REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 10, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
LEONARDO GONZALEZ, Director, Human Resources
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 935, Representing Employees in the Ambulance Operators Unit
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 935, representing employees in the Ambulance Operators Unit effective March 7, 2026, through February 28, 2031.
2. Approve appropriation and reserve adjustments and authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post necessary budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Leonardo Gonzalez, Director, 387-5570)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) will fund the ongoing costs.
The MOU’s estimated costs by fiscal year are reflected in the following table:
|
Fiscal Year |
Estimated Costs |
|
2025-26* |
$2,930,660 |
|
2026-27 |
$808,000 |
|
2027-28 |
$1,335,000 |
|
2028-29 |
$1,995,000 |
|
2029-30 |
$2,708,000 |
|
2030-31 |
$3,200,000 |
|
Ongoing Annual Amount (**) |
$3,200,000 |
(*) Includes one-time contribution to Healthcare Trust.
(**) Fiscal year 2031-32 and thereafter.
The MOU also includes a one-time cost of $2,930,660 that will be funded by SBCFPD for the establishment of a Healthcare Trust. Approval of the budget adjustments in the table below will allow SBCFPD to transfer funds to the San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 935 (Local 935) for establishment of the Healthcare Trust.
|
Cost Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
1045002468 |
51001305 |
Other Fringes |
Increase |
$2,930,660 |
|
1045002468 |
40909975 |
Operating Transfers In |
Increase |
$2,135,660 |
|
1040002468 |
37008880 |
Fund Balance-Reserved - Available Reserves |
Decrease |
$795,000 |
|
1069992412 |
55305030 |
Operating Transfers Out |
Increase |
$2,135,660 |
|
1069992412 |
37008880 |
Fund Balance-Reserved - Available Reserves |
Decrease |
$2,135,660 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Representatives of SBCFPD, under direction of the Board of Directors (Board), met and conferred with representatives of the San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 935 (Local 935) to negotiate a successor labor agreement covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for employees in the Ambulance Operators Unit (Unit). The parties reached agreement on the proposed MOU with a term that will expire at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) of February 28, 2031.
The proposed MOU includes the following items:
• $1.75 per hour equity increase for all salary ranges effective the pay period following Board approval.
• Discontinue the Modified Benefit Option for employees in the unit effective March 7, 2026.
• Convert Vacation accrual banks to Paid Time Off on a one-to-one basis, effective the pay period following Board approval.
• Transition all employees to Paid Time Off leave accrual in lieu of Vacation leave and Sick leave accruals, effective the pay period following Board approval.
• One time cash out of Vacation leave for eligible employees whose leave banks exceed the established maximum allowance for Paid Time Off.
• Establish a Canine Assignment Pay differential of $250 per pay period for employees assigned to provide care, feeding, and maintenance to a Canine for the Department effective June 13, 2026.
• Increase the Medical Premium Subsidy for all coverage levels effective July 25, 2026, July 24, 2027, July 22, 2028, and July 21, 2029.
• Establish eligibility criteria allowing employees in the unit to be eligible for Local 935’s Healthcare Trust.
• Provide a salary restructure for Ambulance Operator - Field Specialist position range F1, effective March 7, 2026, to ensure an appropriate salary progression within the SBCFPD.
• Establish new 2.5% top step for all salary ranges in the unit, effective March 18, 2028, March 17, 2029, and March 16, 2030.
• Eliminate the bottom step for all salary ranges in the unit, effective March 18, 2028, March 17, 2029, and March 16, 2030.
• Provide a 2.5% equity increase for all salary ranges in the unit, effective March 16, 2030.
• Discontinue Fire District’s matching contribution to the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Provide a one-time contribution of $2,930,660 towards Local 935’s Healthcare Trust.
• Clean up language throughout the entirety of the MOU.
Local 935 notified SBCFPD that the Unit ratified the proposed MOU on February 4, 2026. If approved by the Board, the proposed MOU will constitute a successor labor agreement between SBCFPD and Local 935 covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment effective March 7, 2026, through February 28, 2031.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Chief Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 5, 2026; Human Resources (Leonardo Gonzalez, Director, 387-5568) on February 10, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Garrett Baker, 387-3077 and Ivan Ramirez, 387-4020, Administrative Analysts) on February 5, 2026.