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07-22-2014
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07-22-2014
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July 22, 2014 Page 4 of7 <br />50 years and having served for at least 10 years. Staff reviewed the history of the Public Safety Department <br />along with the previous "hand shake" agreement for the fire fighters. City Manager Lotter explained that the <br />Council has proposed that the annual levy contribution amount may not need to occur every year. As <br />mentioned previously, when the Fire Relief was changed from a monthly benefit to a lumtrSUIn benefit, the <br />Fund was depleted of assets to a sever degree. The Relief Fund was underfimded to a level below 75%. <br />Currently, the Fire Relief Fund has petfonned extremely well. The fimd at the end of fiscal year 2013 was <br />funded at a rate of122%. Since the Fire Relief Fund was at a healthy level, the Council has questioned <br />whether a municipal contribution should continue to be provided annually. The City Manager recommended <br />that the Council continue to budget the amount of$46,200 into the budget every year. These funds could be <br />redirected if the money wasn't required in the Relief Fund. He recommended that going forward, the Council <br />continue to receive financial infonnation regarding the health of the fimd and a copy of the audit report. In <br />addition, the Council should continue to budget a yearly contribution of$46,200. If the Fire ReliefF1.Uld was <br />funded by an amount over 100% or better, and no municipal contribution was required, this money shall be <br />redirected to the Community Reinvestment Fund. Regarding the annual benefit, staff recommended that an <br />annual increase to the individual benefit of$500 per year be approved for 2014. There will be no benefit <br />increase requested in 2015. Moving forward, the Fire Relief annual benefit will be increased by $200 with <br />Council approval. A forecasted model of how these changes would impact the Fire Relief Fund was <br />reviewed in detail with the Council. Staff respectfully requested the Council consider approval of a <br />Resolution that would continue the $46,200 contribution annually to the Fire Relief Fund which will be <br />required if the fund was under 100% but will be directed to the Community Reinvestment Fund if the fimd <br />was over 100%. In addition, the Resolution also approves an increase of$500 to the annual benefit for 2014 <br />and no increase in 2015. <br />Counci1member Jacobsen asked if firefighters that retired before the age of 50 could receive a benefit after 10 <br />years of service. City Manager Lotter indicated firefighters under the age of 50 would have to wait to receive <br />their payout until age 50. <br />Counci1member Burg explained he met with City Manager Lotter prior to this meeting to address her <br />questions and requested the different payout scenarios. She thanked staff for the thorough report presented <br />this evening. <br />Counci1member Bauman discussed Relief Associations in Minnesota noting 84 were lump sum and only <br />nine were paid higher than New Brighton's. She credited the Fire Division for their exemplary service to the <br />community but did not support the proposed 9% pay increase. She explained the average pay increase in the <br />metro area was 1.6%. She expressed concern with lump sum pensions and how these were bankrupting <br />communities. She reviewed the amounts received by other departments and believed that the current yearly <br />benefits were fair. She explained she would not be able to support the proposed benefit increases. <br />Counci1member Jacobsen appreciated the homewOlk completed by COlmci1member Bauman. He clarified <br />that pensions in St. Anthony differed from New Brighton due to the fact they had more full-time firefighters. <br />He believed that the City's vollU1teer Fire Division model was wozking well, that service was excellent and <br />response times were low. It was his opinion that the City would struggle to find well-trained volunteers if <br />they were not properly paid. He also thought the current model was a cost benefit to the community, when <br />compared to full-time Fire Departments. He was pleased that the Fire ReliefFlU1d was currently funded at <br />130%. He explained that he would be supporting staff's recommendation. <br />Counci1member Strub reviewed his findings from the State Auditor report. He appreciated the options <br />presented by City Administrator Lotter. He believed the community valued its fire fighters and for this <br />reason, he supported staff's recommendation. <br />Mayor Jacobsen commented the Fire Division did an outstanding job and provided its member with a high <br />level of training. He questioned how many other departments provided the same level of training to their <br />paid/on-call fire fighters. Fire Fighter Paetznick discussed the certification and licensure process that all New <br />Brighton fire fighters are required to go through. He explained that these requirements were only necessary <br />for full-time :firefighters in the State of Minnesota However, the Public Safety Department believed it to be <br />important enough that this was required of each fire fighter.
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