HomeMy WebLinkAbout#10 FD PERA ResolutionMAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
DATE: July 5, 2016
CONSENT
ITEM #: 10
MOTION Resolution 2016-56
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Julie Johnson, City Clerk
REVIEWED BY: Cathy Bendel, Finance Director
AGENDA ITEM: Job Classification for PERA purposes; Part-time Fire Department Administrative
Assistant
____________________________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND:
State statute 353.64 permits governments to allow non full-time employees to participate in the
Police and Fire PERA defined benefit Plan, provided the fire service position regularly engages
the employee in the hazards of fire-fighting as an employee of a designated fire department.
In 2013 when the part-time Fire Department Administrative Assistant position was proposed and
approved, the recommendation from PERA was that this position should be eligible to participate
in the Police and Fire PERA defined benefit Plan. This was based on the fact that this position
was filled by a fire-fighter who can be called to respond to a fire anytime, in addition to
performing many firefighter specific functions as listed in the job description.
As a result, the part-time Fire Department Admin was set up as eligible to participate in the Fire-
fighter PERA Plan.
Anytime a non-full-time employee is added to the Police and Fire PERA benefit plan, PERA
requires that a resolution must be passed by the City Council and provided to them to initialize
the PERA account for the employee.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL:
Should the City make a declaration and approve a resolution which allows for the employee in this part-
time Fire Department Administrative position to be eligible to participate in the Police and Fire PERA
Benefit plan (EE = 10.8%, ER = 16.2%) rather than the Basic PERA benefit Plan (EE = 6.5%, ER
= 7.5%).
PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS:
Staff recommends that this part-time fire department position continue to be eligible to participate in the
Police and Fire PERA Benefit plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: None – position was budgeted to be participating in the Police and Fire PERA
benefit Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
“Move to approve Resolution 2016-56 declaring that the part-time Fire Department Administrative
Assistant, Nick Witter, be eligible to participate in the Police and Fire PERA Benefit Plan effective as
of 4/20/16.”
477630v1 AMB LA515-1
CITY OF LAKE ELMO
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2016-56
FIREFIGHTER DECLARATION
WHEREAS, the policy of the State of Minnesota as declared in Minnesota Statutes
353.63 is to give special consideration to employees who perform hazardous work and devote
their time and skills to protecting the property and personal safety of others; and
WHEREAS Minnesota Statutes Section 353.64 permits governmental subdivisions to
request coverage in the Public Employees Police and Fire plan for a non -full-time fire fighter
provided the fire service position regularly engages the employee in the hazards of fire fighting
as an employee of a designated fire department.
BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of City of Lake Elmo hereby declares that the
position of Part Time Fire Assistant currently held by Nick Witter is, for primary services
provided, that of a firefighter engaged in the hazards of fire fighting; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this governing body hereby requests that the named
employee be accepted as a member of the Public Employees Police and Fire Plan effective the
date of this employee’s initial Police and Fire Plan salary deduction by the governmental
subdivision
Mike Pearson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Julie Johnson, City Clerk