REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement between the City of Santa Clara and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10) that provides a pilot program for training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers.
Report
BACKGROUND
The City has experienced recruitment challenges for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher in the Police Department (Department). Public agencies across the State are experiencing similar recruiting challenges. In the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Adopted Operating Budget, there are 21.0 budgeted Dispatcher positions (16.0 Public Safety Dispatchers and 5.0 Senior Public Safety Dispatchers). As of January 2026, the City has 4.0 FTE Public Safety Dispatcher vacancies and 2.0 FTE Senior Public Safety Dispatcher vacancies. The City is continuously recruiting for these positions. While many applications are received, many applicants are screened out during the Police Department’s background process. For this reason, it is essential for those hired to be trained comprehensively by existing Senior Public Safety Dispatchers and meet the standards set by the Department and the City of Santa Clara.
The City has taken several steps to ensure efficient supervision and operation of the Communications Dispatch Center. Further, the City has implemented several efforts to attract candidates to apply for the Public Safety Dispatcher positions. This includes, but is not limited to: increased emphasis on the benefits of working for the City and Police Department; implementing the Public Safety Dispatcher Retention Bonus Program; implementing the Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher Hiring Incentive Program; and revamping and updating the new employee training program.
Since these efforts have been implemented, the City has hired 6.0 FTE lateral Public Safety Dispatchers with an 18-month probationary period. A lateral hire is someone hired into the City as a Public Safety Dispatcher who has experience working as a Public Safety Dispatcher with another agency. During this period, the employees undergo a rigorous training program and are regularly evaluated to determine if they will succeed in the position.
Currently, employees in the Public Safety Dispatcher classification receive a premium training pay of approximately 5% for actual hours spent training newly hired Public Safety Dispatchers. Given the anticipated influx of employees requiring training, the Department would like to extend the training premium pay to the Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification only when training lateral Dispatchers, and only for time spent training newly hired laterals. Upon the implementation of the Training Pay Pilot Program for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers, these employees will be compensated for their additional responsibilities of training lateral Dispatchers.
To ensure the success of newly hired Public Safety Dispatchers and the safety and well-being of the community, the City and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10), reached a Side Letter Agreement to provide a pilot program for training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers. On November 11, 2024, the City Council approved this Side Letter Agreement. The City is looking to extend this pilot program through December 31, 2026.
DISCUSSION
The recommended action authorizes the City Manager to execute a Side Letter Agreement that would extend the Training Pay Pilot Program for the premium training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers through December 31, 2026. As noted above, employees in the Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification will be eligible for an approximate 5% premium training pay for actual hours spent training newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers during the pilot program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of providing the pilot program for training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers totals an estimated $26,000, anticipated to be funded by the existing Police Department budget. This estimation assumes three (3) Senior Dispatchers would be training laterals for every hour worked for the duration of the pilot program. This cost would be spread across two fiscal years.
Staff will continue to monitor the Police Department budget and bring forward a budget amendment at year-end, if necessary.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to extend the Side Letter Agreement through December 31, 2026 between the City of Santa Clara and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10) that provides a pilot program for a training pay for Senior Public Safety who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers on the terms presented and in a final form approved by the City Attorney.
Staff
Reviewed by: Marco Mercado, Acting Director of Human Resources
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Side Letter Agreement between the City and Unit 10 (Senior Public Safety Dispatcher Training Premium Pilot Program)