Sheriff asks board to delay vote on Vallejo assistance contract, seeks meet-and-confer with unions

Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that he did not recommend immediate approval of a proposed contract to provide temporary law-enforcement assistance to the city of Vallejo and instead urged a meet-and-confer process with impacted employee groups before the board takes final action.

The city council in Vallejo approved the contract on June 17. The agreement would have the county's sheriff's office provide deputies and other support to Vallejo Police Department while the city increases its own hiring and implements reforms. Vallejo officials and community groups urged the county to approve the request quickly; numerous elected Vallejo officials and residents addressed the board during public comment asking supervisors to act.

Sheriff Ferrara said the county received written confirmation from the California Department of Justice that the county would not be a party to Vallejo's stipulated agreement with the state, clearing a major legal question. But Ferrara said other practical and labor-related hurdles remained. "I officially would recommend we not approve this today for the following reasons," he said, citing union concerns and the compressed timeline for staffing, vehicles and logistics. He asked the board to direct staff to begin formal meet-and-confer discussions with the Deputy Sheriffs Association and SEIU dispatchers and to return with a recommendation at the board's July 22 meeting.

The Deputy Sheriffs Association submitted a letter of opposition prior to the meeting and reiterated opposition in public comment; DSA vice president Todd O'Connor told the board the union remained open to meet-and-confer talks but did not support immediate approval of the current contract language.

Vallejo city officials including City Manager Andrew Murray and Council members described surges in violent crime and slow police response times and asked the board to approve the temporary assistance. Vallejo Mayor Andre Sors and Council members said the proposed arrangement would reduce response times and provide breathing room while the city recruits and rebuilds its police force. City Manager Murray said the Vallejo Police Officers Association had not opposed the agreement.

Sheriff Ferrara identified operational challenges that must be resolved before a rapid start: availability of vehicles and time needed to purchase and outfit marked units; recruitment and hiring logistics if retired annuitant deputies must be limited; and human resources steps that trigger meet-and-confer obligations. Sheriff Ferrara told the board he believed a meet-and-confer cycle could be completed if staff worked quickly and recommended returning with a recommendation at the July 22 meeting.

Board members did not take a final vote at the meeting. Several supervisors said they understood both labor concerns and the urgent public-safety need cited by Vallejo officials. The board will consider whether to direct staff to begin the formal bargaining process and return with a report at the July 22 meeting.