City reaches agreements with labor unions

The City Council ratified agreements reached with the labor unions representing the employees of the Shafter Police Department and the Public Works Department.

Employees in the Public Works Department will received a 2.5% increase in pay for the 2022 fiscal year, as well as an additional increase for the 2023 fiscal year. They will also receive an increase in the cell phone budget.

Essential employees who were working during the pandemic period from March 2020 to September 2020 will receive a lump sum of $5,000. The ratification of this agreement would cost the city an amount of $47,000 in the budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The council also came to an agreement with the Shafter Police Officers Union.

In the agreement, sworn employees will receive a 1% cost of living increase for the 2022 fiscal year, with a 2% increase to take effect in the fiscal year 2023.

Sworn officers who were serving the city during the pandemic period of March 2020 to September 2020 will receive a lump sum of $3,000, with other sworn employees receiving a lump sum of $1,500.

In other action, the council approved an agreement to purchase 650 additional water meters, and have them installed in the city, bringing the percentage of residents that are metered to 80%.

Currently, approximately 60% of residents are on water meters. This number needs to be 100% by the year 2025, mandated by the State of California.

The cost of the meters and the installation will cost approximately $903,000. Bids ranged from the $903,000, up to $1.4 million. The remainder of the city will be receiving water meters in the fiscal year 2023, according to current plans.

The council also approved the attempt get a grant for the city to complete a project of its choice, an award that is worth approximately $136,000. The site of the project is suggested to be the area between the Shafter Learning Center and the Fire Station.

Suggestions for the project have been mentioned, according to Shafter Education Partnership Director David Franz, including a possible giant chess board, such as one that is on display in the Morro Bay area. The area would include chess tables as well. Another suggestion is some playground equipment that can also be used as musical instruments.

“The playground equipment can also create music,” said Franz.

Consideration for the use of the grant would be discussed after the award of the grant to the city.