FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Police Officers Get Slight Pay Increase

Non-management police officers received a slight pay increase when the City Council last week finalized a new three-year contract with the Fountain Valley Police Officers Assn.

City Manager Ray Kromer said the salary adjustments were calculated based on “average total compensation” figures of all police agencies in Orange County.

“We get all of the compensations in every city, run the average, and that’s the salary that is paid,” Kromer said, adding that the city was fair in its contract negotiation.

“It turned out good for both parties,” he said. “Both (parties) were realistic about the current economy and the financial conditions of the city.”

The average increase in salary is 0.53%, or between $19 and $33 a month, depending on the employee’s rank and salary step, said Jean Hirai, personnel manager.

The contract covers 59 members of the association, which includes patrol officers, canine officers, senior officers, sergeants and detectives, Hirai said.

The salary range for officers is $3,254 to $3,995 a month and for sergeants, $4,035 to $4,904.

Senior police officers are paid 5% above their regular rate and canine officers receive 2.5% above their regular rate to reflect the increased duties they perform.

In other council action, a $187,383 contract was awarded to Manhole Adjusting Inc. of Monterey Park for a street repair project, in which asphalt rubber chip seal will be applied to some residential streets.

The company was not the lowest bidder but won out over Paving Contractors Inc. of Long Beach, which submitted a bid nearly $9,000 less. But because of Manhole Adjusting’s experience and performance record of applying the unique process that is mixed with paving oil and rubber, the council gave that company the job.

Residential streets that will be repaired next month include those neighborhoods between Newland and Bushard streets; and on the north side between Warner and Talbert avenues, said Wayne S. Osborne, public works director. Osborne said the project is expected to start June 1 and take two weeks to complete.