REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Marissa Sur, Director of Human Resources
PREPARED BY: Marissa Sur, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
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Adopt Resolution No. 2025-63 Approving and Implementing the Memorandum of Understanding with Surf City Lifeguards Employees’ Association
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Statement of Issue:
The Tentative Agreement regarding the successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Huntington Beach and the Surf City Lifeguard Employees’ Association (SCLEA) was submitted for City Council review and consideration at the September 16, 2025, regular meeting. The proposed MOU is now presented for City Council action as the final step in the meet and confer process.
Financial Impact:
Pursuant to the terms of the Tentative Agreement with SCLEA, the total projected cost of the labor agreement is 283,463 in FY 2025/26; $98,733 in FY 2026/27; $164,470 in FY 2027/28.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-63, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Approving and Implementing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Surf City Lifeguard Employees’ Association (SCLEA) and the City for July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028;” and
B) Authorize the City Manager or designee to take all administrative and budgetary actions necessary for implementation of Resolution No. 2025-63.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not adopt Resolution No. 2025-63 approving the successor MOU with SCLEA and direct staff to continue to meet and confer with SCLEA.
Analysis:
SCLEA is a recognized employee association representing approximately 200 part-time seasonal lifeguards. The City and SCLEA representatives began meeting in May 2025 to negotiate the terms of a successor MOU, and a Tentative Agreement was reached in August 2025.
Salient provisions of the Tentative Agreement between the City and SCLEA include:
• Term of three years, expiring June 30, 2028
• New three-step salary schedule
• Effective the pay period including July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027, each step of the salary schedule will receive adjustments as follows:
o Step A: $0.50/hour
o Step B: $1.00/hour
o Step C: $1.50/hour
• Reserve Ocean Lifeguards must work a minimum of 80 hours in operations to maintain Reserve status and are eligible to receive a salary increase after working one year or 400 hours, whichever is greater.
• If an employee’s shift is cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, they will receive 2 hours of pay.
• City-paid PC 832 training for Supervising Ocean Lifeguards
The total cost of the SCLEA MOU is approximately $546,667. If the Council approves adoption of the MOU, City staff will work to implement the terms as soon as practicable.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Summary of Tentative Agreement
2. Resolution No. 2025-63
3. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the City and SCLEA
4. Fiscal Impact Report
5. PowerPoint Presentation