Resolution adopting negotiated changes to the 2027-2028 LELS (Sergeants) Labor Agreement. 

Adoption of the attached resolution.

The City recently completed negotiations with the LELS (Sergeants) union for a two-year labor agreement covering 2027 and 2028.

A primary component of the agreement is the continued placement of Sergeants within the City’s overall compensation plan at Grade PM5. A review of comparable jurisdictions supports maintaining the classification at PM5 and indicates that Sergeant wages are consistent with the City’s established market-positioning target. As part of the negotiated agreement, current Sergeants will also receive a one-time advancement of one step within PM5 effective January 1, 2027. This adjustment recognizes that, during the previous contract negotiations, Sergeants agreed to forego their 2025-step advancement in conjunction with moving to a new pay grade.

Other substantive changes to wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment are summarized below. Many of these provisions are consistent with changes negotiated with the Police Officer bargaining unit.

Article 6. Sick

• Clarifies when employees accrue sick leave while taking an unpaid leave of absence within the pay period. This is prorated based on actual hours worked within the pay period.

Article 7. Minnesota Paid Leave

• Adds a new article addressing employee eligibility for Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave.

Article 8. Leave of Absence

• Clarifies that time covered by Minnesota Paid Leave, short-term disability, long-term disability, or unpaid FMLA leave is considered an unpaid leave of absence. Employees will not accrue leave when unpaid time exceeds 64 hours in a pay period.

Article 12. Overtime 

• Increases the maximum compensatory time accumulation from 80 hours to 100 hours.
• Increases the maximum year-end compensatory time rollover from 40 hours to 50 hours.

Article 16. Vacation

• Establishes a new vacation accrual schedule based on years of service, as shown below.

Years of Service	Vacation Time Hours Per Pay Period	Vacation Hours Per Year	Vacation Time Days Per Year	Accumulate Up to
0 - 3 years	3.692	96	12 days	400 hours
4-5 years	4.615	120	15 days	400 hours
6-10 years	5.231	136	17 days	400 hours
11-14 years	6.154	160	20 days	400 hours
15-20 years	6.462	168	21 days	400 hours
21 years	6.769	176	22 days	400 hours
22 years	7.077	184	23 days	400 hours
23 years	7.385	192	24 days	400 hours
24-29 years	7.692	200	25 days	400 hours
30 + years	9.231	240	30 days	400 hours

• Increase the annual uniform allowance from $1,000 to $1,200/annually

• Sergeants will remain on the City’s compensation plan at grade PM5.
• Current Sergeants will advance one step within their grade, effective January 1, 2027.
• Provides that wage adjustments for 2027 and 2028 will be consistent with those approved for the City’s overall compensation plan through the annual budget process.

Article 27. Duration

• The agreement shall be effective as of January 1, 2027, and shall remain in full force and effect until December 31, 2028.