REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, Acting 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. 2024-57 Amending the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City and Huntington Beach Firefighters Association by Adopting a Side Letter of Agreement
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Statement of Issue:
The current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association (HBFA) is effective January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026. The proposed Side Letter of Agreement modifies Articles VIII and IX, and adds Article XIV, to address the CalPERS reportability of Uniform Allowance for eligible employees, and staffing impacts related to the Fire Department’s acceptance of future SAFER Grants.
Financial Impact:
No additional funding is requested. Funding is included in the FY 2024-25 budget.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-57, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Amending the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City and the Huntington Beach Firefighters Association by Adopting a Side Letter of Agreement.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Uniform Allowance
Article VII of the current MOU between the City and HBFA outlines the agreement between the City and HBFA with respect to uniforms and Unform Allowance. The City currently reports as special compensation under Title 2, California Code of Regulations, Section 571(a)(5), the annual cost of uniforms and physical fitness uniforms for eligible employees, per the MOU. However, CalPERS recently notified the City that unless the MOU specifically states the dollar amount to be reported, the Allowance is not reportable as special compensation. The proposed Side Letter of Agreement modifies the language in Article VIII to provide the specific dollar amount for each type of uniform; there is no change to the Uniform Allowance amount with this Agreement.
SAFER Grant
The proposed Side Letter of Agreement also modifies Article IX and adds Article XIV to address staffing impacts related to possible future acceptance of SAFER Grant funds. Since SAFER Grant funding is for a set number of years, this Agreement outlines how the City will handle the end of the funding source as it relates to staffing. The Agreement does not change the current FTE or minimum staffing levels but allows the Department to advertise and hire full-time Firefighter Paramedics if they receive grant funding to hire more Paramedics, with agreement from the HBFA that the positions would need to be absorbed through attrition when the funding is no longer available.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2024-57
2. Exhibit A- HBFA Side Letter Agreement