Pension Reform Task Force (Inactive)

Members

The Mayor shall appoint the members of the Task Force with the intent of including individuals representing the following categories within the community:
  • 5 members from labor organizations representing the employees of the City of Santa Rosa participating in CalPERS
  • 5 members from the community representing businesses and residents comprised of financial advisor, actuary, building trades, business organization, and taxpayers organization
All Task Force members shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. Any vacancies will be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

Purpose & Authority

The purpose of this Task Force is to gather and review information in order to develop a report that will inform the community about matters relating to public pension reform in California, to specifically review current pension programs approved and utilized by the City of Santa Rosa as a part of the total compensation for city employees, to review the limitations and requirements of the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), and to present options for pension reform that the Mayor and City Council may wish to consider.

The Task Force's authority shall be advisory only and its existence will terminate when a final report has been issued and submitted to the Mayor and subsequently presented to the City Council in a study session. Such final report shall be posted to the City's website when submitted for general public distribution and review.

The Task Force is a special committee created by the Mayor to study important public policy matters and shall be subject to the open meeting laws pursuant to state law. Therefore, all meetings of the Task Force shall be properly noticed by publication of the agenda in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, and be open to the public with opportunity for public comment. Summary minutes shall be maintained of the meetings.

The Task Force has no authority to participate and is specifically prohibited from participation in negotiation of the terms and conditions of employment affecting the employees of the City of Santa Rosa. Such authority is specifically reserved to the City Council and its designated labor negotiator pursuant to City Charter and state law.

Officers & Staffing

The Mayor shall appoint a council member as the Chair of the Task Force who shall also serve as a voting member. The Chair shall preside over the Task Force meetings and set the agenda. The Chair shall also be the sole spokesperson for the Task Force unless this responsibility is delegated in writing. The Vice Chair shall be appointed by the Chair and shall also serve as a voting member. The Vice Chair shall execute all powers and duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair.

The City Manager's Office will provide staff support to the task force for meeting notification, agenda preparation, clerical support, information gathering and arrangements for guest speakers, all to the extent permitted by staffing and budgetary limitations. There is no budget allocation for the work of the Task Force and participation on the task force is as a volunteer.

Task Force Procedures

The Task Force will hold meetings at a time and place to be determined by the Chair in consultation with the membership. It is the intent that the Task Force will meet biweekly beginning January 25, 2011, and concluding in April 2011, from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m., at the Finley Center. Therefore, the tentative meeting schedule is proposed as follows:
  • Meeting Number 1: January 25 (Tuesday)
  • Meeting Number 2: February 10 (Thursday)
  • Meeting Number 3: February 24 (Thursday)
  • Meeting Number 4: March 10 (Thursday)
  • Meeting Number 5: March 24 (Thursday)
  • Meeting Number 6: April 7 (Thursday)
Due to the compressed time frame for the work of the Task Force it is important that members make every effort to attend all meetings. For voting purposes 6 members shall constitute a quorum.

The parliamentary authority for this task force will be Robert's Rules of Order except as may be superseded by local, state or federal law.

Helpful Documents