Ordinance 88-2603 ORDINANCE NO. 88-2603
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION
AND MAINTENANCE OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM
FOR UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY ;
REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
THEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA:
SECTION 1.
ARTICLE 1 . Creation and Purpose of System
1.01 A retirement system is hereby created under and by
authority of Chapter 18691, Laws of Florida, Acts of 1937 . This
systen shall be known as the "RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR UNCLASSIFIED
EMPLO1 :ES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH" and
shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Unclassified System" or
"Unclassified Retirement System. "
1.02 The purpose of the Unclassified Retirement System is to
provide retirement and other related benefits for eligible
unclassified employees and elected officials of the City and
their beneficiaries or dependents .
ARTICLE 2. Definitions
For purpose of the Unclassified Retirement System,
certain words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in this article except when the context otherwise requires.
The masculine pronoun, wherever used, shall include the feminine.
2.01 "City" or "Employer" means the City of Miami Beach,
Florida.
2.02 "City Commission" or "Commission" means the City
Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida.
2.03 "Board of Trustees" or "Board" means the managing board
of the Unclassified System as provided for in Article 7 .
2.04 "Elected Officials" means the Mayor, and the members of
the City Commission of the City of Miami Beach.
2.05 "Employee" means any person employed by the City on a
regular basis, who is receiving compensation from the City for
personal services, and who is within a group or classification of
employees designated by the Board of Trustees as eligible for
1
x4/12/88
•
membership in the Unclassified System, exclusive of the following
groups and classifications:
(a) Persons whose services are compensated on a contractual
basis.
(b) Persons employed on a provisional , original
probationary or other temporary basis.
(c) Members of boards or commissions, officers, or
employees receiving no salary or a nominal salary or a fee.
(d) Those persons who hold classified positions within
the City.
(e) Member of the City Pension Fund for Firemen and
Policemen in the City of Miami Beach.
( f) Persons whose regular employment with the City is for
less than thirty ( 30) hours per week.
2.06 "Members" means any Employee included in the membership
of the Unclassified System, as provided in Article 3 . A Member
who retires shall be deemed a retired member or a retirant .
2.07 "Creditable Service" means service credited to a Member
under the Unclassified System as provided in Article 4.
2.08 "Accumulated Employee Contributions" means the required
contributions paid by any Member as provided in Section 6 . 02 or
credited to the Member pursuant to Section 6 . 01, together with
any interest allowed thereon under this Unclassified System until
such time as the Employee ' s service with the City is terminated
at the rate, compounded annually, as determined by the Board from
time to time.
2.09 "Earnings" means , base pay, including longevity pay,
for personal services rendered as an Employee, but excluding any
payment of overtime, shift differential or extra compensation
allowances such as uniform allowances.
2.10 "Final Average Monthly Earnings" means, one-twelfth of
the annual earnings of the Member during the last year of his
creditable service.
2.11 "Beneficiary" means the surviving person or persons
designated as such by a Member or Retirant in the last written
2
designation on file with the Board in accordance with Section
5 .07 (b) ; in the absence of such survivor or such designation, it
means the estate of the deceased Member or Retirant, as the case
may be.
2.12 "Regular Interest" means interest at the rate or rates
determined by the Board of Trustees as provided in Section
7 .06(d) .
2.13 "Actuarial Equivalent " means the equivalent when
computed at regular interest on the basis of the mortality tables
last adopted by the Board of Trustees.
2.14 "Retirant" means a person in receipt of retirement
allowance payments under the Unclassified System on the basis of
his service as an Employee.
2.15 "Retirement allowance?' means monthly payments under the
System to a Retirant during his lifetime; monthly payments shall
be due as of the first day of each calendar month and shall cease
after the payment as of the first day of the month in which the
Retirant ' s death occurs.
2.16 "Pensioner" means the dependent beneficiary of a Member
or Retirant in receipt of a pension under the Unclassified System
as the result of the death of said Member or Retirant.
2.17 "Pension " means the monthly amount payable to a
Pensioner under the Unclassified System; the pension shall be due
as of the first day of the calendar month next following the
death of the Member or Retirant and shall cease after the payment
due on the first day of the month in which the Pensioner ceases
to be entitled thereto according to the provisions of this
Ordinance.
2.18 "Physical Examiners" means the physicians provided for
in Section 7. 06( j ) .
2.19 "Predecessor system" means the Retirement System
governed by Ordinance Nos. 845 and 1901 as in effect at the time
of the adoption of this Ordinance.
2.20 "Finance Director" means the Finance Director of the
City of Miami Beach as appointed by the City Manager or such
3
person designated by the City Manager to perform the duties of
Finance Director .
ARTICLE 3 . Membership
3.01 Every eligible person who on April 1 , 1988 , is an
unclassified employee under the predecessor system shall have the
option to become on such date a participant under this
Unclassified System. All elections of options must take place
within ninety ( 90 ) days of April 1, 1988. The Board has the
authority to extend this period for no more than ninety ( 90 )
days . Any written designation of beneficiary or dependent
beneficiary in effect under the predecessor system on the
effective date of this Ordinance shall continue to be in effect
under this Unclassified System unless subsequently changed or
revoked by the Member or Retirant in writing in accordance with
the provisions of this Ordinance.
3.02 Any person , other than as provided in Section 3. 05
herein, who becomes an Employee or Elected Official , as herein
defined, on April 1, 1988, shall be a Member of the Unclassified
System as a condition of his employment or office as of the date
he becomes an Employee or Elected Official .
3.03 With the exception of persons eligible to decline
membership in the retirement plan pursuant to Section 3 . 05 of
this Ordinance , participation in this retirement plan is a
mandatory condition of employment for employees. An employee ' s
acceptance of employment with the city shall constitute
authorization for the city to pick up contributions from the
earnings of the employee, unless and until an election permitted
by Section 3 . 05 is made.
3.04 Any person , other than as provided in Section 3. 05
herein, in the employ of the City or who held elective office on
April 1 , 1988 , who became an Employee or elected official as
herein defined prior thereto but was not , as of such date , a
participant of the predecessor system established by Ordinance
Nos. 845 and 1901 because of exclusions of certain groups from
membership under the provisions of said Ordinances shall become a
4
•
Member of the Unclassified System on April 1, 1988 .
3.05 All individuals holding the position of either city
manager or city attorney, shall have the option to reject
membership in the plan provided herein and to be a member in a
retirement program with any public trust fund named by the
aforesaid individuals and approved by the city commission.
3.06 An employee shall cease to be a Member if he dies,
retires or ceases to be an employee for any other reason.
ARTICLE 4. Creditable Service
4.01 Each Employee who becomes a Member of the Unclassified
System on April 1 , 1988 , shall be credited under this
Unclassified System with creditable service to which he was
credited as of such date under the predecessor system. Each
Member of the Unclassified System shall be credited with service
rendered after the effective date of this Ordinance with respect
to which he has made contributions to the Unclassified System in
accordance with Section 6 . 02. The creditable service of a Member
shall not include service rendered prior to the date as of which
he elected to receive his Accumulated Employee Contributions in
accordance with Section 5.07(a) .
4.02 Each Member shall be entitled to acquire additional
creditable service for his period or periods of service with the
Armed Forces of the United States while on leave of absence
granted by the City for such military service by making the
contributions that he would have been required to pay on the
basis of his salary in effect at the beginning of such period if
he had not been on a leave of absence with interest at the rate
per annum, compounded annually, being allowed on contributions of
Members at the time such election is made, subject to such
conditions and limitations as are required by law or established
by the Board under rules uniformly applicable to all persons
similarly situated.
4.03 Any current Employee or current Elected Official whose
employment or election commenced on or after January 28, 1970 and
whose attainment of age 56 previously excluded him from
5
0
eligibility for membership in the system, may elect to acquire
additional creditable service in respect of the period of his
continuous service in the employ of the City for which he
previously was denied eligibility for membership in the System.
The election to acquire creditable service under this section
shall be limited to Employees or Elected Officials whose
employment or election commenced prior to April 1, 1988.
ARTICLE 5 . Benefits
5.01 Normal Service Retirement Allowance
(a) The normal retirement date of a person who became a
Member shall be the first day of the calendar month coincident
with or next following the fiftieth anniversary of his birth and
the date as of which he completes five years of creditable
service.
(b) The normal service retirement allowance payable upon
the retirement of a Member on or after his normal retirement date
shall be as follows: four per centum ( 4%) of his final average
monthly earnings multiplied by the number of his years of
creditable service, provided that such allowance shall not exceed
ninety percent ( 90%) of his final average monthly earnings.
5.02 Vested Retirement Allowance
(a) Any Member with less than five ( 5) years of service
whose service with the City is terminated voluntarily or
involuntarily shall be eligible for a refund of his accumulated
employee contributions plus the amount in Section 5 . 07(a) .
(b) Any Member with five ( 5) or more years of service and
whose service with the City is terminated prior to the date of
which he would first become eligible for retirement on a normal
service retirement allowance shall be eligible for a refund of
his accumulated employee contributions plus the amount in Section
5 .07 (a) ; or , the member may elect to not get the refund but
instead allow all of his contributions to remain in the
Unclassified System as a vested retirement allowance.
The vested retirement allowance shall be a deferred
allowance commencing on the earliest date as of which a member
6
r
with his years of creditable service would first be eligible for
retirement on a normal service retirement allowance and shall be
equal to the amount computed in accordance with this Article 5 as
a normal service retirement allowance on the basis of the
Member ' s final average monthly earnings and creditable service at
the time of his termination and his age as of the date on which
payment of the allowance commences.
5.03 Disability Retirement Allowance
(a) Upon the written application of a Member or of the City
Manager, a Member who has five ( 5) or more years of creditable
service may be retired by the Board on an ordinary disability
retirement allowance on the first day of a calendar month next
following the granting of such application; provided that the
Physical Examiners, after a medical examination of such Member ,
shall certify that he is totally incapacitated, mentally or
physically, for the further performance of duty, that such
incapacity is not the result of misconduct, service in the Armed
Forces, self-inflicted injury or disability sustained through
other employment, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent
and that such Member should be retired.
(b) Upon the written application of a Member or of the City
Manager , any Member who has been totally and permanently
incapacitated for the performance of his duties as the natural
and proximate result of an accident occurring while in the actual
performance of duty at some definite time and place, without
wilful negligence on his part, may be retired by the Board on a
service-connected disability retirement allowance, and not on an
ordinary disability retirement allowance, on the first day of a
calendar month next following the execution and granting of such
application; provided that the application is filed within three
( 3) years from the time of said accident, and that the Physical
Examiners , after a medical examination of the Member , shall
certify that he is totally incapacitated, mentally or physically,
for the further performance of duty, that such incapacity is not
the result of misconduct , service in the Armed Forces, self-
7
i
inflicted injury or disability sustained through other
employment, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent and
that such Member should be retired.
(c) The disability retirement allowance payable to a Member
retiring under the provisions of this Section 5.03 shall be an
amount computed as a normal service retirement allowance in
accordance with Section 5 . 01 on the basis of the Member ' s final
average monthly earnings and creditable service at the time of
disability retirement; provided that the amount of such allowance
shall be modified in accordance with the following Paragraphs (d)
and (e) if the Member has not reached his normal retirement date
at the time of his disability retirement.
(d) ( l)The allowance payable to a disability Retirant prior
to his normal retirement date shall not be less than twenty-five
per centum ( 25%) of his final average monthly earnings as defined
in Section 2.10 as of the date of his disability if an ordinary
disability retirement allowance is payable, and not less than
fifty per centum ( 50%) of such final average monthly earnings if
a service connected disability retirement allowance is payable.
Under this section, the period of disability retirement is deemed
to be active service and when the normal retirement date occurs,
the disability Retirant after his normal retirement date is based
on what the Retirant would have received if disability had not
occurred. The allowance payable to a disability Retirant after
his normal retirement date shall be an amount computed as a
normal service retirement allowance on the basis of the final
average monthly earnings and number of years of creditable
service he would have had if he had continued in service without
the disability interruption . The allowance payable to a
disability Retirant after his normal retirement date shall be
based on the maximum rate of pay in effect on his normal
retirement date for the classification at which he retired
provided that such allowance shall not exceed the amount payable
to him as his disability retirement allowance prior to his normal
retirement date nor be less than his normal retirement allowance
8
r
at his normal retirement date. "Normal retirement date" as used
in Section 5. 01 means the date determined in accordance with
Section 5.01(a) on the assumption that the period of disability
retirement is deemed to be active service as an Employee for this
purpose.
(e) Any amounts which may be paid or payable on account of
disability to the Member or his dependents under the Workers
Compensation Act, exclusive of fixed statutory payments for the
loss of any bodily member , shall be offset against and payable in
lieu of that part of his disability retirement allowance provided
under the Unclassified System contributions of the City on
account of the same disability, in such equitable manner as the
Board shall determine.
(f) 1. During the period of his retirement on a
disability retirement allowance prior to his normal retirement
date, the disability Retirant ' s annual earnings from employment
( including self-employment) prior to his normal retirement date
shall not exceed an amount which, when added to the disability
retirement allowance payments received by him, would result in a
combined earned income of more than one hundred twenty-five per
centum ( 125 % ) of the maximum current salary for the
classification from which he was retired if he is receiving a
service-connected disability retirement allowance, or one hundred
per centum ( 100%) of such maximum salary if he is receiving an
ordinary disability retirement allowance; otherwise payments of
the disability retirement allowance shall be withheld to the
extent that the combined earned income exceeds the maximum
permissible amount . The Member must agree at the time of his
disability retirement, before any benefits are paid to him under
the Unclassified System, to furnish annually to the Board, before
May 1 of each year , a copy of his Federal Income Tax return for
the prior year , and any other information which the Board may
require. When the disability Retirant ' s combined earned income
exceeds the maximum permissible amount determined on the basis of
the maximum salary as of January 1 of the prior year for the
9
r
classification from which he was retired, future payments of his
disability retirement allowance shall be withheld until the total
sum withheld equals the amount by which his combined earned
income for the prior year exceeded the maximum permissible
amount. Restrictions on earnings shall not be applicable after
the Retirant ' s normal retirement date.
2. The term "earned income" shall be defined by Section
32(c) ( 2) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, to mean wages,
salaries, tips, and other employee compensation, plus the amount
of the taxpayer ' s net earnings from self-employment for the
taxable year , within the meaning of Section 14 . 02 ( a) of the
Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
(g) Any Retirant who is receiving a disability retirement
allowance shall be subject, prior to his normal retirement date,
to re-examination by the Physical Examiners either upon request
of the Retirant, the Board or the City Manager , and the Physical
Examiners shall report their conclusions as to the continuance of
the disability. In the event that such disability shall not
continue to incapacitate the Retirant for service acceptable to
the City, in accordance with requirements of the Personnel
Department, the City Manager may require that such Retirant be
returned to active duty at work which is the same or of similar
nature to the work he performed prior to his disability, or
returned to other work within the limits of his mental or
physical capacities , at a rate of compensation not less than
seventy per centum ( 70%) of the pay to which he would have been
entitled at the time of his return to active service for the
grade of service occupied by the Retirant prior to his
incapacity. Upon any such return to active duty such Retirant
shall be restored to service as a Member , his disability
retirement allowance shall be terminated, he shall resume
contributing to the Unclassified System according to the
compensation thereafter payable to him, and the period during
which he was receiving his disability retirement allowance shall
be included in his creditable service for all purposes of the
10
•
System.
(h) If any Retirant in receipt of a disability retirement
allowance is found by the Physical Examiners, prior to his normal
retirement date, to be no longer incapacitated but is not
restored to service as a Member because of his own refusal to
accept employment offered to him in accordance with the foregoing
paragraph , his disability retirement allowance shall be
terminated, and the period during which he was receiving a
disability retirement allowance shall in no event be added to the
creditable service he had acquired prior to his disability.
5.04 Active Service Death Benefits
(a) Upon receipt of evidence, satisfactory to the Board, of
the death of a Member who has five ( 5 ) or more years of
creditable service, a monthly pension shall be paid to the
surviving spouse of the deceased Member , provided that said
spouse had been married to the Member for at least one ( 1 ) year
immediately prior to the date of his death . If there is no
surviving spouse entitled to such pension, the pension shall be
paid to the dependent child or children of the deceased Member,
divided in such manner as the Board in its discretion shall
determine, to continue until every such child dies or attains
twenty-one ( 21) years of age.
(b) The monthly pension payable to the person or persons
entitled thereto in accordance with the foregoing Paragraph (a)
shall be equal to one-half of the amount computed as a normal
service retirement allowance in accordance with Paragraph (b) of
Section 5.01 as though the date of the Member ' s death were his
normal retirement date , on the basis of the Member ' s final
average monthly earnings and creditable service at the time of
his death; provided that, if the pension is payable to a spouse
who is more than fifteen (15) years younger than the Member , the
pension shall be reduced to an amount which is the actuarial
equivalent of the pension payable to the spouse if said spouse
were exactly fifteen ( 15) years younger than the deceased Member .
In the event of the death of the spouse after pension payments
11
r
have commenced , a pension computed in accordance with the
foregoing sentence but prior to any reduction because of the
difference in the ages of the deceased Member and the surviving
spouse shall be paid to the dependent child or children of the
deceased Member under twenty-one ( 21) years of age, divided in
such manner as the Board in its discretion shall determine, until
every such child dies or attains twenty-one ( 21) years of age.
(c) Under no circumstances shall any surviving spouse of a
deceased Member or Retirant receive from the Unclassified System
more than one pension under either the provisions of this Section
5. 04 or the following Section 5.05 or because of the simultaneous
effect of both of these sections.
(d) Under no circumstances shall any surviving spouse of a
deceased Member or Retirant receive a pension from the
Unclassified System if the surviving spouse remarries .
5.05 Death Benefits after Retirement
(a) Upon receipt of evidence, satisfactory to the Board, of
the death of a Retirant, a monthly pension shall be payable to
the surviving spouse of the deceased Retirant, provided that the
spouse had been married to the Retirant on the date of his
retirement or termination of service, whichever was first, and
for at least one ( 1 ) year prior to such date; and further
provided , that if the Retirant had elected an option in
accordance with Section 5 . 06 which was in effect at the time of
his death, monthly benefits shall be continued after his death,
in lieu of benefits under this Section 5.05, in accordance with
the option.
(b) The monthly pension payable to the surviving spouse of
a deceased Retirant pursuant to the foregoing paragraph of this
Section 5 . 05 shall be equal to fifty per centum ( 50%) of the
retirement allowance which would have been payable to the
deceased Retirant if he had been alive at the time of the monthly
payment; provided that , if the surviving spouse is more than
fifteen ( 15 ) years younger than the deceased Retirant , such
monthly pension shall be reduced to an amount which is the
12
•
actuarial equivalent of such pension for a spouse exactly fifteen
( 15) years younger than the deceased Retirant.
(c) If any such deceased Retirant is not survived by a
spouse entitled to a pension in accordance with the foregoing
paragraphs of this Section 5. 05 or if the death of such a spouse
occurs after pension payments have commenced in accordance with
the foregoing paragraph, the pension which would otherwise have
been payable to a surviving spouse eligible therefor and not more
than fifteen (15) years younger than the deceased Retirant shall
be payable to the child or children of the said deceased
Retirant , if any , divided in equal shares, to continue until
every such child dies or attains twenty-one ( 21) years of age ;
provided that only children who were beneficiaries of the
Retirant on the date of his retirement or termination of service,
whichever was first, shall be eligible for a pension under this
paragraph.
(d) Anything in this Section 5 . 05 to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that an optional benefit had been
elected by a Retirant in accordance with Section 5 . 06 and such
election is in effect at the time of his death, monthly benefits,
if any, shall be payable after his death to the person designated
as the contingent annuitant in accordance with the optional
election and no benefits shall be payable as a result of the
death of the Retirant under this Section 5.05.
(e) Under no circumstances shall any surviving spouse of a
deceased Member or Retirant receive a pension from the
Unclassified System if the surviving spouse remarries.
5.06 Optional Benefits
(a) Subject to the applicable provisions of this Section
5 . 06, a Member or former Member may, by written notice received
by the Board prior to the date of commencement of his retirement
allowance, elect to convert his retirement allowance, provided
that said allowance is not a disability retirement allowance,
into an optional benefit which is the actuarial equivalent of his
retirement allowance, in accordance with one of the options named
13
below. If such notice is received by the Board not less than
thirty ( 30 ) days prior to the date of commencement of his
retirement allowance, the election of the optional benefit shall
become effective on the date his retirement allowance commences.
If such election is received by the Board at any later date it
shall become effective thirty ( 30 ) days after the date his
retirement allowance commences.
Option 1. A reduced retirement allowance payable during
the Member 's life, with the provision that after his death it
shall be paid during the life of , and to, the contingent
annuitant nominated by him by written designation duly
acknowledged and filed with the Board when he elected the option;
or
Option 2. A reduced retirement allowance payable during
the Member ' s life, with the provision that after his death an
allowance at two-thirds ( 2/3) the rate of his reduced allowance
shall be paid during the life of , and to , the contingent
annuitant nominated by him by written designation duly
acknowledged and filed with the Board when he elected the option.
A Member may designate as the contingent annuitant under an
option his spouse or a minor child or any other person who is
shown, on the basis of evidence satisfactory to the Board, to be
dependent upon or receiving substantial support from the Member,
provided, however, if the contingent annuitant is _a minor child,
the retirement allowance shall not be payable under the option
after the death of the Member after the minor child attains
twenty-one ( 21) years of age.
(b) If the person designated by the Member as a contingent
annuitant under an option is his spouse to whom he was married on
the date of his retirement or termination of service, whichever
was first, and for at least one (1) year prior to such date, the
monthly benefits payable under the option to the Member and the
surviving contingent annuitant shall be the actuarial equivalent
of the benefits which would have been payable without the
optional election as a retirement allowance to the Member after
14
i
his retirement and as a pension after his death to his surviving
spouse in accordance with Section 5.05; otherwise , the monthly
benefits payable under the option shall be the actuarial
equivalent of the retirement allowance payable only to the Member
after his retirement prior to any optional election.
(c) The election of an optional benefit may not be revoked
or changed by the Member but, if the Member or the contingent
annuitant designated under the option dies prior to the date the
election of the option becomes effective, the election shall
thereby be revoked.
5.07 Refund of Accumulated Contributions
(a) A Member may elect, upon ceasing to be an Employee for
any cause other than retirement or death, to receive in one sum
the Accumulated Employee Contributions and any interest
accumulated thereon credited to him plus an additional ten per
centum (10%) of the Accumulated Employee Contributions credited
to him multiplied by his years of services with the City, such
years not to exceed ten ( 10) . Upon acceptance of such payment,
all creditable service shall be cancelled , such creditable
service shall not be reinstated upon his becoming a Member again
at a subsequent date and he shall be considered a new Member as
of the date on which he again becomes a Member .
(b) Upon receipt of evidence, satisfactory to the Board, of
the death of a Member prior to the commencement of his retirement
allowance , with no surviving spouse or dependent children
entitled to receive a pension as provided in Section 5. 04 , the
amount of his Accumulated Employee Contributions at the time of
his death shall be payable in one sum to his designated
beneficiary if living, otherwise to such Member ' s estate. Upon
receipt of evidence, satisfactory to the Board, of the death of a
Retirant who is not survived by a spouse or dependent children
entitled to a pension in accordance with Section 5.05, provided
he has not elected an optional benefit that has become effective,
any excess of his Accumulated Employee Contributions at
retirement over the sum of the retirement allowance payments
15
•
received shall be paid in one sum to his designated beneficiary
if living, otherwise to such Member ' s estate. Upon receipt of
proof, satisfactory to the Board, of the death of the survivor of
a Retirant and the contingent annuitant under an option, if an
option had been elected and has become effective, any excess of
the Retirant ' s Accumulated Employee Contributions at the time of
his retirement over the sum of the benefit payments received
shall be paid to the Retirant ' s beneficiary if living, otherwise
to the estate of the survivor of such Retirant and contingent
annuitant . Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board ,
that no further benefits are payable as the result of the death
of a Member prior to the commencement of any retirement
allowance , the excess, if any , of the Accumulated Employee
Contributions at the time of his death over the pension payments
received by the Member ' s spouse and his dependent children shall
be paid in a single sum to the Member ' s designated beneficiary if
living , otherwise to his estate. Upon receipt of proof ,
satisfactory to the Board, that no further benefits are payable
as the result of the death of a Retirant , the excess of his
Accumulated Employee Contributions at retirement over benefit
payments received by the Retirant , his spouse and dependent
children shall be paid in one sum to the Retirant ' s designated
beneficiary if living, otherwise to his estate . A Member ' s
beneficiary for receipt of the single sum payments in accordance
with this Section 5 . 07 must have been designated by him in
writing and duly acknowledged. A Member may designate more than
one person as his beneficiary for this purpose provided that he
specifies the manner in which the payment is to be allocated, and
he may designate alternate beneficiaries with a specified order
of priorities for entitlement to single sum payments in the event
of death. A Member may change his beneficiary or beneficiaries
by similar written designation. A designation, revocation or
change of the contingent annuitant under an optional benefit may
be made only as provided in Section 5. 06.
5.08 Post Retirement Adjustments
16
•
(a) The benefits payable to Retirants and Pensioners on
April 1, 1988, and the benefits commencing in accordance with
this Ordinance on or after such date shall be continued without
change except as increased in accordance with this Section 5. 08 .
(b) "Improvement Factor" for the purpose of this Section
5.08 means an increase of one and one half per centum ( 1 1/2% )
per annum in retirement allowances or pensions for each year
commencing on October 1 following the completion of one full year
after the commencement date of the retirement allowance or, if
applicable to pensions payable as the result of the death of a
Member prior to his retirement , one full year after the
commencement date of the pension. The Improvement Factor shall
be compounded, and shall be applied to the retirement allowance
or pension payable as the result of the retirement, termination
or death of a Member, whichever is applicable.
(c) The Improvement Factor shall be applied automatically
as of each October 1 , with respect to retirement allowances
payable for more than one year as of such time.
(d) Upon the death of a Retirant , the pension payable
thereafter to his dependent beneficiary shall be based on the
retirement allowance payable as of the date of such death ,
including the benefit improvements granted in accordance with
this Section 5.08; however, on each October 1 subsequent to such
death the Improvement Factor shall be applied to the amount which
would have been payable as a pension prior to any post retirement
adjustment made in accordance with this Section 5 . 08 .
5.09 Return to Active Service
(a) If a former Member who is entitled to a vested
retirement allowance not yet payable returns to service with the
City as an Employee before such allowance has become payable,
he shall again become a Member, but benefits payable to him or on
his account with respect to his earnings and creditable service
after his return shall be based on the provisions applicable to a
Member whose employment with the City commences on the date of
his return to service. He shall contribute to the Unclassified
17
r
System at the rate required , pursuant to Section 6 . 02 , of
Employees who become Members for the first time . Creditable
service rendered before and after his return to service shall be
considered for the purpose of determining his allowance ;
provided , in the event of his subsequent termination of
employment for reasons other than death or retirement , only
creditable service rendered after his return to service shall be
considered for the purpose of determining his entitlement to a
vested retirement allowance with respect to service rendered
after his return. Upon subsequent retirement , his retirement
allowance shall be equal to the sum of the amounts computed on
the basis of the final average monthly earnings and creditable
service with respect to each period of continuous service as an
Employee; provided that the retirement allowance shall not exceed
the retirement allowance which would have been payable if his
creditable service had been one period of continuous service.
(b) Should a Retirant , other than a disability Retirant
restored to service in accordance with Section 5 . 03 ( g ) , be
employed by the City as an Employee, his retirement allowance
shall cease, he shall again become a Member of the Unclassified
System, but benefits payable to him or his account with respect
to his earnings and creditable service after his return shall be
based on the provisions applicable to a Member whose employment
with the city commences on the date of his return to service. He
shall contribute at the rate required, pursuant to Section 6.02,
of Employees who become Members for the first time. An amount
equal to the excess , if any , of his Accumulated Employee
Contributions at the time of his retirement over the amount of
retirement allowance payments he received shall be credited to
him as Accumulated Employee Contributions as of the date he
became a Member . Creditable service rendered before and after
his return to service shall be considered for the purpose of
determining his entitlement to a normal service retirement
allowance upon subsequent retirement. Upon subsequent retirement,
his retirement allowance shall be equal to the sum of the
18
•
retirement allowance payable to him during his previous
retirement, adjusted actuarially, if he returned to service prior
to his normal retirement date, for the period from the date of
his return to service to the date of his subsequent retirement or
normal retirement date, whichever occurs first, plus the amount
computed as a retirement allowance on the basis of his final
average monthly earnings and creditable service for the period
after his last return; provided that the total retirement
allowance shall not exceed the retirement allowance which would
have been payable if all years of his creditable service had been
a continuous period. If an option had been elected and in effect
at the time of his return to service, the option shall continue
to be in effect after his return to service, with respect to the
retirement allowance payable prior to his return.
(c) Should a Pensioner be employed by the City in any
capacity for which regular compensation is paid , the Pension
shall cease to be paid to said Pensioner for the period of such
employment, and such person shall be subject to the provisions of
this Ordinance as any other person employed by the City. Upon
termination of such employment, such person shall elect to
receive either the benefit to which he was previously entitled as
a Pensioner if still eligible therefor or the benefit, if any, to
which he is otherwise entitled on the basis of his membership in
the Unclassified System.
(d) The return of a disability Retirant to employment with
the City prior to his normal retirement date in accordance with
Section 5. 03 (g) shall be governed by said Section 5.03 (g) .
Return of such a person to employment with the City after his
normal retirement date, as defined in Section 5.03, or after the
date as of which he ceased to be entitled to a disability
retirement allowance pursuant to Section 5 . 03 ( h) shall be
governed by the provisions of Paragraph ( a ) or ( b) of this
Section 5.09, whichever is applicable at the time of such return.
ARTICLE 6 . Financing
19
i
6.01 Assets of Predecessor System
The amount credited to each participant of the predecessor
system as "Accumulated Employee Normal Contributions" as of the
effective date of this Ordinance shall be credited to him under
this Unclassified System on such date as Accumulated Employee
Contributions. Such amounts credited shall be transferred to
this Unclassified System; likewise, appropriate portions of the
City ' s contributions under the predecessor system shall be
transferred to this Unclassified System.
6.02 Contributions by Members
Each Member after April 1 , 1988, shall contribute to the
Unclassified System ten per centum ( 10% ) of his earnings
throughout his service as an Employee.
6.03 Contributions by City
(a) It is the intent of this Ordinance that the City
contribute to the Unclassified System each year the amounts
actuarially determined to be required , in addition to
contributions by Members , to cover the cost of the benefits
provided by the Unclassified System. In addition, administrative
expenses shall be paid by the City.
(b) An Actuarial investigation of the Unclassified System
shall be made annually to determine the contribution payable by
the City. On the basis of regular interest and of such mortality
and service tables as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees,
the actuary shall determine, immediately after making each
valuation, the percentage of the compensation of all Members
required, in addition to contributions payable by such Members,
as contributions payable by the City to provide the benefits of
the Unclassified System currently accruing to such Members; the
rate per centum so determined shall be known as the "normal
contribution rate" and the contributions based on this rate shall
be known as "normal contributions" . In addition , the actuary
shall determine the part of the liabilities for benefits under
the Unclassified System not covered by assets in hand, future
20
•
contributions of Members and future normal contributions of the
City and this amount shall be known as the "unfunded accrued
liability" ; the percentage of compensation of Members determined
to be payable on account of such liability shall be known as the
"accrued liability contributions rate" . The actuary shall
recommend on the basis of each valuation a normal contribution
rate and an accrued liability contribution rate.
(c) It is the intention of this Ordinance that
contributions be set at such levels, as recommended by the
actuary designated by the Board, as to provide for a systematic
amortization of any unfunded accrued liability over a period of
thirty ( 30 ) years from the date as of which such liability is
incurred.
ARTICLE 7. Board of Trustees
7.01 The Unclassified System created by this Ordinance shall
be construed as a trust and shall be administered by a Board of
Trustees . The Board shall have the general responsibility for
the proper operation and management of the Unclassified System
and for making effective the provisions of this Ordinance.
7.02 The Board shall consist of seven (7) persons, each of
whom shall be designated as a trustee. The members of the Board
shall be as follows:
(a) One ( 1 ) City Commissioner appointed by the City
Commission.
(b) Six ( 6) appointed by the City Manager .
(c) A quorum shall consist of three ( 3) persons.
(d) Each trustee shall serve on the Board for a term of two
years.
7.03 The member of the City Commission serving on the Board
of Trustees shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission and
only during his incumbency in office. The first Board of
Trustees under this Ordinance shall be appointed within thirty
( 30) days of the effective date of the Ordinance. If a vacancy
occurs prior to the expiration of the term, the vacancy shall be
filled for the unexpired part of term in the same manner as it
21
r
was previously filled.
7.04 Each trustee shall take an oath of office within ten
(10) days after his appointment. A trustee shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for any expenses incurred as
the result of service as a trustee.
7.05 The Board shall elect from its membership a Chairman
and a Secretary. Each trustee shall be entitled to one ( 1) vote.
7.06 The Board shall have, in addition to all other powers
and duties arising out of this Ordinance not otherwise
specifically reserved or delegated to others, the following
specific powers and duties:
(a) Hold regular meetings at least quarterly in each year
and special meetings at such time as a majority of the Board or
the Chairman may deem necessary.
(b) Establish rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Ordinance, and formulate policy for the proper
administration of the Unclassified System and the transaction of
its business.
(c) Consider and pass on all applications for retirement
and other benefits , authorize the granting of all retirement
allowances , pensions and lump sum settlements, and suspend any
payment or payments, all in accordance with the provisions of
this Ordinance.
(d) Adopt from time to time service and mortality tables
and the rate of regular interest for use in actuarial
calculations in connection with the Unclassified System.
(e) Submit to the City Manager on or before July 1 of each
year an estimate of the amount of appropriation required for the
purpose of the Unclassified System for the following fiscal year .
( f) Recommend to the City Commission the employment of such •
actuarial, legal or investment counsel or specialized technical
assistance as may be required for the efficient operation of the
Unclassified System; and prepare and submit to the City Manager ,
prior to the beginning of each fiscal year , a budget of the
22
•
operating expenses for each year .
(g) Maintain accounts and records showing the fiscal
transactions of the Unclassified System and keep in convenient
form such data as may be necessary for the actuarial valuations
of the Unclassified System; require from each person covered
under the Unclassified System such information as shall be
necessary for the proper operation of the Unclassified System;
require the maintenance of adequate accounting records which
shall at all times reflect the financial condition of the
Unclassified System.
(h) Provide for the receipt of all payments made to the
Unclassified System and records thereof , and cause them to be
deposited immediately with the Finance Director of the City.
( i ) Keep a permanent record of all proceedings of the Board
which shall be available for examination by any Member, Retirant
or Pensioner, or by any Officer of the City.
( j ) Designate for specified periods, or as occasion may
require, three ( 3) physicians who are not eligible for membership
in the Unclassified System, as Physical Examiners; such Physical
Examiners shall arrange for, and conduct, all physical and mental
examinations required under this Ordinance, shall investigate all
essential statements and certificates in connection with
applications for disability retirement , and shall report in
writing to the Board their conclusions and recommendations upon
all matters referred to them.
(k) Be the legal custodian of all cash and securities of
the Unclassified System, invest and reinvest all cash not
required to meet current disbursements in securities; and subject
to the limitations of this Ordinance and particularly Section
8 . 01 below, the Board shall have full power to hold, purchase,
sell, assign, transfer and dispose of any of the securities and
investments as well as the proceeds of such investments.
(1) Provide for certification on its behalf of all warrants
issued in accordance with actions of the Board authorizing
payments for benefits , expenses and investments out of funds
23
i
belonging to the Unclassified System, and provide for
certification on its behalf of all amounts required by the System
to be levied as taxes by the City.
(m) Cause a general investigation to be made by a
Consulting Actuary annually and cause recommendations to be
furnished as a result of such investigation as to the actuarial
tables and rates of contributions to be used.
(n) Cause an audit of the affairs of the Unclassified
System to be made annually in conjunction with the annual audit
of the City ' s financial affairs.
(o) Accept any gift , grant or bequest of any money or
securities under the terms designated by the grantor, or, if no
special purpose or allocation is specified, for credit to the
funds of the Unclassified Systen.
(p) Make available to Members, Retirants and Pensioners a
financial statement including a summary of the report of the
Certified Public Accountant, and issue to each Member, as soon as
practicable following the close of each fiscal year , an
individual statement showing the Accumulated Employee
Contributions standing to his credit.
ARTICLE 8 . Investments
8.01 The assets of the Unclassified System, in excess of the
amount required to meet current operations or pension and
retirement payments , shall be invested in accordance with the
following paragraph.
The trustees shall , in acquiring, investing, reinvesting,
exchanging, retaining, selling and managing property for the
benefit of the Unclassified System, exercise the judgment and
care under the circumstances then prevailing, which men 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.
Within the limitations of the foregoing standard, a trustee is
authorized to acquire and retain every kind of property, real ,
24
r
personal or mixed, and every kind of investment, specifically
including, but not by way of limitation, bonds, debentures and
other corporate obligations, and stocks, preferred or common,
which men of prudence, discretion and intelligence acquire or
retain for their own account and, within the limitations of the
foregoing standard, a trustee may retain property properly
acquired, without limitation as to time and without regard to its
suitability for original purchase.
8.02 All investments shall be clearly marked to indicate
that they are a part of the assets of the Unclassified System,
and to the extent possible they shall be so registered.
8.03 Except as otherwise herein provided, no trustee or
employee of the Board shall have any direct interest in the
income, gains, or profits of any investments made by the Board,
nor shall any such person receive any pay or emolument for
services in connection with any investment. Proof that any such
person violated any of these restrictions shall make such person
guilty of a misdemeanor or felony, as the case may be, and such
person shall be punishable therefor as provided by law.
ARTICLE 9 . Administration
9.01 Finance Director
The Finance Director shall have responsibility for the
administration of the Unclassified System. As such, he will have
responsibilities which shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, the duties specified in this Section 9.01.
(a) The Finance Director shall establish and maintain
records on all persons covered under the Unclassified System.
(b) The Finance Director shall verify the amounts entered
by the Payroll Department as deductions for contributions by
Employees to the Unclassified System and shall certify all
payrolls on which such deductions are entered. •
(c) The Finance Director shall receive applications for
retirement and other benefits, compute retirement allowances ,
pension and lump sum settlements, compute and credit interest to
individual accounts and make such analyses , computations and
25
•
other determinations and records as the Board may deem necessary
for the efficient operation of the Unclassified System.
(d) It shall be the duty of the Finance Director to notify
the Board of any new Members, withdrawal of Members, applications
for retirement and lump sum payments, and such other personnel
information as the Board may require.
(e) The Finance Director of the City shall be the custodian
of the assets of the Unclassified System and shall furnish bond
or surety thereforeacceptable to the Board. He shall deposit all
cash on hand in regularly designated depositories of the City and
shall require surety or collateral therefor as is required by the
Charter or Ordinances of the City for other funds of the City ,
and shall hold all investments under the joint custody of himself
and the Board.
( f) The Finance Director shall maintain necessary records
to show receipts by payroll deductions , City contributions ,
donations and investment returns, and to show disbursements for
retirement allowances, pensions and lump sum settlements . He
shall also keep such other financial records of the monies and
investments of the Unclassified System as the Board deems
necessary.
(g) All payments from the funds of the Unclassified System
shall be made by the Chief Accountant only upon vouchers signed
by the Finance Director . A duly attested copy of a resolution of
the Board bearing on its face the specimen signature of the Chief
Accountant shall be filed as authority for making payments upon
such vouchers. No voucher shall be drawn unless it shall have
been previously authorized by resolution of the Board, except
that the Board may, by resolution authorize the Finance Director
to issue vouchers for refunds of Accumulated Employee
Contributions in accordance with Section 5 . 07 and for minor
adjustments in contributions by Employees.
(h) For the purpose of meeting current disbursements, cash
equal in amount, as nearly as practicable, to the regular demands
for the ensuing month, shall be kept available in deposit .
26
r
9.03 City Attorney
(a) The City Attorney shall serve as legal adviser of the
Board when requested to do so, and his services on behalf of the
Board shall not be compensated additionally.
9.04 Legal Counsel
(a) The Board shall be vested with the authority to retain
private legal counsel for representation thereof.
(b) Counsel retained hereunder shall be subject to the
approval of the City Commission.
(c) Private Counsel shall provide legal services to the
Board of Trustees as requested by the Board.
ARTICLE 10. General
10.01 The assets of the Unclassified System shall be invested
as one fund, and no particular person, or group of persons, shall
have any right in, or to, any specific security or property, or
in or to any item of cash, other than an undivided interest in
the whole, as specified in the provisions of this Ordinance.
All the funds of the Unclassified System shall be held in
trust for use in providing the benefits of the Unclassified
System and paying its expenses not paid directly by the City ;
provided that no part of the corpus or income of the funds shall
be used for , or diverted to, purposes other than for the
exclusive benefit of members or their beneficiaries under the
Unclassified System prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities
for benefits with respect to them or for the administrative
expenses of the Unclassified System. In case of termination of
the Unclassified System, or in the event of the discontinuance of
contributions thereunder having the effect of such termination ,
the rights of all members of the Unclassified System to benefits
accrued to the date of such termination or discontinuance, to the
extent then funded, shall be nonforfeitable.
10.02 All retirement allowances, pensions, and other benefits
payable under the provisions of this Ordinance , and all
accumulated credits of Employees in the Unclassified System shall
not be assignable.
27
0
10.03 Any person who shall knowingly make any false
statement , or shall falsify, or permit to be falsified, any
record or records of the Unclassified System in any attempt to
defraud the Unclassified System shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall be punishable therefor, upon conviction, by a fine of
not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1, 000.00) or imprisonment
for not more than ninety (90) days, or both, in the discretion of
the Court .
10.04 No provisions of any ordinance, which provides wholly
or partly, at the expense of the City, for retirement allowances,
pensions , or other benefits for employees of the City, their
widows or other dependents, shall apply to persons covered by the
Unclassified System established by this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. REPEALER
All ordinances or parts in conflict herewith be and the same are
hereby repealed.
SECTION 3 SEVERABILITY
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent
jurisdiction , then said holding shall in no way affect the
validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall take effect ten ( 10 ) da - after its
adoption, on March 12 , 1988.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 2nd d of M-r, h , 1988.
OrVICE rrrYOR
ATTEST:
,-4Walfrj
City Clerk
1st Reading - February 17, 1988
2nd Reading - March 2, 1988
Formm;d1.1,4,
Approved:
Legal Department
Date:
TDL/rlw
2/25/88
sections corrected 4/12/88 28
c
w
M 8 CI
" o
1:1
0o
00 v
Z O A
H •
Cel
C/ ect
CAc14 Ia o qj o ott
U LY, W o