The Costa Mesa POA, led by its President, Tony Yannizzi, had an important goal during these negotiations, which was to alter the City's long held traditional method of compensating its employees. Costa Mesa had a formula in place which looked at surrounding agencies compensation, the Consumer Price Index but then threw in an additional factor called "affordability," having the result that even though the marketplace and CPI required an increase, the "affordability" factor would come into play and result in a 0% increase. After lengthy negotiation sessions and behind the scenes action, including a City wide audit paid for by the Police Association, the City finally relented in agreeing to a new compensation formula.

As a result of the three-year agreement, the POA will be receiving a 4.5% salary increase in year one, a salary increase based on a compensation survey in year two (estimated to be 5.5%) and a final adjustment based on a compensation survey in year three (estimated to be 6%). A significant issue on the table was the City's attempt to drastically alter the use of compensatory time as allowed by recent case law. The POA held fast to its position and ultimately the matter was taken off the table to be addressed separately between the POA and the Police Chief during the term of the contract.