Chino council approves pay and benefit updates for city staff, directs effort to make raises retroactive

The Chino City Council on Nov. 4 approved updates to compensation and benefits for several employee groups and directed staff to pursue amendments with bargaining units to make certain increases retroactive to July 1, 2025. The measure passed on a 4-0 roll-call vote with the mayor absent; the motion was made by Council Member Lucio and seconded by Council Member Comstock.

Crystal Murillo, deputy director of human resources and risk management, presented the staff report and said the presentation was intended to "publicly report and disclose the previously approved and tonight's proposed changes to executive compensation and benefits." The staff packet lists changes for the Chino Police Officers Association, Chino Police Managers Association, police professional employees, confidential employees, executive management, deputy directors, unrepresented management and part‑time employees.

Key elements included in the approved package: - Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA): an additional 1% for a total of 3% retroactive to the pay period that includes July 1, 2025 for some groups, and a revised 3% COLA effective the beginning of the pay period including July 1, 2026. The chief of police's pay increase was tied to the managers' association adjustment. - Wellness reimbursements: increase in annual physical/wellness expense reimbursement from $450 to $1,200 to cover gym memberships, annual physicals and related out-of-pocket medical expenses. - Vacation and leave provisions: vacation accrual and cash-out changes for newly hired department directors and authorization for cash out of unused banked holiday hours at fiscal-year end. - Bilingual pay: monthly verbal-fluency allowance increased from $100 to $160 for languages the city manager deems necessary (including sign language). - Executive and managerial benefits: reimbursement for dues/meeting-related meals for specified civic organizations.

City Attorney Fred Galante read approved amendments to the city manager's employment agreement, stating that the city manager's contract changes include an increased automobile allowance (from $533.33 to $600 per month); authorization to payout accrued vacation to ensure balances do not exceed a 400-hour cap; an increase in the annual cash-out limit for management leave (from 70 to 90 hours); a one-time additional 30 hours of management leave to be available for cash-out; and a deferred compensation contribution of $350 per month to the manager's 457(b) plan, incrementally increasing to a $700-per-month maximum.

Council members discussed whether some adjustments should be made retroactive to July 1, 2025. Staff noted that prior MOUs specified effective dates and that retroactivity would require agreement with bargaining units. The council voted to approve the presented resolution and directed staff to negotiate amendments with labor units to effect retroactivity where feasible.

No public speakers addressed the item after the staff presentation. The council's action is recorded as a formal adoption of the listed compensation adjustments; any retroactive payments will require subsequent ratification of amendments by affected bargaining units and return to council as needed.

Votes at a glance: motion by Council Member Lucio; second by Council Member Comstock; outcome approved 4-0 (mayor absent).