CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At a special meeting on December 23, 2021, the Citrus Heights City Council considered a resolution approving a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Citrus Heights Police Employees Association (CHPEA) and the City of Citrus Heights. The CHPEA represents the City’s Non-Sworn Police Employees Unit, which includes dispatchers, animal services officers, records assistants, community services officers, and code enforcement officers. The previous MOU for these employees was in effect from October 2018 through September 30, 2021, and at the expiration of that term, negotiations started on a new MOU.

After several months of negotiations, a tentative agreement was reached on December 10, 2021, which was then ratified by the CHPEA membership. The MOU specifies a two-year contract term, starting on October 1, 2021, and ending on September 30, 2023, but there will be no retroactive pay. Employees will enter the 10-step compensation system created by the City, which outlines a 2.5% increase between each of the steps. This will go into effect in the first full pay period in January 2022. In addition, the employees will receive a one-time 5% labor market salary adjustment in the first year of the contract, and a 2% increase in base salary in the second year.

The estimated cost of implementing the new MOU for the CHPEA employees is approximately $130,000 for Fiscal Year 2021-22. With the funding levels currently allocated for the Police Department budget, no budget adjustment is required.

In addition to the MOU, the Council also considered a resolution approving the amended salary table to reflect the updated payrate for the CHPEA classifications.

The City Council voted unanimously to approve both resolutions, so the updated payrates will go into effect this month.