CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment, to increase the sick leave cash out payment upon retirement for persons in the rank and position of Assistant Fire Chief.
body
WHEREAS, Section 4.24.210 of the Seattle Municipal Code provides that, upon retirement, City of Seattle employees may receive a cash payment of 25 percent of the sick leave value, or in the alternative, may place 35 percent of the sick leave value into a deferred compensation account; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle and the Seattle Fire Chiefs Association, Local 2898 negotiated an increase to the sick leave cash out payment upon retirement for all Local 2898 members who are not entitled to disability leave under chapter 41.26 RCW in order to reduce sick leave use and overtime backfill costs within the bargaining unit; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Fire Chief and Seattle Human Resources Director have an interest in hiring the most qualified candidates and removing any unnecessary barriers to potential candidates interested in applying for the rank of Assistant Fire Chief by aligning the sick leave benefits of Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief and Assistant Fire Chief; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Any employee who holds the position and rank of Assistant Fire Chief on or after the effective date of this ordinance, and who is not entitled to disability leave under chapter 41.26 RCW, shall either receive a cash payment or cash out sick leave to the employee’s 457 Plan and Trust account with the City upon retirement at the following rates:
• Accumulated sick leave hours between 0 and 400.99 shall be cashed out at 25 percent;
• Accumulated sick leave hours between 401 and 800 shall be cashed out at 50 percent;
• Accumulated sick leave hours above 800 shall be cashed out at 75 percent.
Payment shall be made at the rate of pay in effect for such employee on the last employed date prior to the employee’s retirement.
Section 2. In the event of the death of an employee while employed by the City who is eligible for the sick leave cash out payment benefit, such employee’s beneficiary shall be paid a portion of the employee’s accumulated sick leave, as described in Section 1. In the event an employee is eligible for retirement, but chooses to defer retirement and vest the employee’s funds with the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Plan 2 Retirement System (LEOFF 2) at the time the employee leaves City employment, such employee will lose all sick leave credit and not be eligible for the cash out payment benefit.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2016, and
signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this
_____ day of ___________________, 2016.
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President __________of the City Council
Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2016.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2016.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)