Staff estimates city will save about $500,000
The Avalon City Council this week unanimously approved emergency “memorandums of understanding” between the city and the International Association of Firefighters Local 2295, Avalon Municipal Employee Association, Management and Confidential Employees.
A staff report estimated the savings from the changes to the agreements would be $500,000.
This was a Consent Calendar item. Consent items are voted on collectively, without discussion, unless pulled for separate consideration. Nothing was removed from the Sept. 1 Consent Calendar.
The council approved an agreement with the Avalon Harbor Employees Association at the Aug. 18 council meeting.
“After review of the suggested amendments the City Manager determined that revisions to five amendments could be integrated into all MOUs (if applicable),” according to the staff report by City Manager Denise Radde.
Among the revisions was this language: “Emergency measures that went into effect on March 23, 2020 suspended all new longevity increases until further notice. Employees who are affected by suspended longevity are not subject to retroactive pay. Longevity increases that went into effect prior to March 23, 2020 will remain in effect.”
One item unique to the Harbor Employees group concerned changes to the MOU was the reimbursement to harbor employees for the United States Coast guard License. That has been reinstated, striking only the reimbursement for the emergency medical technician.
“The City Manager conferred with the other four associations to determine if they approved of the additional changes. As of the time this report was authored and posted final approval was still forthcoming. The associations had until Monday, August 31 to reply,” according to Radde’s report.
