By Linda Taaffe

City and police labor negotiations took an expected turn last week during Tuesday’s public portion of the Los Altos City Council meeting.

The council agreed to return to the table with the Los Altos Peace Officers Association a final time to negotiate a new labor contract after Chief Union Negotiator Lou Silver told councilmembers that police were prepared to move closer to the city’s latest offer.

The union is willing to be flexible in the timing and length of the contract, as well as consider other noneconomic issues that will make the contract more appealing, said Silver, who represents 31 department employees.

Both sides had declared an impasse following months of unsuccessful labor talks. The police have been working without a contract since June 30. Councilmembers said they had been prepared to follow staff’s recommendation and impose the city’s final and best offer to police Tuesday night.

“The (peace officers association) has not shown great effort on their part,” Councilman Lou Becker said. “I’m willing to go back one more time if it gets us closer, but I will not go back and forth playing games. We need to get on with this.”

Both parties are scheduled to meet and reach an agreement before Sept. 9 or council said it will impose its last offer.

Salary and medical benefits have been key sticking points.

The city offered police a one-year contract that would have provided employees a 5 percent increase in health costs and a 3 percent increase in their base salaries.

The contract would have required police to pay about 13 percent out of pocket for increased health insurance premiums that the contract would not cover — a cost that the city has historically paid.

Police overwhelmingly rejected the contract during a union vote.

“It’s important even in tough economic times to keep pace with other agencies,” Silver said.

Becker said the city offered the same increases across the board to all departments in an attempt to treat employees fairly during a tight economic year.

The system has meant the city hasn’t had to cut positions in order to give raises, he added.

Councilman King Lear said a one-year contract appeared to be in both parties’ best interest during the uncertain economic climate.

“The state is in a physical crisis and taking it out on us,” Lear said. “We don’t know the outcome. This year is a tight year. A one-year contract is the best we could offer. When the dust all settles, and we see exactly how the state is going to screw us, then we will negotiate on that.”

Outside city hall, residents rallied for a better police contract.

“I’ve been on the receiving end with my illness,” said David Hadden, a 32-year Los Altos resident who has a heart condition.

“Everytime, they (police) have been quick and courteous. I think we should protect those who protect us… They should at least be treated fairly.”