The Roseville City Council could impose a contract on the local police union during a special meeting Thursday, increasing pension costs for police officers and saving the city $875,000.
The city and Roseville Police Officers' Association have been in contract talks since October, and haven't been able to agree on a deal: the city wants a deal that will save it money, and police say they'll pay some of the city's share of pension costs but also want pay raises.
The two sides went into mediation earlier this month, but weren't able to reach a deal. The city says it began preparing for June fact-finding hearings, but the police union voted to skip that process, saying it would be a waste of taxpayer money.
"This action by the union officially concluded the bargaining process," a city staff report states. "Because staff believes further negotiation would be futile and the city's economic necessities require this concession, it is recommended that the city council consider unilateral imposition of the attached terms of the city's [last, best and final offer] to the Roseville Police Officers' Association."
The city council will hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday to vote on a contract for the union; with that contract, the city would stop paying for the 9 percent share of employee pension costs it currently contributes. The city says that action is required by CalPERS.
The Roseville Police Officers' Association on Wednesday said it was "livid" about the possibility of a contract being imposed, and said the 11 a.m. meeting would make it harder for citizens to weigh in on the issue.
“This is a low point for the City Council – to schedule a meeting so that the public doesn’t have an opportunity to weigh in,” a press release quoted Roseville Police Officers' Association President Jerry Wernli as saying. “Our police officers weren’t even contacted by the City; we found out about their vote to impose on us when the agenda was posted online exactly 24 hours before the meeting time.”
The union says it asked residents to send their thoughts to the council, and 75 people encouraged the two sides to keep negotiating.
“City leaders should be promoting public input, not squelching it,” Wernli was quoted as saying. “This last minute attempt to impose on us without anyone knowing is a disgrace to all of Roseville. If they are doing this to their police, what other decisions are they making behind closed doors?”
Roseville city spokeswoman Megan MacPherson said the council met in closed session with labor negotiators Tuesday night.
"Tomorrow's meeting was scheduled as a matter of urgency," MacPherson said in an email. "All meetings have been noticed in compliance with the Brown Act."
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Roseville City Council special meeting
11 a.m. Thursday
311 Vernon St.
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