10-22-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 22, 2014 LITTLE CANADA FIRE DEPT. CONTRACT The City Administrator reported that he and Council Members Keis and McGraw have been meeting with the Fire Department on the issue of fire relief benefits. He reported that an acceptable funding program for relief benefits has been agreed upon that provides for on-going City support as well as a methodology of out benefit increases will be granted. The Administrator reviewed some of the parameters agreed upon for determining increases which include the use of the end of the previous year's investment performance for determining benefit level in a current year, maintaining a 110% funding level after the proposed benefit increase, and a voluntary City contribution of $31,000. The City had a voluntary contribution level of $15,000. The Administrator noted that the funding program will be in place for five years beginning in 2015, although the $31,000 City contribution will begin with 2014 given that was the amount included in the 2014 Budget. The Administrator felt that the funding plan provided the City with some protection from a required contribution over $31,000 given the requirement that the benefit level must be 110% funded. The Administrator noted that the 2014 Fire Department contract is now in final form, except for a correction in the term of the contract eliminating the reference to number of days. Blesener asked if State Aid dollars received by the Fire Department could be put to any use that the Department determines necessary. The City Administrator reported that the Fire Department is required to put State Aid dollars to fire relief. McGraw thanked the City Administrator for the great job he did in coming up with the final plan that was accepted by the Fire Department. He agreed that the plan protects the City as much as possible, and provided clarity in how fire relief benefits are funded and can be increased. The Administrator noted that the objectives of the Fire Department and the City were the same. Those objectives were to provide for on-going benefit increases as well as stability in levies for the City. Keis also thanked the Fire Department for working with the City and felt the outcome was a reasonable one. Keis introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2014-10-201— APPROVING THE 2014 CONTRACT WITH THE LITTLE CANADA FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE TERM JANUARY 1, 2014 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2014 WITH INCLUDES A FUNDING PLAN FOR FIRE RELIEF BENEFITS AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY 7