WATSONVILLE — Nearly eight months into an impasse with the firefighters’ union, the city will spend an additional $180,000 in consultant fees to come up with a new contract.
The Watsonville City Council approved the money from the general fund on its consent agenda Tuesday. The money will pay for “legal, expert and consultant expenses” that have exceeded earlier estimates, according to a report by Administrative Services Director Cindy Czerwin.
City Manager Matt Huffaker said the city and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1272 could not reach an agreement after several months of negotiations. The contract expired on June 30, 2017, and the union declared an impasse on Feb. 21, per the city’s charter.
The impasse opened up the binding arbitration proceedings, where both sides must adhere to a decision made by an independent third party.
Huffaker declined to comment further on the ongoing negotiations, but said “the costs to the city, both financial and in terms of staff time, have not been insignificant.”
“I am hopeful we will reach an agreement that reflects the high regard we have for our firefighters, within the city’s financial resources,” he said.
Watsonville Fire Capt. Corey Schaefer, co-union negotiator with IAAF Local 1272, said the union is seeking “comparable and fair wages” according to industry standards.
“I would like to thank City Manager Matt Huffaker for his hard work and determination in working with our union to settle a contract,” he said.
Schaefer added that the union is confident a decision will be made soon on a “fair and equitable contract.”
“I’m encouraged by both sides’ determination to maintain the best service possible to our community throughout this process and going forward,” he said.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council agreed to a one-year extension of a permit to construct 49 townhomes at 221 Airport Blvd.
The site was once the home of a community school operated by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. A 1903 schoolhouse on the property will be renovated, but another building constructed in 1929 was demolished.
The permit was approved in 2016, but property owner Raeid Farhat requested the extension in order to complete the project’s final map, which should be finished in the next few months, he said.
