HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/06/23 Item 1
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STATEMENT
"j~, .~,
-\(f"
~~~ C1lYOF
- n CHUIA VISTA
6/23/09, ItemL
ITEM TITLE:
IMPASSE PROCEDURE FOR
NECESSARY, FOR EMPLOYEE
LOCAL 2180
CITY ATTORNE~'::~~
4/STHS VOTE: YES D NO ~
MANAGEl'vfENT, IF
ORGA.NIZATION IAFF
SUBMITTED BY:
SUMMARY
City management put together a Budget Reduction Plan in late 2008 designed to close the
budget deficit at the City for the remainder of this fiscal year, as well as the projected
budget deficit for the next fiscal year commencing July I, 2009. One piece of the Budget
Reduction Plan was a proposal to "brown out" the USAR Company, in order to save
approximately $1.4 million dollars in overtime expense. This plan was developed by the
Fire Department in November 2008. The plan would include eliminating the USAR
Company and cross-staffing the crew of Truck 57 with the USAR apparatus. The
elimination of the crew on USAR will free up four operations personnel each day who
will be able to back-fill vacant spots created by vacation, sick leave, and other authorized
leave. This will eliminate the need to use overtime for up to four spots per day. On
average, 4.75 employees take leave each day. Thus, if the USAR personnel are used each
day the City will save an estimated $1.4 million dollars on an annual basis.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommendation: Hold impasse hearing, if necessary, and impose brown out of
USAR Company, effective July 4,2009.
DISCUSSION
IAFF Local 2180 opposes the brown out of the USAR Company. The City and IAFF
have held several meetings in order to meet and confer over the brown out of the USAR
Company. The parties have now reached a tentative agreement on a Side Letter to
achieve the $1.4 million in savings without implementing a complete "brown out" of the
USAR Company. City Council has approved the Side Letter. However, membership of
the IAFF has not yet had an opportunity to vote on the Side Letter. If IAFF membership
votes to approve the Side Letter, the impasse hearing will become unnecessary and it will
be removed from the Council agenda. However, in the event that IAFF membership
1-1
[CLICK HERE - ENTER DATE (i.e. January 9, 2007)], Item_
Page 2 of2
rejects the Side Letter, management of the City will recommend that Council implement
the proposal to completely "brown out" the USAR Company effective July 4, 2009.
In this event, management will be utilizing the impasse procedure, section 14 of the
City's Employer-Employee Relations Policy, to resolve the dispute with IAFF. City
management will not be requesting an impasse meeting under section 14A of the Impasse
Procedure. City management and IAFF have a meeting scheduled for June 22, 2009,
such that if IAFF wishes to have an impasse meeting, the impasse meeting can be held on
June 22, 2009.
City management will not agree to the appointment of a mediator under section 14B of
the impasse procedure. City management will request at the June 23 City Council
meeting that City Council implement the City's last, best and final offer to IAFF for a
complete "brown out" of the USAR Company pursuant to section 14C of the impasse
procedure. The City's last, best and final offer on the "brown out" procedure is as set
forth in the memorandum from Fire Chief Dave Hanneman to Assistant City Manager
Scott Tulloch dated June 2, 2009, which has been provided to IAFF.
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed Council Member holdings and determined that no conflict exists.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMP ACT
No net impact to the General Fund in the current fiscal year.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
Browning out ofUSAR Rig projected to save the General Fund approximately $1.4
million in overtime expenses as reflected in the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 adopted budget.
Prepared by: Bart Miesfeld, City Attorney
1-2