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File #: 23-1384    Version: 1
Type: Report Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 9/21/2023 In control: REGULAR CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY*
On agenda: 10/3/2023 Final action:
Title: DESIGNATION OF CITY NEGOTIATORS FOR THE COSTA MESA CITY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION (CMFA) MEET AND CONFER AND AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) PER THE TRANSPARENCY IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS COUNCIL POLICY
Attachments: 1. Agenda Report

TITLE:

title

DESIGNATION OF CITY NEGOTIATORS FOR THE COSTA MESA CITY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION (CMFA) MEET AND CONFER AND AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) PER THE TRANSPARENCY IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS COUNCIL POLICY

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DEPARTMENT:                                                               CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE- HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION

PRESENTED BY:                                                                KASAMA LEE, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

CONTACT INFORMATION:                     KASAMA LEE, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, (714) 754-5169

 

RECOMMENDATION:

recommendation

Staff recommends the City Council:

 

1.                     Designate City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, Human Resources Administrator Fanni Acosta, and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’s representatives in negotiations with the CMFA.

 

2.                     Authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMFA 2017-2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) completed per the requirements of the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy.

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BACKGROUND:

Per the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy, the City Council must designate a Principal Negotiator who “shall have extensive prior experience in negotiating public employee collective bargaining agreements and shall be free from any actual or potential conflict of interest with respect to the bargaining unit.” The City shall also be represented by legal counsel whether or not legal counsel is designated as the Principal Negotiator. 

The City Council may also designate one more employee(s) to be present during negotiations and to assist the Principal Negotiator as the City Council and/or Principal Negotiator deem appropriate. 

 

 

 

ANALYSIS:

Staff recommends that the City Council designate City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, Human Resources Administrator Fanni Acosta, and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’s representatives in negotiations with the CMFA. Staff also recommends that Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Partner Peter Brown serve as legal counsel during negotiations with CMFA.

 

Furthermore, Section 2 Economic Analysis of the policy requires that the Finance Director prepare an economic analysis that must be verified by an independent auditor. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMFA MOU completed per the requirements of the policy.

ALTERNATIVES:

An alternative is to propose other designated representative(s).

FISCAL REVIEW:

Funding for outside legal counsel for negotiations is available in the Human Resources Division’s FY 2023-24 Operating Budget.

LEGAL REVIEW:

The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the report and approved as to form.

CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:

This item supports the following City Council Goals:

                     Recruit and Retain High Quality Staff

                     Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve Quality of Life

CONCLUSION:

Staff recommends the City Council:

 

1.                     Designate City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as the City’s Principal Negotiator, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Human Resources Manager Kasama Lee, Human Resources Administrator Fanni Acosta, and Finance Director Carol Molina as the City’s representatives in negotiations with the CMFA.

 

2.                     Authorize staff to have the independent fiscal analysis of the current CMFA 2017-2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) completed per the requirements of the Transparency in Labor Negotiations Council Policy.