Fontana POA came into this year's negotiations with one critical benefit that needed correcting: retiree medical.  In 1990 the POA, during hard economic times for the City, agreed to eliminate full retiree medical coverage for officers hired after 1990.  Now, in 2008, all but 8 members of the POA were post 1990 and did not have any retiree medical coverage in place.  POA president Kurt Shclotterbeck's directive from the membership was clear to resolve this issue. He did that and then some. 

 As in the past, negotiations in Fontana did get a little heated. But, as in the past, the parties were able to reach a fair deal that demonstrated the City's desire to prioritize public safety.  The City agreed to provide salary increases every 6 months of the contract and maintain salaries 2% above the average of their survey cities.  It is estimated that this will result in at least 18% over the three years of the contract.  On retiree medical, Fontana like most cities had been tainted on defined benefit plans and wished to provide a fixed dollar amount to the POA to provide retiree medical benefits.  It was agreed that the City shall provide $250 per member, per month into a Health Savings Plan or Retiree Medical Trust, as determined by the POA to cover retiree medical costs.  Pre-1990 officers already have full coverage and no post 1990 officers are ready to retire and start pulling benefits from this new fund for approximately four to five years.  As such, the fund will have in excess of two million dollars before benefits will start being paid out. 

In addition, longevity was increased by $500 at each level, starting at $2,000 per year at 10 years and topping out at $3,500 per year at 25 years.  The City agreed to absorb all increases to medical insurance premiums for full family coverage during the life of the agreement.  Minimum court pay was increased from 3 to 5 hours for officers who work graveyard and have to appear in court the same morning.  On call pay was increased from 8 to 10 hours per week of on call for detectives.  Finally, leave accrual was increased for those with over 20 years of service to 312 hours per year.