HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up from Law DeptDIVISION 3. - CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' AND SANITATION EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT TRUST
Footnotes:
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Editor's note- Ord. No. 12111, § 1, adopted September 25, 2001, amended div. 3, §§ 40-241-40-263 in its entirety to
read as herein set out. Formerly, div. 3 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Code 1980, §§ 40-225-40-247;
Ord. No. 10002, § 1, adopted June 13, 1985; Ord. No. 10458, § 1, adopted July 14, 1988; Ord. No. 10911, § 1, adopted
September 5, 1991; Ord. No. 11021, § 1, adopted November 12, 1992; Ord. No. 11073, §§ 2, 3, adopted July 22, 1993; Ord.
No. 11192, § 2, adopted October 27, 1994; Ord. No. 11199, § 1, adopted November 17, 1994; Ord. No. 11232, § 2, adopted
March 9, 1995; Ord. No. 11234, § 1, adopted March 27, 1995; Ord. No. 11340, § 1, adopted February 29, 1996; Ord. No.
11392, § 1, adopted September 12, 1996; Ord. No. 11546, § 1, adopted September 23, 1997; Ord. No. 11564, § 15, adopted
October 28, 1997; Ord. No. 11589, § 1, adopted January 13, 1998; Ord. No. 11608, § 1, adopted February 10, 1998; Ord.
No. 11717, § 1, adopted October 27, 1998; Ord. No. 11729, § 1, adopted November 17, 1998; Ord. No. 11743, § 2, adopted
January 12, 1999; Ord. No. 11879, § 2, adopted January 13, 2000; Ord. No. 11927, § 2, adopted May 11, 2000.
Note- Section 2 of Ord. No. 12111, adopted September 25, 2001, is as follows: "This Ordinance shall be applied on a
prospective basis only. No person who is a separated vested member; a member not in service or currently a beneficiary
under the plan shall be entitled to the benefits provided for in this Ordinance, except as otherwise specifically provided.
Benefits available to those persons shall be the benefits in effect on the date of separation from service. The deletion of
obsolete language shall not impair or diminish the rights of any person to whom those benefits are applicable."
Sec. 40-241. - Definitions.
The following words and phrases as used in this division shall have the following meanings:
Accumulated employee contributions shall mean the sum of all amounts deducted from a member's
compensation or picked up on behalf of a member, together with regular interest as provided in this
division. Accumulated employee contributions shall also mean any amounts paid by a member for the
purchase of military service credits or other paybacks permitted in this Plan.
Active membership shall mean membership in the Plan as an employee.
Actuarial equivalentshall mean a benefit having the same present value as the benefit it replaces based
upon the actuarial table adopted by the board of trustees. For purposes of determining actuarial
equivalence under Internal Revenue Code Section 415, the applicable mortality table will be the table under
Internal Revenue Code § 417(e)(3)(B).
And shall have a conjunctive meaning.
Average final compensation shall have a meaning dependent upon the date of hire and the date of
termination of service of the member. The periods of time for which average final compensation is
determined are:
(a)
For members who became employed before May 24, 1984, and whose active membership in the Plan did
not cease before May 23, 1985. In the case of such members, average final compensation shall mean the
highest compensation of that member during any one year of membership service. The highest one year of
compensation shall not exceed the second highest year of compensation by more than 15 percent
excluding any difference due to longevity, anniversary and negotiated cost of living increases. The term
"year" shall be calculated using the highest 12 months of compensation, but the months need not be
consecutive.
(b) In the case of a member who becomes an employee on or after May 24, 1984 and who retires
or terminates employment with ten or more years of creditable service prior to October 1,
2010, or for an employee whose service has previously ended or who is not a member absent
from service, but recommences on or after May 24, 1984 who retires or terminates
employment with ten or more years of creditable service prior to October 1, 2010, average
final compensation shall mean the average annual compensation of the member during the
last two years of membership service, or the highest two years of membership service,
whichever is greater. In the case of the highest two years of membership service, the years
need not be consecutive. The term "year" shall be calculated using the highest 12 months of
compensation, but the months need not be consecutive.
(c) Effective September 30, 2010, for members employed on that date who retire on or after
October 1, 2010, average final compensation shall mean: average of highest five years of the
last ten years of service, to be phased in over the next three years as follows: average final
compensation for members who retire on or after October 1, 2010 and on or before
September 30, 2011 will be based on the average of the highest three years of membership
service; for members who retire on or after October 1, 2011 and on or before September 30,
2012, it will be based on the average of the highest four years of membership service; and for
members who retire on or after October 1, 2012, average final compensation shall mean the
average of the highest five years of the last ten years of membership service. Provided, in no
event shall the average final compensation of any member who is employed on September
30, 2010 and retires on or after October 1, 2010, be less than the member's average final
compensation as of the date of the plan change.
(d) Effective October 1, 2018, for members who were hired prior to October 1, 2010 and retire on
or after October 1, 2018, except members of AFSCME Council 79, Local 871, average final
compensation shall mean the highest one year of compensation.
BACDROP shall mean Benefit Actuarially Calculated Deferred Retirement Option Program.
Beneficiary shall mean any person receiving a retirement allowance or other benefit from the Plan.
Benefit shall mean a retirement allowance or other payment provided by the Plan and made to a
member, retiree or beneficiary.
Board or board of trustees shall mean the board of trustees of the Plan.
Child shall mean the natural or adopted child of a member, but shall not include foster children or step-
children.
Cityshall mean the City of Miami, Florida.
City commission or commission shall mean the Miami City Commission.
COLA shall mean the cost of living adjustment provided under the terms of the Plan.
Compensation shall mean a member's base salary, including pick-up contributions for all straight time
hours worked, assignment pay, pay supplements, vacation, and sick leave used while an active member, jury
duty, and death in family leave taken or any other administrative leave approved pursuant to ordinance,
labor agreement, or city personnel policy which is used as part of the member's base salary. Compensation
shall not include overtime pay, payments for accumulated sick leave, accumulated vacation leave, or
accumulated compensatory leave, premium pay for holidays worked, call back pay, uniform allowances, tool
allowances, the value of any other employment benefit or non -monetary entitlement, or any other form of
remuneration. The amount of compensation taken into account under the System may not exceed
$200,000.00. This amount is subject to adjustment as provided for in Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)
(17), Internal Revenue Code Section 415(d) and Section 16 of this Plan. Beginning with compensation earned
after December 31, 2008, and pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 414(u)(7), the definition of
compensation includes the amount paid by the city as differential wages to members who are absent from
employment while in qualified military service. For members who retire on or after October 1, 2018, except
members of AFSCME Council 79, Local 871, compensation shall include the retroactive five percent salary
increase for the member's highest one year salary.
Creditable service shall mean credit upon which a member's eligibility to receive benefits under the Plan
is based, or upon which the amount of such benefits is to be determined.
Disabilityshall mean the permanent and total incapacity to perform useful and efficient service as an
employee of the city as determined by the board pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
DROP shall mean Deferred Retirement Option Program and shall include a Forward DROP and a
BACDROP.
Early service retirement shall mean a member's withdrawal from service under circumstances permitting
the payment of a retirement benefit before such member is eligible for normal service retirement.
Employee shall mean any regular, permanent, and full-time appointed officer or employee of the city,
other than a police officer or firefighter as defined in section 40-191 of the city Code. The term "employee"
shall include both classified and unclassified employees, provided they are appointed on a full-time basis as
defined by the Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreement, or other applicable city personnel policy.
The term "employee" shall also include members of this Plan who become employees of Miami -Dade
County by virtue of the merger, transfer, or assignment of governmental units or functions from the city to
Miami -Dade County. Any such employee shall continue as a member of this Plan unless they elect within six
months after the date of the transfer to become a member of the Florida Retirement System. For the
purpose of any such employee, Miami -Dade County shall be deemed included within the term "city" as used
in this Code. Temporary, part-time or casual employees shall not be deemed "employees."
Forward DROP shall mean a Deferred Retirement Option Program where benefit is equal to the regular
retirement benefit the member would have received had the member separated from service and
commenced the receipt of benefits from the plan.
Full time shall mean an employee who is compensated on a 40 hour per week basis.
Fund shall mean the City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust Fund.
General Employees' Union shall mean the certified collective bargaining agent for all general employees
of the city, except sanitation employees, managerial employees and confidential employees.
Internal Revenue Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Mayshall mean a permissive term.
Member shall mean an employee for whom contributions to the Plan are picked up as required by this
Plan.
Member absent from service shall mean any member who has ceased to be an employee for less than
three years in a period of five consecutive years after last becoming a member, and who has not withdrawn
the accumulated employee contributions.
Member not in service shall mean any member who has a vested right to retirement pursuant to the
provisions of this Plan. A member not in service shall also be known as a vested separated member. This
term shall not include retired members who have been rehired by the city in positions not eligible for
participation in this Plan.
Membership service shall mean service as an employee for which contributions to the Plan were made as
required by this Plan.
Miami City General Employees' Retirement Plan shall mean the city pension plan which was established
effective July 1, 1956, pursuant to Ordinance No. 5624, enacted May 2, 1956, as amended.
Noninvestment expenses shall exclude fees paid to money managers whose duty it is to invest and
manage the assets of the Plan and to report on the performance of those investments. Salaries for office
staff, overhead, professional fees for actuaries, accountants, financial consultants, performance monitors
and attorneys, and other similar nonbenefit costs are examples of non -investment expenses.
Normal costs shall mean the cost of benefits attributable to the current year under the modified
aggregate entry age normal cost method.
Normal retirement age shall mean age 55 for members employed on September 30, 2010 who have
attained age 55 by that date and members who retire or terminate employment with ten or more years of
creditable service prior to October 1, 2010. Normal retirement age for members who did not attain age 55
as of September 30, 2010 and all other members who retire on or after October 1, 2010 shall mean the
earlier of age 60 with ten years of creditable service, age 55 with 30 years of creditable, or rule of 80
retirement with ten years of creditable service (when the sum of a member's age and length of creditable
service equals at least 80). Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, effective September 30, 2020,
for all members hired prior to October 1, 2010 who retire on or after September 30, 2020 except members
of AFSCME Council 79, Local 871, normal retirement age shall mean age 55 with ten years of creditable
service or rule of 70 retirement. All members are 100 percent vested upon reaching normal retirement age.
Option shall mean one of several choices available to members with respect to the manner in which a
retirement benefit may be paid.
Payback shall mean a member's contribution to the Plan for creditable service for which other than
regular contributions have been made. Contributions required for paybacks shall not be picked up by the
city, but may be deducted from a member's compensation.
Pick-up amounts shall mean employer contributions derived from a member's compensation through a
reduction in the member's compensation. For the purposes of this Plan, amounts picked -up shall be
considered for state law purposes as employee contributions.
Plan shall mean the City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust.
Plan year shall mean the period from October 1 through September 30 of the following year.
Pre-existing condition shall mean a condition of health which pre -dated any period of Plan membership.
Regular contributions shall mean amounts picked -up by the city from the compensation of a member.
Regular contributions shall not include payback contributions or any other amounts which may be deducted
from a member's compensation pursuant to this division.
Regularinterestshall mean interest at the rate prescribed by the board of trustees which shall be not
less than one percent per quarter of the contribution balance as of the end of the previous calendar year,
including interest.
Retiree shall mean a former member who is in receipt of benefits from the Plan.
Retirement shall mean a member's withdrawal from service with a benefit granted to the member
pursuant to the provisions of this Plan.
Rule of 70 shall mean a computation permitting normal retirement where the sum of the member's age
and length of creditable service is equal to at least 70, provided that the member has completed ten years
of creditable service.
Sanitation Employees' Union shall mean the certified collective bargaining agent for all sanitation
employees of the city, except for managerial employees, confidential employees and employees covered by
another collective bargaining unit.
Service shall mean active employment as an employee of the city.
Service retirementshall mean a member's retirement from service under circumstances permitting
payment of a retirement benefit without reduction because of age, length of service, or both and without
special qualifications such as disability.
Spouse shall mean the lawful husband or wife of a member or retiree at the time benefits commence,
unless a new designation has been made in writing to the board in accordance with the provisions of this
Plan. This section shall be interpreted under Florida choice of law rules.
Surviving spouse means the spouse of the member at the time benefits commence unless a new
designation has been made in accordance with the provisions of this Plan.
Trustee shall mean a member of the board of trustees of the Plan.
Useful and efficient service shall mean the performance of the regular duties of the position to which the
employee is assigned by the city. The board shall determine from the facts of each disability application
whether the member is performing in accordance with this definition.
Unfunded liability shall mean the excess of the actuarial accrued liability of the Plan over (the) present
asset value used to determine the city's funding obligation.
Vested benefit shall mean an immediate or deferred benefit to which a member has gained a non -
forfeitable right under the provisions of this Plan, without the need for additional creditable service.
Vesting shall mean ten years of creditable service before the member is entitled to service retirement
benefits and non -service disability.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 12202, § 2, 3-27-02; Ord. No. 13203, § 2, 9-27-10; Ord. No. 13679, § 1,
5-11-17; Ord. No. 13887, § 2, 12-12-19)
Sec. 40-242. - Plan established; purpose; name; operative date.
A Plan is established and placed under the exclusive administration and management of a board of
trustees for the purpose of providing retirement benefits pursuant to the provisions of this Code and for
payment of the reasonable expenses of the Plan. This Plan shall be known as the "City of Miami General
Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust." This Plan is intended to be a tax qualified plan
under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a) and meet the requirement of a governmental plan as defined in
Internal Revenue Code Section 414(d).
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13679, § 1, 5-11-17)
Sec. 40-243. - Board of trustees.
(a) Composition and selection.
(1) The sole and exclusive administration of and responsibility for the proper and effective
operation of this Plan is vested in a nine member board of trustees.
(2) The board of trustees shall be selected as follows:
a. One trustee shall be selected by the city manager, which trustee shall not be the mayor, a
city commissioner, the city manager, the city finance director, or an assistant finance
director.
b. Two trustees shall be selected by the general employees and their names submitted to
the city clerk. The trustee may be a present or retired member of the bargaining unit
represented by the General Employees' Union and shall be selected and serve according
to the constitution and bylaws of the General Employees' Union.
c. Two trustees shall be selected by the sanitation employees and their names submitted to
the city clerk. The trustees shall be present members of the bargaining unit represented
by Sanitation Employees' Union and shall be selected and serve according to the
constitution and bylaws of the Sanitation Employees' Union.
d. The remaining four trustees shall be selected by the city commission and may not be
employees of the city. Two of the trustees shall be selected from a list of six persons
submitted by the General Employees' Union according to its constitution and bylaws and
the other two trustees shall be selected from a list of six persons submitted by the
Sanitation Employees' Union according to its constitution and bylaws. The city commission
may, at the request of the General Employees' Union or the Sanitation Employees' Union,
accept a list consisting of one name for each position to be filled. The lists submitted to
the city commission shall not contain duplications. If a duplication occurs, the city
commission shall return both lists for resubmission.
e. The trustees appointed by the city shall have, at the minimum, the following
qualifications:
1. Be presently employed or self-employed on a full-time basis, or be retired from such;
2. Have resided in Miami (or its immediate environs) for the past five years;
3.
Be able to attend board meetings if scheduled well enough in advance and agree to resign from the board
if meeting attendance is less than 75 percent in a one-year period; however, the provisions of this
subsection shall not apply to those individuals who are members of city boards and who are (1) reservists
in the United States Armed Forces or members of the Florida National Guard, and have been ordered to
active military duty for national, state, or homeland defense and due to such duty cannot attend board
meetings, or (2) employees of agencies whose services are considered essential for national, state, or
homeland defense and due to such services cannot attend board meetings.
4. Have been involved in, within the last five years, and be knowledgeable about
employee pension or similar fringe benefits;
5. Have knowledge of, be familiar with, and have had exposure to labor/management
relations;
6. Have knowledge of and be familiar with business principles;
7. Have not been, within the past five years, a public employee union representative, nor
a representative of management for the city;
8. Not be actively involved in nor aspire to be actively involved in city, county, or state
politics.
(b) Term of office.
(1) The term of office for each trustee shall be two years.
(2) There shall be no limit to the number of terms a trustee may serve.
(3) A trustee shall take an oath of office administered by the city clerk within ten days after
selection.
(4) A trustee shall serve until a successor trustee is appointed and administered the oath of
office.
(c) Fiduciary responsibility. The board of trustees shall be deemed the named fiduciary of the Plan
and shall discharge its responsibilities solely in the interest of the members and beneficiaries of
the Plan for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the members and their beneficiaries
and to defray the reasonable expenses of the Plan. The trustees shall exercise those fiduciary
responsibilities with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then
prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would
use in the conduct of an enterprise of a similar character and with similar aims.
(d) Compensation. Trustees who are employees of the city shall be granted leave with full pay and
benefits while functioning as a trustee during their normal working hours. Service on the board
shall not be considered as "time worked" for the purposes of overtime liability under the Fair
Labor Standards Act. This shall include attendance at board meetings, workshops, board
approved educational conferences and board approved travel. Employee trustees shall not otherwise be
paid for their services as trustees. The nonemployee trustees shall be compensated at any given time in the
same manner as are members of the city's civil service board.
(e) Meetings; voting; quorum; officers.
(1)
(2)
(3)
The board shall meet at least once every two months following appropriate public notice and
shall meet and conduct the business of the Plan in accordance with Chapter 286, Florida
Statutes.
Each trustee shall be entitled to one vote. Five concurring votes shall be necessary for a
decision by the board. Five trustees shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of meeting and
transacting business. A lesser number of trustees may be appointed as a committee to
perform tasks on behalf of the board. All committee meetings shall be subject to the notice
and meeting requirements of Chapter 286, Florida Statutes.
The board shall elect, every two years, a trustee as chairperson and a trustee as vice
chairperson of the board.
(f) Vacancies; removal.
(1) If a vacancy occurs due to resignation, death, or removal, the vacancy shall be filled for the
unexpired term of the departing trustee in accordance with the provisions of this section for
selection of the trustee who has vacated the office.
(2) The board may remove a trustee prior to completion of his or her designated term of office
for proper cause only, which cause shall be stated in writing. No trustee shall be removed
pursuant to this section except upon proper notice and hearing. The board shall prescribe
uniform rules for the conduct of such hearings. Proper cause shall mean a trustee's failure to
satisfactorily discharge his or her fiduciary responsibility, including, but not limited to, failure
to attend 75 percent of the meetings of the board in a one-year period. For the purposes of
removal only, six concurring votes shall be necessary.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 12201, § 1, 3-14-02)
Sec. 40-244. - Administration of the Plan; liability; misconduct of a co -trustee.
(a) Administrative duties of the board.
(1) To maintain such records as are necessary for calculating and distributing Plan benefits;
(2) To maintain such records as are necessary for financial accounting and reporting of Plan
funds;
(3) To maintain such records as are necessary for actuarial evaluation of the Plan, including
investigations into the mortality, service and compensation experience of its members and
beneficiaries;
(4)
To compile such other administrative or investment information as is necessary for the management of the
Plan;
(5) To process, certify and respond to all correspondence, bills and statements received by the
Plan, as well as all applications submitted to the board for Plan benefits;
(6) To establish and maintain communication with city departments, and other agencies of
government as is necessary for the management of the Plan, including preparing, filing and
distributing such reports and information as are required by law to be prepared, filed or
distributed on behalf of the Plan;
(7) To determine all questions relating to, and process all applications for eligibility, participation
and benefits;
(8) To distribute at regular intervals a comprehensive summary Plan description and periodic
reports to employees, not less than biennially, regarding the financial and actuarial status of
the Plan;
(9) To retain and compensate such professional and technical expertise as is necessary to fulfill
its fiduciary responsibilities;
(10) To make recommendations regarding changes in the provisions of the Plan;
(11) To assure the prompt deposit of all member contributions, city contributions, and investment
earnings;
(12) To establish a uniform set of rules and regulations for the management of the trust;
(13) To take such other action as the trustees shall deem, in their sole and exclusive discretion, as
being necessary for the efficient management of the Plan.
(b) Pension administrator.
(1) The board shall employ a pension administrator to assist the board in the performance of its
administrative duties. The pension administrator, subject to the approval of the board, may
employ such staff as is necessary for the proper administration of the Plan.
(2) The pension administrator selected by the board shall have, at the minimum, the following
qualifications:
a. Accounting or pension administration background;
b. Managerial experience, including hiring, directing and motivating a small staff;
c. Sufficient knowledge or experience to supervise data processing operations;
d. Experience with filing government forms (including federal and state compliance
requirements) and have the initiative to inquire and successfully obtain resource data
when specific information is not readily available;
e. Be capable of using benefit formulas to calculate and pay benefits;
f.
Be capable of prudent financial management and obeying guidelines established by the board;
g. Be capable of developing cash flow projection;
h. Be capable of preparing financial reports reflecting the activity of the trust and financial
trends;
i. Be capable of maintaining an investment schedule;
j. Be capable of maintaining minutes of the meetings of the board;
k. Be capable of preparing correspondence, issuing forms, receiving and processing benefit
claims, and expressing ideas in writing;
I. Be able to insist upon, and actively pursue delivery of, all reports and other documents
required for the efficient operation of the Plan;
m. Effective oral communication skills;
n. A good employment attendance record;
o. Be efficient, practical and committed to responsible and effective operation of the Plan, its
finances and expenses;
p. Be able to remain neutral on decisions to be made by the board and serve all board
members in an impartial and arm's length fashion, giving due recognition to the ultimate
fiduciary obligation to participants and beneficiaries of the Plan.
(3) The board shall have a continuing duty to observe and evaluate the performance of the
pension administrator. The board shall, in selecting a pension administrator, exercise all
judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing which persons of prudence,
discretion, and intelligence, exercise in the management of their own affairs.
(4) The pension administrator shall have a written contract of employment with the board, which
shall include any tenure rights which the board, in its discretion, may grant.
(5) The pension administrator shall not be an employee of the city.
(6) The pension administrator shall be a fiduciary of the Plan.
(c) Annual report to the city commission. The board shall submit the following information annually
to the city commission not later than July 1 st of each year:
(1) A report showing the fiscal transactions of the Plan for the year ending on the preceding
September 30 th , as well as the amount of accumulated cash, securities and other property of
the Plan.
(2) The current actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of the Plan.
(d) Actuarial valuation; actuarial standards.
(1)
At least once in each three-year period, the board shall cause an actuarial investigation to be made into the
mortality, service and compensation experience of the members of the Plan. Taking into account the result
of such investigation, the board shall adopt for the Plan, such mortality, service and other tables as are
necessary and proper. On the basis of these tables, an annual actuarial valuation of the assets and
liabilities of the Plan shall be made.
(2) Actuarial assumptions based on the three-year experience analysis may be modified by the
board at such times as it deems appropriate. No change in actuarial assumptions shall be
made by the board without 60 days' prior notice to the city of the first meeting at which any
change or proposal or recommendation related to such change is made. After the initial
meeting where such changes or proposals are considered, the city shall be given reasonable
notice of any subsequent meeting on the same or related proposal.
(3) The actuarial value of the assets of the Plan shall be the five-year moving market value
average. Each year, starting with the market value as of October 1, 2007, the expected return
will be determined based on the beginning of year market value and the actual contribution
and benefit payments at the assumed interest assumption. One -fifth of the difference
between the expected market value return and the actual market value return is included in
the actuarial asset value at the valuation date. Four -fifths of the difference between the
expected market value return and the actual market value return is deferred in even
increments of 20 percent per year to each of the next four years as future adjustments to the
actuarial asset value. The preliminary actuarial asset value will be the sum of the actuarial
asset value as of the previous valuation date plus the actual contributions and benefits
payments in the year ending on the current valuation date plus the expected return on
market value return plus one -fifth of the cumulative differences between the expected and
actual market value returns over the five years up to the valuation date. The result cannot be
greater than 120 percent of market value or less than 80 percent of market value. The board
may approve other methods of determining the actuarial value of the Plan assets if such
other methods are recommended by the actuary retained by the board and found by the
Florida Bureau of Local Retirement Systems, Division of Retirement, Department of
Administration, or its successor, to be in compliance with state law. Prior to the first meeting
of the board to consider any change in the method of determining the actuarial value of Plan
assets, the city shall be given timely written notice of the proposed change.
(e) Authority to hire consultants.
(1) The board shall have the authority to retain its own legal consultants, accountants, actuaries,
and other professional advisors to assist the board in the performance of its duties. The
board may act without independent investigation upon the professional advise of the
advisors so retained.
(2)
The board shall retain a physician to assist it in the performance of its administrative duties with regard to
the consideration of medical questions arising under the Plan. The physician shall conduct any required
medical examinations or refer the examinee to a specialist or specialists.
(f) Defense of actions; trustee liability.
(1) The board is authorized to prosecute or defend actions, claims or proceedings of any nature
or kind for the protection of the fund assets or for the protection of the board in the
performance of its duties.
(2) Neither the board nor any of its individual members shall have any personal liability for any
action taken in good faith. The trustees individually and the board as a whole shall be entitled
to the protections contained in § 768.28, Florida Statutes. The trustees shall also be
authorized to purchase from the assets of the fund, errors and omission insurance to protect
the trustees and staff in the performance of their duties. Such insurance shall not provide an
individual with protection against a fiduciary's fraud, intentional misrepresentation, willful
misconduct or gross negligence.
(g) Public records; board documents; written communications to and from city; commission agenda.
(1) The board shall keep a record of all of its proceedings which shall be maintained and open to
public inspection in accordance with Chapters 119 and 286, Florida Statutes. Such records
shall reflect a complete and comprehensive account of the discussions and actions taken by
the board.
(2) The board and the city manager shall each provide the other with copies of all documents
relating to the Plan contemporaneously upon the making or receipt of such documents. All
written communications relating to the Plan from the board to the city shall be made directly
to the city manager. All written communications to the board from the city shall be made
directly to the board, with copies to the pension.
(3) The board shall establish uniform procedures for maintaining confidentiality of medical
information as required by state and federal law.
(4) When consideration by the city commission is required for Plan business, such business shall
be placed on the agenda of the commission and heard at the next scheduled meeting,
consistent with the agenda rules of the commission.
(h) Rules and regulations. The board may, from time to time, establish rules and regulations which it
deems necessary for the efficient administration and management of the Plan. No administrative
rule may conflict with the provisions of the City Charter or Code, state or federal law. No
administrative rule of the fund may conflict with the provisions of any collective bargaining
agreements affecting members of the Plan.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13090, § 1, 9-24-09)
Sec. 40-245. - Asset management and investments.
(a) Nature of trust. The Plan is an irrevocable trust fund into which is deposited all of the assets of
the Plan of every kind and description. The Plan is a defined benefit retirement fund. Members
have an ownership right in benefits accrued as provided for in this Plan. No member has an
ownership right in the assets of the Plan.
(b) Custody; records. The custody and supervision of the fund shall be vested in the board. All assets
of the Plan may be pooled, provided that accurate records are maintained at all times reflecting
the financial composition of the fund, including accurate accounts regarding the following:
(1) Current amounts of accumulated contributions of members, both on an individual and
aggregate basis;
(2) Receipts and disbursements;
(3) Benefits payments;
(4) All contributions from the city;
(5) All interest, dividends, gains and losses from investment;
(6) Such other entries as may be required for a clear, complete financial report of the status of
the fund.
(c) Investment policy. The board shall maintain a written investment policy, with the advice and
counsel of such advisors as the board deems necessary, and said investment policy shall set forth
the types of securities and other types of investments into which shall be placed the assets of the
fund. The policy shall further set forth appropriate limitations on those investments, including,
but not limited to, anticipated rate of return, quality of investment, class of investment,
acceptable risk and any other factor as required by law.
(d) Permissible investments.
(1) Trust funds may be invested without limitation in the following asset classes:
a. Bonds, notes, mortgage -backed securities, or other obligations of the United States or
those guaranteed by the United States or any agency of the United States Government or
instrumentality of the United States Government or for which the credit of the United
States Government, government agency or instrumentality is pledged for the payment of
the principal and interest or dividends thereof.
b. Certificates of deposit of any bank incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida, or
any national bank organized under the laws of the United States, to do business and
situated in this state, to the extent that such savings accounts are fully insured with the
federal government or an agency thereof, and that the certificates of deposit are secured
by the Deposit of Securities of the United States Government.
c.
Repurchase agreements with United States Treasury Securities, and agencies of the United States
Government as collateral, said collateral to be held by trustees.
(2) No more than seven percent of the fund at market value may be invested in any one entity of
the categories listed below:
a. Common stock, preferred stock and interest -bearing obligations of corporations having
an option to convert into common stock, domestic or foreign, when recognized on a
major United States stock exchange; provided that the aggregate investment of the fund
in any one issuing corporation shall not exceed three percent of the outstanding capital
stock of that corporation.
b. Notes secured by first mortgages on real property, insured or guaranteed by the Federal
Housing Administration or the Veteran's Administration.
c. Interest -bearing obligations with a fixed maturity of any corporation within the United
States; provided that such obligations are rated by at least two nationally recognized
rating services in any one of the four highest classifications approved by the comptroller
of the currency for the investment of funds of national banks, or if only one nationally
recognized rating service shall rate such obligations, such rating service must have rated
such obligations in any one of the three highest classifications mentioned in this section.
Any security downgraded subsequent to purchase which results in the security falling
below the recommended guidelines may be held at the investment manager's discretion.
d. Mortgages, excluding those backed by the United States Government or Government
agencies and instrumentalities, which are a commercial property secured by a first lien
mortgage note for up to, but not in excess of, 80 percent of the appraised value of the
property.
e. Common stock and preferred stock of foreign corporations; provided that the overall
investment under this paragraph shall not exceed fifteen percent of the market value of
the total trust fund.
(e) Limitations on investment.
(1) Trust funds may not specifically be invested in private placements or debt to equity
exchanges.
(2) Within the limitations in this section, the board shall have the authority to acquire every kind
of property and investment which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence acquire
for their own accounts. The board may retain property properly acquired without limitation
as to time and without regard to its suitability for its original purchase.
(f) Money managers.
(1)
The board of trustees shall retain one or more money managers for management of the assets held by the
Plan, and the board shall convey property of the trust to such managers for investment and reinvestment
in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) All money managers shall have a written contract with the board specifying the assets to be
invested; the asset classes appropriate for utilization; expected performance; standard of
care and resolution of disputes. All such contracts shall be governed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Florida and shall have venue for resolution of disputes in Miami -Dade
County, Florida. In the event that any money manager shall invest assets of the Plan in a
prohibited category of investment or shall otherwise breach the terms of the investment
management agreement, if such breach causes a loss to the trust, the contract shall require
the money manager to make the trust whole for any losses incurred. Each money manager
shall be a fiduciary of the Plan.
(3) The board shall establish written guidelines and objectives against which the investment
performance of any money manager retained by the board shall be measured. If a money
manager fails to meet the guidelines and objectives, or fails to meet its contractual
agreement with the board, the money manager may be terminated by the board. The
performance of the investment portfolio for the Plan shall be not less than 90 percent of the
median performance of comparable portfolios as determined jointly by the board and the city
manager. If performance falls below that minimum standard, the money managers shall
automatically be removed, unless, based on extenuating circumstances, the board
recommends continuation and such continuation is approved by the city commission. The
board retains the right, at all times, to terminate any money manager agreement, with or
without cause.
(4) In the conduct of their affairs, all money managers shall exercise the judgment and care
under the circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and
intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in regard to speculation, but
in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income, as
well as the probable safety of their capital. Money managers shall disburse cash or property
from the fund to the board upon written request. Such written request shall constitute a
certification that the distribution so requested is one that the board is authorized to direct
and the money manager should not be required to investigate the application of such money
by the board or its designee. No distribution under this section may cause any part of the
fund to be used for, or diverted for, a purpose other than providing benefits to members and
beneficiaries of the Plan and defraying the reasonable expenses of administering the Plan.
(5) The board shall have a continuing duty to observe and evaluate the performance of any
money manager or other investment advisor retained by the board. The board may, as part of
its continuing duty to evaluate the performance of its money managers, retain the services of
a performance monitor who shall be responsible for determining the appropriate performance
benchmarks and for advising the board of needed changes in its investment policy or asset allocation. Any
such advisor shall constitute a fiduciary of the Plan.
(g) Records to be maintained.
(1) Any money manager or investment advisor who has custody or control of any trust property
or who is otherwise employed, directly or indirectly, in the management of Plan assets shall
keep accurate and detailed accounts of all such activities, which records shall be open to
inspection and audit at all reasonable times by the city, the retirement board, or their
designees.
(2) The board shall keep accurate and detailed accounts of its assets and investments and all
such records shall be open for inspection and audit at all reasonable times by the city, or its
designees.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13154, § 1, 4-22-10)
Sec. 40-246. - Contributions.
(a) Member contributions.
(1) Effective October 1, 2010, regular contributions of each member of the Plan shall be made
each pay period at the rate of 13 percent of each member's earnable compensation. Effective
the first full pay period following October 1, 2012, regular contributions of each member of
the Plan shall be made each pay period at the rate of ten percent of each member's earnable
compensation.
(2) The city shall pick up, rather than deduct, all regular contributions of members. The city shall
derive pickup amounts from the same source of funds which is used in compensating
members of the Plan and shall do so by reducing the earnable compensation of each
member. All pick up amounts shall be treated as employer contributions for the purposes of
determining tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
(3) The board shall certify to the appropriate city authority or officer responsible for making up
the payroll for members of the Plan, the proper proportion of each member's earnable
compensation which shall be picked up each pay period as well as any additional amounts
which shall be deducted for any member. In determining the amount earnable by a member
in each pay period, the board may consider the rate of annual compensation payable to such
member on the first day of each period as continuing throughout such period, and the board
may omit pickup of amounts from earnable compensation for any period less than a full
period. To facilitate pickup of contributions, the required contributions may be modified by
such an amount as shall not exceed one -tenth of one percent of the annual earnable
compensation which is the basis upon which such pick up amount is to be made.
(4) The proper authority or officer responsible for making up the payroll for members of the Plan
shall certify to the board, on each payroll, the amounts to be deducted or picked up by the
city for each member. Such amounts shall be deducted or picked up by the city, and when
deducted or picked up, shall be paid to the Plan and credited to the active membership
account for each respective member.
(5) Regular contributions shall be made, notwithstanding the fact that the minimum
compensation provided for by law for any member shall be reduced thereby. Every member
shall be deemed to consent and agree to the pick up of regular contributions provided for
herein, and payment of compensation less such contributions shall be a full and complete
discharge of all claims and demands whatsoever for service rendered during the period of
employment covered by such payment, except as to benefits otherwise provided by this
division.
(b) City contributions. The city's annual fiscal contribution to the Plan shall provide for the following:
(1) noninvestment expenses of the Plan; (2) amortization of the unfunded liability of the Plan; and
(3) normal costs of the Plan.
(1) The city's contribution for noninvestment expenses of the Plan in any given fiscal year shall be
determined by the same process the city uses for that fiscal year in determining the budget of
the downtown development authority and the department of off-street parking.
(2) The city's contribution for the unfunded liability of the Plan shall be made in accordance with
the final judgment, as amended, in the matter of Gates v. City of Miami, Case No. 77-9491, in
the circuit court for the eleventh judicial circuit in and for Miami -Dade County, Florida, and in
accordance with the following additional provisions:
a. As of October 1, 2011, the unfunded actuarial accrued liability shall be amortized as a
level percentage of the projected payroll of active plan members. The unfunded actuarial
accrued liability as of October 1, 2011 shall be amortized by adding five years to the
remaining years of each unfunded actuarial accrued liability base. As of October 1, 2011,
benefit improvements for actives shall be amortized over 20 years. Benefit improvements
for retirees shall be amortized over 15 years. Actuarial gains and losses shall be amortized
over 20 years. Changes in actuarial assumptions and methods shall be amortized over 20
years.
b. To the extent the actuarial liability plus normal cost is less than the actuarial asset value,
all prior amortization bases are considered fully funded.
(3) The actuarial method for evaluating assets shall be changed to a moving market value
average over five years beginning September 30, 2008. As of October 1, 2008, one-year
moving average shall be used; as of October 1, 2009, a two-year moving average shall be
used; as of October 1, 2010, a three-year moving average shall be used, as of October 1, 2011,
a four-year moving average shall be used, and thereafter, a five-year moving average shall be used. Each
year, starting with the market value as of October 1, 2007, the expected return will be determined based on
the beginning of year market value and actual contributions and benefit payments at the assumed interest
assumption. One -fifth of the difference between the expected market value return and the actual market
value return is included in the actuarial asset value at the valuation date. Four -fifths of the difference
between the expected market value return and the actual market value return is deferred in even
increments of 20 percent per year to each of the next four years as future adjustments to the actuarial
asset value. The preliminary actuarial asset value will be the sum of the actuarial asset value as of the
previous valuation date plus the actual contributions and benefit payments in the year ending on the
current valuation date plus the expected return on market value return plus one -fifth of the cumulative
differences between the expected and actual market value returns over the five years up to the valuation
date. The result cannot be greater than 120 percent of market value or less than 80 percent of market
value.
(4) The individual entry age normal cost method will be applied for costs as of October 1, 2008,
and each October 1st thereafter, based on demographic and asset data as of the previous
October 1st adjusted for interest from that date to reflect payment timing. The annual normal
cost will be determined on the individual entry age normal method. If the actuarial asset
value exceeds the individual entry age accrued liability, such excess shall be held as a reserve
to offset any future unfunded actuarial accrued liability. Under no circumstances will the total
cost be determined to be less than zero.
The calculation for normal costs shall be performed separately by actuaries for the city and
for the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing paragraph. The actuary for the
Plan shall use the actuarial assumptions adopted by the board. The actuary for the city may
use any actuarial assumptions deemed appropriate by that actuary. If the actuary for the Plan
and the actuary for the city agree on the normal costs contribution to be made by the city,
that amount shall be contributed by the city. If the two actuaries cannot agree on the normal
costs contribution, they shall promptly select an independent third actuary. If they are unable
to agree on a third actuary, one shall be selected by the American Academy of Actuaries or
Conference of Consulting Actuaries. The third actuary shall, as soon as practicable, submit to
the board and the commission a funding recommendation utilizing standard acceptable
funding techniques and assumptions. Thereafter, the commission shall fund the amount
recommended by either the actuary for the Plan or for the city, whichever recommendation is
closer to the recommendation of the third actuary.
(5) On or before May 15 of each year, the board shall certify to the city manager:
a.
The amount of appropriation necessary to pay the normal costs and unfunded liability contributions to the
Plan for the next fiscal year, including the amount of any benefits payable on account of any predecessor
pension or retirement fund; and
b. The amount of appropriation required to pay the noninvestment expenses of the Plan for
the next fiscal year.
(6) On or before May 15 of each year, the director of finance shall certify to the appropriate fiscal
officer of the Miami -Dade County Government, the amount payable by such metropolitan
government under the provisions of Act 59-203 of the General Laws of Florida. Such amount
shall consist of that proportion of the appropriation certified by the board pursuant to
paragraph (4) of this subsection as the total earnable compensation of members who are
employees of such metropolitan government bears to the total earnable compensation of all
members. Upon receipt of such amount from the Miami -Dade County Government, the
director of finance shall cause the amount received, less that proportion included for
noninvestment expenses, to be paid into the benefit account, and such amount shall be
included in the total appropriation payable by the city to the Plan as required by this section.
(7) All contributions made by the city to the Plan for any given fiscal year shall be made quarterly,
in equal payments, on the first day of each quarter during the fiscal year in question. If the
amount of the city's contribution for normal costs has not been determined by the initial
payment date in any given fiscal year, the city shall make quarterly payments based upon the
greater of (a) the prior year's contribution to normal costs, or (b) the amount calculated
pursuant to the final judgment in Gates v. City of Miami, as amended.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13090, § 2, 9-24-09; Ord. No. 13101, § 1, 9-29-09; Ord. No. 13203, § 2,
9-27-10; Ord. No. 13343, § 1, 9-27-12)
Sec. 40-247. - Accounts.
(a) Generaiiy. There shall be two accounts within the Plan; the membership account and the benefits
account. Each account shall be operated in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Membership account.
(1) The membership account shall consist of the accumulated contributions of the members of
the Plan and the accumulated contributions of each member absent from service. The
membership account shall also include regular interest paid on member contributions in
accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) All withdrawals of accumulated contributions, whether made at the request of a member or
paid to a legal representative or designated beneficiary of a deceased member, shall be
charged to the membership account.
(3)
Upon the retirement of a member, or upon a member's election of a vested right to retirement, an amount
equal to the member's accumulated contributions shall be transferred from the membership account to
the benefit account.
(c) Benefit account.
(1) The benefit account shall consist of all accumulated contributions transferred from the
membership account, all city contributions, all interest and dividends earned on fund assets,
all reserves for payment of Plan benefits and all other assets of the fund.
(2) On January 1 of each year, the board shall transfer from the benefit account to the
membership account, an amount sufficient to allow regular interest on the individual
balances in the membership account.
(3) All expenses of the Plan shall be chargeable to the benefit account. Such expenses shall
include, but are not limited to, payment of all retirement benefits to beneficiaries of the
Miami City General Employees' Retirement Plan, beneficiaries of the City of Miami General
Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust and retirement allowances to any
other persons who retired under the provisions of any predecessor pension or retirement
fund.
(d) The board, by uniform rule, may adopt alternate bookkeeping methodology for the maintenance
of accounts.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-248. - Physical examination; effect of pre -employment conditions.
(a) All employees, as a condition of entry into the Plan, shall agree to submit to a uniform medical
examination, as may be required by the board, for the purpose of determining the existence of
pre-existing medical conditions. In lieu of a board physical, an employee consents to the board's
access for the purposes of this section to any physical performed by the city. No persons shall be
denied entry into the Plan on the basis of any pre-existing medical condition.
(b) In the event that the physical examination described in this section shall determine the presence
of a pre-existing medical condition, said condition shall be reported to the employee and
recorded in the records of the board. Each employee shall acknowledge the receipt of the
medical report and execute a form, as prescribed by the board, indicating knowledge of the pre-
existing condition and an agreement that said condition cannot form the basis of a service -
incurred disability retirement unless it can be shown that the member would have been entitled
to a service -incurred disability retirement allowance on the basis of aggravation of the pre-
existing condition.
(c)
In the event that a member believes the medical report is in error, the member may request a review by
the administrator within 30 days of receipt of notice of the physical examination results. If the
administrator's review does not satisfactorily resolve the question of the pre-existing condition, the
member may request a hearing before the board. Failure to request such a review will not preclude a later
challenge on this issue. The board shall prescribe uniform rules for the conduct of such hearings.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-249. - Membership; members absent from service.
(a) The membership of the Plan shall include all employees as defined in this Plan, except police
officers and firefighters. Membership shall also include an employee who has been absent from
service for less than three years in a period of five consecutive years after last becoming a
member and who has not withdrawn his or her accumulated contributions. The active
membership of this Plan shall not include any member absent from service.
(b) Participation in the Plan is a mandatory condition for all employees except for those employees
who have the ability to opt out of participation in the Plan pursuant to section 40-351 and
employees working in the office of an elected official. Employees working in the office of an
elected official have the ability to opt out of participation in the Plan and the city's trust fund as
established by section 40-351. However, if the employee ceases to work in the office of an elected
official but continues employment elsewhere within the city, that employee shall enroll in the
Plan and start contributing to the plan if not otherwise precluded. Acceptance of employment
shall constitute authorization for the city to pick up contributions from compensation of
employees.
(c) Membership in the Plan shall end under the following conditions:
(1) Absence from service due to resignation, termination, budgetary reduction or layoff for more
than three years in any period of five consecutive years after last becoming a member;
(2) Becoming a member of any other city sponsored Plan;
(3) End of appointment;
(4) Expiration of office;
(5) Death.
When membership ends, all creditable service previously earned becomes void. If the member
again becomes an employee of the city, the employee shall enter the Plan as a new member with
no credit for previous service, unless time is repurchased as provided in the Plan. Upon becoming
a retiree, a member shall be entitled to those rights earned as of the date of retirement or such
benefits as are specifically made applicable to retirees.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13112, 10-22-09; Ord. No. 13617, § 1, 7-14-16; Ord. No. 14053, § 2, 3-
10-22)
Sec. 40-250. - Reserved.
Editor's note— Ord. No. 13112, adopted Oct. 22, 2009, repealed § 40-250 which pertained to right of certain
persons to reject membership and derived from Ord. No. 12111, § 1, adopted Sept. 25, 2001.
Sec. 40-251. - Transfer of city employees to Plan.
(a) In the event that a firefighter or police officer of the city who is a member of the City of Miami
Firefighters' and Police Officers' Retirement Trust ("retirement system") is reclassified to a
position other than those positions that are ineligible to participate in the Plan pursuant to
section 40-351 other than firefighter, police officer, the employee shall be automatically
transferred to membership in this Plan. Creditable service earned as a member of the retirement
system shall be deemed creditable service in this Plan.
(b) Outstanding loan balance. Any member of the public trust fund who has an outstanding loan
against his or her public trust fund account balance and who elects to transfer to the Plan must
repay said loan in full prior to transfer to the Plan.
(c) Commencing on the effective date of transfer to the Plan, a member who has transferred from
the retirement system or public trust fund as defined in section 40-250 shall make regular
contributions at the rate required by the Plan. Accumulated contributions credited in the
retirement system or public trust fund as defined in section 40-250 to the account of such
member shall be transferred to the membership account of the Plan and credited to the member
thereunder. There shall be transferred:
The employee/employer contribution account balance held in a public trust fund on behalf of any
section 40-250 defined employee who transfers membership to the Plan.
(d) If any member of the Plan has transferred from the retirement system or a section 40-250 public
trust fund and his or her contributions pursuant to membership in the retirement system or
public trust fund cause accumulated contributions at the member's normal retirement age to
exceed the amount such accumulated contributions would have been had the member been a
member of the Plan during his or her entire period of service with the city, such member shall be
entitled to the return of the excess contributions upon retirement or shall have his or her
retirement allowance increased by the actuarial equivalent of the amount by which his or her
contributions exceed the full amount which would have been the member's accumulated
contributions had he or she been a member of the Plan during his or her entire period of service
with the city.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13112, 10-22-09)
Sec. 40-252. - Creditable service.
(a) Creditable service shall consist of all time spent in service since last becoming a member, plus
any other time for which creditable service is received pursuant to the provisions of this division.
(b) The board shall determine by administrative rule the amount of service in any year which is
equivalent to a year of membership service. The board may not grant more than one year of
membership service for all service in any calendar year.
(c) The board may adopt rules and regulations to verify membership credit claimed by any member.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-253. - Dismissal for willful misconduct.
(a) Upon a member's dismissal from employment for willful misconduct associated with the duties or
responsibilities of his or her employment or office with the city, the following shall apply:
(1) All ownership rights, title, and property interest in such member's accumulated contributions
shall immediately vest in the member; and
(2) The dismissed member shall no longer be entitled to receive any benefit whatsoever under
the Plan.
The term "willful misconduct" as used in this section shall mean the commission of any act
which would constitute a forfeitable offense under Section 112.3173, Florida Statutes.
(b) Should dismissal of an employee for willful misconduct city as defined in this section be reversed
by the city manager or by a court of final jurisdiction, the former employee, if he or she again
becomes a member, may elect to reconvey all ownership rights, titles and interest in his or her
accumulated contributions to the Plan and may elect to payback for time during which the
member was dismissed. Payments made to the Plan pursuant to this paragraph shall be made in
such manner as the board shall, by rule, prescribe.
(c) The board shall, by administrative rule, adopt a due process procedure to implement this section.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-254. - Paybacks for membership credit.
Members shall have the right to receive membership credit in the Plan in accordance with the provisions
of this section. Each payback provided for in this section shall be independent of any other payback and
may, where appropriate, result in cumulative credits. If a member revokes the payback election, is
terminated, resigns or is otherwise separated from the city before the payback is completed, the member
shall only receive that portion of credited service purchased as of the date of separation.
(1) Restoration of prior service credit for reemployed members.
a. Reemployed former member may restore previous membership service by repaying the
accumulated contributions withdrawn together with a uniform rate of interest as
determined by the board. This benefit is only available to persons who separated from
prior employment with the city other than by involuntary dismissal.
b. The board shall, by uniform rule, promulgate an election form to be filled out by
employees wishing to exercise this option. The election form shall specify the form of
repayment. All repayments must be completed within five years of the completion of the
election form.
c. To receive full credit for the membership service permitted under this section, the
member must have completed the repayment of all contributions and interest.
d. If the member is separated for more than three years the member shall be eligible to
combine prior and new service for the purpose of Rule of Seventy (70) retirement, but
prior service shall be paid at the benefit rate in effect at the time of the first separation. If
the member is separated less than three years, all service will be combined for benefit
calculation purposes. The member shall again be an active member of the Plan on the
date employment recommences and the member shall make regular contributions to the
Plan at the rate prescribed by ordinance.
e. All rights under this section must be exercised in accordance with uniform rules adopted
by the board.
(2) Credit for continuous service as a nonmember.
a. Any person who is now a member of the Plan who had prior service with the city as a
probationary, full-time temporary, permanent employee, classified, unclassified, or
executive but who at the time of that service was not a member of the Plan, may
purchase up to four years of that prior nonmembership service. Contributions will be
based on the member's current rate of earnable compensation and the current
contribution rate. Interest shall be charged at a uniform rate as determined by the board.
The member may purchase credit for any years in excess of four years of prior non-
membership service by paying the full actuarial cost for such service.
b. The board shall promulgate a uniform policy for the election and purchase of this benefit.
All purchases of credit under this section must be completed within five years of the date
of election.
c. In the event that a member becomes disabled in the line of duty, contributions paid under
this section shall be refunded with regular interest, at a uniform rate as determined by
the board. Benefits purchased under this section may not be used for calculating the
minimum service necessary to receive an ordinary disability retirement.
(3) Credit for military service.
a. Any member of the Plan whose service with the city is interrupted by military service shall
have all pension rights accorded veterans as provided by state or federal law.
b. Any member who has served active military duty, but whose service is not interrupted by
that military duty, may purchase up to a maximum of four years for the time spent in
military service under the conditions set forth in this section.
c. To be eligible for the four-year service credit set forth in subsection b., the member must:
1. Have engaged in wartime service as declared by state or federal statute or executive
order of the President;
2. Military service under honorable conditions;
3. Be vested in this Plan;
4. Complete the election form promulgated by the board within the time limits set forth
by the board within the time limits set forth by uniform rule of the board;
5. Make a contribution to the Plan equal to the member's rate of earnable compensation
at the date membership service first commenced and that the contribution rate then
in effect, together with four percent interest, be compounded annually.
All such payments must be completed within five years of election to participate in the
benefits of this subsection.
d. If a member becomes disabled in the line of duty, the member shall have the option of
receiving a return of contributions and no military service credit or accepting a service
retirement and completing the purchase of the military service credits by the payment of
the remaining contributions.
e. If a member becomes disabled from causes other than service with the city, the member
shall have the option of receiving a return of contributions and no military service credit
or completing the purchase of the military service credits by payment of the remaining
contributions.
f. Effective January 1, 2007, members who die or become disabled while serving on active
duty military service shall be entitled to the rights of this section even though such
participant was not re-employed by the city as an employee. Members who die or become
disabled while on active duty military service shall be treated as though re-employed as
an employee the day before the member became disabled or died, and then either died a
non -duty death while employed or became disabled from a non -duty disability. Eligibility,
if any, for benefits will then be determined under the Plan provisions.
(4) Credit for maternity/medical leave.
a.
No member who takes an unpaid leave of absence for maternity or medical purposes under the Family
Medical Leave Act (FMLA), shall suffer a break in membership. All unpaid leaves of absence taken pursuant
to FMLA shall be treated as continuous service, regardless of any other limitation on service within this
Plan.
b. A member who takes an unpaid leave of absence for maternity or medical leave may
purchase membership credit not to exceed 180 days. If the member requests light duty
employment from the city but is denied such employment, the amount of membership
credit which may be purchased shall increase to 240 days.
c. Election to buyback for membership credit under this subsection shall be available for 30
days after notification to the member by the board that such buyback is available. The
board shall, by uniform rule, establish procedures for notification of members.
d. Contributions for this benefit shall be made in accordance with uniform rules established
by the board, but payback of all contributions must be completed within one year.
Interest shall be charged at a uniform rate as determined by the board. Contributions
shall be at the member's current rate of compensation and the current rate of
contribution. If a member fails to meet the qualifications of this subsection, all
contributions shall be returned and the member waives the right to membership credit
for this period.
(5) Restoration of service credit for prior continuous service. Any member with prior service with
the city whose membership in the Plan was delayed due to administrative error, either by the
board or the member which resulted in a delay in the commencement of membership shall
purchase said prior continuous service, without limitation. Contributions shall be based on
the rate of compensation and at the contribution rate in effect on the date of the error. No
interest shall be charged if the error was caused by the city or the board. If the error is caused
by the member, a uniform rate of interest shall be charged, as determined by the board. The
payback shall be made in accordance with uniform rules established by the board and
payment must be completed within five years. In the event of a service -connected disability,
prior to the completion of the buyback, the member shall be offered the opportunity of
receiving either a return of contributions paid or the opportunity to complete the buyback
through the payment of the additional contributions. In the event of a refund, contributions
shall be refunded without interest. In the case of a nonservice-connected disability prior to
the completion of the buyback, the member shall be offered the opportunity of receiving
either a return of the contributions paid or the opportunity to complete the payback through
the payment of the additional contributions or reduction of the disability benefit until the
contributions are fully paid. In the case of a return of accumulated contributions, said
contributions shall be returned with interest, at a uniform rate as determined by the board.
(6)
Purchase of additional service upon retirement. A member in service who has continuous service may, at
time of retirement, purchase up to a maximum of three whole creditable years of service based upon the
present value as determined by the actuary for the Plan. The purchase of the service years will be made by
utilizing the employee's available leave balance at time of retirement reduced by any required federal
withholding taxes. If the amount of the leave balance is insufficient to pay the full cost of the three years,
the member may make a lump sum purchase in cash for the difference. The purchase of these years of
creditable service shall be based upon the average final compensation of the member as defined in section
40-241. The hourly rate applicable to the calculation of the leave balances shall be as specified under the
labor agreement applicable to the employee or, in the case of exempt employees, the appropriate
administrative policy of the city.
(7) Re-employment after an early retirement window. Should any member be reemployed after
leaving on an early retirement window, no enhancement shall apply to benefits earned during
the period of re-employment. All service retirement benefits earned during the period of re-
employment shall not apply to prior service and shall only apply prospectively.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13154, § 1, 4-22-10; Ord. No. 13679, § 1, 5-11-17; Ord. No. 13887, § 2,
12-12-19; Ord. No. 14053, § 2, 3-10-22)
Sec. 40-255. - Benefits.
(a) Service retirement.
(1) A member in service may elect to retire on a service retirement upon the attainment of
normal retirement age as defined in section 40-241. An election to retire shall be made upon
a written application, prescribed by the board. Benefits shall be effective on the date the
application is approved in accordance with the administrative rules adopted by the board.
(2) The service retirement benefit for persons retiring after October 1, 1998, shall be equal to
three percent of the member's average final compensation multiplied by the number of years
of creditable service through September 30, 2010. Effective October 1, 2010, the service
retirement benefit for creditable service on and after that date shall be equal to: for the first
15 years of creditable service, two and one-fourth percent of the member's average final
compensation multiplied by the number of years of creditable service; for creditable service
in excess of 15 years but less than 20 years, two and one-half percent of the member's
average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of creditable service; and for
creditable service in excess of 20 years, two and three- fourths percent of the member's
average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of creditable service. The
service retirement benefit shall be based on a member's total creditable service and the
benefit multiplier in effect at the time the service is earned, multiplied by average final
compensation in effect at the time of retirement or separation from employment.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph:
a. Effective October 1, 2017, for members of AFSCME Council 79, Local 871, the service
retirement benefit for creditable service on and after October 1, 2010 shall be equal to:
for the first 20 years of creditable service, two and one-half percent of the member's
average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of credible service; and two
and three -fourths percent of the member's average final compensation multiplied by the
number of years of credible service in excess of 20 years.
b. Effective October 1, 2018, for all members hired before October 1, 2010 except members
of AFSCME Council 79, Local 871, the service retirement benefit shall be equal to three
percent of the member's highest one year of compensation multiplied by the number of
years of credible service. The service retirement benefit shall be based on a member's
total creditable service and the benefit multiplier set forth in this subparagraph (not the
benefit multiplier in effect at the time the service is earned).
(3) Any member eligible for a service retirement may choose any of the optional allowances
provided in subsection (j).
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, any member who is employed and not
participating in the DROP on September 29, 2010 may elect to receive his/her accrued benefit
as of that date, in accordance with the provisions of the Plan in effect on that date. Such
members who elect to receive their accrued benefit as of September 30, 2010, at a date prior
to the normal retirement age provided in subsection (4), shall be eligible to receive that
portion of their retirement allowance based on creditable service on or after October 1, 2010,
on the date and in the manner provided by the provisions of the system in effect on the
earlier of retirement or separation from service.
(b) Early service retirement.
(1) Any member who has 20 or more years of creditable service may elect to retire on a
retirement allowance which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the service retirement
allowance otherwise available to the member upon the attainment of the date the member is
eligible for service retirement in accordance with subsections (a)(2) or (a)(4), as applicable at
the date of early service retirement. Such election shall be made upon a written application
prescribed by the board. Benefits shall be effective on the date the application is approved in
accordance with the administrative rules adopted by the board.
(2) A member eligible for early service retirement may choose any of the optional allowances
provided for in subsection (i) of this Plan.
(3) A member who has elected to retire on an early service retirement shall not be eligible to
participate in DROP.
(c) Vested right to retirement.
(1)
If a member who is not entitled to retire on either a service retirement or early service retirement, ceases
to be an employee for any reason other than death or willful misconduct prior to October 1, 2010, the
member may elect to continue as a member not in service and retire upon the subsequent attainment of
age 55, or if a member who is not entitled to retire on either a service retirement or early service
retirement, ceases to be an employee for any reason other than death or willful misconduct on or after
October 1, 2010, the member may elect to continue as a member not in service and retire upon attainment
of age 60; provided:
a. That at the time the member ceased to be an employee, the member had completed ten
years of creditable service; and
b. That the member had not withdrawn his or her accumulated contributions.
c. The retirement benefit shall be the same as a service retirement benefit.
(2) If a member who elects to become a member not in service subsequently elects to withdraw
his or her accumulated contributions, the member not in service shall be paid the amount of
his or her accumulated contributions at the time he or she ceased to be an employee, plus
regular interest.
(3) If a member not in service dies prior to retirement, his or her designated beneficiary shall be
paid the amount of his or her accumulated contributions at the time the member ceased to
be an employee, plus regular interest to the date of the member's death.
(4) If a member elects a vested right to retirement under any city retirement program and
thereafter again becomes an employee more than three years after separation, the member
shall be eligible, before October 1, 2010, to combine prior and new service for the purpose of
Rule of Seventy (70) retirement, but prior service shall be paid at the benefit rate in effect
when vested rights were elected. If the member is separated for less than three years, all
service will be combined for benefit calculation purposes. The member shall again be an
active member of the Plan on the date employment re -commences and the member shall
make regular contributions to the Plan at the rate prescribed by ordinance. Such member
shall be entitled to accrue retirement benefits as if the member were a new entrant upon the
date of subsequent employment, except as the right to combine service as set forth in this
paragraph and, in addition, shall be entitled to receive a retirement benefit for his or her prior
employment as provided in this paragraph A second period of vesting shall not be required
and the member shall be eligible for all rights available to vested employees. This provision
shall also be applied to reemployed retired members, who have been retired for more than
three years.
(5) A member may choose any of the optional allowances provided for in subsection (j) of this
Plan at the time the vested retirement allowance commences.
(6) A member not in service shall not be eligible to participate in DROP.
(d) Ordinary disability retirement.
(1) Any vested member of the Plan who becomes permanently and totally incapacitated for
further performance of duty with the city from a cause other than the performance of duty
shall be eligible for an ordinary disability retirement.
(2) A member shall be deemed disabled for the purposes of this section if they are permanently
and totally unable to engage in any useful and efficient service within the city workforce due
to a physical or mental impairment.
(3) No member may receive an ordinary disability retirement on the basis of a pre-existing
medical condition, unless the disability would have occurred regardless of that pre-existing
condition. The board, as part of the disability review process, shall determine whether a
vacant position exists within the city's workforce, consistent with the member's training, skill
and medical limitations. If the member is capable of performing any such vacant position and
the member refuses the assignment, that refusal shall be grounds for denial of an ordinary
disability retirement. Nothing in this section shall require the city to create a job where none
presently exists or to accept an employee who lacks the training or skills necessary to
perform any such vacant position.
(4) Benefits under this section shall commence on the date disability is determined to exist by
the board and shall continue for the life of the member. Benefits shall be paid monthly and
the member shall not be eligible for a return of accumulated contributions or for any
survivorship or other payment option provided under this Plan.
(5) The procedure for determining disability shall be as set forth in this Plan for the
determination of service -incurred disability.
(6) The board of trustees shall have the continuing right to require disabled members to submit
to a medical examination when the board has reason to believe that the disabled member is
committing a fraud on the fund.
(7) Benefits payable under this section shall be the greater of 90 percent of the product of the
benefit multiplier in effect at the time the service is earned multiplied by the number of years
of credited service; or 30 percent of the member's average final compensation.
(8) Upon finding that a member is no longer disabled as defined in this Plan, ordinary disability
benefits shall cease, and the member shall be eligible for a regular service retirement as if
he/she had retired on the date his/her disability retirement benefits commenced.
(9) A DROP member shall not be entitled to receive an ordinary disability retirement.
(e) Accidental disability retirement Job injury.
(1) A member shall be disabled under the terms of this section if the member has suffered an
injury or illness arising out of performance of service for the city and which renders the
member permanently and totally disabled for useful and efficient service with the city.
(2) A member shall be deemed permanently and totally disabled when he or she is totally unable
to engage in any useful and efficient service within the city due to a physical or mental
impairment which is the natural and proximate result of an accident, injury or illness which
occurred while in the actual performance of duty; provided, however, that said accident was
without gross negligence on the part of the member.
(3) A member shall be eligible for an accidental disability retirement from the date of entry into
the Plan. Application for disability retirement shall be made on a form prescribed by the
board of trustees. The member shall execute such medical releases as are necessary to
permit the board to review the medical records needed to determine the question of
disability and to discuss said records at a public meeting. Upon receipt of an application for a
disability, the board shall refer the application to its physician for review. The applicant for a
disability shall be required to submit to such medical examinations as the board appointed
physician shall deem necessary. The board appointed physician, and any referring specialists,
shall report their findings to the board. The report shall include a determination, to the extent
reasonably possible, of the origin of the disability, whether the disability is permanent and
whether the disability is total. In making those determinations, the physician(s) shall be
bound by the definition of disability set forth in this Plan.
(4) Upon receipt of the report of the board's physician(s), the board of trustees shall schedule a
public hearing at which time the board shall review all medical reports, together with such
documentary evidence as the applicant may wish to submit. The board shall conduct a
preliminary determination as to whether the member is permanently and totally disabled
based upon the written documentation presented. If the board does not grant the application
based on the written documentation, it shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for
the denial of the application. The member may, within 30 days of receipt of the board's
preliminary denial, request a full evidentiary hearing before the board. Said hearing will be
conducted consistent with the principles of due process and the rules of evidence generally
applicable to administrative proceedings shall apply. The board shall have the power to issue
subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses. At said hearing, the applicant may
present such oral and written evidence as the applicant deems necessary to establish its
burden of proof. The board may appoint special counsel as an advocate to cross-examine
witnesses and to offer argument in opposition to the application. The attorney for the board
shall not serve both as advocate and as advisor to the board in the same proceeding. The
applicant and the board shall have the right to examine and cross-examine all witnesses. The
decision of the board shall be based solely upon the evidence presented and the law
applicable to this Plan. Following the conclusion of the hearing, the board shall render an
opinion in writing setting forth the reasons for the grant or denial of the benefit.
(5)
The board may prescribe rules of procedure to implement the provisions of this Plan relating to the
conduct of disability hearings.
(6) No applicant for an accidental disability retirement may receive benefits under this section if
the accident, injury or illness is shown to have occurred due to the gross negligence on the
part of the member. The term "gross negligence" shall be defined as willful, wanton or
malicious conduct on the part of the member demonstrating a total disregard for human life,
safety and property.
(7) Except for disabilities arising from the causes outlined in subsection (f), a member who is
granted accidental disability retirement shall receive a benefit equal to 66% percent of the
member's average final compensation or 66% of the member's compensation in the year
immediately preceding the member's disability, whichever is greater. The benefit shall be paid
yearly, in monthly installments, for life of the member. Members receiving a benefit under
this section shall not be eligible for a return of contribution nor for optional allowances
provided in this Plan under subsections (h) and (i).
(8) Upon the death of a member who has received an accidental disability the spouse of the
member who was designated by the member on the date of retirement as said member's
spouse shall receive payment of an amount equal to 40 percent of the member's monthly
retirement allowance during the lifetime of the spouse.
(9) The board of trustees shall have the continuing right to require disabled members to submit
to a medical examination when the board has reason to believe that the disabled member is
no longer entitled to receive benefits from the fund. If the examination reveals the member is
no longer entitled to receive disability benefits, the benefits shall cease and, if vested, the
member will be eligible for a regular service retirement as if he/she had retired on the date
his/her disability retirement benefits commenced. The board has discretion to exercise this
power as the circumstances warrant.
(10) Any benefits received from this Plan shall be reduced by the amount of workers'
compensation indemnity benefits received by the member to the extent that the sum of the
worker's compensation benefits and the benefits received under this Plan exceeds the
average monthly compensation of the member at the time of disability. The board shall, by
uniform rule, prescribe a procedure for treatment of lump sum workers' compensation
indemnity payments as if they had been received on a monthly basis.
(f) Service -incurred disability retirement —Heart disease, hypertension, tuberculosis.
(1) Any member who becomes totally and permanently incapacitated for duty as a result of heart
disease, hypertension or tuberculosis, shall be presumed to have a service -incurred disability
in the line of duty, unless a physical examination upon entering the plan revealed that such
condition existed at that time or competent substantial evidence determines that the injury is
not the result of a workplace injury. Such person may be eligible for a service -incurred disability provided
that a physician retained by the board, after a medical examination of such member, certifies that such
member is totally incapacitated for duty. Such person shall receive benefits equal to those paid for an
ordinary disability, with a minimum benefit of 40 percent of average final compensation. Upon the death of
a member who has received a service -incurred disability retirement no future pension benefits will be due
to any beneficiary.
(2) A DROP participant shall not be entitled to receive a service incurred disability retirement.
(g) Ordinary death benefit; post -retirement death benefits.
(1) If a member in service who has completed three or more years of creditable service, whether
or not the member is eligible for normal or early retirement, dies from a nonduty related
cause, a lump sum benefit equal to 50 percent of the member's earnable compensation for
the year immediately preceding death shall be paid, together with the return of the member's
accumulated contributions plus interest. If the member has completed less than three years
of credited service at the time of death, there shall be a return of contributions with interest
only. The benefit shall be paid to any person nominated in writing by the member. In the
absence of a written nomination, or if the person nominated is deceased or cannot otherwise
be located, the member's estate shall be deemed the nominated beneficiary.
(2) A member in service on October 1, 2010 who is eligible for any form of early or normal
retirement under the terms of this Plan dies prior to retirement from a nonduty related
cause, the member shall be treated as if he or she had retired on the date preceding death.
The member's spouse shall have the option to receive:
a. Forty percent of the member's monthly retirement allowance which would have been
payable at normal retirement date, without actuarial reduction together with 50 percent
of the member's compensation in the year immediately preceding the member's death;
and
b. In the event the monthly retirement allowance provided for in subsection a. is chosen,
and the member has served as city manager, assistant city manager, city clerk, assistant
city clerk, executive secretary of the civil service board, city physician, city attorney,
assistant director of the law department, or as director or assistant director of any
department or office established by the City Charter, or by ordinance established by the
City Charter, for a combined period of at least three years prior to May 23, 1985, an
additional one percent of the member's final average final compensation multiplied by
the number of years of service in that position, up to a maximum of ten years shall be
paid to the surviving spouse.
c.
A return of the member's accumulated contributions, with accumulated interest together with 50 percent
of the member's compensation in the year immediately preceding the member's death. This benefit is
payable on behalf of any member, whether or not there is a surviving spouse. In the absence of a surviving
spouse, the benefit will be paid to the person designated in writing to the board by the member, or if no
such designation exists or the designated beneficiary has predeceased the member, then the benefit will
be payable to the member's estate; or, in the case of a surviving spouse.
(3) The payments under subsections a. and b. shall be paid yearly in monthly installments.
(4) If a retired member dies prior to receiving 12 monthly retirement payments and prior to the
effective date of any optional allowance permitted by this Plan, there shall be a benefit
payable in a lump sum equal to the unpaid difference of 12 monthly payments. This benefit
may be paid to any person nominated in writing by the member. In the absence of a
nomination, or if the person nominated has died or is otherwise unavailable, the member's
estate shall be deemed the nominated beneficiary.
(5) A member in service who is eligible for any form of early or normal retirement under the
terms of this Plan dies prior to retirement and on or after October 1, 2010 from a nonduty
related cause, the member shall be treated as if he or she had retired on the date preceding
death. If such member is married at the time of death and has not elected an optional
allowance in accordance with subsection (j), the member will be presumed to have elected
Option 6c, providing for payment of 40 percent of the member's monthly retirement
allowance to the member's spouse during the lifetime of such spouse.
(h) Service -incurred death benefit. If a member in service dies from a cause arising in the line of duty,
other than the gross negligence of the member, there shall be a service -incurred death benefit
equal to one-half of the member's average final compensation, which shall be paid yearly in
monthly installments, together with the member's accumulated contributions plus interest, which
shall be payable in a single sum. This benefit shall only be paid to the following persons in the
order set forth below:
(1) To the spouse of the member until the death of the spouse;
(2) If there is no spouse or if the spouse dies before the youngest child of the deceased member
has attained the age of 18, then to the children of the member under the age of 18 in equal
shares. As each child reaches the age of 18, the shares of the remaining children shall be
adjusted accordingly;
(3) If there are no spouse or children under the age of 18 years living at the time of the member's
death, then payment may be made to the dependent father or dependent mother for life. The
board shall determine, by uniform rule, proof necessary to establish dependency. If both the
dependent father and mother are living, the benefit shall be shared equally. Upon the death
of one, the living dependent parent shall receive the entire benefit. If there is no spouse,
dependent child or dependent parent living at t time of the member's death, the member's estate shall
receive an amount equal to 50 percent of the member's compensation for the year immediately preceding
the member's death, together with a return of accumulated contributions plus interest.
(i) Return of contributions.
(1) If a member ceases to be an employee, a member may demand a return of accumulated
contributions. Receipt of said contributions shall constitute a full discharge of all rights under
the Plan and any creditable service is waived.
(2) If a member has been granted a retirement benefit, the member shall not be eligible to
receive accumulated contributions unless provided for as an optional allowance under the
terms of this Plan or any other prior Plan of the city.
(j) Normal form of benefit and optional allowances.
(1) Effective September 30, 2010, for members who retire on or after October 1, 2010, the
normal form of benefit shall be a life annuity. A member may receive payment of retirement
benefits under the Plan in accordance with the options set forth in this section, that are
actuarially equivalent to the normal form of benefit. The board, by rule, shall prescribe the
method for selecting payment options consistent with the provisions of this section.
(2) The options permitted under the plan are:
Option 2: Equal payment survivor annuity. A member may receive a reduced retirement
allowance throughout his or her life with an equal sum being paid to the member's
designated beneficiary at the death of the member. For members who retire before October
1, 2010 and choose this option for a surviving spouse, the reduction shall be ten percent of
the member's benefit; and if any person other than a surviving spouse is chosen as the
beneficiary, the reduction shall be based on the actuarial equivalent of the normal form of
benefit. For members who retire on or after October 1, 2010, the reduction shall be based on
the actuarially equivalent sum.
Option 3: One-half payment survivor option. A member may receive a reduced retirement
allowance payable for the life of the member with one-half of the member's benefit being
paid to a designated beneficiary at the death of the member. For members who retire before
October 1, 2010 and choose this option for a surviving spouse, the reduction shall be two
percent of the member's benefit; and if any person other than a surviving spouse is chosen as
the beneficiary, the reduction shall be based on the actuarial equivalent of the normal form
of benefit. For members who retire on or after October 1, 2010, the reduction shall be based
on the actuarially equivalent sum.
Option 6a: A member may, in lieu of any other benefit from this Plan, receive a return of
contributions, excluding amounts picked up from the member's earnable compensation and
credited to the COLA fund between June 23, 1985 and September 30, 1993. Under this option,
the member shall also receive a monthly service allowance equal to one-half of the amount to
which the member would have been entitled under this plan. This option has no survivorship
benefit.
Option 6b: Life annuity. A member who retires on or before October 1, 2010 may receive the
normal monthly service retirement allowance plus an additional five percent payable for the
life of the member, with no survivorship benefit. The payment of this benefit shall be
guaranteed for at least one year.
Option 6c: Surviving spouse annuity. A member who retires before October 1, 2010 may
receive an unreduced retirement payment through the life of the member and upon the
member's death the surviving spouse shall receive forty percent of the member's retirement
allowance payable during the lifetime of the spouse. Such a member who desires to leave a
greater survivorship percentage to a surviving spouse may elect Options 2 or 3. A member
who retires on or after October 1, 2010 may elect to receive an actuarially reduced retirement
payment for the life of the member and upon the member's death the surviving spouse shall
receive forty percent of the member's retirement allowance payable during the lifetime of the
spouse.
(k) Change in beneficiary. Any member who elects a survivorship option for a spouse pursuant to
subsection (1), may designate a new spousal beneficiary in accordance with procedures
established by the board; provided, that an actuarial valuation will be made following such
election, and the benefit for the retiree will be recalculated so that it is the actuarial equivalent of
the benefit payable to the original spouse. It is intended that the Plan will pay only one survivor
benefit for any member of the Plan and will not incur an increase in benefit costs by reason of a
change in designated beneficiary.
(I) Deferred retirement option program. Effective upon ratification of the A.F.S.C.M.E., Local 1907,
labor agreement for October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2004, the DROP of the retirement
plan shall be available for general employees and shall consist of a FORWARD DROP and a
BACDROP. Any general employee who has reached age 55 with ten years of creditable service, or
who has attained a combination of age plus years of creditable service equal to 70, shall be
eligible to participate in the DROP.
(1) Election to participate. Upon election of participation in the DROP, by using forms and
procedures as prescribed by the board of trustees, a member's creditable service, accrued
benefits, and compensation calculation shall be frozen and shall be based on the member's
average final compensation as the basis of calculating the DROP payment. Upon
commencement of participation in the DROP, the member's contribution and the city contribution to the
retirement plan for that member shall cease as the member will be earning no further service credit. The
member shall not acquire additional pension credit for the purposes of the pension plan but may continue
city employment for up to a maximum of 48 months.
(2) Effective September 19, 2022, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this
ordinance, the maximum period of participation in the DROP shall be 84 months for all
members of the plan. The backdrop option shall not replace the DROP program. All members
of the plan who attain normal retirement eligibility shall be eligible for the forward DROP as
amended, and any member of the plan who chooses not to enter the forward DROP shall be
eligible for the backdrop.
(3) Creation of individual account. For each general employee electing participation in the DROP,
an individual account shall be created.
(4) Earnings on DROP account. The board of trustees of the retirement plan shall establish, by
administrative rule, a series of investment vehicles which may be chosen by participants in
the DROP. Any losses incurred on account of the option selected by the participant shall not
be made up by the city or the GESE trust fund, but any such loss shall be borne by the
participant only. Upon participation in the DROP, the member shall make a selection of the
earnings program on forms provided by the board. All interest shall be credited to the
member's DROP account.
(5) Distribution of DROP benefits. Upon conclusion of a period of participation in the DROP not to
exceed the maximum set forth in subsection (2), the participant shall terminate employment.
Upon termination of employment, a participant may receive payment from the DROP account
in the following manner:
a. Lump sum distribution;
b. Periodic payments;
c. Rollover of the balance to another qualified retirement plan, IRA, or an Internal Revenue
Code Section 457 Plan; or
d. An annuity.
A participant may defer payment until the latest date authorized by Section 401(a)(9) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
(6) Drop participation shall not affect any other death or disability benefit provided to a member
under federal law, state law, city ordinance, or any rights or benefits under any applicable
collective bargaining agreement.
(7)
If a DROP participant dies before the DROP account balances are paid out in full, the person(s) designated
by such DROP participant shall receive such DROP account balances in accordance with the DROP
participant election in effect at the time of death.
(8) Any employee who enters into a DROP agreement shall be bound by the terms and
conditions of that agreement.
(9) Forward DROP. The date of entry into the FORWARD DROP shall be the beginning of a pay
period. Payment shall be made by the retirement plan into the participants DROP account in
an amount equal to the regular monthly retirement benefit which the participant would have
received had the participant separated from service and commenced the receipt of benefits
from the plan. The amount of the monthly benefit shall be determined based on the
creditable service, average final compensation, and retirement option selected in accordance
with this section. Upon conclusion of a period of participation in the DROP not to exceed the
maximum set forth in subsection (2), the participant shall terminate employment with the
city.
Election of a FORWARD Drop Program precludes participation in a BACDROP program.
(10) BACDROP. A general employee may elect to BACDROP to a date no further back than the date
of the member's retirement eligibility date. The BACDROP period must be in 12-month
increments, beginning at the start of a pay period, not to exceed 12 months. Participation in
the BACDROP does not preclude participation in the FORWARD Drop program.
The benefits for purpose of the BACDROP will then be actuarially calculated to be the
equivalent to the benefit earned at the date of retirement. Said calculation will consist of the
present value of benefits being equal to the actuarially reduced benefit, plus a lump sum with
interest, as determined by the retirement plan's actuary. Participant contributions will not be
returned for the period of time covered by the BACDROP program.
The lump sum as calculated by the retirement plan's actuary will be based on the assumed
investment return of the fund without discount for mortality and deposited into the newly
created DROP account.
(11) DROP incentive program. Any member who is a DROP participant as of October 1, 2009, may
elect to participate in the DROP incentive program by completing the necessary election
documentation no later than October 15, 2009. Effective October 22, 2009 any member in
DROP or eligible to retire, may participate in the extended DROP incentive program by
completing the necessary election documentation no later than November 6, 2009.
Participation in the DROP incentive program and the extended DROP incentive program is as
follows:
a.
The DROP incentive program or extended DROP incentive program participant may, upon separating city
employment, elect to either receive:
1. A lump sum in the amount of $25,000.00, or
2. A lump sum in the amount of $7,200.00 and receive a 100 percent subsidy of
insurance for two years from date of separation. The insurance shall be based on an
HMO plan tier of employee plus one.
(12) Reserved.
(13) Reserved.
(14) BACKDROP option. A backdrop benefit option shall be implemented on January 1, 2013. The
backdrop option shall replace the existing DROP program. Employees who have not attained
normal retirement eligibility as of January 1, 2013 or were not vested by October 1, 2010, and
all employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be eligible for the backdrop option, but
will not be eligible for the DROP. Anyone eligible for the forward DROP as of January 1, 2013,
remains eligible for the forward DROP as it presently exists and anyone eligible for the
forward DROP as of January 1, 2013 or vested prior to October 1, 2010, who chooses not to
enter the forward DROP remains eligible for the backdrop.
a. An eligible employee who elects the backdrop option shall receive a monthly benefit
payable on the employee's actual retirement date (date of retirement and separation
from city employment) based on the benefit the employee would have received if he/she
had left city employment and retired on an earlier date after attaining normal retirement
eligibility (the "backdrop date"). In addition, an eligible employee who elects the backdrop
option will receive a lump sum payment equal to the accumulation of monthly retirement
benefit payments he/she would have received during the period following the backdrop
date through the actual retirement date ("backdrop period"), plus interest at the rate of
three percent per year, compounded annually. An eligible employee may elect a minimum
backdrop period of one year and maximum backdrop period of up to seven years. An
eligible employee who elects the backdrop option must select the normal form of benefit
or an optional form of benefit in accordance with subsection 40-255(j) at the time of
electing the backdrop option. The employee's monthly benefit as well as the lump sum
payment under the backdrop option is based on the form of benefit selected.
b. Employees are eligible to elect the backdrop option after completing one year of
creditable service following the normal retirement date. A backdrop election must be
made within ten years after becoming eligible for normal retirement. The maximum
backdrop period is seven years. Eligible employees who wish to elect the backdrop option
must provide written notification to the department director and the department of
human resources at least eight months prior to the employee's retirement date; provided
a lesser notice period may be approved by the city manager due to special circumstances. Bargaining unit
members will be eligible to revoke their backdrop election one time, but within one month of their election.
However, if a bargaining unit employee is granted a lesser notice period by the city manager due to special
circumstances, the employee will not be eligible for the one-time backdrop election revocation. Employees
are not required to elect the backdrop option.
c. All or a portion of the lump sum payment under the backdrop option may be rolled over
to an eligible retirement plan or IRA in accordance with federal law.
d. If the backdrop option is ever terminated, for any reason, the rights of all persons then in
the DROP shall not be diminished or impaired. Additionally, if the backdrop is ever
terminated, all persons who are then eligible for the backdrop option will still be eligible
for a seven year backdrop. The board of trustees of shall develop operational rules for the
implementation of this provision.
(m) Reemployment ofretirees. Except as expressly provided herein, should any retiree be
reemployed by the city into a regular, permanent, full-time employment position as defined in
section 40-241, the benefits payable under this Plan shall be suspended during the period of
reemployment. Upon termination of the period of reemployment with the city, benefits shall be
automatically restored, as provided for in this Plan, on the first day of the month following the
termination of reemployment. No additional vesting period shall be required. Effective November
1, 2002, this section shall not apply to city commission and mayoral assistants and secretarial
staff position, as described in Civil Service Rule 1, Sec. 1.2(a), authorized in the city budget for the
offices of the mayor and members of the city commission, or to any employment other than with
the city. Employees in the above job classifications may opt to continue collecting their pensions
during their reemployment, but they may not accrue any further pension service credit. This
section shall not apply to retirees who enter into legal agreement with the city either through
written contracts or otherwise for services not defined as full-time, permanent employees of the
city.
(n) Limitation on benefits. Effective September 30, 2010, for members who retire or separate from
employment on or after October 1, 2010, member retirement allowances shall not exceed the
lesser of 100 percent of the member's average final compensation or an annual retirement
allowance of $100,000.00 as of retirement or DROP entry based on the normal form of benefit in
effect on the date of retirement; provided, in no event shall the benefit limitation provided in this
subsection be less than the lesser of 100 percent of the member's average final compensation or
the member's accrued benefit on September 30, 2010, based on the normal form of benefit in
effect on that date. Effective September 30, 2012, member retirement allowances shall not
exceed an annual retirement allowance of $80,000.00 as of retirement or DROP entry based on
the normal form of benefit in effect on the date of retirement; provided, any employee who has
an accrued benefit in excess of $80,000.00 annually on the effective date shall retain that benefit,
but shall not accrue any additional benefits after that date. Except for members of AFSCME Council 79,
Local 871, effective on or after October 1, 2021, for members retiring or entering DROP from that date on,
member retirement allowance shall not exceed the lesser of 100 percent of the member's average final
compensation or an annual allowance of $120,000.00 as of retirement of DROP entry based on the normal
form of benefit in effect on the date of retirement for members eligible to retire as of October 1, 2012.
Except for members of AFSCME Council 79, Local 871, effective October 1, 2022, for members retiring or
entering DROP from that date on, member retirement allowance shall not exceed the lesser of 100 percent
of the member's average final compensation or $100,000.00 as of retirement or DROP entry based on the
normal form of benefit in effect on the date of retirement for members who were not eligible to retire as of
October 1, 2012. However, any member who has an accrued benefit in excess of these annual allowance
caps shall retain that benefit but not accrue any additional benefits after that date.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 12185, § 2, 2-14-02; Ord. No. 12202, § 2, 3-27-02; Ord. No. 12249, § 1,
6-27-02; Ord. No. 12753, § 1, 1-26-06; Ord. No. 13099, § 1, 9-24-09; Ord. No. 13109, § 1, 10-22-09; Ord. No.
13154, § 1, 4-22-10; Ord. No. 13192, § 1, 8-31-10; Ord. No. 13203, § 2, 9-27-10; Ord. No. 13343, § 1, 9-27-12;
Ord. No. 13676, § 2, 4-27-17; Ord. No. 13887, § 2, 12-12-19; Ord. No. 14053, § 2, 3-10-22; Ord. No. 14161, § 2,
4-13-23)
Sec. 40-256. - Cost -of -living allowance.
A cost of living (COLA) allowance shall be paid to beneficiaries of the Plan as follows:
(1) Every October 1, there shall be calculated a four percent COLA benefit equal to four percent
of the benefit payable at that time. There shall be a minimum COLA benefit of $54.00 per year
and a maximum COLA benefit increase of $400.00 per year provided the retiree's first
anniversary of retirement has been reached.
(2) Retirees exercising the return of contributions and reduced pension option shall receive a
minimum COLA benefit of $27.00 per year and a maximum COLA benefit of $200.00 per year,
provided the retiree's first anniversary of retirement has been reached.
(3) COLA participation for DROP members. Eligibility for payments for cost of living adjustment
(COLA) shall commence when a member has reached the first anniversary of retirement.
When that occurs, the COLA shall be paid into the member's DROP account in monthly
installments for the Forward DROP until a member has actually separated from employment
from the city and in lump sum to the member's DROP account for the BACDROP member
upon separation from employment. For the purpose of complying with Section H(2)(g) of the
Second Amended Final Judgment in Gates, the employee's "Date of Retirement" shall be the
date Forward DROP is entered or the date to which the member elects to BACDROP.
(4) The board shall administer COLA payments and COLA assets shall be deemed an integral part
of the trust for which separate accounting is not required.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 12202, § 2, 3-27-02)
Sec. 40-257. - Adjustment in benefits.
Members who belonged to the Miami City General Employees' Retirement Plan, presently known as the
City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust, shall continue to be subject
to the following adjustments in benefits:
Any member who, on or before May 23, 1985, had a vested right to receive an additional
retirement allowance under the provisions of the Miami City General Employees' Retirement Plan,
presently known as the City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees Retirement
Trust, which benefit was previously set forth in former section 40-235(A)(3)(a) of this Code
(repealed June 13, 1985), shall be entitled to such additional benefit upon service retirement,
early service retirement or "rule of 75" or "rule of 70" retirement pursuant to this division. A
member shall be deemed to have a vested right if said member, on or before May 23, 1985, was
serving in any of the capacities enumerated in former section 40-235(A)(3)(a) and thereafter
continued to serve in such capacity uninterruptedly for a total combined period of not less than
three years. Those members having such vested right may only continue to earn credit for such
allowance up to a combined period of ten years' service.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-258. - Assignments and loans prohibited.
The present or future right of a person to moneys in the fund or to a retirement allowance, an optional
allowance, a death benefit, the return of contributions, or any other right accrued or accruing to any person
under the provisions of this division, shall be unassignable, and shall not be subject to execution,
garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency law or any other process of law
whatsoever, except with respect to alimony, child support, or medical payments to a former spouse. Loans
to participants are prohibited.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-259. - Protection against fraud.
Whoever, with intent to deceive, shall make any statements or reports required under this division which
are untrue or shall falsify or permit to be falsified any record of this Plan, shall be punished as provided in
section 1-13 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-260. - Errors.
Should any change or error in Plan records be discovered or result in any member or beneficiary
receiving from the Plan more or less than he or she would have been entitled to receive had the records
been correct, the board shall have the power to correct such error and, as far as possible, adjust the
payments in such a manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which such member or
beneficiary was correctly entitled shall be paid.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-261. - Bonding; fiduciary insurance.
(a) Prior to exercising custody or control of any funds or property of the Plan, every fiduciary of the
Plan and every person who handles funds or other property of the Plan shall be bonded. Such
bond shall provide protection to the Plan against loss by reason of acts of fraud or dishonesty on
the part of the bonded individual, directly or through connivance with others.
(b) The board shall purchase insurance for the Plan and for the members of the board of trustees to
cover liability or losses occurring by reason of an act or omission of a fiduciary, providing,
however, that such insurance permits recourse by the insurer against the fiduciary in case of a
breach of a fiduciary obligation by such fiduciary.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-262. - Compliance with the Internal Revenue Code.
(a) It is the intention of the city and of the board that the Plan remain at all times a qualified Plan, as
that term is defined under the Internal Revenue Code.
(b) No member's annual benefit may exceed the amounts permitted under Section 415 of the
Internal Revenue Code as amended, including cost of living adjustments under Section 415 (d).
(c) Compensation in excess of limitations set forth in section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code
shall be disregarded. The limitation on compensation for an eligible employee shall not be less
than the amount which was allowed to be taken into account hereunder as in effect on July 1,
1993. The Term "eligible employee" means an individual who was a member before the first plan
year beginning on or after January 1, 1996.
(d) In no event may a member's retirement benefit be delayed beyond the later of April 1 st following
the calendar year in which the member attains age 70%, or April 1 st of the year following the
calendar year in which the member retires.
When a distribution of the participant's entire interest is not made in a lump sum, the distribution will be
made in one or more of the following ways: over the life of the participant; over the life of the participant
and designated beneficiary; over a period certain not extending beyond the life expectancy of the
participant; or over a period certain not extending beyond the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the
participant and a designated beneficiary.
(e) If the distribution has commenced before the participant's death, the remaining interest will be
distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of the
participant's death.
The method of distribution, if the participant dies before distribution is commenced, must satisfy the
following requirements:
(1) Any remaining portion of the participant's interest that is not payable to a beneficiary
designated by the participant will be distributed within five years after the participant's death;
(2) Any portion of the participant's interest that is payable to a beneficiary designated by the
participant will be distributed either: (i) within five years after the participant's death; or (ii)
over the life of the beneficiary, or over a period certain not extending beyond the life
expectancy of the beneficiary, commencing not later than the end of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the participant died (or, if a designated beneficiary is the
participant's surviving spouse, commencing not later than the end of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the participant would have attained age 70-12).
(f) This subsection applies to distributions made on or after January 1, 1993. Notwithstanding any
provision of the plan to the contrary that would otherwise limit a distributee's election under this
subsection, a distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Plan
administrator, to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible
retirement plan specified by the distributee in a direct rollover.
(1) For the purposes of this section and section 40-266 of this Plan, the following words and
phrases shall have the meanings indicated:
a. "Eligible rollover distribution" is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the
credit of the distributee, except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include:
1. Any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not
less frequently than annually), made for the life (or life expectancy) of the distributee,
or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the distributee and the distributee's
designated beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more;
2. Any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Section 401(a)(9) of
the Internal Revenue Code; and
3. The portion of any distribution that is not includable in gross income.
b. "Eligible retirement plan" is an individual retirement account described in Section 408(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code, an individual retirement annuity described in Section 408(b)
of the Internal Revenue Code, a qualified trust, an annuity plan described in Section
403(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or an eligible defined compensation plan described in Section 457(b)
of the Internal Revenue Code which is maintained by an eligible employer described in Section 457(e)(i)(A)
of the Internal Revenue Code, or an annuity contract described in 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code that
accepts the distributee's eligible rollover distribution.
c. "Distributee" includes an employee or former employee. In addition, the employee's or
former employee's surviving spouse is a distributee with regard to the interest of the
spouse. Additionally, "distributee" includes a non -spouse beneficiary whose rollover
options are limited to an individual retirement annuity.
d. "Direct rollover" is a payment by the Plan to the eligible Plan specified by the distributee.
(g) In the event of a mandatory distribution under this Plan in excess of $1,000.00 and the member
does not elect to receive the distribution directly, then the board shall make a transfer to an
individual retirement plan of the board's choosing and shall notify the members in writing of such
transfer.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 12181, § 1, 1-24-02; Ord. No. 13679, § 1, 5-11-17)
Sec. 40-263. - Distribution of marital interests in the plan; intervention in legal proceedings affecting the Plan.
(a) In the event that the board is served with a domestic relations order or other legal process
purporting to require the payment of any portion of a member's benefit to another person as a
result of a dissolution of marriage, the board shall cause such order to be reviewed to determine
compliance with the provisions of the Plan.
(b) The board of trustees shall be authorized to intervene in any such dissolution of marriage
proceeding to ensure that such domestic relations order is otherwise consistent with the
distribution of an interest in a public employees retirement plan under state law.
(c) Any cost associated with the modification or correction of such domestic relations orders shall be
the responsibility of the Plan member.
(d) The board shall be authorized to seek intervention as provided by law in any legal proceedings
which, in the opinion of the board, affects the substantial interests of the Plan.
(e) The parties may consent to the entry of an order distributing benefits in a manner not otherwise
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-264. - General conditions.
(a) The City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust may sue or be
sued as an entity.
(b)
The city commission shall have continuing power to amend or supplement this division, but no amendment
shall be adopted which will reduce the then accrued benefits of members or beneficiaries covered by
accumulated reserves, which reserves shall constitute a trust fund for the payment of such benefits.
(c) There shall be no reversion of trust funds or a return of employer contributions unless all
liabilities have been satisfied.
(d) Upon plan termination or a complete discontinuance of contributions, a member's interest is
non -forfeitable.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13679, § 1, 5-11-17)
Sec. 40-265. - Excess benefit plan.
(a) The excess retirement benefits above the limits permitted by the Internal Revenue Code shall be
as follows:
(1) Funded from the City of Miami General Fund; and
(2) Paid annually concurrently with the city's annual contribution to normal pension costs, which
shall cause the city to realize a reduction in normal pension costs in the same amount; and
(3) Be deposited in separate accounts for each respective plan to receive the city's excess
retirement benefit contributions, which accounts shall be separate and apart from the
accounts established to receive the city's normal pension contributions for each retirement
trust;
(b) The board of trustees for General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' (GESE) is appointed as
the committee to administer the Excess Benefit for the GESE retirees.
(c) The actuaries for the GESE Board of Trustees shall calculate the amounts necessary to fund the
defined benefit plans giving effect to the reductions caused by implementation of Section 415 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(d) The excess benefits shall be paid to each eligible member of the Plans on a monthly basis in an
amount equal to the difference between the allowable pension to be paid under the Internal
Revenue Code and the amount of the defined benefit granted eligible members pursuant to the
provisions set forth in the Code.
(e) Should additional retirements occur during the year where the eligible member's retirement
benefit exceeds the Section 415 limits, the GESE Board of Trustees shall calculate the additional
excess benefit amount required for the remainder of the fiscal year and should such amount
exceed the amount available from the funds provided for the fiscal year, the GESE board of
trustees shall notify the city of the additional funds required.
(f) Upon the city's receipt of notice of the additional funds required, the city shall forward the
additional funds required. The requirement for additional funds paid by the city to fund the
Excess Benefit Plan shall be reflected as a reduction in the city's annual contribution of normal
pension costs for the following year.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01)
Sec. 40-266. - Transfer of accumulated leave.
(a) Members eligible to receive accumulated sick leave, accumulated vacation leave or any other
accumulated leave payable upon retirement or separation (including DROP) may elect, not later
than the year prior to retirement to have the leave transferred to the Plan in accordance with the
respective collective -bargaining -agreement, if applicable. Members on whose behalf leave has
been transferred may elect one of the following options within 30 days of retirement/separation.
Members failing to elect a distribution option within 30 days of retirement/separation will be
deemed to have elected Option 1 below:
(1) Receive a lump sum equal to the transferred leave balance, or
(2) Transfer the entire amount of the transferred leave balance directly to any eligible retirement
plan, or
(3) Purchase additional service credit as may permitted by the Code (including subsection 40-
254(6), purchase of additional service upon retirement). If the leave balance exceeds the cost
of the service credit purchased, the balance shall be paid to the member in a lump sum.
(b) Members who fail to elect a transfer in the year prior to retirement or other separation will
receive payment in a lump sum at time of separation with all attendant tax consequences.
(c) If a member on whose behalf the city makes a transferred leave balance to the Plan dies after
retirement or other separation, but before making an election, as provided, or after making an
election but before any distribution is made, the election option shall be void. In such an event,
any person who would have received a death benefit had the member died in service
immediately prior to the date of retirement or other separation, shall be entitled to receive an
amount equal to the transferred leave balance in a lump sum. In the case of a surviving spouse or
former spouse, an election may be made to transfer the leave balance to an eligible retirement
plan in lieu of the lump sum payment. Failure to make such an election by the surviving spouse or
former spouse within 60 days of the member's death, will be deemed an election to receive a
lump sum payment.
(d) The board, by rule, shall prescribe the method for implementing the provisions of this section.
(Ord. No. 12111, § 1, 9-25-01; Ord. No. 13154, § 1, 4-22-10)
Secs. 40-267-40-290. - Reserved.