Newport Beach City Council approves updates to employment contracts for police chief, fire chief

The Newport Beach City Council this month unanimously approved amendments to the employment agreements for current Police Chief Jon Lewis and Fire Chief Jeff Boyles.

Lewis, who was receiving a base salary of $238,409 received a boost to $248,040. Boyles’ base salary is now $242,639, up from $235,527.

Lewis will receive a salary increase of 1.5% effective January 2023 and will be brought to the top of the salary range for the position of police chief, $261,088, by 2024.

Boyles will see a salary increase of 1.43% effective January 2023 and by 2024 will be brought to the top of the salary range for fire chief, which is $253,661.

Both agreements call for a four-year term, set to expire on Dec. 30, 2025; a one-time deferred compensation deposit of $2,000 and a salary adjustment of 2%, effective at the start of the next fiscal year. Beginning in July 2023, cost-of-living and salary range adjustments will be tied to their respective safety management groups’ salary adjustments.

Both were last reviewed and approved in 2019, according to a staff report prepared for the City Council’s consideration.

Lewis was named the police chief in 2016, after working his way through the ranks since 1991. Boyles, who joined the NBFD in 2000, was named its fire chief in 2019.

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