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Peoria council approves three‑year firefighters contract, eases residency requirement
Summary
On Jan. 13 the Peoria City Council approved a three‑year collective bargaining agreement with IAFF Local 50 that raises firefighter pay and reduces the residency requirement from 10 years to 5 years while widening the commuting radius; the measure passed with two dissenting votes.
The Peoria City Council on Jan. 13 approved a three‑year collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 50 that covers Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028, and includes salary increases of 5% in 2026, 4% in 2027 and 3% in 2028.
City Manager said the package also modifies residency terms: the residency requirement was adjusted from 10 years to 5 years and the allowable commuting radius was expanded from 20 miles to 25 miles; employees who move out of the city during the first five years would incur a 2% reduction in pay, the manager said. "It is a 3 year contract, that includes salary increases of 5% in 2026, 4% in 2027, and then 3% in 2028," the City Manager said.
Council members complimented the negotiation team but split on residency. Council member Euler announced she would vote no, saying she opposed stepping away from a long‑standing residency standard that she said helps keep public safety employees rooted in neighborhoods. "I'll be voting no on this," Euler said. Council member Carmona said he agreed with Euler and cited manager‑provided figures that showed a portion of the department already lives outside the city: "Right now, there's, a 178 union firefighters, and, of those, 58 already live outside of our city," Carmona said, and said the council should examine why employees move away.
Council member Cyr said he supported the contract and that he did not favor forcing employees to live in Peoria. "I don't want to force anybody to live in Peoria," Cyr said, while urging the council to examine why more city employees do not choose to live inside the city.
The Fire Chief provided hiring context when asked for specifics: "What we do know is fact during negotiations is that we've hired 89 firefighters since 2017," the chief said, and added that an exact tenure breakdown was not available at the microphone.
After discussion and a motion to approve, the council adopted the contract; the clerk recorded the vote as passing with two nays (Council members Euler and Carmona). The contract covers pay, residency changes, paramedic pay adjustments, vacation scheduling, and EMS unit restructuring; the agreement will be effective Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028, per the city manager's presentation.
The council did not direct staff to reopen negotiations; instead members who voiced concern said they plan additional discussion about housing and recruitment in future meetings.
