19780727 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes
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MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED MEETING OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON
HELD JULY 27, 1978, AT FOUR O'CLOCK P. M.
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY HALL
LOCA TED AT 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE,
VERNON CALIFORNIA
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COUNCIL PRESENT:
Ybarra, Gonzales, Kaeser, Malburg
COUNCIL ABSENT :
McCormick
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Malburg.
At this time, 4:15 o'clock p. m., it was moved by Gonzales, seconded
by Kaeser, that the City Council go into executive session under Attorney/Client
privilege. Motion carried.
All persons, with the exception of the City Clerk, the City Attorney and
Richard Whitmore, Special Labor Relations Consulting Attorney, were excluded
from the executive session.
Mayor Malburg ordered that all communications to and from the executive
session were deemed private.
At this time, ,4:45 o'clock p. m., it was moved by Ybarra, seconded by
Gonzales that the City Council go out of executive session and resume regular
session. Motion carried.
Communication from Bruce V. Malkenhorst, Municipal Employees
Relations Representative dated July 27, 1978, making specific recommendations
regarding determination of unresolved issues relating to meeting and conferring
with Vernon Fire Fighters, Local #2312, was presented.
It was moved by Gonzales, seconded by Kaeser that the communication
be received and filed. Motion carried.
A Manning Study encompassing twenty jurisdictions, including Vernon,
with square mile area, population, unit personnel and shift manning comparisons,
was presented by the M. E. R. R. for the City Council's consideration.
It was moved by Ybarra, seconded by Gonzales that the Manning Study
be received and filed. Motion carried.
After discussion by the City Council concerning theM. E. R. R. 's recom-
mendations, the following actions were taken with respect to said recommendations:
Recommendation # 1 - Layoff Policy. Resolution No. 4563 - A Resolution of the
City Council of the City of Vernon, Estabiishing-LayoffProcedures Applicable to
the Fire Department, was presented.
It was moved by Gonzales, seconded by Kaeser, that Resolution No.
4563 be approved and adopted. Motion carried.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Gonzales, Kaeser, Ybarra, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation #2 - It was moved by Kaeser, seconded by Ybarra, that one
Administrative Battalion Chief position be established for the Fire Department
effective August 1, 1978, and that the existing Battalion Chiefs be assigned to
said position on a rotating basis for a six-month period and receive a salary
increase of $108. 00 per month while serving in said position, and be paid an
auto allowance of $60.00 per month. Moti on carried.
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AYES
NOES
Absent
7/27/78
Kaeser, Ybarra, Gonzales, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation #3 - It was moved by Kaeser, seconded by Ybarra, that the
Fire Department be reorganized and the following positions be re -classified
as civilian positions: Motion carried.
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(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
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Four (4) Dispatch Positions effective November 1, 1978.
Nine (9) Paramedic Positions effective August 1, 1978.
One (1) Mechanic Position effective August 1, 1978.
One (1) Electric Specialist Position effective August 1, 1978.
Two (2) Fire Preventive Positions effective November 1, 1978.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Kaeser, Ybarra, Gonzales, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation #4 - Reduction of Personnel. It was moved by Gonzales,
seconded by Kaeser, that seventeen (17) firemen shall be laid off and that staff
implement Resolution No. 4563 and prepare the list of the firemen who will be
laid off upon the effective date of the reclassification of the positions approved
in Recommendation No. 3 above. Motion carried.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Gonzales, Kaeser, Ybarra, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation No. 5 - It was moved by Kaeser, seconded by Gonzales, that
the vacation schedule be modified as follows, effective August 1, 1978. Motion
carried;
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(1)
(2)
(3)
AYES
NOES
Absent
No more than three (3) employees in Group 1 must be
given permission to schedule shifts off at the same time.
No more than one (1) employee in Group 4 must be given
permission to schedule shifts off at any given time.
The Fire Chief will be able to approve additional shifts
off, if in his discretion, there is sufficient personnel
on duty.
Kaeser, Gonzales, Ybarra, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation No. 6 - It was moved by Kaeser, seconded by Ybarra, that
examinations and promotions procedures be modified as follows:
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(1)
(2)
(3)
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Notices of examination shall be posted together with a brief
description of the examination at least sixty (60) days prior
to the examination date.
The written, oral, and practical examination shall be selected
and administered subject to the City Council's approval.
All promotions shall be subject to City Council approval.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Kaeser, Ybarra, Gonzales, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation No.7 - It was moved by Gonzales, seconded by Kaeser, that
effective July 1, 1978 and for each month thereafter through June 30, 1979, the
City approve for all firemen in Group 1 and Group 4 the payment of $48.36 per
month for an employee, $99.19 per month for an employee plus one dependent,
is?
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7/27/78
and $134.92 per month for an employee plus two or more dependents for life,
health, and dental insurance. Motion carried.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Gonzales, Kaeser, Ybarra, Malburg
None
McCormick
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Recommendation No. 8 - It was moved by Gonzales, seconded by Ybarra, that
the following Clothing and Uniform Allowance be established. Motion carried.
(1) Vernon will pay to or on account of each employee in the
classifications represented by the Vernon Fire Fighters'
Association in Group 1 and Group 4, who has completed
his probationary period and is required by the Vernon Fire
Department to own and maintain a uniform and who is on the
active payroll of the Vernon Fire Department, up to One Hundred
Fifty Dollars ($150.00) per fiscal year of Vernon for the purchase
of uniforms upon presentation of appropriate vouchers or invoices
to the designated representative of the Vernon Fire Department.
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(2) It is the intent of this provision that payments provided for above
constitute reimbursement for incurred expenses and not income.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Gonzales, Ybarra, Kaeser, Malburg
None
McCormick
Recommendation No.9 - It was moved by Kaeser, seconded by Ybarra, that the
following grievance procedure be established. Motion carried.
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4.
A grievance will be defined, as a dispute between the City and
an employee or employees adversely affected thereby over inter-
pretation of any provision of the rules and regulations. "Days"
as used herein shall be those days that the City Hall of the City
of Vernon is open part or all of the day. "Immediate supervisor"
is the lowest level management or supervisory person having
immediate jurisdiction over the grievant.
The aggrieved employee shall present orally or in writing his
grievance to his immediate supervisor within five (5) working
days of the occurrence of the action giving rise to the grievance.
Discussions will be informal for' the purpose of settling differ-
ences in the simplest and most direct manner. The immediate
supervisor shall reach a decision and communicate it orally or
in writing to the aggrieved employee and the Municipal Employee
Relations Repre sentative (M. E. R. R. ) within two (2) working days
from the date the grievance was presented to him.
If the grievance is not settled at the first step to the satisfaction
of all parties, either the M. E. R. R. or the aggrieved employee
within two (2) working days of the answer in the first step, shall
reduce the grievance to writing, sign it and present it to the
Department Head or his designee. The Department Head or his
designee shall obtain the facts concerning the alleged grievance
and shall within five (5) working days of receipt of the written
grievance conduct a meeting between himself, his representative
if needed, and the aggrieved employee. The Department Head or
his designee shall notify the aggrieved employee and the M. E. R. R.
of his decision not later than five (5) working days following the
meeting date.
If the grievance is not settled at Step 2, it may, upon the request
of either.the employee or the M. E. R. R., be submitted to the
mediation by the California State Conciliation Service. The
mediator designated by the Service shall attempt to adjust the
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grievance. Proposals, concessions and admissions made during
the course of such mediation shall be confidential and not be us ed
in any subsequent proceedings. ,If the grievance is not settled to
the satisfaction of all parties within twenty (a:>) days of the
designation of the mediator by the Service, then the grievance
shall be deemed not to have been settled at Step 3.
If the grievance is not settled to the satisfaction of all parties at
Step 3, then the grievance shall be submitted to the City Council
of the City of Vernon for determination. The Council shall con-
duct such hearings and receive such evidence as it deems appro-
priate. The City Council will make the final decision at its sole
discretion; however, the mediator from Step 3 above will be
allowed to participate with the Council during an executive deliber-
ative session wherein management representatives and employee
representatives shall be excluded from said deliberative session.
The decision of the Council shall be final and binding on the parties.
The council's decision will be provided in a written format which
will be given to the grievant after the decision is made.
All employees serve at the pleasure of the City Council and nothing
herein shall be deemed to create a property right in their employ-
ment.
AYES
NOES
Absent
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5.
6.
7.
Kaeser, Ybarra, Gonzales, Malburg
None
McCor mick
7/27/78
169
Recommendation No. 10 - It was moved by Ybarra, seconded by Kaeser, that the
staff be instructed to codify the rules and regulations in the Fire Department and
make the same available to the Association on or before December 15, 1978, for
the purposes of meeting and consulting, and that the City Council hereby determines
that disputes concerning the interpretation only of said "Rules and Regulations"
after their final adoption by the City Council shall be subject to tre grievance pro-
cedure provided for herein, and that in the event there is a dispute concerning the
interpretation of a rule and regulation, administrative action implementing said
rule or regulation shall be stayed pending the final resolution of said dispute. It
is intended that disputes concerning interpretation and not disputes concerning
implementation shall be subject to said grievance procedure. Motion carried.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Ybarra, Kaeser, Gonzales, Malburg
None
McCor mick
Recommendation No. 11 - It was moved by Gonzales, seconded by Ybarra, that
wages for all firemen in Groups 1 and 4 whose positions have not been reclassified
be frozen at their existing levels, be approved. Motion carried. Those firemen
whose positions have been reclassified and who have been transferred to a differ-
ent position receive the frozen wage level of that position.
AYES
NOES
Absent
Gonzales, Ybarra, Kaeser, Malburg
None
McCor mick
Recommendation No. 12 - It was moved by Kaeser, seconded by Gonzales, that
a permanent contract with Medevac, Inc., for paramedic services be approved,
and staff instructed to complete negotiations for said permanent contract. Motion
carried.
AYES
NOES
Absent .
Kaeser, Gonzales, Ybarra, Malburg
None
McCormick
It was moved by Ybarra, seconded by Gonzales, that the City Council
approve entering into an automatic aid arrangement with adjoining jurisdictions and
instruct staff to complete negotiations for an automatic aid agreement with said
jurisdictions. Motion carried.
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AYES
NOES
Absent
7/27/78
Ybarra, Gonzales, Kaeser, Malburg
None
McCormick
It was moved by Gonzales, seconded by Ybarra, that Acting Battalion
Chief L. Jackson be appointed Acting Administrative Battalion Chief, effective
August 1, 1978, and that he be authorized an automobile allowance of $60.00
per month for the use of his personal vehicle, effective same date. Motion
carried.
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There being no further business to come before the meeting, on motion
of Ybarra, seconded by Gonzales, the meeting was adjourned until the next
regularly scheduled meeting of the council at two o'clockp. m., August 1, 1978,
in the Council Chamber of the City Hall, located at 4305 Santa Fe Avenue,
Vernon, California.
ATTEST:
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/ -eONfS~ifu~O-------
6~~?{~ --Y'
BRUCE V. MALKENHORST, City Clerk-
Director of Finance
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