pages: CityCouncil/2011-06-21.pdf, 6
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CityCouncil | 2011-06-21 | 6 | Councilmember Johnson inquired whether there are other ways to make up shortfalls without cutting public service levels. The City Manager responded that he does not know; stated that he does not think that cuts will happen next year; the City will have trouble two years out if trends do not change. Councilmember deHaan stated that he has reviewed public safety data for the past twenty years; public safety received 24 pay increases; other bargaining units received 16 pay increases; public safety had an eight-year contract which is unheard of and averaged a 2.5% increase every six months; when compounding increases over the last twenty years, public safety has had an 118% increase in wages while other bargaining units had a 76% increase, which is a 42% difference; Firefighters post employment benefits increased 300% from 1999 to 2007; the Kaiser health plan rate for an employee plus one dependent increased 70%; that he does not foresee that the City will be hiring any new public safety employees in the next two years. The City Manager stated every Bay Area city has had a similar pattern over the twenty year period; the last six years has been flat; the next MOU would begin June 2013 if the MOU is approved; the hole in the budget has been twenty years in the making; setting the ship aright will take at least five years. Councilmember deHaan stated that he does not believe the City has five years to correct the course; Council could be sitting here two years from now asking what happened; the issue needs to be addressed immediately. Mayor Gilmore stated steps have been taken; things cannot change overnight; the City Auditor and City Treasurer have stated that the City would be out of money in two years if steps were not taken; every journey starts with a single step. Councilmember Johnson stated AC Transit had a provision in its contract that allowed imposing a Contract, but an arbitrator required AC Transit to get to the bargaining table and negotiate causing; AC Transit to re do its budget; the City voted to change its ordinance setting medical benefits for public safety retirees; an arbitrator required going to the bargaining table to do that; the Council does not have the authority to unilaterally change things; Vallejo went to arbitration a number of times. Councilmember deHaan stated outside employment has been stricken from the MOU but is on the application; the following has been stricken from the MOU: "No employee shall engage in outside employment during his/her regular working hours. No uniform emblem, badge or other employee identification shall be worn by any person while in the employment of someone other than the City. All requests by the employee for permission to engage in outside employment shall be made on a form provided by the City. No employee shall accept or continue employment other than occasional work from other than the City of Alameda without the approval of the City Manager, which Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 6 June 21, 2011 | CityCouncil/2011-06-21.pdf |