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11/10/2021 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 10, 2021 9:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Pension Advisory Committee Page 1 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 Roll Call Present 7 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair Greg Newland, Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton, Committee Member April Eversole, Committee Member Frank Hibbard, Committee Member Mark Bunker, and Committee Member Gregory Record Also Present - Stuart Kaufman —Attorney for the Committee (attended via phone), Jennifer Poirrier— Human Resources Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter 1. Call To Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Main Library. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve minutes of September 17, 2021 Pension Advisory Committee special meeting as submitted in written summation. Member Hibbard moved to approve minutes of September 17, 2021 Pension Advisory Committee Special meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None 4. New Business Items 4.1 Recommend approval of the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed. Name, Job Classification, Department Pension Eligibility Date Frank Berlingis, Police Records Specialist, Police 9/10/2021 Jennifer Partee, Senior Staff Assistant, Planning & Development 9/10/2021 Julie Baron, Customer Service Trainer, Customer Service 9/10/2021 Kayla Parker, Police Telecommunicator, Police 9/10/2021 Kevin Drielts, Police Records Specialist, Police 9/10/2021 Matthew Gresh, Multi-Media Specialist, Public Communications 9/10/2021 Peter Papjes, Skilled Tradesworker, General Services 9/10/2021 Rebecca Mulder, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning & Development 9/10/2021 Victor Gaeta, Customer Service Representative, Customer Service 9/10/2021 William Young, Police Telecom municator, Police 9/10/2021 Azeen Sarkhosh. Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021 Christian Rodriguez, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021 Page 2 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 Christopher Castro, Gas Technician Apprentice, Gas 9/27/2021 Cole Klein, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021 Cordez Gatheright, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 9/27/2021 Damian Rios, Police Cadet - Attending Academy, Police 9/27/2021 Daniel Bieber, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021 James Goldener, Parking, Facility & Security Aide, Engineering/Parking 9/27/2021 Jonathan Vangeli, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021 Joseph Beebe, Skilled Tradesworker, General Services 9/27/2021 Keister Crenshaw, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 9/27/2021 Malcolm Holmes, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 9/27/2021 Matthew Bremis, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021 Michelle Holzhauer, Parking Citation Assistant, Engineering/Parking 9/27/2021 Roxanna Sever, Development Review Technician, Planning & Development 9/27/2021 Santana Miller, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 9/27/2021 Shawn Manspeaker, Parking, Facility & Security Aide, Library 9/27/2021 Tyler Dejong, Survey Assistant, Engineering 9/27/2021 Eric Kelly, Water Distribution Operator Lead, Public Utilities 10/11/2021 Greg McCullough, Senior Auditor, Audit 10/11/2021 Jeffery Elliott, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 10/11/2021 Josh Francis, Parks Service Foreman, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021 Keith Robertson, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021 Keona Daniels, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021 Lisa Diamond, Recreation Coordinator, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021 Matthew Farkosh, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021 Michael Jackson, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021 Member Newland moved to recommend approval of the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.2 Recommend approval of the following request of employee Valerie Craig, Finance Department to vest her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. Valerie Craig, Senior Procurement Analyst, Finance Department, was employed by the City on December 20, 2010 and began participating in the Pension Plan on August 1, 2011. Ms. Craig terminated from City employment on October 8, 2021. The Employees' Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an employee of the City of Clearwater or change status from full-time to part-time after completing ten or more years of creditable service (pension participation), such employee shall acquire a vested interest in the retirement benefits. Vested pension payments commence on the first of the month following the month in which the employee normally would have been eligible for retirement. Page 3 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (1/1/13), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five (55) years and completed twenty (20) years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age sixty-five (65) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service; or the date on which a member has completed thirty (30) years of service regardless of age. Ms. Craig will meet the non- hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in December 2039. Member Eversole moved to recommend approval of the following request of employee Valerie Craig, Finance Department to vest her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.3 Recommend approval of the following request of Douglas Alvarez, Parks and Recreation Department, Leonard Aragones, Parks and Recreation Department, and Robert Strieder, Public Utilities Department for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan. Douglas Alvarez, Parks Service Foreman, Parks and Recreation Department, was employed by the City on August 13, 2001, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $47,464.16 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Alvarez's selection of the 10 Year Certain and Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $26,323.68 annually. Leonard Aragones, Senior Parks Service Tech, Parks and Recreation Department, was employed by the City on November 8, 2010, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective January 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $38,557.76 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Aragones' selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $11,819.76 annually. Robert Strieder, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator A, Public Utilities Department, was employed by the City on December 8, 1997, and his pension service credit is effective on June 8, 1998. His pension will be effective January 1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $52,848.92 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Strieder's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $34,246.44 annually. Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (1/1/13), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the Page 4 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 date on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five (55) years and completed twenty (20) years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age sixty-five (65) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service; or the date on which a member has completed thirty (30) years of service regardless of age. Mr. Alvarez, Mr. Aragones and Mr. Strieder have met the non-hazardous duty criteria. Member Hibbard moved to recommend approval of the following request of employees Douglas Alvarez, Parks and Recreation Department, Leonard Aragones, Parks and Recreation Department, and Robert Strieder, Public Utilities Department for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4.4 Death Benefit for the Beneficiary of Donna Light-Cowley Finance Director Jay Ravins said after parking in the MSB (Municipal Services Building) parking garage, Donna Light-Cowley was hit by a bicycle when crossing the public sidewalk on her way to work at the MSB, Ms. Light-Cowley died of her injuries. She had not clocked in. For Workers Compensation, Florida Statute specifies that an employee who has arrived on premises is considered to be at work. Attorney for the Committee Stuart Kaufman said the Pension Plan should be consistent with Florida on-the-job injury law, Ms. Light-Cowley's named beneficiary would qualify for a 42% pension benefit. He said while pension compensation was not binding, the circumstances were persuasive. He recommended that the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee) consider Ms. Light-Cowley compensable as she was injured while walking directly to her job from the parking garage. Mr. Ravin said based on tax law, Ms. Light-Cowley's young son was eligible for a 75%joint-life benefit. 4.4 Recommend approval of the following beneficiaries Edith Sterling, Robbin Beem, and Ryan Webb to be granted a death benefit as provided by Section 2.420 and Section 2,455 of the Employees' Pension Plan Edith Sterling, spouse of Stacey Sterling, Parks & Recreation Department, was employed by the City on April 14, 1997, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. Mr. Sterling passed away September 307 2021. Mr. Sterling named Edith Sterling as his pre-retirement beneficiary. Based on an average salary of approximately $43,878.67 over the past five years, this pension benefit will be approximately $25,953.24 annually. Mrs. Sterling will begin collecting effective October 1, 2021. Page 5 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 Robbin Beem, spouse of Louis Beem, Solid Waste and Recycling Department, was employed by the City on July 14, 2003, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. Mr. Beem passed away October 20, 2021. Robbin Beem is the spouse of Louis Beem. Based on an average salary of approximately $40,874.91 over the past five years, this pension benefit will be approximately $17,758.68 annually. Mrs. Beem will begin collecting effective November 1, 2021. Ryan Webb, son of Donna Light-Cowley, Customer Service Department was employed by the City on January 19, 2021, and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Ms. Light-Cowley passed away September 27, 2021 due to an injury that occurred on the job. Ms. Light- Cowley named Ryan Webb as her pre-retirement beneficiary. Based on an average salary of approximately $19,478.32 over the year, this pension benefit will be approximately $4,572.48 annually. Mr. Webb will begin collecting effective October 1, 2021. Sec. 2.420. - Death benefit. (1) a. In the event of the death of a participant who is vested in his accrued benefit prior to his termination of employment, his beneficiary (as described below) shall be entitled to receive a death benefit. Said death benefit shall be in an amount equal to the accrued benefit of such participant as of the date of his death. (3) The participant's surviving spouse shall be deemed to be the beneficiary designated to receive the death benefit payable under the plan, and if none, his children under the age of 18 who are the participant's dependents (within the meaning of Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code) at the time of his death. Sec. 2.455. - Beneficiaries. (1)Each member or retiree may, on a form provided for that purpose, signed and filed with the board, designate a beneficiary (or beneficiaries) to receive the benefit, if any, which may be payable in the event of his death. Each designation may be revoked or changed by such member or retiree by signing and filing with the board a new designation-of-beneficiary form. Upon such change, the rights of all previously designated beneficiaries to receive any benefits under the system shall cease. (2)lf a deceased member or retiree failed to name a beneficiary in the manner prescribed in subsection (1), or if the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) named by a deceased member or retiree predeceased the member or retiree, the death benefit, if any, which may be payable under the system with respect to such deceased member or retiree, shall be paid to the estate of the member or retiree. Page 6 City of Clearwater Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 Member Newland moved to recommend approval of the following beneficiaries Edith Sterling, Robbin Beem, and Ryan Webb to be granted a death benefit as provided by Section 2.420 and Section 2.455 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Old Business Items: None. 6. Director's Report: None. 7. Board Members to be Heard Member Newland wished all a Happy Veterans Day tomorrow. 8. Adjourn Member Hibbard said Glenn Mouton, the longtime actuary for the Firefighters' Pension Plan, had passed away suddenly last Monday. He sent his condolences to Glenn's wife, Nanette Moulton, his family and his friends. The meeting adjourned at 9:09 a.m. City of Clearwater Vi Chair Pensio (Advisory Committee Page 7