HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-06 e-packetSPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, California 94083
Meeting to be held at:
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
400 GRAND AVENUE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2002
6:00 P.M.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the
State of California, the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special Meeting
on Wednesday, the 6® day of November, 2002, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Hall Conference Room, 400
Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, California.
Purpose of the meeting:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Public Comments - comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting
Agenda
4. Study Session: Options for balancing the budget for FY 2003-04
.5. Closed Session: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
conference with Labor Negotiator Bower on City Manager
6. Adjournment
/s/ Sylvia M. Payne
City Clerk
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, California 94083
Meeting to be held at:
400 Grand Avenue
City Hall Conference Room
NOVEMBER 6, 2002
6:00 P.M.
ADDENDUM
rFhe tbllowing item is being added:
4b. Consideration of modification to City Council resolution adopting a military leave policy
tbr non-career National Guard or military reserve personnel
/s/
Sylvia M. Payne, City Clerk
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
November 6, 2002
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Jennifer A. Bower, Director of Human Resources
Consideration of Modification to City Council Resolution Adopting a Military
Leave Policy for Non-career National Guard or Military Reserve Personnel
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 provides
for reemployment protection and other benefits for veterans and employees who perform military
service. While the City has always complied with these laws, a modification to the City's Military
Leave policy was adopted in October 2001.
The City developed a supplemental pay and benefits policy that could be modified at any time by the
City Council if there was a substantial change in economic conditions. In particular, in the event that
there was a recession (defined by the Federal Reserve as two consecutive quarters of negative growth
in the United States economy) or if the State of California or the Federal government, through
executive or legislative action, substantially affected the City's ability to provide funding, this
program could have been modified without notice, as necessary.
Policy
The Military Leave Policy set in place for those employees who were called to serve in the non-
career National Guard or Reserves on active duty as a result of 9/11 was essentially the following:
· Full- and part-time regular employees were eligible to participate.
· Employees must return to work within 6 months of being deactivated or would forfeit all
supplemental pay provided by the City.
· The period of time that this program would be in place for any one employee was 12-full months
from first day of active military service.
· In addition to the rights and benefits provided by law, the City would:
· Supplement an employee's salary beyond the amount received for uniformed services pay for
up to 12-full months of active duty.
· Maintain the employee's and covered dependents' medical, dental, and vision benefits,
subject to the terms and conditions of the City's contracts with the providers.
Several City employees have participated in this program. Many have been called for partial periods,
and may be deployed to active status again soon. To date only one employee has used the full-12-
month period of supplemented pay and benefits. It appears that several more employees may use this
Staff Report
Subject: Military Leave Policy
Page 2
full 12-month amount within the next year.
History: Many municipalities offered up to 12-months of supplemental pay and benefits for active
military service based on the events of 9/11, some Cities provided up to 6 months of pay and
benefits, and with other Cities providing no supplemental pay or benefits.
Prior to this event, twice during the last decade, the City has supplemented pay and benefits for City
employees who have been called to active military service due to national and international crises
(Desert Storm and Kosovo). In both instances, while some employees served longer than the period
of supplemented pay and benefits, the Council did not extend the policy past the original designated
period. Outside of these events, several employees were called for active duty beyond the 30-day
limit in which the City is legally obligated to provide full compensation and benefits, with no
additional compensation by the City provided.
Costs: Employees voluntarily serve in the military reserves or the National Guard for many reasons.
All are aware of the potential of being called to active duty. As part of this duty, they receive
benefits from the federal government. For example some of the benefits they receive are pay, and at
retirement the employee receives a sizeable retirement disbursement, medical insurance for
themselves and their dependents for life, to name just a few.
Supplemental pay and benefits for active military employees would cost the City about $50,000 per
employee. There are approximately 6 to 10 City employees who are part of the National Guard or
military reserves who could be or have been called to active duty. The total cost for this benefit, if
completely used by 6 employees, is up to $300,000, with an additional $300,000 for each year if
extended.
By:
D~ur~aBn ~;es;urces%x
Micl~ae'~A. Wilson
City Manager
MMJJAB- 11/06/02
S 5LOA's & Disability'uMilitary LeavehMil Leave Policy Update.doc