The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 107, No. 47 - November 22, 2018 Inside This Issue Calendar of Events.............3 Certified & Licensed Professionals.....................10 Classifieds............................8 Community Briefs...............3 Crossword/Sudoku.............8 Legals............................ 10,11 Police Briefs........................2 Pets......................................11 Real Estate.......................5-7 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Chevron Donation Helps Center Street School Garden Project Chevron employees joined parents and administrators in building twenty-two raised durable green beds for ADA accessible school garden at Center Street School. Materials to build the boxes were donated by Chevron. Photo Provided by Chevron. City Council Approves New Labor Deals for Police, Fire Associations By Brian Simon In characterizing the new three-year labor agreements with the local police and firefighter associations, Mayor Drew Boyles reported that all parties came away from the table hurting a little bit. But that was the point. “The sign of a good compromise is when both sides leave unhappy,” he said of the deals forged after 10 meetings with each of the unions over the past six months. New Human Resources Director David Serrano summarized the contract highlights during Tuesday night’s El Segundo City Council meeting and described the resulting documents as “balanced agreements.” He emphasized that the City of El Segundo’s primary objective in the process was to develop as a choice employer and workforce that offers competitive salary and benefits packages as well as increased stability. The City also wanted to address the 20 percent vacancy in sworn police personnel and also bolster offerings so that public safety employees in general will want to stay in El Segundo for the long haul. At the same time, the City made it paramount to reduce the longlasting impacts of pension liability. In the key areas of give and take, the City agreed to provide immediate 9 percent raises for all those represented by the El Segundo Police Officers’ Association (POA) and El Segundo Firefighters’ Association (ESFFA). In return, the unions agreed for employees to pick up 3 percent more of their PERS payment – rising from the current 9 percent up to 12 percent. City Manager Greg Carpenter noted that the additional PERS payment covers total compensation and in reality is more like a 4 to 4.5 percent increase. Other key components of the POA memorandum of understanding (MOU) include additional 2 percent salary upticks in October 2019 and 2020; a non-PERSable retention bonus of $7,500 paid in two installments (2018 and 2020); a $75 monthly increase in health benefit allowance; elimination of the computer loan program; and a cap on compensatory time off (120 hours per year max). On the fire side, employees will receive 2.5 percent raises in the second and third years of the deal as well as the $75 health insurance monthly increase. The bargaining unit also agreed to eliminate the computer loan program and cap compensatory time off (144 hours annually). The contract additionally contains a clause to re-open negotiations in the event of a City fiscal emergency. Councilmember Don Brann, who spearheads the City’s pension subcommittee, was delighted with the new contracts. “Let’s fill these unfilled police spots,” he said, while also touting the strong employment packages now available that include “the biggest lateral bonus in the land” for those considering moving from other agencies to El Segundo Police Department. “The number one thing people in town want is safety.” But Brann also cautioned the City not to rest on its laurels. “Please don’t stand still,” he added. “Other cities will be making moves in the years to come [to bolster their own compensation packages].” The rest of the Council also expressed their enthusiasm for the new MOUs. Boyles spoke of the need to provide Police Chief Bill Whalen with tools to recruit and retain, while lauding the “three years of certainty” with the new contract. Councilmember Scot Nicol was pleased to get firefighters “where they need to be” so that they see as El Segundo as their desired workplace. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Pirsztuk praised the “out of the box” and creative thinking that led to the final MOUs, while Councilmember Chris Pimentel emphasized the City’s transparency during the process. Also on Tuesday, the Council considered possible tweaks to the Conflict of Interest Code – which must be updated every two years. In the past, members from most of the City’s commissions, committees and boards (CCBs) have had to fill out Form 700s -- financial disclosures required by the Fair Political Practices Commission from elected officials, public employees and individuals from related bodies who make or influence governmental decisions where public expenditures come into play. This particular discussion centered on if the Council feels that members of the Economic Development Advisory Council (EDAC) and Technology Committee should be added to the list of groups who must fill out the Form 700s. Assistant City Attorney David King explained that the trigger to require the form is when the group in question makes recommendations on vendors or budgetary issues. Boyles said that EDAC has indeed weighed in on such decisions in the past. To be on the safe side, protect the City’s interests and promote transparency, he felt it wise to include EDAC on the list of Form 700s. However, a Form 700 mandates the revelation of extensive financial information including all assets and liabilities as well as long-term loans. That aspect concerned Nicol, who said that some members of EDAC told him they would leave the group if forced to sign the See City Council, page 2 Friday Partly Cloudy 65˚/57˚ Saturday Sunny 66˚/55˚ Sunday Partly Cloudy 68˚/53˚
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