CA City, Firefighters Reach New Tentative Contract

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As expected, the Vallejo City Council unanimously ratified a new tentative agreement on Tuesday with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) on Tuesday.

The seven-person council and city staff met remotely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new two-year, nine-month agreement will cost Vallejo more than $4 million during the life of the contract.

Kevin Brown, president of Vallejo Firefighters Association, submitted a public comment card, which was read to the council by a city staff person, asking the council members to approve the new tentative agreement.

“Vallejo firefighters are compensated far below the comparable departments within our region,” Brown said. “For this reason, we face unparalleled recruitment and retention issues that strain our members’ ability to provide the level of service our citizens deserve.”

Nearly a dozen more also spoke in favor of the contract urging its ratification.

The city’s firefighters will receive a 3.5 percent wage increase upon approval by the council, plus 3.5 percent increases effective July 1, 2020 and 2021.

However, not everyone was supportive of the agreement. Longtime Vallejoan J.D. Miller questioned the move in an email to the council prior to Tuesday’s meeting.

“Shouldn’t the city be just as concerned about where the money will come from to pay current salaries and benefits without accepting an agreement that will lock in more than $4 million in increases?” he asked. “Where will this money come from? Will the city revenue continue to increase to allow for these increases in salary and the related CALPERS contributions tied to the increases?”

The council also ratified three emergency orders issued by City Manager Greg Nyhoff in connection with the coronavirus outbreak.

Nyhoff, serving as the city’s director of emergency services, ordered a limitation on residential and commercial evictions due to a substantial decrease in household or business income in the wake of COVID-19

The order also limits evictions of people in foreclosed properties and the same order states that the city will not shut off water during the emergency.

It doesn’t relieve anyone from paying rent or water bills. Termination of the order is set for May 31 or if the council rescinds the emergency declaration, whichever comes first.

Councilmember Robert McConnell recused himself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest.

Council members also ratified an order allowing curb-side cannabis sales. Councilmember Hakeem Brown recused himself from the vote, as well.

Finally, the council approved an order allowing delivery services for essential businesses in the city of Vallejo.

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©2020 Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.)

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