IRVINE : Officers to Vote on New Police Contract

After working 15 months without a contract, police officers will vote within two weeks on a proposed agreement the City Council approved this week.

Police and city management negotiators reached a tentative agreement that calls for a three-year contract retroactive to January, 1992, when the previous contract expired. The council approved the agreement in a closed session Tuesday, leaving it up to officers to accept or reject it.

Negotiations were speeded along by the participation of City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr., Irvine Police Assn. President Patrick A. Rodgers said Wednesday. Once Brady sat down with the police negotiating team, the two sides were able to reach an agreement in one day, Rodgers said.

Police and city negotiators would not reveal details of the city’s offer, but Rodgers said it mirrors what other city employees received in 1992 and 1993 contracts, which would mean no cost-of-living raise.

Provisions in the contract’s third year, however, would increase police officers’ retirement benefits, Rodgers said. Retirement benefits were the major item police were pushing for in the contract, he said.

“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we got a very fair package for our people,” Rodgers said. “The negotiating team is very pleased with the package, and we don’t believe we will have trouble selling it to our members.”

If the police officers vote to approve the contract, it will come back to the council for routine approval and signature on April 13, Brady said.