Costa Mesa police to get 10% raises

Costa Mesa officials are singing the praises of a new contract for the police department.

The contract provides expanded benefits for employees, including a $150 contribution for health coverage, two extra steps in the city’s basic pay raise schedule, and a 7.5% increase in bonuses offered to those charged with field training new recruits.

“It’s a very good contract,” said Steve Mandoki, administrative services director and city negotiator. “I think any employee would be pleased with the terms and conditions in it, and the fact that it was approved with the officers’ approval is fantastic.

“A contract isn’t always everything you want, but a solid middle ground, I think we found that.”

The new contract will provide a fixed 5% raise for about every year of service for seven years, in addition to raises that are contingent on the pay levels of other nearby police departments, contract negotiator Sgt. Paul Beckman said.

Previously, annual raises were restricted to five years per position.

“When we compare ourselves to benchmark cities, we use a percentage that puts us relative to those agencies,” he said. “We look at Santa Ana, Irvine and other cities, and see what they make in their overall compensation, and we compare ourselves to that and we determine with the city where we need to be in order to reach that benchmark.”

All benefits considered, Beckman said, the city’s officers stand to make a more than 10% raise this fiscal year. Even further benefits will be extended to those police officers proficient in sign language and those with 20 years of service, who will accrue vacation time at a higher rate.

“We went through the negotiation process and on a 5-0 vote came up with a contract that is very fair,” Councilwoman Wendy Leece said. “Our officers work hard, and we need to remain competitive with other cities.”

The city will transfer just more than $1.1 million from the Non-Departmental Cost Center to the department’s operations budget to cover the salary adjustments.

In 2004, the last time the city negotiated a contract with the Police Officers’ Assn., that transfer amounted to $1.8 million.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.