05/11/2023 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 11, 2023
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
Roll Call
Present - Chair Nathan Hightower, Committee Member Christopher Kakalow,
Committee Member David Sowers, Committee Member Mark Bunker,
and Committee Member Lina Teixeira
Also Present— David Margolis — City Attorney, Billie Kirkpatrick— Human Resources
Director, Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of March 9th, 2023 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as submitted
in written summation.
Member Sowers moved to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2023
Pension Advisory Committee 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 Approve the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Name, Job Classification, & Department Pension Eligibility Date
Zouhier Taouil, Skilled Tradesworker General Services 02/27/2023
Damien Durham, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 02/27/2023
Claudia Goettsche, Crime Analyst, Police 02/27/2023
Louis Alker, Senior Accountant, Solid Waste 02/27/2023
James Fields, Custodial Worker, Police 02/27/2023
Dillon Berry, Fire Medic, Fire 03/13/2023
William Ramsey, Fire, MedicFire 03/13/2023
Owen Humphreys, Fire Medic, Fire 03/13/2023
Nicolas Mora, Fire, MedicFire 03/13/2023
Amanda Benson, Fire, MedicFire 03/13/2023
Jasmin Ray, Senior Staff Assistant, Public Utilities 03/13/2023
Christopher Winder, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities 03/13/2023
James Jackson III, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 03/13/2023
Frank Chavez, Beach Guard, Fire 03/13/2023
Kaitlyn Jones, Library Assistant, Library 03/13/2023
Amanda Santiago, Accounting Technician, Parks & Recreation 03/13/2023
Diana Rivera, Customer Service Representative, Finance/CS 03/27/2023
James Gray, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 03/27/2023
David Stoner III, Senior Business Systems Analyst, Information Technology 03/27/2023
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
Kenneth Craven, Network Analyst, Information Technology 03/27/2023
Timothy Dallaire, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreatio 03/27/2023
Corey Hunter, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 03/27/2023
William AmbroseStreets & Sidwalks TechnicianPublic Works 03/27/2023
Jovontee FrazierStormwater TechnicianPublic Works 03/27/2023
Zackery SkyrmeRecreation LeaderParks & Recreation 03/11/2023
Brooke McLemore, Customer Service Representative, Finance/CS 04/10/2023
Larry Phillips, Customer Service Representative, Finance/CS 04/10/2023
Michael Slatkavitz, Warehouse Supervisor, General Services 04/10/2023
Destiny Jenkins, Network Analyst, Information Technology 04/10/2023
JoAnn FriedwaldSr., Staff Assistant,Library Department 04/10/2023
Gunner Clark,Sampling TechnicianPublic Utilities 04/10/2023
Thomas Murray, Gas Technician Apprentice,Gas 04/10/2023
Amber Brice, Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Office of Innovation 03/11/2023
Jonathon Kline, Police Telecom municator, Police 02/25/2023
James Gray, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 03/27/2023
Member Sowers 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 Approve the following request of employees James Halios, Parks and Recreation
Department, Matthew Jackson, CRA Department, and Marianne Paz, Parks and
Recreation Department to vest their pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
James Halios, Director, Parks & Recreation Department, was employed by
the City on January 3, 2012, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. Mr. Halios terminated from City employment on February 3, 2023.
Matthew Jackson, CRA Assistant Director, CRA Department, was
employed by the City on May 31, 2011 and his pension service credit is effective
on that date. Mr. Jackson terminated from City employment on January 26,
2023.
Marianne Paz, Senior Recreation Leader, Parks & Recreation
Department, was employed by the City on May 15, 2007 and her pension
service credit is effective on October 15, 2007. Ms. Paz terminated from City
employment on March 25, 2023.
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.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
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. For non-hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date
of this restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the
earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty (60) years
and completed twenty-five (25) years of credited service; or the date on which a
participant has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years and completed ten (10)
years of credited service. Mr. Halios will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria
and begin collecting a pension in February of 2032. Mr. Jackson will meet the
non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in June of 2031. Ms.
Paz will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in
December of 2035.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty
employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which the participant has completed twenty (20) years of credited
service regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached
fifty-five (55) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service.
Member Sowers moved to recommend approval of the following
request of employees James Halios, Parks and Recreation Department,
Matthew Jackson, CRA Department, and Marianne Paz, Parks and
Recreation Department to vest their pension as provided by Section
2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
4.3 Approve the following request of Lyle Adams, Parks and Recreation Department, David
Bruneau, Police Department, Jimmie Evans, Public Works Department, Bryan Karnes,
Police Department, Jeffrey Mahar, Parks and Recreation Department, Estrella Murphy,
Police Department, Kurt Rodriguez, Police Department, and Thomas Wilcox, Solid
Waste Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Lyle Adams, Parks Manager, Parks and Recreation Department, was
employed by the City on April 3, 1995, and his pension service credit is effective
on that date. His pension will be effective May 1, 2023. Based on an average
salary of approximately $68,584.09 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Adams' selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $50,031.96 annually.
David Bruneau, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
City on July 15, 2002, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective April 1, 2023. Based on an average salary of
approximately $105,565.16 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Bruneau's selection of the 50% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $62,688.84 annually.
Jimmie Evans, Parks Service Supervisor, Public Works Department, was
employed by the City on February 7,2005, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective May 1, 2023. Based on an
average salary of approximately $46,254.64 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Evans' selection of the 10 Year Certain and
Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $22,018.44 annually.
Bryan Karnes, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City
on May 19, 2003, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective July 1, 2023. Based on an average salary of approximately
$96,035.27 over the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and
Mr. Karnes' selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit
will be approximately $50,847.60 annually.
Jeffrey Mahar, Lead Parks Service Technician, Parks and Recreation
Department, was employed by the City on October 20, 2003, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective June 1,
2023.Based on an average salary of approximately $45,154.20 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Mahar's selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$18,463.68 annually.
Estrella Murphy, Police Service Technician, Police Department, was
employed by the City on August 19, 1996, and her pension service credit is
effective on November 22, 1996. Her pension will be effective May 1, 2023. Based
on an average salary of approximately $55,686.43 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Murphy's selection
of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$37,614.96 annually.
Kurt Rodriguez, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the
City on April 29,1996, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective April 1, 2023. Based on an average salary of
approximately $94,308.60 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Rodriguez's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $67,625.88 annually.
Thomas Wilcox, Solid Waste Service Foreman, Solid Waste Department,
was employed by the City on August 31,1998, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective September 1, 2023. Based on an
average salary of approximately $55,036.55 over the past five years, the formula for
computing regular pensions and Mr. Wilcox selection of the 100% Joint and
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $32,159.16 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 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. For non-hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date
of this restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the
earlier of the date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty (60) years
and completed twenty-five (25) years of credited service; or the date on which a
participant has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years and completed ten (10)
years of credited service. Mr. Adams, Mr. Evans, Mr. Mahar, Ms. Murphy, and
Mr. Wilcox have met the non-hazardous duty criteria.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty
employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which the participant has completed twenty (20) years of credited
service regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached
fifty-five (55) years and completed ten (10) years of credited service. Mr.
Bruneau, Mr. Karnes, and Mr. Rodriguez has met the hazardous duty criteria.
Member Bunker moved to recommend approval of the following request of
Lyle Adams, Parks and Recreation Department, David Bruneau, Police
Department, Jimmie Evans, Public Works Department, Bryan Karnes, Police
Department, Jeffrey Mahar, Parks and Recreation Department, Estrella
Murphy, Police Department, Kurt Rodriguez, Police Department, and Thomas
Wilcox, Solid Waste Department, for a regular pension as provided by
Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
4.4 Election of New Officers
Member Teixeira moved to re-elect Nathan Hightower as Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Kakalow moved to elect Mark Bunker as Vice-Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items: None.
6. Director's Report: None.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
8. Adjourn
Attest:
(1411/00 p
Boardeporter
City of Clearwater
Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
The meeting adjourned at 9:08 a.m.
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Chair, Pension Ad isory Committee