2021.06.08 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rn•INEW 1U BRIGHTON building tomorrow today Council Worksession June 8, 2021 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle Councilmember Graeme Allen Councilmember Pam Axberg Councilmember Emily Dunsworth Absent: Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Tony Paetznick Guests in Attendance: Dustin Lind, President of the Fire Relief Association Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was held both virtually and in person. Discuss City of New Brighton Fire Relief Fund Massopust stated New Brighton Public Safety Department has a stellar model in place and the City wanted to ensure this model could continue going forward. He stated a key piece to obtaining and maintaining staff was the Fire Relief Fund. He reported the Fire Relief Association has a unique relationship with the City. He commented a presentation would be made this evening on the Fire Relief Fund. Paetznick provided the Council with a presentation on the New Brighton Fire Relief Fund and discussed the significant changes that occurred since 2000. He explained the City of New Brighton maintains a paid-on-call fire department. He described the services provided by the fire department by the well equipped and well trained firefighters. It was noted the organization currently has one full time (Fire Marshall Kip LaMotte) and 38 on-call members with an average response turnout of 21 firefighters. He discussed how municipal staff members are cross-trained to assist with covering daytime fire events. The department's proactive and reactive measures were further discussed. Paetznick reported the fire department represents 6.25% of the total expenditures for the City. He commented further on the role of the Fire Relief Association and the types of retirement plans that can be provided through Fire Relief Funds. He explained the New Brighton fund converted to lump sum only provision due to actuarial fluctuations on monthly retiree benefits in 2000 which required the buyout of existing pensioners. The governance of the Fire Relief Association was reviewed along with the current benefits provided to vested (20+years) and partially vested (10-19 years) members. The health and level of assets (188%) in the fund was reviewed. He discussed how the Fire Relief Fund would be impacted if the per year of service amount was increased to $9,000 from $8,500, or if the City were to make an annual contribution of $1,500 per member annually. The primary sources for the Fire Relief Fund were noted as being State Fire Aid, municipal contributions and investment income. The history of voluntary municipal contributions was reviewed from 2001 through 2014. The impact of the reduced level of municipal contributions since 2014 was discussed along with how the Fire Relief Association sets the benefit level for its members. He commented further on the maximum benefit worksheet and stated the goal would be to reach a level of$10,000 lump-sum amount per year of service for members. He reviewed how area fire relief associations compared to New Brighton and