Assistant to the City Manager
RE: MANAGEMENT AND TORRANCE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES - AFSCME LOCAL 1117 (TME - AFSCME LOCAL 1117) JOINT LETTER OF AGREEMENT REGARDING
CREDENTIALED CALIFORNIA AIR AND RESOURCE BOARD TESTER PREMIUM Management and Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME Local 1117 met and have reached an agreement as noted on the attached document. Section 14.8.14.b of the Torrance Municipal Code reads:
“If an agreement is reached by management and a recognized employee organization or recognized employee organization, on matters subject to approval by the City Council, they shall jointly prepare a written and signed memorandum of such understanding and present it to the City Council for determination. If an agreement is reached on matters not subject to approval by the City Council, those conferring shall jointly prepare a written and signed memorandum of such agreement which shall be filed with the City Clerk.”
Pursuant to the last sentence of the above paragraph, the City Manager’s Office is filling the attached agreement with your office.
Management Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME
Local 1117 (TME - AFSCME LOCAL 1117)
/s/ Robert Dunn
_____________________________________
/s/David Inez
_____________________________________
/s/ Jamie Le
_____________________________________
/s/Robert Castrellon
_____________________________________
3 ATTACHMENT 1
Joint Agreement between the City of Torrance and
Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME Local 1117 (TME - AFSCME) TME - AFSCME and representatives of Management (“City”) have met and conferred regarding the Credentialed California Air and Resource Board Tester Premium.
TME - AFSCME and City hereby agree to Credentialed California Air and Resource Board Tester Premium as follows effective June 28, 2026:
CREDENTIALED CALIFORNIA AIR AND RESOURCE BOARD
(CARB) TESTER PREMIUM
Employees in the classifications of Equipment Attendant, Mechanic, and Senior Mechanic who are designated by the Department and who maintain a valid California Air Resources Board (CARB) Credentialed Tester certification shall receive a special compensation premium of $0.50 per hour while performing CARB Testing.
To qualify for the premium, an employee must:
1. Successfully complete the required CARB Credentialed Tester training;
2. Pass the required CARB examination;
3. Obtain the applicable CARB certification; and
4. Maintain active registration as a CARB Credentialed Tester.
Payment of the premium shall cease upon expiration, suspension, revocation, or loss of the required credential.
Signed this 14th day of July 2026.
Management Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME Local
1117 (TME - AFSCME)
Robert Dunn
Police Chief
David Inez
President
Jamie Le
Assistant to the City Manager
Robert Castrellon
Vice President
4 July 14, 2026
TO:Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
FROM:Jamie Le, Assistant to the City Manager
RE: MANAGEMENT AND TORRANCE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES - AFSCME LOCAL 1117 (TME - AFSCME LOCAL 1117) JOINT LETTER OF AGREEMENT REGARDING PUBLIC
SAFETY DISPATCHER UNIFORMS
Management and Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME Local 1117 met and have reached an agreement as noted on the attached document. Section 14.8.14.b of the Torrance Municipal Code reads:
“If an agreement is reached by management and a recognized employee organization or recognized employee organization, on matters subject to approval by the City Council, they shall jointly prepare a written and signed memorandum of such understanding and present it to the City Council for determination. If an agreement is reached on matters not subject to approval by the City Council, those conferring shall jointly prepare a written and signed memorandum of such agreement which shall be filed with the City Clerk.”
Pursuant to the last sentence of the above paragraph, the City Manager’s Office is filling the attached agreement with your office.
Management Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME
Local 1117 (TME - AFSCME LOCAL 1117)
/s/ Robert Dunn
_____________________________________
/s/David Inez
_____________________________________
/s/ Jamie Le
_____________________________________
/s/Robert Castrellon
_____________________________________
5 ATTACHMENT 2
Joint Agreement between the City of Torrance and
Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME Local 1117 (TME - AFSCME) TME - AFSCME and representatives of Management (“City”) have met and conferred regarding the Public Safety Dispatcher Uniforms.
TME - AFSCME and City hereby agree to Public Safety Dispatcher Uniforms as follows effective June 28, 2026:
PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER UNIFORMS
1.Uniform Issuance – Public Safety Dispatcher
Upon hire, the Department will provide 2 uniform shirts and 2 pairs of pants per employee, consistent with standard practice for uniformed personnel.
a) Pants: Employees shall wear either black slacks or Department-approved black tactical pants.
Black jeans shall not be permitted.
b) Footwear: Employees may wear all-black athletic shoes/sneakers in lieu of boots, subject to Department standards and approval.
2.Uniform and Shoe Allowance
In recognition of the ongoing cost of maintaining required uniform items, the City shall provide the following allowances:
a) Public Safety Dispatchers shall receive a uniform allowance of $225 payable semi-annually in June and December.
b) Public Safety Dispatchers shall receive an annual shoe allowance of $100 payable annually each December.
c) Uniforms and uniform allowance is PERSable for employees hired prior to January 1, 2013.
The City will comply with the provisions of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) in determining if uniform allowance is PERSable for employees hired after January 1, 2013.
3.Torrance Police Department Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Incentive Program Employees permanently assigned to the classification of Public Safety Dispatcher shall be eligible to receive an Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Uniform Incentive in the amount of $2,500 per year. a) Employees hired into the classification of Public Safety Dispatcher on or before July 14, 2026, shall receive the uniform incentive retroactive to September 2025. b) Annual payments occur on anniversary of program start date, September 8, 2024, and capped at 4 total payments.
c) The City Manager may elect to terminate any portion of this “Pilot Program” providing it is not warranted or needed.
6 d) Employees will need to remain on a paid, active status in the Torrance Police Department (“Department”) to be eligible for payments.
e) Retention incentives, will be issued over the duration of the commitment as long as the employee remains on a paid, active status in the “Department.” f) Incentive payments shall not be considered pensionable earnings/compensation.
Signed this 14th day of July 2026.
Management Torrance Municipal Employees - AFSCME Local
1117 (TME - AFSCME)
Robert Dunn
Police Chief
David Inez
President
Jamie Le
Assistant to the City Manager
Robert Castrellon
Vice President
7 July 14, 2026
TO: Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
FROM: Jamie Le, Assistant to the City Manager
RE: MANAGEMENT AND TORRANCE PROFESSIONAL AND SUPERVISORY
ASSOCIATION (TPSA) LETTER OF AGREEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR
Management and Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association met and have reached agreement as noted on the attached document. Section 14.8.14 b if the Torrance Municipal Code reads:
“If agreement is reached by management and a recognized employee organization or recognized employee organizations, on matters subject to approval by the City Council, they shall jointly prepare written and signed memorandum of such understanding and present it to the City Council for determination. If agreement is reached on matters not subject to approval by the City Council, those conferring shall jointly prepare a written and signed memorandum of such agreement which shall be filed with the City Clerk."
Pursuant to the last sentence of the above paragraph, the City Manager's Office is filing the attached agreement with your office.
Management TPSA
/s/ Robert Dunn __/s/ Leslie Cortez __________ _/s/ Jamie Le_________________
8 ATTACHMENT 3
Joint Agreement between the City of Torrance and Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association (TPSA) 5 5
9 1
TPSA and representatives of Management (“City”) have met and conferred regarding the Public Safety Communications Supervisor Uniforms.
TPSA and City hereby agree to Public Safety Communications Supervisor Uniforms as follows effective June 28, 2026:
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR UNIFORMS
1.Uniform Issuance – Public Safety Communications Supervisor Upon hire, the Department will provide 2 uniform shirts and 2 pairs of pants per employee, consistent with standard practice for uniformed personnel. a) Pants: Employees shall wear either black slacks or Department-approved black tactical pants. Black jeans shall not be permitted.
b) Footwear: Employees may wear all-black athletic shoes/sneakers in lieu of boots, subject to Department standards and approval.
2.Uniform and Shoe Allowance
In recognition of the ongoing cost of maintaining required uniform items, the City shall provide the following allowances:
a) Public Safety Communications Supervisor shall receive a uniform allowance of $500 per year paid in December.
b) Public Safety Communications Supervisor shall receive an annual shoe allowance of $100 payable annually each December.
c) Uniforms and uniform allowance is PERSable for employees hired prior to January 1, 2013. The City will comply with the provisions of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) in determining if uniform allowance is PERSable for employees hired after January 1, 2013.
3.Torrance Police Department Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Incentive Program Employees permanently assigned to the classification of Public Safety Communications Supervisor shall be eligible to receive an Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Uniform Incentive in the amount of $2,500 per year.
a) Employees hired into the classification of Public Safety Communications Supervisor on or before July 14, 2026, shall receive the uniform incentive retroactive to September 2025.
b) Annual payments occur on anniversary of program start date, September 8, 2024, and capped at 4 total payments.
9 Joint Agreement between the City of Torrance and Torrance Professional and Supervisory Association (TPSA) 5 5
9 1
c) The City Manager may elect to terminate any portion of this “Pilot Program” providing it is not warranted or needed.
d) Employees will need to remain on a paid, active status in the Torrance Police Department (“Department”) to be eligible for payments.
e) Retention incentives, will be issued over the duration of the commitment as long as the employee remains on a paid, active status in the “Department.” f) Incentive payments shall not be considered pensionable earnings/compensation.
Management TPSA
___________________________ __________________________ Robert Dunn Leslie Cortez
Police Chief President
_______________________
Jamie Le
Assistant to the City Manager
10