Raises approved for eight city managers

Overall increase of 6 percent is possible

Eight city employees will receive raises during the next two years due to the approval of a labor 

negotiation agreement by the City Council on Monday. 

The labor deal spans two years and includes a 3 percent wage increase for each year. The overall 6 percent increase is considered a cost of living adjustment. 

City Council members also approved a new Housing Element plan that seeks to address the housing needs of city residents. The five-year plan outlines how the city can facilitate the creation of certain buildings, like low-income housing units.  

The approved labor agreement between the city and the Crescent City Management Employees’ Association has been in the works for three to four months, according to City Manager Rod Butler.

Butler said the second 3 percent increase is dependent on the budget and the state of the overall economy. 

“I can foresee possibly saying we can’t do that second year of cost of living increase,” Butler said in a telephone interview.

As part of the agreement, employees will no longer be able to receive overtime during weeks they use sick leave or vacation hours. However, they have the opportunity to establish an alternative work schedule if they wish to have a day off during the second week of each pay period.  

Employees affected by the change hold such positions as pool manager, information systems administrator and Wastewater Treatment Plant sup­ervisor.

There are four employee bargaining units within the city and the Clerical Employees of Crescent City and the Crescent City Employees Association are still working on their agreements before presenting them to the City Council. The Crescent City Police Officers Association obtained their labor negotiation agreement last year.

The Police Officers Association was able to negotiate pay increases for officers and sergeants. Sergeants will receive a 10 percent pay increase each year for two years, while officers will receive a 5–6 percent increase, according to Butler. 

Butler said the Crescent City police force will never receive wages as large as those in cities like Eureka but it needed a wage increase to be competitive.  

“This was an attempt to try to bring our levels more into line with other cities,” Butler said.

Like other cities, Crescent City is required by the state of California to update their Housing Element plan every five years. The plan is expected to be delivered to the state within the next couple of days according to Brian Millar, senior associate of PMC consulting. 

PMC consulting assisted in the development of the new Housing Element plan, which was last updated in 2003. The plan determines ways the city can help facilitate the creation of housing for specific groups, such as disabled and low-income residents. 

The Housing Element is based on local population levels and employment projections. Under this policy, the city can provide financial assistance, fund public fees and make improvements to public infrastructure, Millar said. 

Being in compliance with the Housing Element is quite favorable in the eyes of the state and outside agencies, according to Butler.  

“Having an approved Housing Element plan in place makes you more likely to receive grants,” Butler said. 

The city is applying for a 2010 Community Development Block Grant this week in the amount of $400,000. If approved, the grant will help support the Harrington House Domestic Violence Shelter, the Rural Human Services Food Bank, the Court Appointed Special Advocate program and the Fred Endert pool.