11 Staff Report.TEA Dispatcher Retention Side Letter with attachments
PREPARED BY: Katy Nomura
Assistant Town Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/20/2024 ITEM NO: 11
DATE: August 13, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Approve and Authorize the Town Manager to Execute an Extension of a Side
Letter Agreement Between the Town of Los Gatos and the Town Employee
Association (TEA) for the Dispatcher Retention and Recruitment Bonus
Through the Pay Period Starting July 21, 2024
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and authorize the Town Manager to execute an extension of a Side Letter Agreement
(Attachment 1) between the Town of Los Gatos and the Town Employee Association (TEA) for
the Dispatcher Retention and Recruitment Bonus through the pay period starting July 21, 2024.
BACKGROUND:
Public safety departments throughout the nation and State are experiencing a staffing crisis.
The attrition in Police Officers and Dispatchers is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, public
demonstrations, heightened anti-Police sentiment, accelerated resignations and retirements, a
diminished applicant pool, and other factors.
The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department (LGMSPD) faces the same challenges. The
Town and the Department have implemented innovative recruitment strategies, including the
direct involvement of existing staff in outreach and promotion of our opportunities. The
Department has also invested in its culture of community policing, wellness, and training to
retain qualified personnel.
Dispatch has eight budgeted positions. Currently there are six operational Dispatchers and one
in training. In collaboration with the Town’s Human Resources Department, the Town is
continuously recruiting, interviewing, backgrounding, and offering Dispatch positions.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: TEA Dispatcher Retention Side Letter DATE: August 13, 2024
DISCUSSION:
On November 7, 2023, the Town Council approved a Dispatcher Retention and Recruitment
Bonus Side Letter that provided a $577 per pay period retention bonus for full-time Dispatchers
that have successfully completed the required Dispatch training program. This bonus ended
after the last pay period in June 2024. An extension of this side letter is proposed for two
additional pay periods in July. The bonus is non-PERSable.
CONCLUSION:
Staff has met its obligation to meet and confer with the Town Employee Association (TEA) on
the proposed Side Letter. TEA has indicated support for the proposal. Therefore, it is
recommended that the Side Letter of Agreement be approved, and the Town Manager be
authorized to execute the Side Letter.
COORDINATION:
The preparation of this report was coordinated with the Human Resources Department, Police
Department, Finance Department, Town Attorney’s Office, and Town Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is anticipated that the costs associated with this Side Letter can be absorbed by the Police
Department’s existing budget. If it is determined a budget adjustment is necessary in the
future, it will be requested at that time.
The longer-term fiscal benefits include reducing overtime costs by improving retention,
providing essential public safety services to the community.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Extension of TEA Dispatcher Retention Side Letter
12517538.2 LO007-005
EXTENSION OF THE SIDE LETTER OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE
TOWN OF LOS GATOS AND THE TOWN EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION
Due to critical and unprecedented retention issues currently faced by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno
Police Department, the Town of Los Gatos (Town) and the Town Employees’ Association (TEA),
collectively referred to as "parties," having met and conferred in good faith, agree as follows:
1.The parties agree to extend the Side Letter of Agreement, included as Exhibit A, through the pay
periods beginning July 7 and July 21, 2024. This will result in eligible employees receiving a non-
pensionable lump sum payment of $577 for each of the July 7 and July 21, 2024 pay periods.
Such extension shall be subject to the remainder of the rules outlined in Exhibit A.
FOR TEA: TOWN OF LOS GATOS:
______________________________ ________________________________
Christine Crossen, Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
Communications Dispatcher Lead
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Sean Mullin, Senior Planner
________________________________
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney
ATTACHMENT 1
EXHIBIT A