HomeMy WebLinkAboutContracts & Agreements_140-2023MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
CITY OF REDLANDS
AND
Redlands Association
of
Fire Management Employees
J U LY 1, 2023 - J U N E 30, 2026
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
City of Redlands
AND
Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026
Table of Contents
Article 1: Term Of Agreement 3
Article 2: Preamble 3
Article 3: Recognition 3
Article 4: Management Rights 3
Article 5: Salaries 3
Article 6: Retirement 3
Article 7: Medical Insurance 4
Article 8: Vision Care 5
Article 9: Dental Insurance 5
Article 10: Life Insurance 5
Article 11: Deferred Compensation 5
Article 12: Educational Incentive 5
Article 13: Certification Pay 5
Article 14: Uniform Allowance 6
Article 15: IncidentAccommodations 6
Article 16: Longevity Pay 6
Article 17: Shift Differential Pay for Fire Members 6
Article 18: Holidays 6
Article 19: Sick Leave 7
Article 20: Defined Contribution & Contribution Plans 7
Article 21: Vacation 8
Article 22: Bereavement Leave 8
Article 23: Personal Leave 8
Article 24: Executive Leave 8
Article 25: Compensatory Time Off And Overtime 9
Article 26: Workweek 9
Article 27: Fire Battalion Chief Staffing 9
Article 28: No Strike Provisions 9
Article 29: Prevailing Benefits 9
Article 30: Savings Clause 9
Article 31: Equivalent Benefits 9
Article 32: Death Of Employee 10
Article 33: Drop Program 10
Article 34: Zipper Clause 10
Article 35: Signature 10
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU - 2023-2026 Page 2
Article 1: TERM OF AGREEMENT
Except where expressly stated otherwise herein, the City of Redlands ("City") and the Redlands Association of Fire
Management Employees ("Association") agree that the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) shall
become effective on July 1, 2023 and shall expire on June 30, 2026.
Article 2: PREAMBLE
It is the intent and purpose of this MOU to set forth the understanding of the parties reached as a result of meeting
and conferring in good faith regarding, but not limited to, matters relating to the wages, hours, and terms and
conditions of employment between the City and the Association.
Article 3: RECOGNITION
The Association is the recognized employee organization for the personnel employed in the Fire Department
occupying the classifications of Fire Battalion Chief and Deputy Fire Chief.
Article 4: MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
The authority of the City includes the exclusive right to determine the mission of its constituent departments,
commissions and boards; set standards of service; determine the procedures and standards of selection for
employment and promotion; direct its employees; take disciplinary action; relieve its employees from duty because
of lack of work or for other legitimate reasons; maintain the efficiency of work or for other legitimate reasons;
maintain the efficiency of governmental operations; determine the methods, means and personnel by which
government operations are to be conducted; determine the content of job classifications; take all necessary actions
to carry out its mission in emergencies; exercise complete control and discretion over its organization and the
technology of performing its work, provided, however, that the exercise and retention of such rights does not preclude
employees ortheir representatives from meeting and conferring on the effects that decisions on these matters may
have on wages, hours and working conditions.
Article 5: SALARIES
All Unit members will receive the following salary increases:
A. Effective July 24, 2023: All members will receive a base salary increase of 7%
B, Effective the first pay period following July 1, 2024: All members will receive a base salary increase of 2%
C, Effective the first pay period following July 1, 2025: All members will receive a base salary increase of 2%
Unit members shall not receive any increase to base salary or other compensation duringthe term of this MOU, other
than those increases and compensation expressly set forth in this MOU. Further, all Unit members are responsible
for the employee contribution to Social Security and Medicare.
The salary ranges for unit classifications shall be set to the closest rage that ensures a minimum salary differential
between unit classifications as follows:
Between Captain and Battalion Chief
15%
Between Battalion Chief and Deputy Chief
21%
Between Deputy Chief and Chief
13%
Article 6: RETIREMENT
A. Only as to unit members hired by the City in any role prior to January 1, 2013 ("Classic Members"), the City
shall individually provide the following provisions in its contract with the PERS retirement system:
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU - 2023-2026 Page 3
1. 3% @ 50 Retirement Formula
2. Survivor Continuance
3. Highest Single Year
4. All classic unit members, including those employed by the City prior January 1, 2013, shall
individually pay the Government Code section 20678 CALPERS Local Safety Member
Contribution as follows: 9% of "compensation" as defined in the Government Code.
B. The Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and application to PEPRA defined "New Members".
Unit members who are "new members" as defined by the PEPRA (California Government Code section
7522.04(f)), shall be required to pay a PERS member contribution in an amount equal to 50% of the normal
cost rate for the Defined Benefit Plan provided for by PEPRA, in which the new member is enrolled, rounded
to the nearest quarter of 1%, or the current contribution rate of similarly situated employees, whichever is
greater, pursuant to Government Code section 7522.30.
Those new members shall be enrolled in the 2.7% at 57 benefit plan, as provided for in Government Code
section 7522.25(f), with a final compensation measurement period of 36 consecutive months as set forth in
Government Code Section 7522.32(a), and their retirement benefits shall be calculated based on "pensionable
compensation" (Section 7522.10) rather than compensation earnable (Section 20636).
C. To the extent permitted by law, retirement contributions herein made by the employees shall be made on a
pre-tax basis. The City shall report to CaIPERS as compensation only the percent, if any, of the member
contribution funded by the City.
Article 7: MEDICAL INSURANCE
A. The City shall contribute directly to CaIPERS on behalf of each employee three hundred and ninety-
seven dollars ($397.00) per month pursuant to Resolution No. 4572, adopted by the City Council on
September 5, 1989. In addition, the City shall contribute an amount through the City's cafeteria plan
that is equal to the difference between the City's minimum contribution and the following amounts:
UPlPPROVAL
COVERAGE LEVEL AND ADOPTION OF JANUARY 1, 2024 JANUARY 1, 2025
AGREEMENT
EE Only $750 $775 $800
EE + 1 Dependent $1,500 $1,550 $1,600
EE + Family $1,950 $2,025 $2,100
B. City contributions to the cafeteria plan may be used toward available cafeteria benefits, including
City medical plan premiums, flexible spending account, and post -employment health plan.
C. The city agrees to provide a stipend of $350.00 on a monthly basis for those employees with
alternative medical coverage who opt for the stipend in lieu of the medical insurance benefit.
D. RETIREE HEALTH
1. For all unit members who qualify as an "annuitant" under PEMHCA, the City will contribute directly to
CalPERS on behalf of each annuitant three hundred and ninety-sevendollars($397) per month pursuant
to Resolution No. 4572, adopted by the City Council on September 5, 1989.
2. For unit members hired priorto October16, 2012, upon service or disability retirement underthe PERS
retirement plan, or in the event of the death of an employee priorto retirement, employees who have
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU - 2023-2026 Page 4
served a minimum of fifteen (15) years of services with the City of Redlands and who qualify as
annuitants under PEMHCA, the City shall contribute to a retiree health savings account
the difference betweenthe PEMHCA minimum and the cost of medical, dental and vision
insurance premiums for the employee, spouse and eligible dependents ("lifetime health
insurance") under the Association's current medical insurance program existing at the
time of retirement. Lifetime health insurance shall be at no cost to the retired employee and shall
coverthe employee and eligible dependents. The plan shall be equal to that provided from time to time
tofulltime employees. Lifetime health insurance includes medical, dental, vision care as provided in the
unit MOU.
Unit members hired on and/or after October 16, 2012, shall be ineligible to receive this post -
retirement benefit.
3. Unit members hired after October 16, 2012 who achieve fifteen (15) years of service and who qualify as
an annuitant under PEMHCA shall be entitled to a "medical bridge" program for themselves upon
retirement from the City until they become Medicare -eligible. Underthe "Medical Bridge," the City will
contribute the difference between the PEMHCA minimum and the cost of employee -only coveragefor
the least expensive equivalent health, vision and dental insurance plan as provided by the City to its
then existing unit members through the CaIPERS medical plan until the annuitant reaches the age of
Medicare eligibility at which time the benefit will cease and annuitants will only receive the PEMHCA
minimum contribution. Unit members who receive the medical bridge program can select coverage for
dependents, however, the additional cost must be paid for by the annuitant and will not be paid for by
the City.
Article 8: VISION CARE
The City agrees to contribute the entire monthly premium for Association employees and their eligible dependents
fora vision insurance plan with Medical Eye Services, or its equivalent.
Article 9: DENTAL INSURANCE
The City shall pay the full monthly premium for dental insurance under the Principal Financial dental plan, or its
equivalent, for Association employees and all eligible dependents.
Article 10: LIFE INSURANCE
The City provides Association employees with $25,000 of life insurance. Employees may also purchase additional
increments of life insurance at the City's group rate.
Article 11: DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Each April, the City of Redlands shall make an annual contribution to deferred compensation on behalf of each
Association employee in the amount of $1125 per year + 3% of gross annual salary.
Article 12: EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE
Unit members in the classification of Battalion Chief will qualify for a 10% increase in base salary upon submitting
satisfactory proof of completion of a Bachelor's degree (i.e., official transcripts). Existing unit members as of the
adoption of the 2023-2026 Memorandum of Understanding are eligible for a 7.5% increase in base salary upon
submitting satisfactory proof of completing of an Associate's degree (i.e., official transcripts). Unit members in the
classification of Deputy Fire Chief will qualify for a 10% increase in base salary upon submitting satisfactory proof of
completion of a Master's degree (i.e., official transcripts).
Article 13: CERTIFICATION PAY
Unit members in the classification of Battalion Chief with a minimum of 1 year as a Chief Officer with the City of
Redlands and certified as a Chief Officer by the Office of the State Fire Marshall shall be compensated 3% of the
employee's base monthly salary upon submitting satisfactory proof of the Chief Officer Certification.
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU - 2023-2026 Page 5
Article 14: UNIFORM ALLOWANCE
Association employees shall receive a uniform allowance in the amount of $1700 per year.
Article 15: INCIDENT ACCOMMODATIONS
Unit members assigned to emergency incidents for extended periods shall be reimbursed for hotel/motel
accommodations or other comparable facilities for sleeping and freshening up. With approval of the Fire Chief, the
unit member may be reimbursed for up to 1 day prior to the incident to 1 day after the incident assignment. Unit
members must comply with requirements related to expense and travel reimbursement as outlined in the City's
Personnel Rule and Regulations.
Article 16: LONGEVITY PAY
Employees in the unit with 19 years of continuous service with the City of Redlands shall advance to Step 7 on the
salary schedule. In the eventthata unit memberis notat Step 6 when he/she is eligible forStep 7, the unit member
will advance to the next step in their salary range and continue to advance based on merit until the unit member
reaches Step 7.
Employees in the unit with 14 years of continuous service with the City of Redlands shall advance to Step 6 on the
salary schedule. In the eventthat a unit memberis notat Step 5 when he/she is eligible forStep 6, the unit member
will advance to the next step in their salary range and continue to advance based on merit until the unit member
reaches Step 6.
Article 17: SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY FOR FIRE MEMBERS
The Fire Battalion Chiefs who are assigned to a forty (40) hour workweek (or9/80 schedule) shall be compensated at
seven and one half percent (7.5%) times the base hourly rate for Shift Differential Pay. This benefit does notapplyto
Battalion Chiefs who are assigned to the twenty-four (24) hour shift work schedule.
Article 18: HOLIDAYS
A. The City of Redlands currently observes the following holidays, established by Resolution:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
President's Day
Cesar Chavez Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
January 1
Third Monday in January
Third Monday in February
March 315t
Last Monday in May
June 19"
July 4th
First Monday in September
Second Monday in October
November 11th
Fourth Thursday in November
Fourth Friday in November
December 24th
December 25th
B. In lieu of the above, Shift Battalion Chiefs shall be compensated with fourteen 12-hour holidays peryear. This
compensation shall be based on 6.46 hours per 14-day pay period.
C. Association employees shall also receive two (2) floating holidays annually. Fire Battalion Chiefs assigned to a
twenty-four (24) hour schedule shall receive two (2) twelve (12) hour floating holidays. Floating holidays
accrued but not used shall be paid in January of the following year.
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU-2023--2026 Page 6
D. Holidays shall be paid at a rate of pay applicable to the shift to which the employee is regularly assigned and
shall be include supplemental pay (shift differential, education incentive) which may apply to the specific
Association employee. The City will report to CaIPERS the Holiday Cash Out amounts. This amount is derived
from an employee's left over Holiday Cash Out amount and paid at regular rate, which includes base pay rate
and shift differential and educational incentive. The City will report the Holiday Cash Out on an annual basis
to CalPERS in January of each year.
Article 19: SICK LEAVE
ACCRUAL
Association employees who work a forty(40) hour week shall accrue sick leave at a rate of 3.7 hours per pay period.
Shift employees shall accrue sick leave at a rate of 5.6 hours per pay period; sick leave shall be taken in twenty-four
(24) hour shifts.
SICK LEAVE BUY-BACK PROGRAM
Association employees may accumulate sick leave from calendar year to calendar year to an unlimited amount, or
participate in the City's Sick Leave Buy Back program. In order to participate in the buy-back, the employee must have
a minimum of96 hours of sick leave on the books. In November of each year, Association employees may elect to be
paid cash at their current hourly rate for any hours earned in the following year in accordance with the schedule
below, less any sick leave hours used during that period. The payment will occur in November of the following year.
The election is irrevocable and may not be changed after the election is made.
MAXIMUM BUY-BACK HOURS PER YEAR
40 hour personnel
Shift Personnel
96
144
ACCRUAL PAYMENT UPON RETIREMENT
A. Upon service or medical retirement under the PERS retirement plan, or in the event of the death of an
Association employee prior to retirement, members with less than fifteen (15) years' of service with the City
may elect one of the following options for payment of unused sick leave:
1. Convert all remaining sick leave accrued at the time of retirement to cash value at the final rate of pay
and deposit in the Post Employment Health Plan (PEHP) where it can be used for applicable premiums
payable underthe City's medical insurance program forthe Association member and eligible dependents.
In the event that the member dies prior to exhaustion of the cash value of said benefits, the remaining
cash value may be applied towards the premiums of covered dependents until exhausted, subject to the
conditions and limitations of the PEHP.
2. Atthe time of service retirement, disability retirement,separation,oratthe death of an active Association
employee, one hundred percent (100%) of accrued sick leave may be cashed out at the prevailing hourly
rate.
3. At the time of retirement or disability retirement extend service credit equal to one hundred percent
(100%) of accrued sick leave on the books.
B. In addition, affected Association employees also have the option of being compensated for unused sick leave
on the books at the time of retirement by either option A2 or A3 above.
Article 20: DEFINED CONTRIBUTION & CONTRIBUTION PLANS
A. The City shall make available to Association employees a qualified 401a, 401 Defined Contribution, Defined
Distribution plan(s) and a Retirement Health Savings Plan, as allowed by law. All programs shall be structured
in accordance with the latest IRS rulings.
B. Upon retirement, Association employees shall deposit the cash value of their leave accruals into the 401(a)
program up to the maximum allowed by law.
C. Association employees who meet the following requirementsthe first day afterthe last pay period in October:
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU-2023--2026 Page 7
1. 24 hours of available floating holiday for shift personnel or 20 hours of floating holiday for 40 hour
personnel; and
2. Have a 401(a) account in place with the City
Shall contribute to the 401(a) program leave accruals in the order listed below up to the IRS maximum
allowed. Deposits will be made on a pre-tax basis.
All sick leave hours in excess of 1350 hours;
All comp time in excess of 24 hours;
All vacation hours in excess of 400 hours.
Conversion and deposit of available time shall occur during the last pay period in November.
Article 21: VACATION
A. Vacation shall accrue for Association employees based on the following schedule:
YEARS OF SERVICE HOURS
1- 5 (0-59 Mos)
6 - 7 (60-83 Mos)
8 - 9 (84-107 Mos)
10-11 (108-131 Mos)
12-13 (132-155 Mos)
14-15 (156-179 Mos)
16-20 (180-239 Mos)
21 (240-251 Mos)
22 (252-263 Mos)
23 (264-275 Mos)
24 (276-287 Mos)
25 (288+ Mos)
80
120
128
136
144
152
160
168
176
184
192
200
B. Vacation shall accrue for Association members on the 24-hour shift based on the following schedule:
YEARS OF SERVICE SHIFTS
1— 5 (0-59 Mos)
6 — 7 (60-83 Mos)
8-9(84-107 Mos)
10-13 (108-155 mos)
14-15(156-179 Mos)
16-19(180-239 Mos)
20 + (240+ Mos)
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Article 22: BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
In the event of the death in the immediate family, Association employees shall be compensated with two (2) days paid
leave. In addition, eligible employees may be allowed to use accrued sick leave with full pay not to exceed three (3)
days.
Article 23: PERSONAL LEAVE
Association employees may use up to a maximum of eight (8) hours of accrued sick leave peryearfor personal leave,
subject to advance approval by his/her supervisor.
Article 24: EXECUTIVE LEAVE
Association employees (with the exception of the shift B.C.'s) shall receive one hundred and twenty (120) hours of
executive leave annually. Shift B.C.'s shall receive twenty-four (24) hours of executive leave annually. This leave must
be used within the calendar year, or it will be removed from the books as of December 31"of each year.
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of hire Management Employees MOU -2023-2026 Page 8
Article 25: COMPENSATORY TIME OFF AND OVERTIME
A. Forty (40) hour Chiefs are exempt from the requirements of the FLSA and therefore ineligible to accrue
compensatory time off or earn overtime pay at 1 1/2 times their hourly rate. Fire Battalion Chiefs shall earn
overtime at time and one half for those hours worked in excess of fifty-three (53) hours in one week, only
when assigned to and actually working as suppression shift personnel. Fire classifications eligible to receive
Compensatory Time shall have a maximum accrual of two hundred -forty (240) hours.
B. Association employees ineligible to receive overtime compensation may receive overtime pay at time and one
half of salary in certain situations ONLY if the hours are reimbursed by a third party, such as reimbursable
mutual aid calls or billable contracts.
C. Computation of overtime for eligible Association employees shall excludetime paid for holidays, vacation, sick
leave, military leave, administrative leave, workers' compensation, and compensatory time off.
D. Compensation for overtime for eligible employees shall be paid the payday following the seven (7) day work
period in which the overtime is earned.
Article 26: WORKWEEK
Association members may be eligible to work a 4/10 schedule. This schedule shall be approved by the Fire Chief.
Article 27: FIRE BATTALION CHIEF STAFFING
The City agrees that a minimum of one (1) Battalion Chief shall be on staff per twenty-four (24) shift.
Article 28: No STRIKE PROVISIONS
The Association agrees that it shall not authorize, instigate, aid, condone, or engage in any strike which will interrupt
or interfere with the operation of the City. The City places the Association on notice of its intention and right to
terminate any employee who instigates or engages in any strike or work stoppage which interrupts or interferes with
the operation of the City.
Article 29: PREVAILING BENEFITS
All terms and conditions of employmentsetforth in this MOU, including past practices defined as such by prevailing
law and which clarify the meaning of a contract provision, will remain in full force and effect forthe term of this MOU
unless modified by mutual agreement of the parties. All other matters affecting terms and conditions of employment
and which constitute actual past practices defined as such by prevailing law, shall be subject to change during the
term of this MOU either by mutual agreement or by virtue of the meet and confer processand any applicable impasse
resolution procedures being completed.
Article 30: SAVINGS CLAUSE
Should any provision of this MOU or the application of such provision be rendered or declared invalid by any court
action or by reason of any existing or subsequently enacted legislation, the City and Association shall meet and confer
immediately upon what constitutes an equivalent benefit to that which was determined to be unlawful. Such
equivalent benefit will be implemented retroactivetothe date the old benefit ceased. The remaining parts or portions
of this MOU shall remain in full force and effect.
Article 31: EQUIVALENT BENEFITS
If during the term of this MOU, another Redlands safety unit negotiates an increase to compensation in the following
areas: base salary, tuition reimbursement, education incentive or leave accrual, such terms shall become applicable
to Association members who shall receive an equivalent increase in compensation, only if the change in compensation
results in a net increase in total compensation (i.e. the value of City provided benefits) to any unit member in the other
safety unit.
City of Redlands & Redlands Association of Fire Management Employees MOU - 2023-2026 Page 9
Article 32: DEATH OF EMPLOYEE
If an Association employee dies while on duty, the City shall calculate compensation for the entire shift. The eligible
dependents of deceased employees shall be entitled to benefits as follows:
1. Sick leave accruals, lifetime medical insurance and other applicable benefits shall be calculated and/or
compensated according to the eligibility requirements stated in the current MOU.
2. In the event the deceased employee qualified fora service retirement (i.e. age 50 and with a minimum of
five (5) years of service with the City), the City shall calculate and/or compensate benefits in the same
manner as an employee service retirement.
Article 33: DROP PROGRAM
Should the Deferred Retirement Optional Program (DROP) become available, upon the request of the Association, the
City agrees to meet regarding the possible implementation of the program.
Article 34: ZIPPER CLAUSE
The parties agree that all negotiable items have been discussed during negotiations leading to this MOU, including
salaries and benefits, and conditions of employment and therefore further agree that negotiations will not be
reopened on any item duringthe life of this MOU except my mutual agreementoras provided elsewhere in this MOU.
Article 35: SIGNATURE
CITY OF REDLANDS
Eddie Tejeda, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne Donaldson, City Clerk
Date
7/26 3
Date
7253
REDLANDS ASSOCIATION OF FIRE MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYEES
David Ketcherside, President Date
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