Coversheet


STAFF REPORT - CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY

Subject:	Discussion, Direction and Potential Action regarding Providing Additional Uniform Allowance to First Responders
Meeting Date:	Thursday, April 16, 2020
From:	Marissa Trejo, City Manager
Prepared by:	Marissa Trejo, City Manager


I. RECOMMENDATION: This item was requested as a Future Agenda Item by Councilwoman Stolz. City Manager recommends providing additional uniform allowance for first responders. II. BACKGROUND: Currently, sworn employees of the Police Department receive an annual uniform allowance of $1,200 and sworn Fire Department employees receive an annual uniform allowance of $1,500. These uniform allowances allow the employees to purchase new uniforms and/or assist in the cost of maintaining existing uniforms. The uniform allowance is split into two payments paid on or about each April 1 and October 1. III. DISCUSSION: This item has been requested as a way to minimize our first responder's exposure to COVID-19. Sworn Police Department employees would receive an additional uniform allowance of $600 and sworn Fire Department employees would receive an additional uniform allowance of $750 (equivalent to half of their annual uniform allowance) payable during the next full payroll cycle. This would allow the first responders to take additional precautions to more frequently clean existing uniforms or to purchase additional uniforms to rotate them more frequently. IV. ALTERNATIVES: Do not approve. V. FISCAL IMPACT: A one time unbudgeted cost to the Fire Department of approximately of $13,500 and a one time unbudgeted cost to the Police Department of approximately $10,200 totaling a one time unbudgeted cost to the General Fund of approximately $23,700.