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Adopt a resolution approving the Side Letter with Service Employees International Union Local #1021 (SEIU) to amend the Memorandum of Understanding for Unit 7, Regulatory, Technical, and General Services, to provide an 11.6% market equity increase for the Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) classification; Adopt a resolution amending the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries for the Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) monthly salary range to $6,398.30 - $7,777.17; and Authorize the Director of Human Resources to make any technical corrections necessary to effectuate the intent of the Side Letter
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Human Resources (Department) recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution approving the Side Letter with Service Employees International Union Local #1021 (SEIU) to amend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Unit 7 to provide an 11.6% market equity increase for the Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) classification; Adopt a resolution amending the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries for the Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) monthly salary range to $6,398.30 - $7,777.17; and Authorize the Director of Human Resources to make any technical corrections necessary to effectuate the intent of the Side Letter.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On March 24, 2026, the Board adopted a successor collective bargaining agreement between the County and SEIU Local #1021, representing Unit 7, for the term of March 24, 2026, through September 30, 2028. The agreement included a negotiated provision providing market equity salary increases for classifications in the Public Safety Dispatcher series at the journey level and above to align salaries with the market median of comparable cities and counties. The signed total tentative agreement and the MOU presented to the Board did not include the Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) classification among those as eligible for market equity adjustments.
The Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) classification is the level at which most candidates enter the classification series. The Sheriff’s Office has experienced considerable challenges in recruiting and retaining employees at the entry level. Currently, the County’s emergency services dispatch unit has a 53% vacancy rate, creating staffing challenges and requiring existing employees to work substantial overtime to maintain operations. Although several factors contribute to recruitment and retention challenges, the negotiated market equity adjustments are expected to increase County’s competitiveness. Providing an 11.6% market equity salary increase is intended to improve the County’s ability to recruit and retain qualified dispatchers.
Representatives of the County and SEIU met and conferred in good faith regarding the proposed changes to Appendix B of the MOU. The Side Letter is included as an attachment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
By authorizing the Department to execute the Side Letter, the approximate cost, per position allocation, to the Sheriff’s Department for the remainder of FY2026/27 is $81,738. Funding will be absorbed by the Sheriff’s Office FY2026/27 Working Budget. The annual fiscal impact of the Side Letter is approximately $141,679 per position allocation and will be included in the Sheriff’s Office future requested budgets.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2026/27 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could elect to not approve the resolution to approve the Side Letter between the County and SEIU; however, this is not recommended as the parties have met and conferred in good faith pursuant to the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act and have reached a resolution to provide a market equity increase for the Public Safety Dispatcher (Entry) classification in the amount of 11.6%, through the expiration of the successor collective bargaining agreement September 30, 2028.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Side Letter resulted from a collaborative meet-and-confer process between the Department of Human Resources and SEIU.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION