Oregon City Council last Monday unanimously approved a contract with the Oregon Police Patrolmen’s Association (OPPA) that does not include wage increases.

The contract period is from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014.

The collective bargaining agreement between the city and the OPPA had included a wage reopener for this year.

“This is the next in our series of collective bargaining agreements that achieves our management objective,” City Administrator Mike Beazley said at an Aug. 8 council meeting. “This is done not just as management versus the bargaining units, but it’s done together at a time when our revenue is relatively tight and the region is going through a recession and the state is making some changes. We wanted to have contracts that provided for no wage increases, and this does that. So this is simply an extension of our previous contract, but does provide for no wage increase for this year, and reopeners for successor years.”

Beazley thanked both the administration and union for working together on the contract.

“We want to thank our elective leadership for the tone they have set as we’ve gone through this process, and thank the bargaining units for working cooperatively, recognizing the common challenges,” he said. “We want the community to work, and we want to continue to provide excellent services, and this allows us to do that. Some other communities are giving raises, we are kind of holding the line flat.”

Councilman Jim Seaman called the contract “fair and flexible.”

“As you all are aware, there is a lot of upheaval in the financial markets. This all has a trickle down impact on local governments. I think this is a very good agreement that allows for fairness to all involved,” said Seaman.

Councilman Jerry Peach asked Beazley why the contract was being presented to council as an emergency measure.

“We have to act within a sufficient number of days to ensure council doesn’t lose its right to speak on the contracts,” explained Beazley. “Council has a finite 30 days to act after an agreement is submitted before we lose that right.”

Also at the meeting, council:
• heard from Mayor Mike Seferian that Boomfest, the city’s July 4th celebration, will be held on Saturday, June 30 next year. This year, the event was held on Sunday, July 3.

• heard Public Service Director Paul Roman say that the northbound I-280 exit ramp to Wheeling Street will be closed Aug. 17 through Oct. 21 for the Wheeling Street Bridge project.

• heard that residents with cell phones and unlisted phone numbers could sign up with the city’s emergency notification system, One Call Now, which allows the city to notify households of pending weather emergencies or events. Councilmember Sandy Bihn brought up the matter after she heard that the number of households with landline phone service had fallen significantly in Oregon because more people are using cell phones. Seferian said those residents who have cell phones could also participate in the service but they would have to provide their phone numbers to the city. Beazley called it a challenge to get those with cell phones to sign up. “Many have contacted the city and have signed on with their cell phones, but it’s still a challenge, especially the younger demographic and lower income people who do not have a landline, and we do not have a good solution,” said Beazley.

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