(A) Impasse procedures may be invoked only after the possibility of settlement by direct discussion has been exhausted. The impasse procedures are as follows:
(1) Mediation or conciliation - All mediation proceedings shall be private. The mediator shall make no public recommendations nor take any public position concerning the issues.
(2) Fact-finding - All fact-finding shall be private. The fact finder shall make no public recommendations nor take any public position concerning the issues. The findings and recommendations of the fact-finder may be released by either party subsequent to their being received by both parties.
(3) Referral to the city council - After a public hearing on the merits of the dispute, the city council may make a determination, or may refer the matter to mediation or fact-finding.
(4) Other procedures - Any other dispute resolving procedures to which the parties mutually agree.
(B) Any party may initiate the impasse procedures by filing with the other party affected, a written request for an impasse meeting together with a statement of its position on all disputed issues. An impasse meeting shall then be scheduled by the municipal employee relations officer forthwith after the date of filing of the written request for such meeting, with written notice to all parties affected. The purpose of such impasse meeting is twofold:
(1) To permit a review of the position of all parties in a final effort to reach agreement on the disputed issues; and
(2) If agreement is not concluded, to mutually select the specific impasse procedure to which the dispute may be submitted; in the absence of agreement between the parties on this point, the matter may be referred to the city council.
(C) The fees and expenses, if any, of mediators or of any other impasse procedures, shall be payable one-half by the city and one-half by the employee organization or employee organizations.
(`64 Code, Sec. 2-42.13) (Ord. No. 1433)