NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are some items the council will consider tonight.

LIFEGUARDS’ CONTRACT

After several months of closed-door negotiations, city officials and representatives for the full-time lifeguard staff — 17 positions — have reached agreement. If the council approves the new contract, those lifeguards will get the “3% at 50” benefit, joining the city’s other public safety staff.

The benefit allows employees to retire at 50 and collect 3% of their final salary for each year they worked for the city, capped at 90%. Full-time lifeguards now can retire at 55.

Some council members had to be convinced because they’d refused lifeguards the benefit in the past. In exchange for the lowered retirement age, life- guards agreed to accept smaller raises and forego increases to retiree medical contributions and extra pay for longevity and increased education.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Employee contracts usually aren’t brought to the council until areas of disagreement have been hammered out in negotiations, so the council probably will approve this one.

The lifeguards’ new contract would last two and a half years and give them raises of 2% this July and 3% in July 2008. The 3% at 50 benefit would become effective in 2009.

SENIOR CENTER ISSUES

City officials have been planning to revamp the Oasis Senior Center, and the council will decide whether to hire Robert R. Coffee Architect + Associates to draw up preliminary plans.

The city budgeted $80,000 for the Oasis project, but the proposed contract would exceed that, at $98,840.

The architect would create several options and meet with city and senior center officials to come up with a plan.

The council also will consider officially recognizing a new committee formed by Friends of Oasis to raise money for new senior center facilities.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Approval of the architect’s contract and recognition of the building fund committee both are recommended by city staff.

— Compiled by

Alicia Robinson