Council OKs Further Police Contract Talks

The City Council this week decided to continue contract negotiations with police officers, who have been frustrated over what they contend is “unfair” bargaining by the city.

Police have been pushing for a 5% salary increase. The city has countered with an offer for a 3.5% increase.

The City Council voted 3 to 0 Tuesday to go back to the bargaining table. Council members Julie Sa and F. Richard Jones were absent.

The two sides will now negotiate with a mediator, and aim to resolve the conflict within 60 days. If they don’t, the issue could come back to the City Council in January.

“I have no problem with going back to bargaining tables,” Mayor Don Bankhead said. “But I don’t know if it will bear any fruit.”

Police officers, who rallied Tuesday afternoon outside City Hall, said they are willing to give negotiations another try.

The officers, who received small pay increases but extra duties during lean times, said they deserve more compensation now that the economy has improved, said Sgt. David Miller, spokesman of the Fullerton Police Officers Assn.

Bankhead and Councilwoman Jan M. Flory said they valued the police officers, but they did not know where to get the extra money. “I personally feel there’s not enough money to pay the police officers for what they do,” said Bankhead, a former Fullerton police captain.

With either the city’s or the officers’ proposed raise, the association’s 145 officers would continue to be the fourth-highest paid among 10 county departments surveyed by Fullerton.