BRIEFS

The Huntington Beach City Council approved a three-year agreement

Monday with the Huntington Beach Marine Safety Officers’ Assn.

The agreement is effective from Oct. 1 and will expire Sept. 30, 2003.

It includes a 10% salary increase effective this year, a 3% increase

Sept. 20, a 2% hike Sept. 28, 2002, and a 3% increase March 29, 2003. The

total cost of the agreement to the city is $525,000.

City officials have also agreed to fund a classification study to

include minimum requirements, appropriate certifications, job titles and

salary levels by July. And it will increase the city contribution to

medical, dental and vision to cover any increased costs during the first

two years of the agreement.

In addition, city officials agreed to improve the marine officers’

retirement plan, providing benefits equal to those received by other

public safety employees.