Council also approves 3% cost of living increase for mid-level management
The City Council this week voted to approve agreements between the city and three unions concerning wages, work hours and working conditions.
In a separate action, the council also approved a 3% cost of living contract amendment for executive management employees. The amendment would apply to existing agreements between the assistant city manager, Finance Department director/treasurer, city clerk, the Marine Safety Chief and the Public Works director, according to the staff report by City Manager Jill Ingram.
“The proposed salary and reimbursement adjustments were accounted for in the 2019/2020 budget,” according Ingram’s report.
During public comment, Seal Beach Recreation Manager Tim Kelsey, speaking on behalf of mid-level management, thanked the council for the increase and said the item gets the city back to providing services to the community.
Union agreements
The new labor agreements (called Memorandums of Understanding) are between Seal Beach and the Mid-Management and Confidential Employees Association, the Orange County Employees Association, and the Seal Beach Supervisors and Professionals Association.
The three agreements, which were retroactively effective as of July 2019, were approved as a single item on the Consent Calendar. The cost of living pay increase was also on the Consent Calendar.
Items on the Consent Calendar are voted on collectively, without discussion by the council, unless they are pulled from the calendar for individual consideration.
“If the MOUs are adopted by the City Council, each of the bargaining groups will receive the same cost-of living allowance (COLA) for the three year agreements which includes a year one increase of 3%, year two and year three increases will be based on the consumer price index (CPI) with a minimum of 2% and maximum of 4%,” according to the staff report by Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos.
“One of the more significant concessions the City made with a couple of the labor groups was the addition of a medical maintenance examination and wellness program for members of the Mid-Managers Association and the SBSPA,” Gallegos wrote.
“Another concession the City agreed to was an increase in the safety shoe allowance for members of the OCEA that work in the Public Works Yard who may require an additional pair of safety shoes as a result of damage or deterioration of their shoes,” Gallegos wrote.
“Additionally, an increase in uniform allowance was agreed to for non-sworn members of the Police Department,” Gallegos wrote.
“Approval of this resolution will have a financial impact of $12,220 for the remainder of FY 2019 – 2020. The FY 2019 – 2020 Budget was adopted with an assumed CPI increase of 3%, which is exactly what is being proposed for salaries. Based upon the set aside and the funding in the current budget there is no budgetary impact,” Gallegos wrote.
During council comments, District Two Councilman and outgoing Mayor Tom Moore said described the labor group agreements as fair and responsible.
