0827 FF Pension Fund ORDINANCE NO. 827
• AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AMENDING THE CITY
OF OKEECHOBEE MUNICIPAL FIREFIGHTERS'PENSION TRUST FUND,
ADOPTED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 750; AMENDING SECTION
1, DEFINITIONS, BY AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF "ACCUMULATED
CONTRIBUTIONS"; AMENDING SECTION 8, DISABILITY; AMENDING
SECTION 10, OPTIONAL FORMS OF BENEFITS; AMENDING SECTION
15, MAXIMUM PENSION; AMENDING SECTION 17, MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS; AMENDING SECTION 25, MILITARY SERVICE PRIOR TO
EMPLOYMENT; AMENDING SECTION 26, DIRECT TRANSFERS OF
ELIGIBLE ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTIONS; ADDING SECTION 27, PRIOR
FIRE SERVICE; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA:
SECTION 1: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 1, Definitions, to amend the definition of "Accumulated Contributions" to
read as follows:
Accumulated Contributions means a Member's own contributions with interest at the
rate of five and one-quarter percent (5-1/4%) per annum. For those Members who
purchase Credited Service at no cost to the System, ,
: . • • • • •
- - : - - .: - : - ' - - . - . : - : a - 'a • 'a - - any payment representing the
amount attributable to Member contributions based on the applicable Member
contribution rate, and any payment representing interest and any required
actuarially calculated payments for the purchase of such Credited Service, shall be
included in Accumulated Contributions without the crediting of interest of five and
one-quarter percent (5-1/4%) percent per annum.
SECTION 2: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 8, Disability, subsection 5., Physical Examination Requirement, to read as
follows:
5. Physical Examination Requirement.
A Member shall not become eligible for disability benefits until and unless
he undergoes a physical examination by a qualified physician or physicians
and/or surgeon or surgeons, who shall be selected by the Board for that
purpose. The Board shall not select the Member's treating physician or
surgeon for this purpose except in an unusual case where the Board
determines that it would be reasonable and prudent to do so.
Any Retiree receiving disability benefits under provisions of this ordinance
may be required by the Board to submit sworn
statements of his condition accompanied by a physician's statement
(provided at the Retiree's expense) to the Board annually and may be
required by the Board to undergo additional periodic re-examinations by a
qualified physician or physicians and/or surgeon or surgeons who shall be
selected by the Board, to determine if such disability has ceased to exist. If
the Board finds that the Retiree is no longer permanently and totally disabled
to the extent that he is unable to render useful and efficient service as a
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Firefighter, the Board shall recommend to the City that the Retiree be
returned to performance of duty as a Firefighter, and the Retiree so returned
shall enjoy the same rights that he had at the time he was placed upon pen-
• sion. In the event the Retiree so ordered to return shall refuse to comply
with the order within thirty (30) days from the issuance thereof, he shall
forfeit the right to his pension.
The cost of the physical examination and/or re-examination of the Member
claiming or the Retiree receiving disability benefits shall be borne by the
Fund. All other reasonable costs as determined by the Board incident to the
physical examination, such as, but not limited to, transportation, meals and
hotel accommodations, shall be borne by the Fund.
If the Retiree recovers from disability and reenters the service of the City as
a Firefighter, his service shall be deemed to have been continuous, and the
period for which Member received a disability retirement income shall be
Credited Service for purposes of the System. If the Firefighter fails to
reenter the service of the City as a Firefighter within thirty(30) days from the
date the Board determines that the Retiree is no longer permanently and
totally disabled to the extent that he is unable to render useful and efficient
service as a Firefighter, the Member's future benefits shall be determined as
though he initially terminated employment on the date the Board determined
that he was permanently and totally disabled to the extent that he was
unable to render useful and efficient service as a Firefighter.
The Board shall have the power and authority to make the final decisions
regarding all disability claims.
SECTION 3: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 10, Optional Forms of Benefits, subsection 1.A., to read as follows:
1. A. A retirement income of a modified monthly amount, payable to the
Retiree during the lifetime of the Retiree and following the death of
the Member, one hundred percent (100%), seventy-five percent
(75%), sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) or fifty percent
(50%) of such monthly amount payable to a joint pensioner for his
lifetime.
The present value of payments to the Retiree shall not be less than
fifty percent (50%) of the total present value of payments to the
Retiree and his joint pensioner.
SECTION 4: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 15, Maximum Pension, to read as follows:
SECTION 15. MAXIMUM PENSION.
1. Basic Limitation.
Subject to the adjustments hereinafter set forth, the maximum amount of
annual retirement income payable with respect to a Member under this
System shall not exceed ninety one hundred sixty thousand dollars
($90,000) ($160,000).
For purposes of applying the above limitation, benefits payable in any form
• other than a straight life annuity with no ancillary benefits shall be adjusted,
as provided by Treasury Regulations, so that such benefits are the Actuarial
Equivalent of a straight life annuity. For purposes of this Section, the
following benefits shall not be taken into account:
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(1) Any ancillary benefit which is not directly related to retirement income
benefits;
• (2) Any other benefit not required under §415(b)(2) of the Code and
Regulations thereunder to be taken into account for purposes of the
limitation of §415(b)(1) of the Code.
2. Participation in Other Defined Benefit Plans.
The limitation of this Section with respect to any Member who at any time
has been a member in any other defined benefit plan (as defined in §414(j)
of the Code) maintained by the City shall apply as if the total benefits pay-
able under all defined benefit plans in which the Member has been a
member were payable from one (1) plan.
3. Adjustments in Limitations.
A. In the event the Member's retirement benefits become payable before
age sixty-two (62), the n-i-nety one hundred sixty thousand dollar
($90,000-) ($160,000) limitation prescribed by this Section shall be
reduced in accordance with Regulations issued by the Secretary of
the Treasury pursuant to the provisions of §415(b) of the Code, but
- ea - ... - -
- ...
Glade so that such limitation (as so reduced)equals an annual benefit
(beginning when such retirement income benefit begins) which is
equivalent to a one hundred sixty thousand dollar ($160,000) annual
benefit beginning at age sixty-two (62).
B. In the event the Member's benefit is based on at least fifteen (15)
years of Credited Service, the adjustments provided for in A. above
shall not apply.
C. The reductions provided for in A. above shall not be applicable to
disability benefits paid pursuant to Section 8, or pre-retirement death
benefits paid pursuant to Section 7.
D. In the event the Member's retirement benefit becomes payable after
age sixty-five (65), for purposes of determining whether this benefit
meets the limitation set forth in subsection 1 herein, such benefit shall
be adjusted so that it is actuarially equivalent to the benefit beginning
at age sixty-five (65). This adjustment shall be made using--aft
' in
accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the
Treasury or his delegate.
4. Less than Ten (10) Years of Service.
The maximum retirement benefits payable under this Section to any Member
who has completed less than ten (10)years of Credited Service with the City
shall be the amount determined under subsection 1 of this Section multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of the Member's years
• of Credited Service and the denominator of which is ten (10). The reduction
provided for in this subsection shall not be applicable to disability benefits
paid pursuant to Section 8, or pre-retirement death benefits paid pursuant
to Section 7.
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5. Ten Thousand Dollar ($10,000) Limit.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the retirement benefit payable with respect
• to a Member shall be deemed not to exceed the limitations set forth in this
Section if the benefits payable, with respect to such Member under this
System and under all other qualified defined benefit pension plans to which
the City contributes, do not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the
applicable Plan Year and for any prior Plan Year and the City has not at any
time maintained a qualified defined contribution plan in which the Member
participated.
• ; • • •;• ; - , - .
;
": - - „
the City, the sum of the "Defined Benefit Plan Fraction" and the "Defined
Contribution Plan Fraction" (both as defined in §415(e) of the Code) shall
: , - • : and exceptions contained in §2004 of the Act,
• .••
76. Reduction of Benefits.
Reduction of benefits and/or contributions to all plans, where required, shall
be accomplished by first reducing the Member's benefit under any defined
benefit plans in which Member participated, such reduction to be made first
with respect to the plan in which Member most recently accrued benefits and
thereafter in such priority as shall be determined by the Board and the plan
administrator of such other plans, and next, by reducing or allocating excess
forfeitures for defined contribution plans in which the Member participated,
such reduction to be made first with respect to the plan in which Member
most recently accrued benefits and thereafter in such priority as shall be
established by the Board and the plan administrator for such other plans
provided, however, that necessary reductions may be made in a different
manner and priority pursuant to the agreement of the Board and the plan
administrator of all other plans covering such Member.
87. Cost-of-Living Adjustments.
The limitations as stated in subsections 1, 27 and 3, and G herein shall be
adjusted to the time payment of a benefit begins in accordance with any
cost-of-living adjustments prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury
pursuant to §415(d) of the Code.
98. Additional Limitation on Pension Benefits.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:
A. The normal retirement benefit or pension payable to a Retiree who
becomes a Member of the System and who has not previously
participated in such System, on or after January 1, 1980, shall not
exceed one hundred percent(100%)of his Average Final Compensa-
tion. However, nothing contained in this Section shall apply to
supplemental retirement benefits or to pension increases attributable
to cost-of-living increases or adjustments.
B. No Member of the System shall be allowed to receive a retirement
• benefit or pension which is in part or in whole based upon any service
with respect to which the Member is already receiving, or will receive
in the future, a retirement benefit or pension from a different
employer's retirement system or plan. This restriction does not apply
to social security benefits or federal benefits under Chapter 67, Title
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10, U.S. Code.
SECTION 5: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
• Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 17, Miscellaneous Provisions, by adding subsection 5., Compliance with
Chapter 175, Florida Statutes, to read as follows:
5. Compliance with Chapter 175, Florida Statutes.
It is intended that the System will continue to qualify for funding under
Section 175.101, Florida Statutes. Accordingly, unless otherwise required
by law, any provision of the System which violates the requirements of
Chapter 175, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time, shall be
superseded by and administered in accordance with the requirements of
such chapter.
SECTION 6: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 25, Military Service Prior to Employment, to read as follows:
SECTION 25. MILITARY SERVICE PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT.
The years or fractional parts of years that a Firefighter serves or has served on
active duty in the active military service of the Armed Forces of the United States,
the United States Merchant Marine or the United States Coast Guard, voluntarily
or involuntarily, honorably or under honorable conditions, prior to first and initial
employment with the City Fire Department shall be added to his years of Credited
Service provided that:
1. The Member contributes to the Fund the sum that he would have contributed
had he been a member of the System for the years or fractional parts of
years for which he is requesting credit plus amounts actuarially determined
such that the crediting of service does not result in any cost to the Fund plus
payment of costs for all professional services rendered to the Board in
connection with the purchase of years of Credited Service.
2. . ; , ; ; . • • -
Department Multiple requests to purchase Credited Service pursuant to this
Section may be made at any time prior to Retirement.
3. Payment by the Member of the required amount shall be made within six(6)
months of his request for credit, but not later than the retirement date, and
shall be made in one (1) lump sum payment upon receipt of which Credited
Service shall be given.
4. The maximum credit under this Section shall be four (4) years.
5. Credited Service purchased pursuant to this section shall not count toward
vesting or eligibility for not-in-line of duty disability benefits.
SECTION 7: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by amending
Section 26, Direct Transfers of Eligible Rollover Distributions, to read as follows:
SECTION 26. DIRECT TRANSFERS OF ELIGIBLE ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTIONS.
1. Rollover Distributions.
A. General.
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This Section applies to distributions made on or after January 1,4.993
2002. Notwithstanding any provision of the plan to the contrary that
would otherwise limit a distributee's election under this Section, a
• distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the
Board, to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid
directly to an eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee in a
direct rollover.
B. Definitions.
At (1) Eligible Rollover Distribution: An eligible rollover distribution
is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the
credit of the distributee, except that an eligible rollover
distribution does not include: any distribution that is one of a
series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less
frequently than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy)
of the distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of
the distributee and the distributee's designated Beneficiary, or
for a specified period of ten (10) years or more; any
distribution to the extent such distribution is required under
section 401(a)(9) of the Code; and the portion of any
distribution that is not includible in gross income. Any portion
of any distribution which would be includible in gross income
will be an eligible rollover distribution if the distribution is made
to an individual retirement account described in section
408(a), to an individual retirement annuity described in section
408(b) or to a qualified defined contribution plan described in
section 401(a) or 403(a) that agrees to separately account for
amounts so transferred, including separately accounting for
the portion of such distribution which is includible in gross
income and the portion of such distribution which is not so
includible.
BT al Eligible Retirement Plan: An eligible retirement plan is an
individual retirement account described in section 408(a) of
the Code, an individual retirement annuity described in section
408(b) of the Code, an annuity plan described in section
403(a) of the Code, an eligible deferred compensation plan
described in section 457(b)of the Code which is maintained by
an eligible employer described in section 457(e)(1)(A) of the
Code and which agrees to separately account for amounts
transferred into such plan from this plan, an annuity contract
described in section 403(b) of the Code, or a qualified trust
described in section 401(a) of the Code, that accepts the
distributee's eligible rollover distribution. However This
definition shall also apply in the case of an eligible rollover
distribution to the surviving Spouse,
ann .
a) Distributee: A distributee includes an employee or former
employee. In addition, the employee's or former employee's
surviving Spouse is a distributee with regard to the interest of
the Spouse.
al Direct Rollover: A direct rollover is a payment by the plan to
the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee.
2. Rollovers or Transfers into the Fund.
On or after January 1, 2002, the System will accept, solely for the purpose
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of purchasing Credited Service as provided herein, permissible Member
requested transfers of funds from other retirement or pension plans, Member
rollover cash contributions and/or direct cash rollovers of distributions made
• on or after January 1, 2002, as follows:
A. Transfers and Direct Rollovers or Member Rollover Contributions
from Other Plans. The System will accept either a direct rollover of
an eligible rollover distribution or a Member contribution of an eligible
rollover distribution from a qualified plan described in section 401(a)
or 403(a) of the Code, from an annuity contract described in section
403(b) of the Code or from an eligible plan under section 457(b) of
the Code which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a
state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political
subdivision of a state. The System will also accept legally
permissible Member requested transfers of funds from other
retirement or pension plans.
B. Member Rollover Contributions from IRAs. The system will accept a
Member rollover contribution of the portion of a distribution from an
individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408(a)
or 408(b) of the Code that is eligible to be rolled over and would
otherwise be includible in gross income.
SECTION 8: That the City of Okeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust
Fund, adopted pursuant to Ordinance No. 750, is hereby amended by adding
Section 27, Prior Fire Service, to read as follows:
SECTION 27. PRIOR FIRE SERVICE.
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, and except as provided for in Section 1 , the
years or fractional parts of years that a Member previously served as a full-time
Firefighter with the City during a period of previous employment and for which
period Accumulated Contributions were withdrawn from the Fund, or the years and
fractional parts of years that a member served as a Firefighter for any other
municipal, county, state or special district fire department in the State of Florida
shall be added to his years of Credited Service provided that:
1. The Member contributes to the Fund the sum that he would have contributed
had he been a member of the System for the years or fractional parts of
years for which he is requesting credit plus amounts actuarially determined
such that the crediting of service does not result in any cost to the Fund plus
payment of costs for all professional services rendered to the Board in
connection with the purchase of years of Credited Service.
2. Multiple requests to purchase Credited Service pursuant to this Section may
be made at any time prior to Retirement.
3. Payment by the Member of the required amount shall be made within six (6)
months of his request for credit, but not later than the retirement date, and
shall be made in one (1) lump sum payment upon receipt of which Credited
Service shall be given.
4. The maximum credit under this Section for service other than with the City
of Okeechobee shall be five (5)years of Credited Service and shall count for
all purposes, except vesting and eligibility for not-in-line of duty disability
benefits. There shall be no maximum purchase of credit for prior service
• with the City of Okeechobee and such credit shall count for all purposes,
including vesting.
5. In no event, however, may Credited Service be purchased pursuant to this
Section for prior service with any other municipal, county or special district
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fire department, if such prior service forms or will form the basis of a
retirement benefit or pension from a different employer's retirement system
or plan as set forth in Section 15, subsection 8.B.
• SECTION 9: Specific authority is hereby granted to codify and incorporate this
Ordinance in the existing Code of Ordinances of the City of Okeechobee.
SECTION 10: All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith be and the
same are hereby repealed.
SECTION 11: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase of this
ordinance, or the particular application thereof shall be held invalid by any court,
administrative agency, or other body with appropriate jurisdiction, the remaining
section, subsection, sentences, clauses, or phrases under application shall not be
affected thereby.
SECTION 12: That this Ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.
INTRODUCED on first reading and set for public hearing this 17th day of June,
2003.
, G
James E. Kirk, Mayor
•
ATTEST:
Lane Gamiotea, City Clerk
PASSED on second and final reading this 15th day of July, 2003.
/' James E. Kirk, Mayor
ATTEST:
1
Lane Gamiotea, City Clerk
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
John R. Cook, City Attorney
•
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