City staff presented and the council approved new memoranda of understanding with the Salinas Police Officers Association and the Police Managers Association. The POA agreement covers Jan. 1, 2026'Dec. 31, 2027, with a 3% salary increase effective Jan. 2026, a 2% market adjustment, and further increases in 2027; it also includes a 5% premium for drone pilots and SWAT members and an increase in night-shift differential from $23.45 to $25 per shift.

The Police Managers Association agreement runs Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2028 and includes step adjustments and 3% increases across successive years, similar night-differential increases and expanded compensatory-time-off caps. Staff estimated cumulative costs in the millions for both agreements and said they were negotiated in good faith and intended to improve recruitment and retention in comparison with Bay Area market rates.

Council members discussed how the raises fit into the budget, the department's authorized sworn strength of 157 positions and the city's ongoing vacancy and recruitment efforts. The council voted to adopt the agreements in a consolidated action.