Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
CC:	Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager
Date:	July 23, 2009
RE:	Consideration of Memorandum of Understanding Proposals from the City, IAFF Local 1596 and Lawrence Police Officer Association negotiating teams

The City management negotiation teams have been meeting separately with the  negotiation team for the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1596, representing Lawrence Firefighters, Fire Engineers and Lieutenants, and the negotiation team for the Lawrence Police Officer’s Association (LPOA), representing Police Officers and Detectives, since late April regarding their respective Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) documents that expire at the end of this calendar year.  At this point, the parties are at impasse regarding the discussions and certain items are unresolved.   

In particular, the City and the IAFF Local 1596 are at impasse regarding compensation, longevity, sick leave accrual rate and cap, and term of agreement.  The City and the LPOA are at impasse regarding compensation, longevity, wellness days, competencies and term of agreement. 

The members of the respective teams should be recognized for their hard work to date on this item.  The negotiation team for the IAFF Local 1596 includes Michael McMillen, Nathan Coffman, Justin Temple, John Darling, and Aaron Payne.  The fire negotiation team for the City includes Diane Stoddard, Mark Bradford, Bill Stark, and Pam Madl.  The negotiation team for the LPOA includes Mike McAtee, Justin Rhoads, Bill Bradford, and Mark Weems.  The police negotiation team for the City includes Diane Stoddard, Ron Olin, Mike Pattrick, and Tarik Khatib. 

Background:

The City’s discussions with employee groups are guided by Resolution No. 6817.  This resolution sets forth the topics for discussions with employee groups and the general timeframes for discussions.  The resolution also sets forth a date by which all unresolved items will be declared at impasse.  This date is July 1.  In accordance with the resolution, the parties declared impasse on the items noted above on this date.  Both sets of negotiation teams requested the assistance of a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.  The mediator has no authority to demand agreement with the parties, but attempts to bring the parties closer together.  The mediator assisted the groups on July 8, 2009, but the impasse on all items continued after the mediation session. 

The resolution calls for both sets of parties to submit proposals in writing to the City Commission should the impasse continue past July 18, 2009.  In the event the impasse continues beyond this date, the City Commission shall schedule within seven calendar days, public hearings for the purpose of receiving explanation and supporting documentation for each party’s proposal.  The resolution indicates that the City Commission shall render its decision by accepting one party’s proposal that it determines the more fair and equitable on the basis of:

• Evidence supplied in support of the proposals;
• The financial situation of the City;
• Comparison with similar comparable municipal employers in the area labor market, and;
• Other relevant considerations.

Once the City Commission renders a decision, the decision is final and binding upon the parties.

Requested Action:

The City Commission should select one party’s proposal for each set of discussions, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the finalized documents.