HBPD rejects city’s final proposal during labor negotiations

By Clare Beezhold
News Editor

The Hermosa Beach Police Officers Association rejected the City of Hermosa Beach’s final proposal for a salary increase on Jan. 16 after ongoing negotiations.

The City of Hermosa Beach’s negotiating team met on Jan. 16 for the 18th time since April 1, 2019, with HBPOA’s negotiating team. It issued HBPOA a final adjustment to the city’s last, best and final offer. This proposed a base salary increase of 19 percent over three years: 7 percent retroactive to July 1, 2019; 6 percent beginning July 1, 2020; and 6 percent beginning July 1, 2021.

“It is important to have a local police department because it builds a sense of community, and we know that they will be there for us as community members and have our best interest at heart,” Hermosa Beach resident and junior Francesca Kula said.

According to Hermosa Beach Public Information Officer Laura Mecoy, officers are leaving the department due to minimal opportunity for career advancement because of low staffing numbers and salary and compensation far less than the median. HBPD is down to 22 officers out of the 38 that the department is authorized, and four more are applying to other police agencies. Within the next two and a half years, 14 officers will reach retirement age.

According to Hermosa Beach Mayor Mary Campbell, Hermosa Beach prioritizes protecting the safety of the community and values police officers and all city employees. Throughout the negotiation process, the city has never proposed another police agency, such as the Sheriff’s Department, and police chiefs have confirmed that the HBPD has sufficient personnel to protect public safety, she said.

“Throughout the negotiations, the city has listened to the HBPOA’s concerns and sought to address them in its proposals to the HBPOA,” Mayor Campbell said. “While at the same time balancing the need to be fiscally responsible and ensure adequate funding for the other vital services the city provides.”

According to Mecoy, the city’s last offer also includes the addition of officer retention bonuses of up to $7,500 and education incentives to pay for course fees, books and tuition at California State University rates.

“The city’s offer represents the largest increase the city has offered HBPOA in the last 25 years and has a value of approximately $2.3 million,” Mecoy said.

In addition to the offer, Hermosa Beach City Manager Suja Lowenthal started a separate sign-on bonus program to improve recruitment and retention that provides up to $30,000 to entry-level and pre-service recruits. This program also provides up to $40,000 to “laterals,” who are qualified officers who join from other police or sheriff’s departments. These bonuses are paid over four years to encourage the retention of newly-hired officers.

“At this point, there are formal processes to resolve these labor negotiations,” Mecoy said. “The HBPOA can choose to follow the city’s procedures, under which the city would prepare a statement of issues and schedule a meeting with the city’s and the HBPOA’s negotiating teams with the city’s employee relations officer, which is the city manager or her designee.”