§ 54-100. Deferred retirement option plan.
(a)
Definitions. As used in this section:
DROP means the fire and rescue deferred retirement option plan.
DROP account means the account established for each DROP participation under this section.
Self-directed DROP option means an investment option which may be adopted by the board to allow members to select among various options for investment of their DROP account.
(b)
Participation.
(1)
Eligibility to participate.
a.
Effective January 1, 2016, in lieu of terminating employment as a firefighter, any member who is eligible for normal retirement under the system may elect to defer receipt of his service retirement pension and to participate in the DROP.
(2)
Election to participate. A member's election to participate in the DROP must be made in writing at a time and manner determined by the board and shall be effective on the first day of the first calendar month which is at least 15 business days after it is received by the board.
(3)
Period of participation. A member who elects to participate in the DROP shall participate in the DROP for a period not to exceed 60 months beginning at the time his election to participate in the DROP first becomes effective. An election to participate in the DROP shall constitute an irrevocable election to resign from the service of the city not later than the date provided for in the previous sentence. A member may participate only once.
(4)
Termination.
a.
A member's participation in the DROP shall cease at the earlier of:
1.
Termination of his employment as a firefighter with the city; or
2.
The expiration of the 60th month of participation in the DROP. Upon the occurrence of the termination event, the termination shall be effective on the first day of the following month.
b.
Upon the member's termination of participation in the DROP, all amounts provided for in subsection (c)(2), including monthly benefits and investment earnings and losses, shall cease to be transferred from the system to the DROP account. Any amounts in the DROP account shall be paid to the participant in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section when he terminates his employment as a firefighter.
c.
A member who terminates participation in the DROP under this subsection (b)(4) shall not be permitted to again become a participant in the DROP.
(5)
Effect of DROP participation on the system.
a.
A member's credited service and accrued benefit under the system shall be determined on the date his election to participate in the DROP first becomes effective. The member shall not accrue any additional credited service or any additional benefits under the system (except for additional benefits provided under any cost-of-living adjustment for retirees in the system) while he is a participant in the DROP. After a member commences participation, he shall not be permitted to again contribute to the system nor shall he be eligible for pre-retirement death benefits or disability benefits except as provided for in section 54-103.
b.
No amounts shall be paid to a member from the system while the member is a participant in the DROP. Unless otherwise specified in the system, if a member's participation in the DROP is terminated other than by terminating his employment as a firefighter, no amounts shall be paid to him from the system until he terminated his employment as a firefighter. Unless otherwise specified in the system, amounts transferred from the system to the member's DROP account shall be paid directly to the member only on the termination of his employment as a firefighter.
(c)
Funding.
(1)
Establishment of DROP account. A DROP account shall be established for each member participating in the DROP. A member's DROP account shall consist of amounts transferred to the DROP and earnings/losses on those amounts, in accordance with subsection (c)(2).
(2)
Transfers from system.
a.
As of the first day of each month of a member's period of participation in the DROP, the monthly retirement benefit he would have received under the system had he terminated his employment as a firefighter and elected to receive monthly benefit payments thereunder shall be transferred to his DROP account, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(4)b. A member's period of participation in the DROP shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4), but in no event shall it continue past the date he terminates his employment as a firefighter.
b.
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(4)b, the DROP account of a member who enters the DROP under this subsection (c)(2) prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived shall be debited or credited after each fiscal year quarter with either:
1.
Interest at an effective rate of six and one-half per annum, compounded monthly on the prior month's ending balance; or
2.
Earnings or losses determined as follows: The average daily balance in a member's DROP account shall be credited or debited at a rate equal to the net investment return realized by the system for that quarter.
For purposes of this subsection, net investment return is the total return of the assets in which the member's DROP account is invested by the board net of brokerage commissions, transaction costs and management fees.
Upon electing participation in the DROP, the member shall elect to receive either interest or earnings on his DROP account to be determined as provided above.
c.
The DROP account of a member who enters the DROP under this subsection (c)(2) on or after September 25, 2012, shall be debited or credited after each fiscal year quarter with earnings or losses determined as follows:
1.
The average daily balance in a member's DROP account shall be credited or debited at a rate equal to the actual net rate of investment return realized by the system for that quarter. For purposes of this subparagraph, net investment return is the total return of the assets in which the member's DROP account is invested by the board net of brokerage commissions and transaction costs.
2.
If the board approves a self-directed DROP option, for members who elect that option, the member's DROP account shall be credited or debited at a rate equal to the actual earnings and losses on the self-directed account, less administrative fees.
d.
A member's DROP account shall only be credited or debited with earnings or losses and monthly benefits while the member is a participant in the DROP. A member's final DROP account value for distribution to the member upon termination of participation in the DROP shall be the value of the account at the end of the quarter immediately preceding termination of participation plus earnings/losses earned as of that date plus any monthly periodic additions made to the DROP account subsequent to the end of the previous quarter and prior to distribution. Notwithstanding the provisions above, if a member fails to terminate employment in accordance with his irrevocable election to resign for any reason after participating in the DROP for permissible period of DROP participation, then beginning with the member's first month of employment following the last month of the permissible period of DROP participation, the member's DROP account will no longer be credited or debited with earnings/losses, nor will monthly benefits be transferred to the DROP account. All such nontransferred amounts shall be forfeited and continue to be forfeited while the member is employed as a firefighter, and no cost-of-living adjustments shall be applied to the member's credit during such period of continued employment. A member employed by the fire department after the permissible period of DROP participation will still not be eligible for pre-retirement death or disability benefits and will not accrue additional credited service except as provided for in section 54-103.
(d)
Distribution of DROP accounts on termination of employment.
(1)
Eligibility for benefits. A member shall receive the balance in his DROP account in accordance with the provisions of this subsection upon his termination of employment as a firefighter. Except as provided in subsection (4), no amounts shall be paid to a member from the DROP prior to termination of employment as a firefighter.
(2)
Form of distribution.
a.
Distribution of a member's DROP account shall be made in a lump sum, subject to the direct rollover provisions set forth in subsection (d)(6). Elections under this paragraph must be in writing and shall be made in such time or manner as the board shall determine.
b.
Notwithstanding the preceding, if a member dies before his benefit is paid, his DROP account shall be paid to his beneficiary in such optional form as his beneficiary may select. If no beneficiary designation is made, the DROP account shall be distributed to the member's estate.
(3)
Date of payment of distribution. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, distribution of a member's DROP account shall be made as soon as administratively practicable following the member's termination of employment. Distribution of the amount in a member's DROP account will not be made unless the member completes a written request for distribution and a written election, on forms designated by the board, to either receive a cash lump sum or a rollover of the lump sum amount.
(4)
Proof of death and right of beneficiary or other person. The board may require and rely upon such proof of death and such evidence of the right of any beneficiary or other person to receive the value of a deceased member's DROP account as the board may deem proper and its. determination of the right of the beneficiary or other person to receive payment shall be conclusive.
(5)
Distribution limitation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, all distributions from the DROP shall conform to the "Minimum Distribution Of Benefits" provisions as provided for herein.
(6)
Direct rollover of certain distributions. This paragraph applies to distributions made on or after January 1, 2002. Notwithstanding any provision of the DROP to the contrary, a distributee may elect to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid in a direct rollover as otherwise provided under the system in section 54-99.
(e)
Administration of the DROP.
(1)
Board administers the DROP. The general administration of the DROP, the responsibility for carrying out the provisions of the DROP, and the responsibility of overseeing the investment of the DROP's assets shall be placed in the board. The members of the board may appoint from their number such subcommittees with such powers as they shall determine; may adopt administrative procedures and regulations as they deem desirable for the conduct of their affairs; may authorize one or more of their number or any agent to execute or deliver any instrument or make any payment on their behalf, may retain counsel, employ agents and provide for such clerical, accounting, actuarial and consulting services as they may require in carrying out the provisions of the DROP, and may allocate among themselves or delegate to other persons all or any portion of their duties under the DROP, other than those granted to them as trustee under any trust agreement adopted for use in implementing the DROP, as they, in their sole discretion, shall decide. A trustee shall not vote on any question relating exclusively to himself.
(2)
Accounts, records and reports. The board shall maintain, records showing the operation and condition of the DROP, including records showing the individual balances in each member's DROP account, and the board shall keep, in convenient form such data as may be necessary for the valuation of the assets and liabilities of the DROP. The board shall prepare, and distribute to members participating in the DROP and other individuals or file with the appropriate governmental agencies, as the case may be, all necessary descriptions, reports, information returns and data required to be distributed or filed for the DROP pursuant to the Code, and any other applicable laws.
(3)
Establishment of rules for administration. Subject to the limitations of the DROP, the board from time to time shall establish rules for the administration of the DROP and the transaction of its business. The board shall have discretionary authority to construe and interpret the DROP, (including but not limited to determination of an individual's eligibility for DROP participation, the right and amount of any benefit payable under the DROP, and the date on which any individual ceased to be a participant in the DROP). The determination of the board as to the interpretation of the DROP or its determination of any disputed questions shall be conclusive and final to the extent permitted by applicable law.
(4)
Limitation of liability.
a.
The trustees shall not incur any liability individually or on behalf of any other individuals for any act or failure to act, made in good faith in relation to the DROP or the funds of the DROP.
b.
Neither the board nor any trustee of the board shall be responsible for any reports furnished by any expert retained or employed by the board, but they shall be entitled to rely thereon as well as on certificates furnished by an accountant or an actuary and on all opinions of counsel. The board shall be fully protected with respect to any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in reliance upon such expert, accountant, actuary or counsel, and all actions taken or suffered in such reliance shall be conclusive upon any person with any interest in the DROP.
(f)
General provisions.
(1)
Amendment of DROP. The DROP may be amended by an ordinance enacted by the city council at any time, and retroactively, if deemed necessary or appropriate, to amend in whole or in part any or all of the provisions of the DROP. However, except as otherwise provided by law, no amendment shall make it possible for any part of the DROP's funds to be used for, or diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of persons entitled to benefits under the DROP. No amendment shall be approved which has the effect of decreasing the balance of the DROP account of any member.
(2)
Facility of payment. If a member or other person entitled to a benefit under the DROP is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident or because he is a minor, the board shall direct that any benefit due him, shall be made only to a duly appointed legal representative. Any payment so made shall be a complete discharge of the liabilities of the DROP for such benefit.
(3)
Information. Each member, beneficiary or other person entitled to a benefit, before any benefit shall be payable to him or on his account under the DROP, shall file with the board all information that it shall require to establish his rights and benefits under the DROP.
(4)
Prevention of escheat. If the board cannot ascertain the whereabouts of any person to whom a payment is due under the DROP, the board may, no earlier than three years from the date such payment is due, mail a notice of such due and owing payment to the last known address of such person, as shown on the records of the board or the city. If such person has not made written claim therefor within three months of the date of the mailing, the board may, if it so elects and upon receiving advice from counsel to the system, direct that such payment and all remaining payments otherwise due such person be canceled on the records of the system. Upon such cancellation, the system shall have no further liability therefor except that, if such person or his beneficiary later notifies the board of his whereabouts and requests the payment or payments due to him under the DROP, the amount so applied shall be paid to him in accordance with the provisions of the DROP.
(5)
Written elections, notifications.
a.
Any elections, notifications or designations made by a member pursuant to the provisions of the DROP shall be made in writing and filed with the board in a time and manner determined by the board under rules uniformly applicable to all employees similarly situated. The board reserves the right to change from time to time the manner for making elections, notifications or designations by members under the DROP if it determines after due deliberation that such action is justified in and improves the administration of the DROP. In the event of a conflict between the provisions for making an election, notification or designation set forth in the DROP and any new administrative procedures, those new administrative procedures shall prevail.
b.
Each member or retiree who has a DROP account shall be responsible for furnishing the board with his current address and any subsequent changes in his address. Any notice required to be given to a member or retiree here under shall be deemed given if directed to him at the last such address given to the board and mailed by registered or certified United States mail. If any check mailed by registered or certified United States mail to such address is returned, mailing of checks will be suspended until such time as the member or retiree notifies the board of his address.
(6)
Benefits not guaranteed. All benefits payable to a member from the DROP shall be paid only from the assets of the member's DROP account and neither the board nor the city shall have any duty or liability to furnish the DROP with any funds, securities or other assets except to the extent required by any applicable law.
(7)
Construction. The DROP shall be construed, regulated and administered under the laws of Florida, except where other applicable law controls.
(8)
Forfeiture of retirement benefits. DROP participants shall be subject to applicable forfeiture provisions provided for under state or federal law. DROP participants shall be subject to forfeiture of all retirement benefits, including DROP benefits.
(9)
Effect of DROP participation on employment. Participation in the DROP is not a guarantee of employment and DROP participants shall be subject to the same employment standards and policies that are applicable to employees who are not DROP participants.
(Ord. No. 2007-29, § 1, 9-18-07; Ord. No. 2009-13, § 1, 7-21-09; Ord. No. 2010-26, § 1, 9-28-10; Ord. No. 2012-19, § 4, 9-25-2012; Ord. No. 2012-36, § 5, 12-20-2012; Ord. No. 2014-3, § 4, 3-18-2014; Ord. No. 2016-5 , § 2, 5-3-2016)