The City Council is being asked to approve a tentative agreement for the renewal of a labor contract between the City and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 521.  The contract was voted on and approved by Local 521 on October 4 and 5.  If approved, the contract will apply retroactively from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018.

Changes to the contract include:

• A 3.2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the first year of the contract, retroactive to July 1, 2016;
• A 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the second year of the contract, effective July 1, 2017;
• Ability to hire Deputy Fire Marshals from outside the Fire Department, if there are no interested internal applicants;
• Requirement for Assistant Fire Marshal to obtain ICC Fire Plans Examiner certification within one (1) year  from the date of promotion.  If certification is not achieved, the employee's salary will be frozen at current grade and step until certification is achieved;
• Requirement for Fire Marshal to obtain ICC Certified Fire Marshal certification within one (1) year from the date of promotion.  If certification is not achieved, the employee's salary will be frozen at current grade and step until certification is achieved;
• Deleted Boiler License Certification pay;
• Increased clothing allowance for new firefighters to $575 during their first year of employment only;
• Clarified paramedic language to state that if the Department functions as a licensed paramedic level service some time in the future, the Fire Chief and Fire Department Medical Control Physician must both approve of the paramedic in order for that individual to provide Paramedic level care;
• Moved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the Assistant Training Officer/EMS Coordinator (new position Spring 2016) into the body of the contract. Clarified how promotions to this position are handled regarding pay, and also agreed that if no internal applicants apply, the City may hire from outside of the Fire Department;
• Clarified existing contract language that reduces the backfilling requirement for training;
• Increased the pay grade for Training Officer from Grade 218 to 221;
• Increased the Step for the Assistant Training Officer/EMS Coordinator being promoted from Captain to Step D in Grade 213;
• Memorialized the Fire Prevention bureau employees' schedules to four (4) ten-hour days from 0700 to 1730 hours, with a 30-minute lunch break;
• Limited the amount paid through salary to retirement to the actual increase in the City's portion of the premium or 15%, whichever is less;
• Agreed to provide shift coverage for the three (3) Fire members of the Health Insurance Committee to attend the meetings;
• Moved the Voluntary Physical Fitness Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) into the body of the contract.

A copy of the contract is available for review in the City Clerk's office.

City Council may:

• Approve the contract as presented, with pay retroactive to July 1, 2016;
• Postpone action on the contract to obtain additional information; or
• Deny approval of the contract, forcing negotiations to resume.

The COLA in the contract will cost $336,000 for FY 17 and $315,000 for FY 18.  There is adequate funding in General Fund reserves to cover the increases, although a budget amendment and transfer to the Public Safety Fund will be required for FY 17.

The increase in the cost of the health insurance to retirement benefit will depend on the increase in the cost of health insurance, which will not be known until January of each year. 

The cost to move the Training Officer to Grade 221 is $2,350, and the cost to move the Assistant Training Officer/EMS Coordinator to Step D is $3,160.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the City - Local 521 IAFF collective bargaining agreement as presented, with pay retroactive to July 1, 2016.