The Huntington Beach City Council voted 6-0-1 to adopt a side letter amending the police officers’ memorandum of understanding so certain special pays will meet California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) reporting requirements.

City staff, including Marissa Suhr, the city’s director of human resources, told council members the change is administrative: it clarifies minimum qualifications, testing and selection processes for special pays so CalPERS will accept those payments as reportable compensation. Suhr said the amendment does not create new special pays or expand benefits.

Nut graf: CalPERS audited the existing MOU after it was adopted in June 2023 and found the MOU’s language insufficient for reporting some special compensation items. The side letter was negotiated with counsel for both the city and the Police Officers Association and reviewed with CalPERS to obtain acceptance of the form of the language, staff said.

During debate Councilman Kennedy asked for clarity on construction-related contingency language in a separate agenda item; for the side letter, discussion focused on compliance and no further amendments were requested. The council adopted Resolution 2025-47 by roll call: Twining — yes; Kennedy — yes; Mayor Pro Tem McKeon — yes; Mayor Pat Burns — aye; Vandermark — yes; Williams — yes (Gruel absent).

Ending: The action moves the city into compliance with CalPERS reporting standards for the identified special pays; staff said no additional compensation changes were involved.