2012 Ballot Measure

Background

On January 25, 2011, the City Council accepted the City Manager's report and provided direction on exploring retirement benefit changes for new employees.

City Council Meeting on January 25, 2011 (Item - 3.4 - Discussion and Direction Regarding Labor Negotiations on Second Tier Retirement Benefits for New Employees)

On March 22, 2011, the City Council directed the City Manager to come up with a plan to achieve $216 million in general fund savings within the next 5 years, and to achieve $218 million in savings for all funds in retirement costs. This plan, the City Manager's Fiscal Reform Plan was approved on May 24, 2011.

City Council Meeting on May 24, 2011 (Item 3.4 - City Manager's Fiscal Reform Plan)

Also, on May 24, 2011, the City Council also directed staff to draft a proposed ballot measure to amend the City Charter related to retirement benefits for current and future employees.

Memo from the Mayor, Vice Mayor Nguyen, and Councilmembers Herrera and Liccardo

On June 24, 2011, the City Council also provided additional direction on opt in programs.

City Council Special Meeting on June 24, 2011 (Item 3.1 - Declaration of a Fiscal and Service Level Emergency and discussion of possible ballot language)
- Memo from the Mayor, Vice Mayor Nguyen, Councilmembers Constant, Herrera, Liccardo Regarding Opt-In Program
- Fiscal Reform Plan Presentation

On December 6, 2011, the City Council approved the December 5, 2011 ballot measure for the June 2012, election.

Memo from Mayor Reed to City Council

INFORMATION MEMOS/COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS

Framework for retirement reform and related proposed ballot measure negotiations

In June and July 2011, the City met with the bargaining units in an effort to reach an agreement on a framework for concurrent negotiations related to retirement reform and proposed ballot measure negotiations.

The City reached agreement on a framework to conduct negotiations on both retirement reform and the related ballot measure concurrently with the AEA, AMSP, CAMP, IAFF, and the POA. This includes an agreement that this would be a resolution by October 31, 2011.

Signed Frameworks

POA and IAFF Framework Dated June 20, 2011
AEA, AMSP and CAMP Framework Dated June 17, 2011

The City was unable to reach an agreement on a framework to conduct negotiations on both retirement reform and the related ballot measure concurrently with ABMEI, ALP, CEO, IBEW, MEF, and OE#3.

Proposed Frameworks

proposed ballot measure negotiations

The City engaged in “Seal Beach bargaining” regarding the proposed ballot measure. These negotiations were separate and apart from the retirement reform negotiations for the bargaining units where the City and the bargaining units did not reach an agreement on a framework.

“Seal Beach bargaining” refers to bargaining or negotiating over a proposed ballot measure prior to it being placed on a ballot for consideration by voters during an election. This is only done when a proposed ballot measure affects matters within the scope of representation, so not all ballot measures or all aspects of a particular ballot measure need to be bargained.

“Seal Beach bargaining” is a labor term that comes from a court case involving the City of Seal Beach, California and the Seal Beach Police Officers Association.

CITY PROPOSALS

Revised Ballot Measure dated November 22, 2011

Revised Draft Proposed Ballot Measure dated October 27, 2011

Revised Draft Proposed Ballot Measure dated October 20, 2011

Revised Draft Proposed Ballot Measure dated October 5, 2011

Draft Proposed Ballot Measure dated July 5, 2011

Union Proposals

IBEW Proposed Groundrules

Retirement Reform and Related Proposed Ballot Measure Information

The City has two retirement systems that provide defined retirement benefits to eligible employees. The Police and Fire Department Retirement Plan provides benefits to sworn employees in the Police and Fire Department, and the Federated City Employees' Retirement System provides benefits to all non-sworn eligible employees.

Due to the significant cost to the City, the Administration has been engaged in retirement reform efforts to ensure that the costs of retirement benefits are sustainable in the long-term.

On December 6, 2011, the City Council approved a ballot measure for the June 2012, election that would include various proposed changes to the City Charter regarding retirement benefits.