Number
050475
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
THE CHAIR
Title
A substitute charter ordinance relating to retirement benefits for certain city employes.
Sections
36-02-12-a am
36-02-20 am
36-05-3-c-1-a am
Analysis
This charter ordinance incorporates a number of retirement benefits for city employes represented by: Local 215, Fire Fighters Association:
A) The first $1,000 of EMT II pay for applicable firefighters is included in the final average salary for pension purposes for firefighters retiring in 2006; previously EMT II pay was not included for pension purposes.
B) Effective in 2004 certain firefighters are first entitled to training standards pay, and effective for firefighters retiring on and after January 1, 2004, the first $400 of training standards pay shall be included in the final average salary for pension purposes.
This charter ordinance also provides that a firefighter becoming a member of the retirement system after the effective date of this charter ordinance and who applies for or is granted a duty disability retirement allowance based on a mental injury, that the medical council rather than the medical panel is the body which makes recommendations to the annuity and pension board on such matters (the medical council consists of 3 physicians
selected by the annuity and pension board; the medical panel has 3 physicians consisting of one member selected by the city, one by the bargaining agent for affected policemen, and the third by the other 2 physicians).
Body
The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:
Part 1. Section 36-02-12-a of the city charter is amended to read:
36-02. Definitions.
12. EARNABLE COMPENSATION shall mean: a. the annual regular base salary that would be payable to a member if he or she worked the full normal working time for his or her position, provided, however, that where service is credited during periods of absences as provided in s. 36-04-1-b, the employe shall be considered to have an earnable compensation during such periods of absence equivalent to his or her earnable compensation as of his or her last month of employment prior to the beginning of such absences. In cases where compensation includes maintenance, the board shall fix the value of that part of the compensation not payable in money. Policemen, excluding sergeant of police, detective lieutenant and ranks above same, retiring on a service retirement allowance on or after January 1, 1983, shall have longevity in rank pay, if any, payable at the close of the calendar year immediately preceding their retirement included as earnable compensation, except that policemen excluding sergeant of police, detective lieutenant and ranks above same, retiring on a service retirement allowance on or after January 1, 1998, who would have accrued 20 years of creditable service if they had remained in active service to the end of the calendar year in which they retire, shall have longevity in rank pay, if any, that would have been payable at the close of the calendar year of their retirement had they not retired included as earnable compensation, policemen of the rank of police sergeant and above (excluding the rank of commander and above) retiring on a service retirement allowance prior to January 1, 2000 shall have variable shift assignment pay, if any, to a maximum of $1,410 per calendar year for police sergeant, administrative police sergeant, police sergeant (garage) and police identification supervisor, and $1,400 per calendar year for all others payable for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which they retire included as earnable compensation except that such other policemen who retire during calendar year 1985 shall have variable shift assignment pay, if any, payable for calendar year 1985 included as earnable compensation. Policemen of the rank of police sergeant and above (excluding policemen of the rank of police commander and above) retiring on a service retirement on or after January 1, 2000 shall have variable shift assignment pay, if any, to a maximum of $1,060 per calendar year for the ranks of police sergeant, police sergeant (garage) and police identification supervisor and $1,050 per calendar year for all others payable for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which they retire included as earnable compensation. Policemen of the rank of police sergeant or administrative police sergeant retiring on a service retirement on or after January 1, 2003 shall have variable shift assignment pay, if any, to maximum of $1,360 per calendar year included in the calculation of final average salary for computing an employe's normal service retirement allowance. Policemen of the rank of police commander or above retiring on a service retirement allowance prior to January 1, 2001 shall have variable shift assignment pay, if any, to a maximum of $1,400 per calendar year for the year immediately prior to the calendar year in which they retire included as earnable compensation and policemen of the rank of police commander or above retiring on a service retirement on or after January 1, 2001 shall have variable shift assignment pay, if any, to a maximum of $1,500 per calendar year for the year immediately prior to the calendar year in which they retire included as earnable compensation. Firemen retiring on a service retirement allowance on or after January 1, 1992, shall have up to a maximum of $550 in special emergency medical technician pay, if any, payable at the close of the calendar year immediately preceding their retirement included as earnable compensation. Firemen retiring on a service retirement allowance on or after January 1, 2000, shall have longevity pay, payable at the close of the calendar year immediately preceding their retirement included as earnable compensation. >>Firemen represented by Local 215 IAFF and retiring on a service retirement allowance in 2004 shall have training standards pay, if any, up to a maximum of $400, that would have been payable at the close of calendar year 2004 had they not retired, included as earnable compensation. Firemen represented by Local 215 IAFF and retiring on a service retirement allowance on or after January 1, 2005 shall have training standards pay, if any, up to a maximum of $400 received for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year of their retirement, included as earnable compensation. Firemen represented by Local 215 IAFF and retiring on a service retirement allowance on or after January 1, 2006 shall have EMT II premium pay, if any, up to a maximum of $1000 received for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year of their retirement, included as earnable compensation.<< Members who are employes of the school board represented by Local 950, Operating Engineers International Union, who retire on or after March 4, 1990, shall have site differential pay if received on or after March 4, 1990, included as earnable compensation. Earnable compensation for any one year of creditable service shall not exceed $150,000. If for any calendar year after 1994 the excess of $150,000 increased by the cost of living adjustment prescribed by section 415(d), International Revenue Code, on a base period of the last quarter of calendar year 1993 exceeds $150,000 by an amount in excess of $10,000, the maximum for any subsequent calendar year shall be increased by the amount of the excess rounded to the next lowest multiple of $10,000.
Part 2. Section 36-02-20 of the city charter is amended to read:
20. MEDICAL PANEL as it relates to policemen and firemen shall mean a panel of physicians consisting of one member to be selected by designation of the city; one member to be selected by the certified bargaining agent for the affected policeman or fireman; and the 3rd member to be selected by the other 2 members. In the case of a policeman represented by the Milwaukee Police Association who becomes a member of the retirement system after June 28, 2005 >>, or a fireman represented by Local 215, IAFF, who becomes a member of the retirement system after the effective date of this charter ordinance December 13, 2005<< and who applies for, or is granted, a duty disability retirement allowance based on a mental injury, "medical panel" shall mean the medical council. In the case of a policeman or fireman who is not represented by a certified bargaining agent, "medical panel" shall mean the medical council. All decisions of the medical panel shall be made by a majority vote.
Part 3. Section 36-05-3-c-1-a of the city charter is amended to read:
36-05. Benefits.
3. DUTY DISABILITY RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE.
c. Firemen and Policemen Duty Disability.
c-1. Medical Panel.
c-1-a. Recommendations. Except for policemen represented by the Milwaukee Police Association who become members after June 28, 2005, >>and firemen represented by Local 215, IAFF, who become members after the effective date of this charter ordinance December 13, 2005<< and apply for duty disability retirement allowance based on a mental injury, such member shall be examined by a medical panel and such medical panel shall make the examination, determination and certification required under this act in accordance with the form prescribed by the board. If the panel recommends that such person is entitled to duty disability retirement allowance provided for in this section, the board shall thereupon grant such allowance. For policemen represented by the Milwaukee Police Association who become members of the retirement system after June 28, 2005, >>and firemen represented by Local 215, IAFF, who become members of the retirement system after the effective date of this charter ordinance December 13, 2005<< and apply for a duty disability retirement allowance based on a mental injury, the application shall be referred to the medical council established under s. 36-15-12, in lieu of the medical panel, which medical council shall make the determination and certification required under this act. In any reexamination authorized by this act of such retired beneficiary, the beneficiary shall be referred to the medical council, in lieu of the medical panel, for reexamination and such medical council shall make the determination and certification required under this act. Except as otherwise provided in subd. 3-f, any fireman or policeman who shall become disabled as the direct result of injury incurred in the performance of one or more specific acts of duty shall have a right to receive duty disability benefit during the period of such disability of an amount equal to 75% of the current annual salary for such position which he held at the time of such injury. Except as otherwise provided in subd. 3-f, the surviving spouse of such member after his or her death but only during the period prior to remarriage shall receive 70% of the amount of the duty disability which the member received at the time of his or her death, and such percentage shall thereafter be based upon the salary of the position of such member at the time of his or her death. Prior to such person attaining the minimum service retirement age, periodic medical examinations of such person shall be made at least once each year but the heads of the respective departments may direct more frequent examinations. Effective January 1, 2000, the annual escalator payable under sub. 1-h-5 shall be extended to the allowance received by the surviving spouse of a retired fireman or policeman who retired on a duty disability retirement allowance under this subpar. prior to January 1, 1993 and died while receiving a duty disability retirement allowance if the member (or the surviving spouse of the member is deceased) participates in the combined fund. Effective January 1,2000, the annual escalator payable under sub. 1-h-6 shall be extended to the allowance received by the surviving spouse of a retired fireman or policeman who retired on a duty disability allowance under this subpar. on or after January 1, 1993 and dies while receiving a duty disability retirement allowance if the member (or the surviving spouse of the member is deceased) participates in the combined fund. The annual escalator shall be payable to the surviving spouse at the same times and in the same percentages as the increases the member would have received had the member retired on a service retirement allowance on the date of his or her death.
Part 4. This is a charter ordinance and shall take effect 60 days after its passage and publication, unless within such 60 days a referendum petition is filed as provided in s. 66.0101(5), Wis. Stats., in which event this ordinance shall not take effect until submitted to a referendum and approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon.
LRB
APPROVED AS TO FORM
____________________________
Legislative Reference Bureau
Date: ______________________
Attorney
IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE ORDINANCE
IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE
____________________________
Office of the City Attorney
Date: ______________________
Requestor
City Attorney
Drafter
BJZ:mbh
LRB05379-2
9/21/2005