(a) The city manager shall have the authority to recommend to the city council (following certified elections or other assurances of interest deemed appropriate by the city manager and not inconsistent with state legislation) recognition of appropriate representative units of employees with a mutually acceptable community of interest for the purpose of meeting, conferring and discussing salaries and other conditions of employment which are mutually agreed upon as proper subjects for such discussions.

    (b) The city manager shall designate representatives of the city to meet and confer with employee group  representatives.

    (c) The city council, as a council or as individuals, shall not, in any manner, engage in any form of collective bargaining with employees, employee groups, or employee representatives; and the city council shall issue instructions on labor relations matters and working agreement provisions only to the city manager, and the city manager shall keep the council informed of all developments and potential impacts in a timely manner.

    (d) The following timetable is established as a guideline for the meet-and-confer process. It is not intended to limit the right of employee groups to present proposals to the city relative to salaries and other conditions of employment. Neither is it intended to establish absolute deadlines.

    (1)     April January.  Representatives of the city and the various employee groups may meet to discuss goals and objectives for the meet and confer process.

    (2)     May February.  Representatives of the various employee groups shall prepare written summaries of their goals and objectives for the meet-and-confer process. The summaries shall be submitted to the city council prior to the first meeting in May February . At the first regular meeting in May February , or at a work session meeting in May February , the various employee groups shall be given the opportunity to make oral presentations to the council. The city council shall establish policy guidelines to be followed by the city's representatives during the meet-and-confer process.

    (3)     May and June February and March . Discussion sessions proceed.

    (4)     July April . After July April 1, any employee group dissatisfied with the progress of the meet-and-confer sessions may present their views directly to the city council at a work session meeting. The council shall meet at least once with the employee group requesting the opportunity of presenting its views directly to the city council.

    (5)     August May . After August May 1, the city's representatives or any employee group dissatisfied with the progress of the meet-and-confer sessions may request the services of a mediator from the federal mediation and conciliation service or any other mediator mutually agreed upon by the employee group and the city's representative. The cost of any such mediation shall be borne equally by the employee group and the city.

    (6)     September June . After September June 1, if discussions have reached an impasse, any employee group or the city's representatives may request the services of a fact finder mutually agreed upon by the employee group and the city's representatives. The cost of any fact-finding shall be borne equally by the employee group and the city.

(Code 1964, § 22.350; Ord. 12597, § 1, 4-16-90; Ord. No. 17442, § 1, 9-16-02)