PRESENTER: Presenter
Becca Miears, Director of Human Resources
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of New Braunfels, Texas, amending the Meet and Confer Agreement between the City and the New Braunfels Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 3845 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, for a term ending on September 30, 2027.
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DEPARTMENT: Human Resources
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Chapter 142 of the Texas Local Government Code authorizes certain cities to meet and confer with recognized firefighter and police associations regarding wages, salaries, rates of pay, hours of work, and other terms and conditions of employment. Once an agreement is reached by the negotiating teams, it must be ratified by a majority of the City Council and a majority of the covered firefighters through a secret ballot election. A fully ratified Meet and Confer Agreement may supersede conflicting state statutes, local ordinances, civil service laws, and rules adopted by the Fire Chief or the New Braunfels Firefighters and Police Officers Civil Service Commission. Registered voters of the City may also petition for an election to repeal a Meet and Confer Agreement ratified by the City and the Association.
In April 2018, the New Braunfels Professional Fire Fighters Association (NBPFFA) filed a petition seeking recognition as the sole bargaining agent for the Fire Department’s civil service employees, excluding the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and exempt employees. At that time, the Association represented to City management and City Council that it intended to use the meet and confer process primarily to establish hiring and promotional standards and processes and did not intend to incorporate salary or benefits issues into the agreement. Neither the City nor the Association is required by law to meet and confer on any particular issue or to reach an agreement.
In May 2018, City Council adopted a resolution recognizing the NBPFFA as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the covered employees. In 2019, the Association notified the City Manager that it was ready to begin the meet and confer process, and negotiations subsequently commenced.
Since that time, the Meet and Confer Agreement has been amended and approved by City Council on October 25, 2021 (120-day extension), January 24, 2022, August 28, 2023, December 9, 2024, and October 13, 2025. The current agreement has a termination date of September 30, 2027.
The parties subsequently met to negotiate amendments to the current Meet and Confer Agreement at a lawfully posted public meeting held on July 31, 2026, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and Chapter 142.063 of the Texas Local Government Code. The proposed amendments are presented to City Council for consideration and approval.
Summary of Proposed Contract Amendments:
• Article 4. Promotions, Section 2. Promotional Examination Procedure, addition of (g):
The Eligibility List for Fire Department promotional examinations shall remain in effect for twelve (12) months from the date the list is approved and certified by the Civil Service Commission, unless the list is exhausted before the expiration of the twelve (12) month period.
This provision shall apply to currently existing promotional lists, beginning with the Engineer promotional examination conducted on August 26, 2025, and all promotional examinations conducted thereafter.
o For the August 26, 2025 Engineer promotional examination, the twelve (12) month eligibility period shall begin on October 24, 2025, the date the eligibility list was approved and certified by the Civil Service Commission.
o For the January 12, 2026 Lieutenant promotional examination, the twelve (12) month eligibility period shall begin on March 2, 2026, the date the eligibility list was approved and certified by the Civil Service Commission.
o For the January 12, 2026 Captain promotional examination, the twelve (12) month eligibility period shall begin on March 2, 2026, the date the eligibility list was approved and certified by the Civil Service Commission.
o For the January 12, 2026 Battalion Chief/Division Chief promotional examination, the twelve (12) month eligibility period shall begin on March 2, 2026, the date the eligibility list was approved and certified by the Civil Service Commission.
o These dates shall remain in effect unless the eligibility list is returned to the Civil Service Commission for a revision or correction. If a revision or correction is approved and certified by the Civil Service Commission, the twelve (12) month eligibility period shall begin from the newly approved and certified date.
• Article 4. Promotions, Section 10. Statutory Override, addition of:
Section 143.036(h): This article supersedes section 143.036(h) since this contract sets the Eligibility List for the Fire Department promotional examinations effective for twelve (12) months from the approved and certified date by the Commission, unless exhausted before twelve (12) months; not the date on which the written examination is given.
ISSUE:
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
N/A Economic Mobility N/A Enhanced Connectivity N/A Community Identity
YES Organizational Excellence N/A Community Well-Being
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution.