REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 28, 2018
FROM: JEFF CARDELL, Director
Personnel Services Department
BY: KEN PHILLIPS, Labor Relations Manager
Personnel Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
***Approve a Side Letter of Agreement with the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA), representing Unit 4, Non-Supervisory Police, regarding Lateral Hire Incentives (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council approve the attached Side Letter of Agreement with FPOA which renews and amends the provision of hiring incentives for qualified lateral police hires from other California police agencies and provides incentives for current Fresno Police Officers who refer lateral hires, effective July 1, 2018.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In order to achieve hiring goals for Police Officers, the City Council approved a Side Letter Agreement with FPOA effective August 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, providing hiring incentives for lateral hires from other California law enforcement agencies. In each year since, Council has approved renewals of this side letter through June 30, 2018. Renewal of the side letter for an additional year will assist with continued efforts in achieving the City’s hiring goals for Police Officers. The attached side letter renews the initial provisions providing leave and cash incentives upon hire after successful completion of the field training program, upon successful completion of the probationary period as a Police Officer with the City, and successful completion of an additional twelve months of City service as a Police Officer after passing probation. The terms also credit lateral hires hired on or after August 1, 2015 with years of sworn service in previous employment solely for the purpose of determining vacation accruals.
BACKGROUND
In 2015, the City Council approved a Side Letter Agreement with the FPOA which provided hiring incentives for lateral officers through June 30, 2016. The Side Letter Agreement was renewed each year since with City Council approval. This is in recognition that the employment environment for experienced officers is very competitive and the City was still in the process of rebuilding the Police Department.
Filling vacant Police Officer positions is a constant challenge; however, the renewal and amendment of the Lateral Hire Incentives Side Letter with FPOA provides a useful tool in the recruitment of experienced officers.
Side Letter Provisions
Lateral hires are eligible for forty hours of vacation leave and forty hours of sick leave upon hire, a payment of $2,500 upon hire, $2,500 upon completion of the Police Department’s field training program, $2,500 upon successful completion of probation, and $2,500 after an additional one year of service following the completion of the probationary period. This totals to a value of $10,000 in incentive pay and 80 hours of sick/vacation leave per lateral hire. Additionally, lateral hires will be hired at the C Step or above. Further, lateral hires hired on or after August 1, 2015 will be credited with years of sworn service in previous employment for the purpose of determining vacation accruals.
In order to qualify for the incentives a lateral hire must be currently working for another California law enforcement agency, have at least two years of experience as a Police Officer in a California law enforcement agency, possess a current California P.O.S.T. certificate, and must be hired by the Fresno Police Department.
In addition, current Officers who refer a qualified lateral hire will receive $250 at each of the steps noted above for a lateral hire, (i.e. hire, completion of the field training program, completion of probation and an additional one year of service after completing probation) for a total of $1,000 per lateral hire. Only one Officer is eligible for a referral for any one lateral hire, and Officers are limited to payment for five referrals (i.e., $5,000) in any fiscal year.
The side letter is effective through June 30, 2019, but can be renewed upon mutual agreement of the parties.
The Office of the City Attorney has approved the side letter as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
N/A
LOCAL PREFERENCE
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
In FY 2017, this side letter agreement resulted in the payment of $99,750 in incentives. Some of the incentive payments were for lateral hire police officers hired before FY 2017 due to the structure of the incentive program. These costs were covered by existing appropriations within the department. The department hired eight lateral police officers in FY 2017.
Attachment: Side Letter of Agreement with FPOA