After eight months of heated debate, both at the bargaining table and in the press, the city and the Simi Valley Police Officers Association have struck a deal.

The new contract is for 18 months, retroactive from July 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2010, and includes a 3 percent total compensation salary reduction.

After approving the new deal Wednesday afternoon, the council expressed feelings of relief following a grueling negotiations process.

“I’m pleased that we are able to reach an agreement with our police employees following a very difficult negotiations process,” Councilmember Steve Sojka said. “It wasn’t pleasant for anyone, but the reality of the economy required it.”

The POA represents all 110 of Simi’s sworn officers below the rank of lieutenant.

Since the union’s contract expired June 30, the city and the POA have been in closed-door negotiations over the union’s next contract.

“This took much longer than any of us would have liked and it was a contract that took a great deal of stress to get through,” City Manager Mike Sedell said.

In a June effort to help balance the general fund budget for fiscal year 2009-10, two city employee groups—the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union and a separate management group—agreed to take a 2 percent reduction in compensation.

Management-level officers, including lieutenants, captains and the chief, took their pay cut as well.

Throughout negotiations it was reported that the POA was resisting taking its 2 percent cutback. However, Detective Bill Daniels, president of the POA, said all along that the union was willing to take its 2 percent concession and suggested ways to do so, only to be rejected by the city. He said the POA was simply unwilling to have what he called “non-economic items,” such as working conditions, stripped away.

In an attempt to set the record straight, the union launched a public relations campaign in October and hired Torrance-based firm Freeman Public Affairs.

The same month the POA held two rallies—one that took place during the city’s 40th birthday celebration and one outside Councilmember Glen Becerra’s house.

The most surprising act, however, was when the POA issued a vote of “no confidence” in Police Chief Mike Lewis in November.

The council Wednesday said they were disappointed by some of the “questionable” tactics the union used to further its cause, and Mayor Paul Miller went as far as to call the POA’s strategies “low-class.”

“I hope the POA learned a lesson, that this council will not be intimidated and we will do what’s best for the community,” Miller said. “We will not bow to undue pressure.”

Now that a contract has been agreed upon, the question becomes, how will the two sides move on after such tense negotiations?

The council is optimistic. Despite being a target of the union’s criticism, Becerra is extending his hand to the POA and its leadership in order to “work toward a brighter future.”

“I’d rather focus on the true partnership we’ve had over the past 10 years than the miserable relationship we’ve had over the past eight months,” he said. “We will always try to provide them with the very best, but these economic times . . . are going to be very challenging, and only as partners are we going to meet those challenges.”

Look for more details on the new contract in next week’s Simi Valley Acorn .