The Gardena City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 28 to approve a successor memorandum of understanding with the Gardena Management Employees Association (GMEO), covering the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.

City staff summarized the key terms: a cost-of-living adjustment of 3% in the first year (07/01/2025–06/30/2026) followed by 4% increases in the second, third and fourth years; a restructured longevity pay scale (2.5% at 10 years, 5% at 20 years and 7.5% at 25 years); increased vacation accruals for long-tenured employees and a maximum accrual cap of 550 hours to be implemented in March 2026 with an option for members over the cap to cash out hours exceeding 400; a wellness stipend increase of $250 per year (from $500 to $750 annually); an annual uniform allowance increase to $600; and a monthly car allowance increase to $350.

City staff presented an estimated fiscal impact as part of the report; council discussion did not change the staffing recommendation. No members of the public spoke on the item. The motion to approve the GMEO MOU was made by Councilmember Tanaka, seconded by Councilmember Love, and passed 5–0 (Serta, Henderson, Tanaka, Francis, Love).

Staff indicated the change will be implemented in upcoming payroll cycles per the MOU schedule.