Encinitas Council approves 4-year contract with firefighters’ association

Encinitas firefighters will receive raises in each of the next four years under a new contract approved by the City Council.

The new agreement between the organization that represents the city’s firefighters — the Encinitas Firefighter’s Association — and the city of Encinitas calls for the firefighters to get a 5% raise starting Jan. 1. The following year, they will receive a 4.5% raise, and in both 2028 and 2029, they’ll receive a 4% raise.

The deal is expected to cost the city $3.094 million over the four-year period, with an estimated $750,000 required in the current fiscal year, which ends July 1, a city staff report states.

“I think the deal that we struck really valued our employees, while also being fiscally responsible,” City Manager Jennifer Campbell said before the City Council unanimously approved the proposed agreement at its Dec. 17 meeting.

Members of the firefighters group and the city negotiators both praised the agreement at the council meeting. Fire Capt. Donny Butz said its creation involved a respectful and open communication process between the two groups. Judy von Kalinowski, the city’s new human resources director, noted it was her first labor negotiation session in Encinitas and said “it couldn’t have been more of a pleasure working with your group.”

Councilmember Jim O’Hara said the contract was “the first step” in a process of increasing city spending on fire services, while Mayor Bruce Ehlers mentioned that fire station projects also are in the works.

Councilmember Marco San Antonio said the firefighters “drove a hard bargain” in labor negotiations, but “the service you guys provide (the city’s residents) is top notch.”

In addition to the 5% base-salary increase, there will be monthly incentive pay increases for people who receive college degrees or gain fire officer certification. The monthly incentive for getting an associate degree will increase from $60 to $550, while the incentive for getting an associate degree and fire officer certification will go from $100 a month to $775 a month.

Under the current contract, which expires Dec. 31, the firefighters received a 3% raise in each of the four years covered by the contract.