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Answers to Your Questions
How did this problem get to this point?
The city has negotiated in good faith with the Monrovia Police Officers’ Association and we’ve put a very fair offer on the table. Their demands have been unreasonable. We cannot put our City’s financial future at risk by agreeing to these demands. So, this is where we are.
What are the financial issues currently on the table?
Quite simply, there is a substantial monetary difference between what the City has offered and what the Police Officers’ Association is demanding. The City Council’s first priority, along with public safety, is fiscal responsibility. What the POA is demanding is not only excessive, it’s not in the realm of possibility with our existing budget.
What is the financial package the city is offering / what is the POA requesting?
We had offered a 3½-year, 16½% increase in total compensation, which would have put us in the top five of any city in the San Gabriel Valley in terms of compensation packages for police officers. The Police Association turned it down, and is pushing for an annual 8% hike over three years – or 24%. This simply is not an option. We are near recession times, with budgets tight everywhere from Sacramento to Monrovia. Even if the external situation was different, we offered an extremely generous package.
What does the police association want?
A 24% hike over three years, a package that is quite simply excessive. They should realize we’ve put a very fair and generous package on the table given all the existing financial considerations -- and the fact that aside from safety employees such as Police and Fire, no other City employees and likely to get raises at all this year. Managers and executives have already been told they’re getting no raises at all.
Negotiations are at a standstill; what happens next?
The Monrovia Police Officers Association was offered a fair package and they rejected it. We offered mediation and they rejected it. So what happens now? The City Council will now consider a unilateral one-year compensation package and implement that in open session at the City Council meeting of March 18.
What will the Council do?
The City Council is committed to getting this contract completed and we will continue to do everything in our power to present this very reasonable and generous package to the Monrovia Police Officers’ Association. Their demands our not only unrealistic, they are potentially financially devastating to the city.
Will the community be protected?
Of course. Safety is not an issue. All police services remain at full staffing. The only thing at issue is how much compensation officers will receive for doing their jobs.
Why do you think the City’s offer is fair?
As we have already explained, in an era when cities are on the verge of bankruptcy or financial crisis, the City of Monrovia must maintain a prudent fiscal policy that covers the whole city. Again, our offer is generous at 16½% over 3½ years – but not excessive, as the 24% sought by the Monrovia Police Officers’ Association. We simply cannot go that high because it would cripple the city.
Once again, our survey shows that Monrovia is among the top five cities in the San Gabriel Valley in terms of pay and benefits packages for its public safety officers and it is irresponsible for the police union to ask for more than we can actually give and not accept an offer that really goes beyond what many cities are negotiating these days.
With all the recent problems you have had in the city and all the stress on the police department, shouldn’t you go the extra mile during these difficult times?
We have dealt with the recent issues in the City as a community - and that includes the Police Department, which has done an excellent job, assisted by resources from other cities and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. During these times, the police officers are doing their jobs and should continue to do their jobs. The contract negotiations should in no way be connected to recent issues the city has dealt with..
We went the extra mile -- maybe an extra 10 miles -- with the package that we presented to the Monrovia Police Officer’s Association.
If the police continue to be unhappy, won’t this affect morale and their ability to do the job in these difficult times?
Our police officers are professionals, and I believe the public expects nothing less of them than to act as professionals during contract negotiations. Public safety officers are sworn to protect the public and we expect nothing less - during good times or bad.
What is the status of the investigations into the gang shootings in your city?
Specific comments on the investigation should go to our police chief. We’ve made great progress; arrests have been made, cases are moving forward, but we have much more work to do. The City has given its full support to the police department and we think great progress is being made.
We also would like to take this opportunity to thank the community, our religious, civic and business leaders for coming together in a very strong show of solidarity. I think it sends out a very strong message that the City of Monrovia is united and strong and will continue to overcome challenges in the future.
A Closing Statement
The City is disappointed by the actions of the Monrovia Police Officers’ Association relating to this contract negotiation. They must understand the City will not put itself in financial peril and agree to an excessive and irresponsible proposal for a three year contract.
The City's offer is firm and final. We hope the Monrovia Police Officer’s Association realizes this and comes back to the table so we can resume and quickly conclude negotiations for the benefit of all the people of Monrovia.
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