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APPROVAL OF A TEMPORARY PROMOTIONAL INCENTIVE AND SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT FOR FIREFIGHTER ENGINEERS IN THE STOCKTON FIREFIGHTERS’ LOCAL 456 UNIT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
To encourage current employees in the Fire Department to promote into the Firefighter Engineer classification, it is recommended that the City Council adopt by resolution the attached side letter agreement between the City of Stockton and the Stockton Firefighters’ Local 456 unit, effective July 1, 2026. The side letter establishes a temporary promotional incentive of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for eligible employees promoted to a Firefighter Engineer classification.
It is further recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take any appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolution, including implementation and funding of the Side Letter Agreement.
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Summary
The City of Stockton and the Firefighters’ Local 456 reached an agreement on a temporary incentive intended to support the promotion of Fire Department employees to a Firefighter Engineer classification. The proposed side letter agreement provides a temporary fifteen-thousand-dollar ($15,000) incentive for eligible employees who are promoted into the Firefighter Engineer classification.
The incentive is non-pensionable, subject to applicable state and federal taxes, and will be paid in two installments. The agreement will remain in effect beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and is contingent upon available funds.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Fire Department relies on qualified and experienced personnel to fill Firefighter Engineer positions and maintain appropriate staffing levels for emergency response operations. Firefighter Engineers perform an important role within the department, including operating and maintaining fire apparatus and equipment and supporting emergency response activities.
In an effort to encourage qualified employees to promote to Firefighter Engineer and support the retention of experienced personnel within the Fire Department, the City and the Firefighters’ Local 456 reached an agreement on the terms contained in the proposed Side Letter Agreement.
Present Situation
The proposed Side Letter Agreement between the City of Stockton and Stockton Firefighters’ Local 456 unit establishes a temporary promotional incentive intended to encourage qualified employees to promote to the Firefighter Engineer classification and support the retention of experienced personnel within the Fire Department.
Under the proposed agreement, effective July 1, 2026, eligible employees promoted to an allocated and funded Firefighter Engineer position may receive a one-time promotional incentive totaling fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), contingent upon available funding. The incentive is non-pensionable, subject to applicable state and federal taxes, and will be paid in two installments:
1. Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) payable during the first full pay period following the employee’s promotional appointment; and
2. Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) payable during the first full pay period following the first anniversary of the employee’s promotion.
Approval of the proposed side letter agreement will provide the City with an additional retention tool to support Firefighter Engineer staffing and encourage qualified employees to pursue promotional opportunities within the Fire Department.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The department currently has four vacant Fire Engineer positions in the Suppression area. To incentivize the filling of these positions, the department would need approximately $60,000, on a one-time basis, to implement the provisions of this side-letter agreement. The department can fund this request through salary savings by reallocating funding to General Fund line 4020-000-610010-100-000-20-40-000-000-.
Attachment A - Firefighter Engineer Recruitment and Retention Side Letter Agreement