By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
The city and the Del Rio Police Officers Association have reached a collective bargaining agreement.
The city council on Nov. 19 approved an ordinance “authorizing the city manager to execute the collective bargaining agreement between the city of Del Rio and the Del Rio Police Officers Association for the period November 19, 2024, to September 30, 2025, and providing for an effective date of November 19, 2024, in order to implement the collective bargaining agreement under Chapter 174 of the Texas Local Government Code.”
After City Secretary Mari Acosta read the heading of the agenda item, Mayor Al Arreola asked for a motion to approve the ordinance.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez made the motion to approve the ordinance, and Councilman Randy Quiñones gave the second.
Arreola asked if there were any questions, but there were none.
In a memo included as part of the council’s informational packet, City Human Resources Director Mario Garcia wrote that the city approved the original collective bargaining agreement with the Del Rio Police Officers Association in October 2011.
“A majority of the officers determined the Del Rio Police Officers Association (DRPOA) to be their exclusive bargaining agent. As a result, the DRPOA was recognized by the Del Rio City Council as (the officers’) agent. Since the original agreement, there have been numerous amendments and extensions,” Garcia wrote.
He said this year’s collective bargaining process between the city and the DRPOA began in July.
“The city and the Del Rio Police Officers Association, through their respective negotiating teams, met several times on a number of issues that are of interest to both sides. As a result, this agreement has now culminated in several agreements for several articles,” Garcia wrote, adding the DRPOA has ratified the contract with the city in favor of the collective bargaining agreement.
Garcia said the contract will begin Nov. 19 and end Sept. 30, 2025.
In his memo, Garcia wrote, “The four main amendments are as follows: 1) reflects no base wage increase for the term of the agreement; 2) a one-time lump sum amount of $1,600 shall be paid to all officers as defined by this agreement; 3) the assignment pay for field training officers (FTOs) is increased by $100 per assigned officer; and 4) if, in the current fiscal year covered by this agreement, city of Del Rio civilian employees receive and across-the-board raise and a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase, police officers will receive the same increase.”
Garcia also noted the one-time lump sum payment of $1,600 will cost the city $90,000 in the current fiscal year but have no further financial impact to the city.
The six council members present voted unanimously to approve the resolution.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
