Newport council OKs police contract

The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously to approve the police officer union’s new two-year contract Tuesday.

The agreement increases the officers’ mandatory pension contributions, while giving them raises and added health benefits.

Also, the council voted to buy $2.6 million of furnishings for its under-construction Civic Center. A major component of that purchase was 20% higher than the lowest bidder, but Public Works Director Steve Badum said, “We looked at a quality-based selection.”

An example of office furniture is the Herman Miller Aeron desk chair, a popular high-end designer brand. Much of the contract is for office returns, credenzas, storage units, shelving units, file units and privacy panels.

—Mike Reicher

Twitter: @mreicher