Advertisement

O.C. Now

Share
Daily Pilot

Newport Beach

City negotiates pension change for guards

A new contract for the Newport Beach city lifeguards was approved by a unanimous City Council vote Tuesday night. Among the key provisions in the contract are a 3.5% increase in pension program contribution by employees and additional funds for the guards’ education and tuition reimbursement. The 3.5% diverted from lifeguard salaries, effective from Feb. 27, is expected to contribute $90,000 of the average $6 million the city pays annually to the California Public Employees Retirement System, or CalPERS, said City Manager David Kiff.

“We decided that this would be a desirable time to contribute to our pension more and hopefully help the city out during a difficult time,” Lifeguard Management Assn. President Brent Jacobsen told the Daily Pilot last week.

The new agreement between the association and the city will take effect through Dec. 31. Salaries will remain unchanged, and staffing levels will remain constant through the summer and duration of the contract, Kiff said.

Advertisement

— Sarah Peters

Costa Mesa

Students, employers attend career fair

Students and employers from throughout Orange County attended career day Wednesday at Estancia High School.

About 75 representatives from 50 employers participated, including the American Red Cross, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, Dale Carnegie Training, Toni & Guy, UPS, the Newport Rib Co., State Farm Insurance, the city of Costa Mesa and the Daily Pilot.

— Staff reports

Three Pilot staffers recognized with awards

Three Daily Pilot staff members received honors at Tuesday evening’s Los Angeles Times Awards, an annual contest that recognizes the best work throughout L.A. Times Media Group.

Hamlet Nalbandyan, who oversees copy editing, design and other aspects of Times Community News newspapers in Orange County, received the annual Editor’s Award, one of the highest honors. He was recognized for his work redesigning the Daily Pilot, launching a new product in San Diego County, and handling multiple and changing assignments with ease.

Joseph Serna, who reports on public safety for the Daily Pilot, was honored in the beat reporting category for his coverage of police and fire agencies in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

Steve Virgen, the sports editor for the Daily Pilot, Huntington Beach Independent and Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, was recognized in the sports reporting category, particularly for his work on high school athletics.

— John Canalis

Advertisement