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Council approves tentative labor agreements after debate on transparency, pensions and turnover costs
Summary
Council approved tentative agreements covering nine bargaining units that include modest COLA increases (most units 2.5%, police 3.5%). Public commenters and some council members pressed for more detailed, consolidated disclosure of total compensation, pensions and leave usage before final ratification of full MOUs.
City staff presented tentative labor agreements reached with several bargaining units after meet-and-confer negotiations in 2024. Human Resources Manager Kim Emboden said most groups agreed to a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), with police receiving a larger adjustment; staff described the city as roughly 15% behind market on average and said the agreements were intended to slow further market drift.
"The tentative agreements that are before you tonight ... the bargaining units have agreed to these terms," Emboden said, adding that the agreements were negotiated within council-provided parameters and that complete MOUs will return to council for final ratification. City Manager Mario Giuliani and Finance Director provided cost context: the total recurring cost of the agreements was presented as about $3.23 million over two years, with an annual general-fund impact of roughly $1.7 million.
Public comment emphasized transparency. Local resident and community reviewer (identified in the transcript as Mr. Gartrell) asked for an itemized, consolidated accounting of full annual compensation, the city's CalPERS contributions, and leave costs before approval. Staff noted that benefit summary sheets and CalPERS rates are posted on the city's HR web pages and that full MOUs and cost detail will be returned to council when the final documents are ready.
After discussion, councilmembers moved and approved the tentative agreements and the required budget/reserve actions in separate roll-call motions; staff will return with final MOUs and detailed line-item cost breakdowns. The council also directed staff to consider clearer, consolidated benefit-summary reporting when the MOUs appear for final approval.
