EPMPOA/President's Message & More

With all that has happened, I have drafted this article to provide facts of the events of the past several months regarding our contract.

To squash any type of rumors or dispel that we are having talks behind closed doors about contract issues, I will release what has occurred. On yesterday's date I had a meeting in regards to the possibility of City Hall wanting more concessions in our contract. Since the request has not been formal in nature, from the City Manager to the association, nothing has been done. A meeting will be setup with the City Manager in the near future to address her concerns so I can inform the EPMPOA membership of their requests. As soon as the information is obtained it will release it to all members.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 0800 Hrs. There was a meeting with the City Manager to discuss the City Budget, at her request. In attendance were:

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 1330 Hrs. An email was sent to all EPMPOA Members by me.

As most of you are aware, the association and the City Manager had a meeting this morning in regards to the Police Department’s Budget. The City Manager is concerned about the budget and some financial shortfalls the City has suffered. She has asked the association for help in regards to the budget and contract issues. There were no set or formal requests made at this time and the meeting was more of a “meet and greet” to open up some dialog between the two groups.

Our step and pay increases are straining the police budget and ideas are being kicked around to help ease the problem. No agreements have been made and the City Manager will forward me her ideas next week. Once I get them I will address them with the EPMPOA Board and all of you.

Until she asks for specifics do not start guessing at what she wants. Please do not start making accusations or start rumors on what is going on. If you have a question please call me 24/7 and ask. If you did not hear it from me it is not true. If you have a question just call me, don’t guess.

Thursday, May 27, 2010 1806 Hrs. An email was sent to me from the City Manager with some ideas that she believes the City of El Paso needed.

Ron, here is a first stab at a way to address some of the budget financial issues for FY 2011 and potentially beyond. I agree that we don’t want to have to keep reopening this every year so I’m proposing one course of action that potentially could be implemented for the balance of the contract with a claw-back provision that would allow PD to recapture some of the foregone income in the out years of the term of the contract if economic conditions change. The second is a more immediate/short-term action for FY 2011 only that would have limited impact.

Regardless of approach, the COLA methodology which includes furloughs in affected cities is appropriate as it reflects the true salary changes for these cities. If the furloughs are reduced or potentially increased it would be factored into the following year’s calculations for adjustments. (Annualized savings is nearly $800,000 per percent.)

2. Defer 5% step for officers over 20 years from Jan 2011 to Aug 2011 ($ 463,159 savings/2011 only; the annualized impact of this increase is approximately $630,000 which is affect future budgets)

3. Make holiday pay changes in 2010 and 2011 permanent for balance of term of contract (certain days would be paid with comp time v holiday pay) (annual savings $800,000 – increases as wages go up each year)

4. *Utilize CPI as methodology for claw-back formula for Item 1 – i.e., once CPI exceeds 3%, step increases would revert back to original 5 and 3% respectively and we would annually apply up to 50% of the foregone increase back to officers over the balance of term of contract.

Limit the FY 2011 adjustments only to #2 above, delaying the new step for officers with 20+ years of service which yields a savings of nearly $500,000 and agree to keep the formula for calculating the FY 2011 COLA as now proposed. This has a limited impact on officers as it only delays the timing of the raise, not the raise itself. The two net nearly $750,000 savings in FY 2011. This is simpler but still may not be acceptable to the officers, however, I can’t guarantee we wouldn’t have to come back the following year.

The first proposal shows the impact of these increased when annualized for the full year following the budget year, so the ongoing savings would be significant and helpful in formulating future budgets.

We of course would be open to concessions you would want from management for these adjustments.

Mull it over and let me know when you would like to meet to discuss what is and isn’t possible. Thanks for your help in considering these reductions for the department.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010 1331 Hrs. I sent the below email to the City Manager with a copy to all the EPMPOA Executive Board Members

Thanks for the email. I will be Out-of-Town in Austin working on some CLEAT issues from 6/2 until 6/14. I would like to schedule another meeting when I return. The association directors are reviewing the ideas and I will get back with you. I have also included some ideas we had that would help the City for years and wouldn't impact the officers. Some of the ideas are "Outside the Box" but we could work together to take the City of El Paso and the Police Association to the next level.

We could still have an academy to increase the department’s size, reduce salaries of senior members and keep El Paso a safe place to live along the border with Mexico. If any of this is going to work, the City and the Association are going to have to share in the department's growth. As it seems today, the Association is restricted to the contract by the City but the City does what it wants. That must change since the Association's Members are the ones being asked to give millions of dollars back with hardly anything in return. If this is done right, El Paso could change the face in Police Labor Relations on a national level. We are 2nd Safest City because of the men and women of this department and what they do, in-spite of the budget. This department should be at about 1600 officers and not just barely holding on to 1095 officers. I am looking at the future of El Paso in the next 10 to 15 years and we need to strive for that goal for our children or they will suffer our actions.

**On June 4^th, 2010 there will be an additional 15 Officers who will be at least 43 to 44 yoa and at least 20 years of service.

**At the end of July 2010 there will be an additional 6 that will be 45 yoa and have at least 20 years of service.

Lock in Insurance costs for 5 to 10 years at current rate for officers to retire now if age and time permits. This would also help stop the 20 year and 25 year steps.

Since the City can not furlough us by City Charter and EPMPOA Contract, offer a voluntary furlough program with increased leave balances and/or Health Insurance Lock in once you retire. Example: for each day you furlough per year the City would lock in insurance rates for 1 month after retirement. Total days per year could be 5 or 10.

In most operating budgets salaries take up a vast majority of the expenditures. Organizations that experience shortfalls will look for ways to reduce staffing in order to meet their deficits in the budgets. Reductions in staffing through attrition are the best solutions however there are age requirements and credit service requirements that inhibit employees from retirement. The idea presented here is an early retirement for sworn officers of the Police Department. The concept is that the City would pay for the employee’s contributions to the pension along with the City’s own contribution and allowing the employee to retire early or earlier and not sustain any penalties for not having the required age or credited service. Below are three different scenarios along with some statistics.

· Example: Officer A has 21 years of service and is 44 years old. The officer can retire but will take a 5% reduction in retirement benefit because of not having the age.

The City would pay the Pension Board the 13.9% of projected salary of the employee plus the City’s contribution of the projected pension, not to exceed the 18.5%, for a maximum total of 32.4% of the employee’s salary for the year. The employee then can retire at age 44 and still receive the retirement benefit without the penalty for the missing year. The City now receives a 67.6% salary savings.

· Example: Officer A has 19 years of service and is 45 years of age. The Officer would not be able to retire as he did not have the required time.

The City would pay the Pension Board the 13.9% of the projected salary of the employee plus the City’s contribution of the projected pension, not to exceed the 18.5%, for the maximum total of 32.4% of the employee’s salary for the year. The employee can then retire with 20 credited years of service. The City now receives a 67.4% salary savings.

-Example: Officer A has 27 years of service and is 49 years of age. The Officer would be able to receive not more than one year of credited service and credited age.

The City would pay the Pension Board the 13.9% of the projected salary of the employee plus the City’s contribution of the projected pension, not to exceed the 18.5%, for the maximum total of 32.4% of the employee’s salary for the year. The employee can then retire with the 28 credited years of service and with the retirement age of 50 years. This plan addresses employees who would like to meet the requirement for the DROP. The City now receives a 67.4% salary savings.

Officers who have less than the one year necessary to meet any of the requirements could ask for any portion of the year. As an example, Officer A has 27.5 years of service and is 50 years of age, he would ask for six months early retirement and would be able to get the maximum retirement of 28 years.

Officers asking for early retirement would still be able to receive credit for any leave balances that are unused. Example, Officer A has 19 years of service and is 44 years of age. The Officer would receive the one year early retirement to give him the 20 years of service and the 45 years of age. The employee would then be able to receive the additional time for the leave to have 20.5 years of service and 45 years of age.

The City can agree with the Pension Board on how the payment of the Employee’s contribution and the City’s contribution would be paid. The City would be able to pay lump sum or in quarterly payments thus reducing the City’s payments to the Pension Board.

Officers eligible for early retirement should have at least 44 years of age and at least 19 years of credited service.

Friday, June 18, 2010 1019 Hrs. I sent the below email to all officers finalizing the issue at this time.

I am sending this email to inform all members as to the results of the request by the City to open talks about contract concessions. After a request by the City, a meeting was held with the City Manager and a few emails were exchanged. The EPMPOA Board of Directors discussed the issue at its normal Tuesday Board Meeting on 06/15/10. Several non-board members were present during the conversation and voting on the matter. Your Executive Board voted unanimously not to open talks with the City on another MOU like what happened last year.

On Thursday night the issue was once again discussed at the General Membership Meeting. The meeting was almost a full house with approximately 300 members and families in attendance. Only 3 or 4 questions were asked about the vote and all where in favor of the Board’s vote.

I welcome any questions or comments on the issue but please send them to me and not department wide. I would also like to solicit suggestions, ideas, feedback and concerns from all of you on this topic. Remember that 1090 heads are better than 1, as long as we stay strong and united. Please contact me at any of the below:

In conclusion, I have always believed in honesty and integrity especially within the Police Department and the Association. This fact is what I truly believe and ran my office on. Just remember that facts speak louder than words and facts are easily proven. Just ask before you jump the gun and do something that may hurt all of us. We have a strong Board of Directors that fights back and forth on issues. This is something I am glad happens because it keeps everybody involved and new ideas revolving in and out of the board. Remember that every board meeting is open for you to attend and get involved. Never let one person control anything without checks and balances in place. Until I hear something else in response, please take care of each other and stay safe.

RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS & TERMINATIONS - 2010
Total for 2010: 26 (So Far)

Officer	Juan Ramos #1452	01/22
Officer	Billy J. Barrow Jr. #2550	02/10
Officer	Raul Villanueva Jr. #2519	02/13
Officer	Victor H. Flores Jr. #1909	02/21
Officer	Eduardo Aguilar #1550	03/07
Officer	VJavier Alonzo #1552	03/24
Officer	Raul Castro #2368	03/28
Officer	Jeannine R. Miller #2576	04/04
Officer	Martin McAllister #2756	04/11
Officer	Francisco Enriquez #736	04/17
Officer	Jaime Palomino #2580	04/17
Sergeant	Luis R. Martinez #985	04/28
Officer	Richard V. Lopez Jr. #2783	04/28
Officer	Eric Gutierrez #1345	05/03
Officer	Nicole Ramm #2624	05/17
Lieutenant	Ellwood T. Whiten Jr. #1420	06/05
Officer	Joseph Escalante #2307	06/13
Officer	David Aldana #1939	06/24
Officer	Albert Chavez #1270	06/26
Officer	Mariela Melchor #1580	07/07
Officer	Robert Holguin #1277	07/15
Lieutenant	Tracy Pace #987	07/16
Detective	Carlos Carrillo #1270	07/17
Officer	Patrick Gandara #1910	07/27
Officer	Raul Medrano #852	07/31
Officer	Linda N. Olvera #1312	07/31
Detective	Juan J. Aguilar #1260	08/01
Sergeant	Armando Aguilar #1299	08/08
Officer	Sylvia Garcia #1308	08/17
Officer	Jesse R. Ramirez #1286	08/20
Detective	Gonzalo Chavarria #1343	08/28
Lieutenant	Paul Jaso #982	08/28
Officer	Jesus Rodriguez #2036	09/04
Commander	Gene Gwyn #765	09/12
Sergeant	Louis G. Saiz Jr. #892	09/15
Detective	Raymundo Acuna #1317	09/17
Officer	Alfonso Alfaro #2788	09/25
Sergeant	Juan Fernando Rojas #1335	09/25
Officer	VMichael Macias #2009	10/09
Detective	Guillermo Martinez #1320	10/10
Officer	Jose Acuna Jr. #1973	10/21
Officer	Antonio Portillo Jr. #1352	10/24
Detective	Efrain Sianez #1357	10/30
Detective	Jaime Reyes #1355	11/27
Deective	Jaime Rodriguez #1333	12/4
Detective	Jesus Terrones #578	12/18
Sergeant	Daniel Lopez #770	12/18
Officer	Angel E. Ponce #1351	12/19
Officer	Jeffrey Haywood #1315	12/19
Detective	VJavier Martinez #1321	12/30
Sergeant	Stefan Happ #1275	12/31