Chapter 4.14
Retirement and Pension Boards

Sections:

4.14.010 Fire Pension Board.

4.14.020 Police Pension Board.

4.14.030 Employees’ Retirement – Board of Administration.

4.14.040 Retirement Board – Membership, Selection.

4.14.050 Retirement Board – Election.

4.14.060 Retirement Board – Officers.

4.14.070 Retirement Board – Powers and Duties.

4.14.080 Retirement Board – Interest of Members.

4.14.010 Fire Pension Board.

There is established a municipal firemen’s pension board, consisting of the mayor or a council member designated by the mayor, the city clerk or comptroller, the city treasurer, and two regularly employed firefighters, as provided in the Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act of 1947 (RCW 41.16.020), as amended.

4.14.020 Police Pension Board.

There is established a board of trustees of the relief and pension fund of the police department, consisting of the mayor or a council member designated by the mayor, the city clerk, the city treasurer, the mayor pro tem and three members of the police department, as provided in RCW 41.20.010.

4.14.030 Employees’ Retirement – Board of Administration.

To administer the retirement system and the retirement fund for superannuated or disabled officers and employees of the City, except police and fire department employees entitled to benefits under state law, there is created a board of administration.

[Ord. C7540 §§ 1, 4, 9]

4.14.040 Retirement Board – Membership, Selection.

A.  The board of administration of the Spokane employees’ retirement system consists of seven members. Three members are appointed by the city council; three are elected from employees eligible for the system by the employees; and one member, who may not be an elective official or employee of the City, is appointed by the other six members.

B.  The members appointed by the council serve at the pleasure of the council. The elected employee members serve staggered three-year terms commencing on the first Monday in July. The seventh member serves a four-year term. A vacancy is filled and a replacement is made in the same manner as original selections, except that a vacancy in one of the elected employee positions is filled by appointment by the other two elected employee members, which appointment is until the next annual election.

[Ord. C7540 § 9]

4.14.050 Retirement Board – Election.

A.  The city clerk conducts an election each year to elect one employee to the board of administration, and to elect an employee to an unexpired term, if any.

B.  Candidates are determined by nomination in the form of a notice of nomination signed by at least twenty employees of the City who are members of the system. An employee may sign more than one nomination. The clerk gives notice of the dates for filing notices of nomination and of the election by posting in a prominent place in the clerk’s office. Notices are posted at least thirty days prior to the date nominations are to be received and at least thirty days prior to the date of the election. Nominations must be received by the second Tuesday in April and the election shall be held on the second Tuesday in May. The clerk causes absentee ballots to be printed and available the last week in April. Absentee ballots are accepted up to the date of election and are counted with the ballots regularly cast on election day.

C.  The clerk causes written ballots containing the names of all persons regularly nominated to be furnished and provides ballot boxes. The clerk may appoint any City employees as deputies to conduct the election. The election is held in the clerk’s office and in such other places as the clerk may designate. The city clerk appoints two employees of the City as officials of said election, who shall be allowed their regular wages for said day, but shall receive no additional compensation therefor.

D.  Employees may vote between the hours of seven-thirty a.m. and five-thirty p.m. on the day fixed by the clerk for the election. Each employee of the City who is a member of the system is entitled to vote at said election for one person for each board position. The person receiving the highest number of votes is elected to the board.

[Ord. C28206; Passed: 11/18/1985]

4.14.060 Retirement Board – Officers.

The board of administration elects its chairman and secretary.

[Ord. C7540 § 9]

4.14.070 Retirement Board – Powers and Duties.

A.  The board of administration administers the Spokane employees’ retirement system and the retirement fund under the provisions of ordinance and the direction of the city council.

B.  The board keeps such data in such form as necessary for actuarial valuation of the fund. At least every five years the board causes to be made an actuarial investigation into the mortality and service and compensation experience of members and beneficiaries, and an actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of the fund.

C.  The board transmits to the city council a report of the actuarial investigation and valuation and an annual report on the financial condition of the fund.

D.  With the approval of the council, the board may:

1.   change the rate of interest on contributions;

2.   make an excess interest payment annually to retired employees, if such exist;

3.   adopt mortality, service and other tables; and

4.   change the rates of contribution by members based on such tables.

E.  Subject to state law, the board provides for the proper investment of the moneys in the retirement fund.

F.  The board adopts rules and regulations as necessary.

[Ord. C7540 §§ 7, 9]

4.14.080 Retirement Board – Interest of Members.

No member or employee of the board of administration may have any interest in the making of investments from the retirement fund or in the gains or profits therefrom. No member or employee of the board may become an endorser, surety, or otherwise an obligor for moneys invested by the board, or borrow any of its funds or deposits, or use any of its moneys except as directed by the board.

[Ord. C7540 § 9]