DATE: October 21, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Human Resources Department
TITLE: RESOLUTION APPROVING AND IMPLEMENTING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE AND THE WESTERN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERS
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving and implementing the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Oceanside and the Western Council of Engineers retroactively effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Western Council of Engineers (WCE) represents approximately 20 City employees working in the Planning and Engineering fields. The previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and WCE expired on June 30, 2026. The City’s negotiating team and WCE representatives began meeting and conferring on the terms and conditions of a successor MOU in March 2026.
Over the course of negotiations, the parties met and conferred in good faith in an effort to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. In June 2026, WCE declared an impasse in negotiations, and the parties subsequently participated in an impasse meeting in August 2026, consistent with the procedures outlined in the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations. Although the parties briefly broke impasse and resumed negotiations, they were ultimately unable to reach agreement on a complete successor MOU package.
Following these discussions, WCE requested formal mediation, and the parties participated in mediation services provided through the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) on October 1, 2026. The full-day mediation session resulted in a mutually acceptable framework for resolving the remaining issues and ultimately allowing the parties to reach a tentative agreement on October 8, 2026.
The proposed successor MOU reflects the negotiated terms and conditions agreed upon by the parties, including compensation provisions and contract language clarifications consistent with City Council direction.
The key economic changes in the proposed MOU include the following:
1. Article V (Compensation), Section A - Salary Base Wage Increase:
• General Salary Increase (GSI) of 3% the first full pay period following adoption of this MOU by the Oceanside City Council.
• GSI of 3% effective the first full pay period in July 2027.
• GSI of 1% effective the first full pay period January 2028.
2. Article V (Compensation), Section A - One-Time Non-PERSable payment:
Effective the first full pay period following adoption of this MOU by the Oceanside City Council, a one-time non-PERSable payment based on eight (8) pay periods of gross salary of the difference from current base rates to proposed base rates, inclusive of the general salary increase. Employees are only eligible to receive the full payment so long as they were employed with the City effective as of July 1, 2026. Any employees hired after July 1, 2026 will receive a proportional amount equal to the number of pay periods actually worked. Eligible recipients must be currently employed with the City at the time of contract ratification.
3. Article V (Compensation), Section R (Professional Licenses):
Effective to the first full pay period following adoption of this MOU by the Oceanside City Council, employees possessing a State of California license as Land Surveyor, P.E., Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Traffic/Transportation Engineer, Or Licensed Landscape Architect shall receive certification pay in the amount of $3.00 per hour.
Effective the first full pay period in July 2027, employees possessing a State of California license as Land Surveyor, P.E., Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Traffic/Transportation Engineer, Or Licensed Landscape Architect shall receive certification pay in the amount of $3.50 per hour.
Employees shall be eligible for reimbursement for one (1) certification only.
4. Article V (Compensation), Section D (Health Insurance):
Effective for plans starting January 1, 2027, the City’s total contribution towards health insurance (i.e., applied towards medical, dental and vision only) shall be:
|
Cap (Based on Medical Selection) |
EE Only |
EE+1 |
EE+ Family |
|
Kaiser Plans |
$962.50 |
$1,650.00 |
$2,117.50 |
|
Blue Shield Plans |
$1,100.00 |
$1,897.50 |
$2,420.00 |
Effective for plans starting January 1, 2028, the City’s total contribution towards health insurance (i.e., applied towards medical, dental and vision only) shall be:
|
Cap (Based on Medical Selection) |
EE Only |
EE+1 |
EE+ Family |
|
Kaiser Plans |
$1,013.25 |
$1,732.00 |
$2,226.00 |
|
Blue Shield Plans |
$1,155.00 |
$1,995.00 |
$2,541.00 |
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact associated with the contract terms:
Fiscal Year 2026-27 $ 140,161
Fiscal Year 2027-28 $ 156,064
Fiscal Year 2028-29 $ 26,290
Total Agreement (Net New) Costs: $ 322,515
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
N/A
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
end
Prepared by: Robert O’Brien, Deputy City Manager
Reviewed by: Jill Moya, Financial Services Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of Understanding
2. Resolution