FROM:
Human Resources
SUBJECT:
Title
Approval of a Salary Adjustment for the Fontana Police Officer’s Association (POA) in Response to Classification and Compensation Study Findings.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-006, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Fontana, California, adopting the updated salary table for the Fontana Police Officer’s Association.
End
COUNCIL GOALS:
• Operate in a businesslike manner by ensuring that the public debate is based on accurate information.
• Practice sound fiscal management by producing timely and accurate financial information.
• Practice sound fiscal management by living within our means while investing in the future.
• Create and maintain a dynamic team by emphasizing staff development.
DISCUSSION:
The City has an existing labor agreement with the POA, which is set to expire on June 30, 2025. During the period of the current labor agreement, the City also conducted a city-wide Classification and Compensation Study (“Study”) to assess the competitiveness of the City’s current classification and compensation structure for all positions city-wide. The findings of the Study were presented to the City Council during Closed Session on May 14, 2024. At that time, the City Council directed staff to develop a pathway toward competitive pay as part of their goal to address employee recruitment, retention, and stability.
Although the study found that the City was, on average, five percent (5%) ahead of market based on total compensation, many of our current salary ranges are below the market average for similar roles in comparable cities, which directly impacts recruitment and employee retention. Specifically, PSPC identified the Police Officer classification as being approximately 8% below market, and the Police Corporal classification approximately 3% below market. Since that time (May 2024), the classifications identified above have continued to fall further below market.
Although the City and the POA have an existing labor agreement, which outlines terms and conditions of employment including wages, the City has met with the POA in a good-faith effort to discuss the results of the salary survey. As a result of these discussions, and in recognition of the significant gap between current salary ranges and market averages for the Police Officer and Police Corporal classifications, the City is proposing a 2.0% base salary increase for the POA Group, effective February 8, 2025. This increase is being provided as a gesture of good faith ahead of the formal negotiations later this year, to begin addressing the disparity and support the City's broader goals of enhancing recruitment and retention in these critical roles. This action aims to mitigate further market erosion while preparing for comprehensive discussions regarding a new labor agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total annual estimated budgetary financial impact associated with the approval of this salary adjustment is $730,340, for the remainder of FY24-25 the estimated salary adjustment will be $280,900.
MOTION:
Approve staff’s recommendation.