§ 2-210. Merger with county fire service.

Pursuant to an interlocal agreement with the county, the city fire department merged with the county fire service on June 1, 2006. Pursuant to that agreement and notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the following transitional rules shall apply to firefighters who have elected to remain members of this system subsequent to the merger.

(1)

In the event a firefighter has opted to remain in the system, the firefighter shall be required to initially contribute one-half percent of his or her salary to the system and shall in the future contribute at least one-half percent of his or her salary to the system as provided herein. The county agrees to pay to the system the amount necessary to maintain the actuarial soundness of the system with respect to the firefighters that have opted to remain in the system as follows. In the current fiscal year, for example, the county shall pay the other nine and one-tenths percent of the firefighter's contribution and the five and one-half percent representing the city's required contribution. The county shall pay any increases in these amounts in the future, so long as the total percentage of the county's contribution does not exceed the percentage that the county pays into the county retirement program for its employees, as required by the state actuary, (hereinafter the "FRS rate"). As the current FRS rate is eighteen and seven-tenths percent, the firefighter contribution (less the minimum required employee contribution of one-half percent) and the entire city contribution for the firefighters shall be paid in full by the county as of June 1, 2006. However, in the event the sum of firefighter's contribution (less the minimum required employee contribution of one-half percent) plus the city's contribution ever exceeds the FRS rate, the firefighters shall be responsible to pay the difference up to a total contribution by the firefighters (including the minimum required employee contribution of one-half percent) of nine and six tenths percent. Any contribution required to be paid by the firefighters exceeding nine and six tenths percent shall be paid by the county; that is, a firefighter shall never be required to contribute more to the system than nine and six tenths percent.

(2)

The required contribution shall be transferred by the county to the city by wire on the same day payroll is paid. The city agrees to transfer to the system by wire or otherwise deposit the funds received from the county on the same day it is received from the county.

(3)

The board of trustees shall remain responsible for administration of the system and the city shall continue to have the authority to make plan amendments and improvements. The system shall be responsible to make pension benefits payable to all current and future retirees from the system, including firefighters who have opted to remain in the system.

(4)

Current and future participants in the deferred retirement option plan ("DROP") in the system who opt to remain in the system shall, upon terminating DROP participation be allowed to continue employment with the county and shall become members of the county retirement program in the same manner as new county employees.

(5)

Any firefighter who elects to remain in the system may continue membership in the system until retirement and upon retirement from the system shall be allowed to continue employment with the county and shall become a member of the county retirement program in the same manner as a new county employee.

(6)

In the event a firefighter has opted to join the county retirement program and has less than six years in the system, the firefighter shall receive a refund of his accumulated contributions from the system upon completion of the necessary forms.

(7)

In the event a firefighter has opted to join the county retirement program and has six or more years, but less than twenty years in the system, the firefighter may either receive a refund of his accumulated contributions from the system or leave his accumulated contributions in the system and be considered a terminated, vested person under the system.

(8)

A firefighter with 20 years or more in the system may continue in the system as provided herein or may retire from the system and begin drawing a pension from the system. If the firefighter has opted to retire from the system, the firefighter will then be eligible to join the county retirement system in the same manner as all other new county employees.

(Ord. No. 923, § 1, 9-5-2006)