HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-06-09 City Council (6)TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: HUMAN RESOURCES
DATE:
SUBJECT:
JUNE 9, 2003 CMR: 306:03
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS AMENDING LOCAL 1319,
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AND COMPENSATION PLAN TO
PROVIDE A FIREFIGHTER LEAVE SHARING PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
This report recommends that Council approve resolutions amending the Local 1.319 International
Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Compensation Plan
to add a Firefighter Leave Sharing Program.
BACKGROUND
In April 2000, the City’s Merit System Rules and Regulations were amended to include a
Voluntary Leave Sharing Program. Under this program, regular City employees who meet certain
conditions may voluntarily donate accrued vacation tothe City’s Voluntary Leave Sharing bank,
and the donated paid hours are made available to qualified employees in need of such donations
due to a"catastrophic illness or injury" and no leave balances. While this program is beneficial, it
does not allow employees the option of making designations within a specific unit or employee
group, nor does it allow employees to donate vacation accruals to another employee who needs to
stay home to care for a seriously ill family member, both of which have been requested by City
firefighters and the Local 1319 unit. Firefighters have also requested that the leave donation
maximum be extended to twelve months. Thus, staffis recommending the City Council authorize
a side letter agreement to the IAFF MOA to address these three areas.
DISCUSSION
The City has been meeting with IAFF during the past months to establish a program to meet
the needs of firefighters with serious health problems. As a result a revised program entitled,
"Fire fighter Voluntary Leave Sharing Program" has been proposed. This revised program has
been reviewed, and approved, with the City Attorney’s Office and the IAFF Board. The
revised Firefighter Voluntary Leave Sharing Program includes three
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provisions not offered in the City’s current program. These are:
1. The ability to donate accrued vacation hours to a firefighter bank specifically (not to a
general City employee bank)
2. The availability of leave donations to a firefighter who has a seriously ill family member
requiring the full-time care of the firefighter.
3. The extended maximum donated leave period (from 30 days to 12 months)
These changes wil! result in a minimal cost to the City. Firefighters receiving leave donations
under the program will be required to pay for their own continued health and other benefits where
they are not eligible for continued paid benefits under the federal and state family leave laws.
There are currently two firefighters in need of vacation donations. This proposed policy will
enable needs of these firefighters, and those offirefighters in similar situations in the future, to
be met with minimal cost or impact to the operation of the Fire Department. This program would
be considered a pilot program. In the future, if the program is successful and there is interest
from other employees, changes could be made in the general employee leave sharing program as
well.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There will be a minimal cost impact, principally due to accrual of leave by both the donor and
donee employees when leave is donated.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation establishes a revised policy for sharing vacation among IAFF members
under procedures approved by the City Manager.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Section 1501 of the Merit System
Rules and Regulations Regarding the Memorandum of Agreement Between the City of Palo Alto
and Local 1319, International Association of Fire Fighters, to Add a Firefighter Leave Sharing
Program
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Compensation Plan for Fire
Department Personnel (Local 1319, International Association of Fire Fighters) Adopted by
Resolution No. 8030, and Amended by Resolution Nos.8243 and 8252, to Add a Firefighter
Leave Sharing Program
CMR: 306:03 Page 2of3
PREPARED BY: Leslie Loomis, Director of Human Resources
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
LESLIE LOOMIS
Director of Human Resources
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
EMILY HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
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