Arroyo Grande city employees urge council to preserve percentage-based health premium sharing in labor talks

At the Arroyo Grande City Council meeting on June 23, 2026, city employees and a SEIU Local 620 representative urged the council to give negotiators authority to preserve percentage-based medical premium cost sharing and to secure cost-of-living adjustments that keep pace with inflation as closed-session labor talks continue under Government Code section 54957.6.

Nicole Bryant, field representative for SEIU Local 620, said the union appreciates progress at the bargaining table but warned that the city’s proposal to move from a shared percentage model for medical-premium increases to a flat-dollar employee contribution would “transfer more risk to the employees,” particularly in years when health-care costs rise sharply. She asked the council to ensure the agreement provides “fiscal certainty over the term of the agreement” and a balance between the city’s fiscal responsibility and workers’ financial security.

Several longtime city employees made similar points during public comment. Kim Lashoff, a senior account clerk in administrative services for 22 years, said she supports the market-equity adjustments but that a shift to flat-rate premium increases, combined with later-year cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that she described as below current inflation, would leave employees exposed and undermine retention.

Corey Brooks, who has worked for the city for 12 years, said switching to a flat-rate contribution “makes our monthly budget a lot less predictable” for families. Victor Rocha, a parks lead worker, warned that an “unexpected double-digit increase to medical PERS” would hit families hard and reiterated concerns about the COLA shortfall. Blake Simpson, a maintenance worker in public works, said the combination of large premium increases and flat employee contributions “leaves employees more exposed when premiums jump,” particularly early in their careers. Carrie Van Beveren, a recreation supervisor of 24 years, said the workforce needs a multiyear contract that provides financial security so employees can continue serving the community.

Several speakers reminded the council that SEIU members supported Measure E-24, the sales tax measure intended to help streets and budget pressures, and urged reciprocal support for the workforce now. No council votes or formal actions were taken on the record; after public comment closed, the council moved into closed session on the announced labor-negotiation item.

The closed-session negotiation referenced by the council was announced under Government Code section 54957.6; the council did not disclose deliberations or any outcome in open session. The meeting record shows public comment concluded with staff reporting no additional Zoom callers, and the meeting moved to adjournment and closed-session consideration.