Green City Council adopts three‑year AFSCME labor agreement, declares emergency

The Green City Council on Aug. 12 adopted Resolution 2025‑R35, ratifying a three‑year labor agreement with AFSCME Local 2714 and declaring an emergency to allow immediate effect.

Council President Mr. Noble introduced the resolution and summarized the key terms: "It includes a 4% raise in 2025, a 3.25% raise in 2026, and a 3.15% raise in 2027," and said the union had voted to approve the agreement on Aug. 6. He moved to bypass committee deliberations and the three‑reading requirement so the council could consider and adopt the measure at the same meeting.

The administration had requested first‑reading passage and emergency declaration, the president said. After a second and brief procedural checks, the clerk called the roll and the council adopted 2025‑R35 by a 6–0 vote.

Why it matters: the agreement sets wage increases for bargaining unit employees for the next three years and was adopted under the council's emergency authority, making the changes effective immediately subject to the terms of the resolution and any implementing actions by city administration.

What the council did: the council voted to bypass committee and to bypass multiple readings so it could vote on adoption during the Aug. 12 meeting; the motion to adopt 2025‑R35 then passed 6–0.

Next steps: the resolution was declared adopted and will be implemented by city administration in coordination with the union and payroll staff; the council did not return the matter to committee or request amendments at the meeting.

(Reporting note: direct quotes and the summary of raise percentages are drawn from the president's reading of Resolution 2025‑R35 during the Aug. 12 council meeting.)