Title
Adoption of Resolution Approving Letter of Understanding Between the International Association of Firefighters, Local 689, and the City of Alameda. (Human Resources 10025060)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a contracting agency of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the City of Alameda (City) is subject to statutory and regulatory requirements that govern whether compensation is reportable for pension calculation purposes. The Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL), the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), and the California Code of Regulations (CCR) require that contracting agencies must accurately reflect information related to compensation items in approved documentation. For compensation paid in addition to base salary, this must include the relevant intent, eligibility criteria, and conditions of payment.
Through a compliance review for one International Association of Firefighters, Local 689 (IAFF) member, CalPERS identified reported compensation that did not comply with the PERL. The Letter of Understanding makes clarifications in order to bring the related language into compliance.
IAFF members have ratified this agreement.
BACKGROUND
An IAFF member received a compensation compliance review letter dated October 22, 2025, stating that compensation used in the pension calculation was not compliant and, therefore, would be excluded. The excluded compensation related to education pay, temporary upgrade pay, and additional compensation for working on holidays as a part of employees' regular schedule. These compensation items were excluded because the supporting language in the IAFF memorandum of understanding ("MOU") does not comply with the PERL.
CalPERS determinations concerning labor policy or agreement language also extend to all employees subject to the IAFF MOU. Therefore, clarifications to the IAFF...
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