Leander City Council on Thursday approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Leander Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 4298, covering a term that runs through Sept. 30, 2028.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the contract after staff and association representatives described negotiated provisions intended to address recruitment, retention and retiree health concerns.

"On behalf of our members... I wanna thank city council, city administration for your partnership and commitment in reaching a fair and transparent agreement," said Brad Moore, president of the Leander Professional Firefighters Association, at the meeting. "This agreement reflects collaboration at its best."

Key provisions: City manager and negotiators summarized the principal elements of the three-year agreement:
- Retiree insurance continuity: the contract adds a post-retirement health insurance continuation provision intended to align with recent state law referenced in the briefing. City staff described the provision as one that guarantees limited continuation of health coverage following retirement rather than waiting for a catastrophic medical event.
- Reclassifications: seven existing lieutenant positions will be re-ranked to captain to meet evolving operational needs as the department grows and new stations open.
- Overtime and callback: the agreement contains clarified overtime/callback provisions, including a four-hour minimum for certain callbacks and multi-callback language to standardize pay practices.
- Certification and education incentives: the contract provides pay incentives for certifications and required training tied to specialized assignments.
- Grievance procedure: the agreement codifies a multi-step grievance process.
- Wages: the parties agreed to a multi-year step plan; city staff said the contract remains subject to review if the city confronts fiscal stress during the term.

Union and external support: several IAFF representatives and district leaders attended the meeting. Michael Glenn, IAFF 11th District vice president, thanked council and staff for the negotiated terms and said the agreement moved quickly relative to the statutory opportunities and timelines.

Vote and next steps: council approved the agreement unanimously. Staff will implement the pay and classification changes through normal HR and payroll processes and begin administrative steps to apply the certification and retirement provisions.