10/03/2024 Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 3, 2024
5:30 PM
Special Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Trustees
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Bruce Rector, Trustee Ryan Cotton, Trustee Michael Mannino,
Trustee David Allbritton, and Trustee Lina Teixeira
Also Present—Jennifer Poirrier—City Manager, Michael Delk — Assistant City
Manager, David Margolis - City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City
Clerk, Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk, and Tiffany Makras —
Human Resources Director
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Mayor Rector
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the August 12, 2024 Pension Trustees meeting as submitted in
written summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Cotton moved to approve the minutes of the August 12,
2024 Pension Trustees meeting as submitted in written summation
by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda
Mr. Holuba expressed concerns regarding the oversight of the pension
plan and expressed concerns regarding the Clearwater Police
Department.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Approve the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Pension
Name/Job Classification/ Department Eligibility
Date
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
Jaden Lee, Solid Waste Worker I, Solid Waste & Recycling 6/29/2024
Jaiylan Wynn, Stormwater Technician I, Public Works 6/29/2024
Adam Nugent, Gas Technician I, Gas System 7/1/2024
Austin Sadorf, Police Cadet, Police Department 7/1/2024
Carol Creutz, Accounting Tech II, Financial & Budget 7/1/2024
Christopher Allen, Police Cadet, Police Department 7/1/2024
Isaiah Henderson, Police Cadet, Police Department 7/1/2024
Joshua Stinson, Meter Reader I, Utility Customer Service 7/1/2024
Myika Bowden, Utility Dispatcher I, Gas System 7/1/2024
Otha Armstrong, Parks Service Tech. I, Parks & Recreation 7/1/2024
Zachary Hauschild, Police Officer, Police Department 7/1/2024
Anthony Martin, Marine Facility Operator, Parks & Recreation 7/15/2024
Frank Vaillant-Figueredo, Welder/Manufacturer, SW& Recycling 7/15/2024
Jared Wilson, Air Conditioning Tech, General Support Services 7/15/2024
Leondre Horne, Parks Service Technician I, Parks & Recreation 7/15/2024
Michael Tutoli, Solid Waste Equipment Oper, SW& Recycling 7/15/2024
Mike Whiting, Solid Waste Equipment Oper, SW& Recycling 7/15/2024
Nicholas Bornstein, Stormwater Technician I, Public Works 7/15/2024
Shanika Nicholson, Solid Waste Equipment Oper, SW& Recyc. 7/15/2024
Amanda Paukert, Payroll Tech I, Parks & Recreation 7/29/2024
Daniel Kelly, Engineering Specialist Iii, Public Works 7/29/2024
Hugo Resendiz, Streets & Sidewalks Tech I, Public Works 7/29/2024
Jason Jackson, Solid Waste Equipment Oper, SW& Recycling 7/29/2024
John Balcer, Parks Service Technician I, Parks & Recreation 7/29/2024
Keith Simmons, Water Distr Oper Trainee, Public Utilities 7/29/2024
Mark Kraf, Traffic Signal Tech I, Public Works 7/29/2024
Mitchell Shelton, Utility Dispatcher I, Gas System 7/29/2024
Randall Raines, Water Distr Oper Trainee, Public Utilities 7/29/2024
Sedeeva Chaney, Parks Service Technician I, Parks & Recreation 7/29/2024
Christopher Poland, Water Plant Operator Trainee, Public Utilities 8/12/2024
Ernest Bell, Solid Waste Worker I, Solid Waste & Recycling 8/12/2024
Gerald Burney, Solid Waste Worker I, Solid Waste & Recycling 8/12/2024
Jonathan Richardson, Parks Service Tech. I, Parks & Recreation 8/12/2024
Joseph Gagne, Police Officer, Police Department 8/12/2024
Robert Gremillion, Parks Service Tech. I, Parks & Recreation 8/12/2024
Rocky Nikci, Police Telecom municator I, Police Department 8/12/2024
Trustee Teixeira moved to approve 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 Willie Hill, Solid Waste and Recycling
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
Department, Charles H. Lane Jr, Economic Development and Housing Department, and
Robert Skinner, Public Works Department to vest their pension as provided by Section
2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Willie Hill, Solid Waste Worker I, Solid Waste & Recycling Department, was
employed by the City on August 22, 2005 and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. Mr. Hill terminated from City employment on March 8,
2024.
Charles H. Lane Jr, Economic Development & Housing Assistant Director,
Economic Development & Housing Department, was employed by the City on
August 1, 2011 and his pension service credit is effective on that date. Mr. Lane
terminated from City employment on August 18, 2024.
Robert Skinner, Parking Meter Technician, Public Works Department, was
employed by the City on October 1, 2012 and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. Mr. Skinner terminated from City employment on July 17,
2024.
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 five or more years (non-hazardous duty) and ten or more years
(hazardous duty) 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.
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 55 years and completed 20 years of
credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age 65 years and
completed ten years of credited service; or the date on which a member has
completed 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 60 years and completed 25 years of credited
service; or the date on which a participant has reached the age of 65 years and
completed five years of credited service. Mr. Hill will meet the non-hazardous
duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in September of 2025. Mr. Lane will
meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a pension in
September of 2031. Mr. Skinner will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and
begin collecting a pension in September of 2026.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty
employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
date on which the participant has completed 20 years of credited service
regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached 55 years
and completed ten years of credited service.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the following request of
employees Willie Hill, Solid Waste and Recycling Department,
Charles H. Lane Jr, Economic Development and Housing
Department, and Robert Skinner, Public Works 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 Trava Alston, Police Department, John Dorsey, Solid
Waste and Recycling Department, Joshua Jewett, Police Department, Chad Reed,
Police Department, and Mario Zaccaria, Planning and Development Department for a
regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension
Plan.
Trava Alston, Police Service Technician, Police Department, was employed by
the City on February 21, 1995, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective August 1, 2024. Based on an average salary
of approximately $57,650.41 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Alston's selection of the Single Life Annuity, this
pension benefit will be approximately $46,680.84 annually.
John Dorsey, Transfer Station/Scales Operator, Solid Waste & Recycling
Department was employed by the City on November 29, 1993, and his pension
service credit is effective on April 17, 1994. His pension will be effective August
1, 2024. Based on an average salary of approximately $43,855.48 over the past
five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Dorsey's
selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$36,512.40 annually.
Joshua Jewett, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on
May 22, 2000, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His
pension will be effective July 1, 2024.
Based on an average salary of approximately $92,859.30 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Jewett's selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$60,125.64 annually.
Chad Reed, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City on
September 27, 1999, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective October 1, 2024. Based on an average salary of
approximately $101,028.28 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Reed's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $67,781.28 annually.
Mario Zaccaria, Plans Examiner IV, Planning & Development Department, was
employed by the City on September 8, 2015, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective October 1, 2024. Based on
an average salary of approximately $77,064.87 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Zaccaria's selection of the 66
2/3% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$11,196.72 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 55 years and completed 20 years of
credited service; the date on which a participant has reached age 65 years and
completed ten years of credited service; or the date on which a member has
completed 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 60 years and completed 25 years of credited
service; or the date on which a participant has reached the age of 65 years and
completed five years of credited service. Mr. Alston, Mr. Dorsey, and Mr.
Zaccaria 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 20 years of credited service
regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached 55 years
and completed ten years of credited service. Mr. Jewett and Mr. Reed has met
the hazardous duty criteria.
Trustee Mannino moved to approve the following request of Trava
Alston, Police Department, John Dorsey, Solid Waste and Recycling
Department, Joshua Jewett, Police Department, Chad Reed, Police
Department, and Mario Zaccaria, Planning and Development
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 Approve pension plan administrative expenditures for fiscal year 2025 totaling
not-to-exceed $369,900.00.
The Employees' Pension Plan does not have a legally required budget.
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes October 3, 2024
However, all expenditures must be approved by the Trustees. The following are
routine administrative expenditures that staff is requesting approval of for
administrative efficiency.
The recommended expenditures for fiscal year 2025 reflect a $10,500, or 2.9%,
increase over the approved fiscal 2024 expenditures. This net increase results
primarily from increased costs of Finance and Human Resources
administrative staff support, partially offset by a decrease in volume of projected
employee physicals and related costs.
Training and travel are the estimated costs of pension training and related
travel, including fiduciary training for the Trustees and Pension Advisory
Committee (PAC) members. This is a not-to-exceed amount given uncertainty
regarding the number of Trustees and PAC members that may elect to pursue
training.
Expenditures for physicals are per the pension ordinance requirement that new
employees must pass a comprehensive physical exam to be accepted into the
pension plan. A decreased volume of physicals is forecast due to reduced staff
turnover and projected new hires.
Reimbursements to the General Fund and Central Insurance Fund are for the
cost of oversight and administration of the Plan. The reimbursements are for
services provided by Human Resources, Payroll, and Finance personnel, along
with related operating expenditures.
The law firm of Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen and Levinson currently represents
the Pension plan in certain matters, while the firm of Banker, Lopez, Gassler
currently advocates for City administration in formal PAC disability pension
claims. Annual attorney fees also include medical bills for medical services
authorized by the PAC.
Money manager, performance measurement consulting, custodial/safekeeping,
and actuary fees (other than actuary hourly consulting and special projects) are
all governed by contracts separately approved by the Trustees and are not
included in this agenda item total.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
6467410-5xxxxx (various pension plan expenditure codes)
Trustee Cotton moved to approve pension plan administrative
expenditures for fiscal year 2025 totaling not-to-exceed $369,900.00.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes
5. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 5:37 p.m.
October 3, 2024
Chair
Employees
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City of Clearwater
Trustees