HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-05-18; City Council; Minutes (2)MINUTES
MEETING OF: CITY COUNCIL (Regular Meeting)
DATE OF MEETING: May 18, 2010
TIME OF MEETING: 6:00 p.m.
PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Lewis called the Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL was taken by the City Clerk, as follows:
Present: Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn.
Absent None.
LEGISLATIVE INVOCATION:
Mayor Lewis gave the Legislative Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Pro Tern Kulchin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORT:
1. AB #20.235 - IMPASSE IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND
CARLSBAD FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. INC.
Steve Berliner from Leibert, Cassidy and Whrtmore, in assistance with Human
Resources Director Julie Clark and Senior Management Analyst Debbie Porter, gave
the PowerPoint presentation and report (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Council Member Blackburn clarified with Mr. Berliner that when PERS calculated a
retirement formula for a Carlsbad firefighter, the formula included the average base
salary and additional pay.
In response to an inquiry from Council Member Packard, Mr. Berliner said that the
second tier portion of the contract with the Carlsbad Firefighters Association conforms
to the three recommendations in the Second Tier Retirement Proposal of the San Diego
County City Manager's Association's Proposal for a Regional City Pension Standard.
Council Member Blackburn asked how many cities had implemented all of the
recommendations by the City Manager's Association Regional City Pension Standard
Proposal.
Ms. Clark said that no other cities within San Diego County had implemented the
proposal.
May 18, 2010 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Page 2
City Attorney Ron Ball asked that the San Diego County City Manager's Association
Proposal for a Regional City Pension Standard be included with the Minutes for this
meeting.
In response to an inquiry from Mayor Lewis, Ms. Porter said that a 45% to 50% benefit
percentage was added to a current firefighter's salary.
Mr. Chris Platten with the firm Wily, McBride, Platten and Renner representing the
Carlsbad Firefighter's Association Local 3730, gave the Association's PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Mr. Platten informed Council that Fire Captain Ken Sugahara was the new president of
the Carlsbad Firefighter's Association.
In response to an inquiry from Council Member Blackburn, Mr. Platten said that if
Council were to accept one of the two proposals presented by the Association, the
terms and conditions could be written and ratified by the Council and Association.
Walt Meier of Carlsbad came forward to address Council. Mr. Meier urged Council to
realign its commitment to employees without compromising the safety of the citizens.
Chris Cate, representing the San Diego Taxpayers Association, spoke in support of the
City's final offer to employees represented by the Carlsbad Firefighters Association.
Mr. Ball explained to Council that it could go into Closed Session to deliberate the two
proposals offered by the Carlsbad Firefighters Association.
ADJOURNMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION MEETING
Mayor Lewis adjourned the Council Meeting into Closed Session at 6:47 p.m. with five
Council Members present.
RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Lewis adjourned the Closed Session Meeting and reconvened the Council
Meeting at 6:58 p.m. with five Council Members present.
At the request of Mayor Lewis, Mr. Berliner reviewed the City's last, best final offer to
employees represented by the Carlsbad Firefighter's Association (on file in the Office of
the City Clerk).
Council Member Blackburn asked to have included in the Minutes his decision to
separate the offer into two sections. He stated he was not in opposition of imposing the
pay salary, but he strongly believed the City should be considering a more detailed
negotiation on the second tier retirement package. Mr. Blackburn said he was opposed
to Carlsbad as the only City with the most drastic second tier retirement package. He
added he felt there were other ways for the City to handle a second tier retirement
package. Mr. Blackburn also said that his concerns would be eliminated if the state
developed a two-tiered retirement program.
May 18, 2010 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Page 3
ACTION: On a motion by Mayor Pro Tern Kulchin adopted RESOLUTION
NO. 2010-117. resolving the impasse and adopting and
implementing certain salary and benefit terms and conditions for
employees represented by the Carlsbad Firefighters' Association,
Inc.; and, adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2010-118. amending the
City's CALPERS employer paid member contribution for employees
represented by the Carlsbad Firefighters' Association, Inc.
AYES: Lewis, Kulchin, Hall and Packard.
NOES: Blackburn.
ABSENT: None.
COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS:
Mayor Lewis and Council Members reported on activities and meetings of some
committees and sub-committees of which they are members.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None.
CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of May 18, 2010 was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
L5RRAINE M. WOOD, CMC
City Clerk
Sherry Freisinger
Deputy Clerk