Title
Recommendation to Approve Jennifer Ott, City Manager, Jessica Romeo, Human Resources Director, Edward Kreisberg, Outside Counsel, and Doug McManaway, Deputy City Attorney, as Labor Negotiators for the City of Alameda. (Human Resources 10025060)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
California cities are governed by State law that sets out the rules for conducting negotiations over wages, hours and other working conditions with bargaining units representing public workers. Per the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54957.6, City Council designates representatives to participate in closed session with the City Council to discuss labor negotiations with certain unions and unrepresented employees. These discussions with City Council in closed session allow staff to conduct the City of Alameda’s (City) labor relations in a confidential manner. Staff recommends Jennifer Ott, City Manager, Jessica Romeo, Human Resources Director, Edward Kreisberg, Outside Counsel, and Doug McManaway, Deputy City Attorney be designated as labor negotiators for the City.
BACKGROUND
The City has nine labor groups and administers two compensation plans. This includes four Public Safety groups, five miscellaneous groups and two unrepresented miscellaneous group. All parties listed will now be representing the City as Chief Negotiators for a successive agreement with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and will need to participate in closed session. Agreement with IAFF expires on December 19, 2023.
DISCUSSION
California Government Code Section 3500 et seq., commonly known as the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), provides that public employees have a right to organize and bargain collectively with local government employers over wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment. Government Code Section 54957.6 of the Ralph M. Brown Act provides that prior to meeting in closed session with its negotiators, the legislative body of a local government employer must hold an open session in which the legislative body identifies its designated labor representatives. To implement requirements set forth in Government Code Section 54957.6, the City seeks to create a standing list of representatives to participate in closed session with the City Council and engage in labor negotiations.
Staff are now recommending that the standing list of negotiators include Jennifer Ott, City Manager, Jessica Romeo, Human Resources Director, Edward Kreisberg, Outside Counsel, and Doug McManaway, Deputy City Attorney. This will allow City Manager Ott, Human Resource Director Romeo, and Outside Counsel Kreisberg to negotiate on the City’s behalf, and for the City Attorney’s Office to provide necessary legal support and supervise special counsel as necessary, based on direction provided by the City Council.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve Jennifer Ott, Jessica Romeo, Edward Kreisberg, and Doug McManaway as labor negotiators for the City of Alameda.
• Identify other staff as negotiators.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from the approval of labor negotiators.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required
CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve Jennifer Ott, City Manager, Jessica Romeo, Human Resources Director, Edward Kreisberg, Outside Counsel, and Doug McManaway, Deputy City Attorney, as Labor Negotiators for the City of Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessica Romeo, Human Resource Director
By,
Jessica Romeo, Human Resources Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director