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 OCEANSIDE MARINE SAFETY EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION
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 Oceanside Marine Safety Employees’ Association retroactively effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Oceanside Marine Safety Employees’ Association (OMSEA) represents approximately 18 individuals actively employed in the classifications of Sr. Beach Lifeguard, Beach Lifeguard Sergeant and Beach Lifeguard Lieutenant. The previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the OMSEA expired on June 30, 2026. The City’s negotiating team and OMSEA representatives met and conferred on a successor contract beginning in March 2026. Over the course of the last six and a half months, the parties met and conferred in good faith and reached a tentative agreement on the terms and conditions of a successor MOU on October 7, 2026. OMSEA members held a ratification vote and elected by a majority vote to approve the agreement.
The proposed MOU is for a two-year term retroactively effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and includes compensation and contract language clarification as directed by the City Council.
The key economic changes in the proposed MOU include the following:
1) Salary:
a) General Salary Increase (GSI) of 3% effective the first full pay period following adoption of this MOU by Oceanside City Council.
b) GSI of 4% effective the first full pay period in July 2027.
One-Time Non-PERSable payment: Effective the first full pay period following adoption of this MOU by the Oceanside City Council, all current bargaining unit members actively employed shall receive a one-time, non-PERSable payment, subject to all applicable taxes/deductions, as outlined below:
• Beach Lifeguard Lieutenant - $1,711.47
• Beach Lifeguard Sergeant - $1,439.87
• Senior Beach Lifeguard - $1,156.27
Former employees who have separated from the City prior to the retroactive July 1 2026 adoption of this MOU by the Oceanside City Council shall not be eligible to receive the one-time non-PERSable stipend.
2) Health Insurance:
For plans effective January 1, 2027, the City’s total contribution towards health insurance (i.e., applied towards medical, dental and vision only) for all unit members shall be:
|
Cap (Based on Medical Selection) |
EE Only |
EE+1 |
EE+ Family |
|
Kaiser Plans |
$875.00 |
$1,500.00 |
$1,925.00 |
|
Blue Shield Plans |
$1,000 |
$1,725.00 |
$2,200.00 |
For plans effective January 1, 2028, the City’s total contribution towards health insurance (i.e., applied towards medical, dental and vision only) for all unit members shall be:
|
Cap (Based on Medical Selection) |
EE Only |
EE+1 |
EE+ Family |
|
Kaiser Plans |
$918.00 |
$1,575.00 |
$2,021.00 |
|
Blue Shield Plans |
$1,050 |
$1,811.00 |
$2,310.00 |
3) Uniform Allowance:
Effective September 2027, the annual uniform allowance shall be $1,000.
4) Holidays:
Effective January 2027 employees will be credited with 60 hours of holiday credit on January 1st and July 1st of each year in lieu of designated holidays for a total of 120 holiday hours annually.
5) Special Classification Study:
The City agrees to initiate, prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2026-27, a special classification study limited to the classification and job title alignment of full-time lifeguard positions within a Fire Department organizational structure.
The City further agrees to a limited re-opener in Fiscal Year 2027-28 solely to discuss the findings of the study. The re-opener shall not obligate the City to implement any changes resulting from the study.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact associated with the contract terms:
Fiscal Year 2026-27 $ 100,652
Fiscal Year 2027-28 $ 138,535
Total Agreement (Net New) Costs: $ 239,187
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.
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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