For the purposes of this chapter, “collective bargaining” means the process whereby the City Manager and his or her designated assistants and representatives of the employee organization meet at reasonable times and make every effort through negotiation to reach agreement on wages, fringe benefits and working conditions, but in which neither party is obliged to make concessions. Negotiations shall then begin as soon as practicable and be completed expeditiously. If a new agreement cannot be reached within thirty days after the expiration of an existing agreement (or within ninety days of certification where the bargaining unit was previously unrepresented), either party may report the apparent impasse to Council. If in Council's judgment an impasse exists, Council shall invite the City Manager and the employee representative to each name one representative, and the two shall agree on a third representative, which representatives shall constitute a Board of Review. This Board shall hear the facts and reasoning for both parties and make a report to the Council, which report shall be public. The parties shall then meet and if they agree they shall proceed as outlined in Section 272.02. If they are still not in agreement, Council shall consider the Board's report and the testimony of both parties obtained in public hearing by Council or one of its committees and shall make a decision in the form of a necessary ordinance or ordinances.
(Ord. 2057. Passed 7-10-73.)