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CC Resolution No. 14382710 RESOLUTION NO. 1438 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, OPPOSING THE ADOPTION OF STATE LAW THAT ESTABLISHES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND URGING THE CITIZENS TO VOTE AGAINST THE FIREFIGHTERS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROPOSITION IN THE ELECTION ON MAY 6, 2000; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. WHEREAS, the Baytown Firefighters have circulated and submitted to the City Council of the City of Baytown a petition requiring the City Council to hold an election to determine whether or not the firefighters of the City of Baytown shall collectively bargain with the City for wages, hours, working conditions, and all terms and conditions of employment; and WHEREAS, in efforts to ensure a fair and reasonable compensation and benefits program for all of its employees, the City of Baytown during the 1999 -2000 budget process conducted a salary survey of all its positions, including those civil service employees in the Fire Department; and WHEREAS, the Baytown firefighters, through its representative, were able to assist in developing a list of nine municipalities with which to compare salaries to conduct the survey; and WHEREAS, this list was approved by the firefighters' representative; and WHEREAS, the survey data from those cities indicated that, with the exception of the rank of assistant chief, all other ranks were being paid at or above the market for such positions; and WHEREAS, should collective bargaining be established in the City of Baytown for its firefighters, the management of the compensation and benefits program for firefighters will be taken away from the members of the City Council, who are elected by the citizens to oversee municipal operations and budgetary and fiscal concerns, and may be given to a group of arbitrators or a judge, who will have the sole authority to decide the amount of compensation and benefits received; and WHEREAS, the City Council is committed to providing a fair, reasonable and competitive compensation and benefits package to ALL City employees; and WHEREAS, the award of excessive benefits to one group of employees due to collective bargaining results in less funds available for just and needed compensation for other city employees and creates unequal treatment among city employees; and WHEREAS, increased taxes may be necessary to pay for the firefighters' demands; the increased workload that results from collective bargaining; the necessity for hiring experts to represent the City in negotiations; and the benefits and working conditions which may result; and WHEREAS, there is no assurance that collective bargaining will result in the increased efficiency or improved fire services; NOW THEREFORE, 2711 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, hereby declares that the above - referenced recitals are true and correct findings of the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas. Section 2: That the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, hereby opposes the adoption of state law that establishes collective bargaining for the firefighters of the City of Baytown and urges the citizens to vote AGAINST the firefighters' collective bargaining proposition in the election on May 6, 2000; Section 3: This resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage by the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas. INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED, by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the City of Baytown this the 20th day of April, 2000. PETE C. ALFARO, Mayor ATTEST: GAIW WJSMITIL City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: i ACIO RAMIREZ, SR LC C ,,Ay Attorney c:kth243 \Council \Resolut ions\ SuspendEntexRates &EstablslhPubl icHearing