01/09/2025 Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 9, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 9, 2025
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Advisory Committee
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 9, 2025
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Nathan Hightower, Vice Chair David Sowers, Committee
Member Lina Teixeira, Committee Member Ryan Cotton,
Committee Member Juliet Marvenko, and Committee Member
Corey Lenczden
Absent 1 - Committee Member Chris Smaha
Also Present— David Margolis — City Attorney, Tiffany Makras - Human Resources
Director, and Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Main Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes of November 14, 2024 Pension Advisory Committee meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Teixeira moved to approve the minutes of the November 14,
2024 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 PensionEligibility
Date
Timmy Benitez Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/4/2024
Claudia Betham Police Telecom municator I Police Department 11/4/2024
Elizabeth Flanigan Solid Waste Accounts Coord Solid Waste & Recycling"
11/4/2024
Joseph Garland Police Telecom municator I Police Department 11/4/2024
Amanda Klotz Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/4/2024
Isaiah Thomas Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/4/2024
Hunter Welch Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/4/2024
Antoine Winthrop Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/4/2024
Daldrick Barnes Solid Waste Equipment Oper Solid Waste & Recycling 11/18/2024
Najah Glaze Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/18/2024
Stephanie Morales Customer Service Rep I Utility Customer Service 11/18/2024
Amanda Reich Customer Service Rep I Utility Customer Service 11/18/2024
Ryan Spedden Parks Service Technician I Parks & Recreation 11/18/2024
Randy Alvarez Parking Enforcement Spec Public Works 12/02/2024
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 9, 2025
=JacksonParks Service Technician I Parks & Rin12/02/2024Utility Dispatcher I Gas Syst12/02/2024Parking, Fac & Sec Aide Public Wo12/16/2024Solid Waste Equipment Oper Solid Wasing 12/16/2024
Zederick Givins Solid Waste Worker I Solid Wasing 12/16/2024
Franklin Kent Parking Enforcement Spec Public Wo12/16/2024
Garrath Ponder Solid Waste Worker I Solid Wasing 12/16/2024Kimberly Root Development Review Tech I Planning ent 12/16/2024
Ruben Rosario Pagan Network Analyst I Information Technology 12/16/2024
Cameron Tisdale Custodial Worker Police Department 12/16/2024
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 Ellen Ayo, Parks & Recreation Department, Barry
Balmer, Police Department, Shelby Brown, Planning & Development Department,
Geraldine Blakley, Public Utilities Department, Gina Clayton-Ghomshe, Planning &
Development Department, Patrick Davis Sr, Fire Department, Deborah Humes, Fire
Department, Jon Lopez, Fire Department, Stephen Martindale, Public Utilities, Leah
Turpack, Police Department, Todd Turpack, Police Department, and Thomas Wiggins,
Public Works Department for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and
2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Ellen Ayo, Staff Assistant II, Parks & Recreation Department, was
employed by the City on February 22, 2005, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective March 1 st, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $47,353.64 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Ayo's selection of
the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $26,077.08
annually.
Barry Palmer, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City
on October 4, 2004, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective January 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $101,525.98 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Balmer's selection
of the 100% Joint & Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$54,008.52 annually.
Shelby Brown, Code Inspector II, Planning & Development Department,
was employed by the City on July 3, 2003, and her pension service credit is
effective February 23, 2004. Her pension will be effective November 1, 2024.
Based on an average salary of approximately $55,335.65 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Brown's selection of
the Single Life Annuity with the 30% partial lump sum, this pension benefit will
be approximately $22,038.12 annually.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 9, 2025
Geraldine Blakley, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator A, Public
Utilities Department, was employed by the City on May 2, 1994, and her
pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be effective
March 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $77,062.27 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Blakley's selection
of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $65,336.52
annually.
Gina Clayton-Ghomshe, Planning & Development Director, Planning &
Development Department, was employed by the City on November 10, 1999,
and her pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be
effective January 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $139,553.37 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Clayton's selection
of the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $91,228.92 annually.
Patrick Davis Sr, Driver-Operator, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on October 14, 1996, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective January 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $102,197.39 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Davis' selection of
the 100% Joint & Survivor Annuity with the 30% partial lump sum, this pension
benefit will be approximately $52,807.56 annually.
Deborah Humes, Staff Assistant, Fire Department, was employed by the
City on December 19, 2011, and her pension service credit is effective on
February 3, 2012. Her pension will be effective January 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $33,490.91 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Humes' selection of
the 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$11,109.60 annually.
Jon Lopez, Fire Medic, Fire Department, was employed by the City on July
19, 1999, and his pension service credit is effective on that date. His pension
will be effective February 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $109,347.34 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Lopez's selection of
the 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity with the 30% partial lump sum, this
pension benefit will be approximately $49,562.40 annually.
Stephen Martindale, Water Distribution Operator II, Public Utilities
Department, was employed by the City on March 21, 1994, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective January 1,
2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $64,039.59 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Martindale's
selection of the Single Life Annuity with the 20% partial lump sum, this pension
benefit will be approximately $43,350.24 annually.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 9, 2025
Leah Turpack, Staff Assistant II, Police Department, was employed by the
City on July 15, 2002, and her pension service credit is effective on that date.
Her pension will be effective January 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $50,535.30 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Turpack's selection
of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $31,203.12
annually.
Todd Turpack, Police Sergeant Police Department, was employed by the
City on October 4, 2004, and his pension service credit is effective on that
date. His pension will be effective January 1, 2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $111, 361.46 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Turpack's selection
of the 75% Joint and Survivor Annuity, this pension benefit will be
approximately $62,033.28 annually.
Thomas Wiggins, Stormwater Heavy Equipment Operator, Public Works
Department, was employed by the City on August 8, 1994, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective March 1,
2025.
Based on an average salary of approximately $57, 667.14 over the past five
years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Wiggins' selection
of the 10 Year Certain & Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$46,196.16 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 five (5) 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 five (5) years of credited service. Ms. Ayo, Ms.
Brown, Ms. Blakley, Ms. Clayton-Ghomshe, Ms. Humes, Mr. Martindale, Ms.
Turpack, and Mr. Wiggins, 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.
Balmer, Mr. Davis Sr, Mr. Lopez, and Mr. Turpack have met the hazardous
duty criteria.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes January 9, 2025
Member Sowers moved to recommend approval of the following
request of Ellen Ayo, Parks & Recreation Department, Barry Balmer,
Police Department, Shelby Brown, Planning Development Department,
Geraldine Blakely, Public Utilities Department, Gina Clayton-Ghomshe,
Planning and Development Department, Patrick Davis, Sr., Fire
Department, Deborah Humes, Fire Department, Jon Lopez, Fire
Department, Stephen Martindale, Public Utilities, Leah Turpack, Police
Department, Todd Turpack, Police Department, and Thomas Wiggins,
Public Works Department for a regular pension as provided in Sections
2.416 and 2.424 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items
In response to a question, Human Resources Director Tiffany Makras
said a tentative date in May has been set for the Jenkins formal hearing.
In response to a question, the City Attomey said the ordinance changes
regarding disability hearings will not affect any disability applications that
are filed by the ordinance adoption.
6. Director's Report: None.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Member Cotton said he will be available to attend future meetings as his
work schedule has changed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:03 a.m.
4),
Chair, Pension Advisory Committee
City of Clearwater