Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager

FROM:

Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager

Date:

July 9, 2015

RE:

Consideration of Memorandum of Understanding Agreements between the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Police Officers’ Association (LPOA) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1596

 

The City and the LPOA and the City and the IAFF Local 1596 have reached tentative agreements.  The agreement between the City and the LPOA is for the years 2016 through 2018, and is expected to be considered by LPOA membership on July 13, 2015.  The agreement with the IAFF Local 1596 is for the years 2016 through 2019 and was ratified by their membership on July 8, 2015. 

 

Both agreements are now ready for consideration and approval, if appropriate, by the City Commission. 

 

Background

As part of the negotiation process, salary surveys were jointly conducted by the City and the IAFF Local 1596, and the City and the LPOA.  These surveys indicated that while the City pays at or above the market rate at the beginning of the pay plans for police and fire, bsalaries for certain MOU-covered positions are behind other cities in our market at the top of the current pay scale.  In order to address this issue, structural changes to each pay plan, raising the top of the pay scale for several positions, are recommended. 

 

In addition, salary growth is anticipated in the market over the next few years.  In order to avoid falling further behind the market over the duration of these agreements, general wage adjustments are also recommended in the outlying years of the agreements. 

 

Some minor changes to language in the agreements are recommended in order to update policies and practices that have changed since the previous agreements were negotiated.  Significant changes to each agreement are summarized below. 

 

Lawrence Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1596

The IAFF agreement includes the following major elements/changes from the current agreement: 

o   Annual funding for the step merit program and incentive pay adjustments for those who are eligible will apply for all years of the agreement;

o   All employees will receive one performance evaluation per year;

o   For 2016, steps 17 to 24 will be added to the pay plan, with each new step being in increments of 1.25%.  Employees at step 16 will be eligible to receive four steps while employees at step 15 will be eligible to receive three steps;

o   For 2017, employees at step 16 will be eligible to receive four steps while employees at step 15 will be eligible to receive three steps;

o   For employees at step sixteen at the end of 2015, any step increase(s) shall take effect on the first pay date of 2016 and 2017;

o   For 2018, a 2.5% general wage adjustment will be provided.  An optional reopener clause that can be initiated by either the IAFF Local 1596 or the City related to the 2018 general wage adjustment only is also included.

o   For 2019, a 2.5% general wage adjustment will be provided.  An optional reopener clause that can be initiated by either the IAFF Local 1596 or the City related to the 2019 general wage adjustment only is also included; and

o   Funding will be allocated for a technical differential to employees who are qualified Rescue or HAZMAT technicians.

 

Lawrence Police Officers Association

The LPOA agreement includes the following major elements/changes from the current agreement.

o   Annual funding for the step merit program and competency adjustments for those who are eligible will apply for all years of the agreement;

o    For 2016, step 23 will be added to the compensation program for pay grade 301 only.  Effective January 1st, 2016, all Officers who have reached their 8th anniversary with the department by that date will automatically move up one merit step in the compensation program on the first full pay date in 2016.

o   For 2017, a 2.0% general wage adjustment will be provided to pay grade 301 only;

o   For 2018, a 1.75% general wage adjustment will be provided for pay grade 301 and a 1.0% general wage adjustment will be provided for pay grade 302.  An optional reopener clause that can be initiated by the LPOA or the City related to the 2018 general wage adjustment only is also included.

 

Cost Estimate and 2016 Budget Impact

The table below shows the cost estimate of the agreements over the durations of each agreement. 

LPOA

IAFF

2016

addtl. step (2.5%)

4 addtl. steps (5%)

0% general wage adjustment

0% general wage adjustment

 $154,800

 $352,715

2017

2% general wage adjustment officers only

4 addtl. steps (5%)

 

0% general wage adjustment

 $ 445,788

 $499,718

2018

1.75% general wage adjustment officers

2.5% GWA

1% general wage adjustment detectives

opener for City or LPOA (general wage adjustment only)

opener for City of IAFF (general wage adjustment only)

 $ 454,763

 $357,695

2019

2.5% GWA

opener for City of IAFF (general wage adjustment only)

 $346,845

Total

 $ 1,055,351

 $ 1,556,973

 

Funding for the agreements, as well as an equivalent amount of additional funding for the merit pool for employees not covered by an MOU, has been included in the 2016 Recommended Budget. 

 

Conclusion

The members of the respective negotiation teams should be recognized for their hard work to date on this item. 

 

The negotiation team for the IAFF Local 1596 includes John Darling, Nathan Coffman, Dean Garrison, and Aaron Payne.  The Fire Medical negotiation team for the City includes Casey Toomay, Chief Mark Bradford, Division Chief Bill Stark, Lori Carnahan and Assistant Douglas County Administrator Sarah Plinsky.  City Commissioner Leslie Soden and County Commissioner Mike Gaughan were also present.   

 

The negotiation team for the LPOA includes Mike McAtee, Bill Bradford, Andrew Fennelly, and Ron Ivener.  The negotiation team for the City includes Casey Toomay, Chief Tarik Khatib, Captain Anthony Brixius, Lori Carnahan, and Brandon McGuire.  City Commissioner Matthew Herbert was also present. 

 

Requested Action

City staff and the LPOA jointly recommend approval of the 2016-2018 agreement with the Lawrence Police Officers Association and request authorization of the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreements.

 

City staff and the IAFF Local 1596 jointly recommend approval of the 2016-2019 agreement with the Lawrence Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1596 and request authorization of the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreements.