The Wayzata City Council approved a new two-year labor agreement Monday night with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Local No. 37, representing the city’s police officers.
The contract covers 2026–2027 and includes wage and benefit updates aimed at maintaining competitive compensation as part of the city’s Operational Excellence strategic goal. Interim City Manager Aurora Yager said the deal follows six months of negotiation between staff and union representatives.
Under the approved terms:
- A market adjustment averaging 6% will take effect in 2026.
- 2027 wages will adjust based on 2026 compensation data from comparable cities.
- Longevity pay will now begin at 8 and 12 years of service and recognize all prior sworn law enforcement experience.
- Officers will participate in a Health Care Savings Plan, contributing 2% of gross wages.
- The agreement also updates legal language and clarifies Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) provisions.
The 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and other anticipated changes were already included in the city’s 2026 budget.
Yager noted that retaining and attracting top law enforcement talent remains critical to Wayzata’s public safety mission. The city has three collective bargaining units: Public Works, Police Officers, and Police Sergeants.
With approval of the 2026–2027 contract, the council reaffirmed its support for the Wayzata Police Department and its commitment to maintaining high-quality local service in a competitive hiring environment.
