Costa Mesa council to take up proposed police union contract

March 11, 2016 6:47 PM PT

The Costa Mesa City Council is scheduled Tuesday to examine a proposed police union contract that would force rank-and-file officers to again pay into their pension plans.

The proposed two-year Costa Mesa Police Assn. contract is expected to cost $26.6 million next fiscal year. It includes a new requirement that would have the officers pay 14% of their salaries into their pension plans by July 2017.

Part of the 14%, however, is a revival of a 5% contribution that officers had paid between 2010 and February 2015.

With the pension increase comes a 9% pay increase — including a 3% bump this July another 3% next July — for the 127 positions covered under the contract. The pay raises follow others the department has received in recent years.

In total, the contract, which the rank and file approved in January, is expected to cost taxpayers $1.8 million more through June 2018 compared with the previous agreement, which expired in June 2014.

The contract will receive two public hearings, with the second scheduled for April 19, followed by a vote on whether to adopt it.

In January, CMPA President David Sevilla said of the contract: “This is a new era; ultimately we believe the contract is fair and demonstrates the city’s value of our officers. If it is approved, it will bring a huge sense of relief for our officers.”

Mayor Steve Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer are precluded from the negotiations because of their ongoing lawsuit against the CMPA. The case stems from allegations that the union was part of a scheme to illegally monitor and intimidate them during the 2012 election season.

The CMPA has denied the claims. A separate criminal case involving the allegations is also ongoing.

Islamic center for JWA area?

An Islamic group has appealed to the council a Planning Commission decision to deny the opening of a religious center near John Wayne Airport.

The Ismaili community’s application for a 6,000-square-foot center at 3184 Airway Ave. was denied by commissioners in February. They contended that the facility would aggravate the airport area’s parking problems.

Tuesday’s council meeting begins at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

Bradley Zint, [email protected]

Twitter: @BradleyZint