Council authorizes implementation work on charter amendment letting some public safety employees switch pension tiers

The Los Angeles City Council voted to authorize the City Attorney to prepare implementing ordinances and related materials for Charter Amendment FF, a measure passed by city voters in November 2024 that allows certain public safety employees to transfer retirement membership to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension System (LAFPP) tier 6.

Council members heard a presentation from city staff explaining the timeline, estimated costs and next steps. Paul Weber of the CAO's employee relations division said staff have been preparing drafts and, if authorized, will bring proposed ordinances for first reading in early June with a second reading later that month.

The item matters because the change could affect hundreds of employees and create new funding obligations for departments. The CAO and the pension office estimate roughly 421 employees could be eligible if every eligible employee opts in; that figure assumes employees remain employed when offered the option. Weber said an updated actuarial study by Siegel, based on June 30, 2022 data, is being completed and will accompany materials to the council.

Joshua Geller, deputy city attorney and public pensions general counsel, and CAO staff told council that transfers could begin midsummer, with individual transfers possibly completed as early as September or October. Weber said there are tax-compliance steps and a hard deadline for transfers to be complete in early January of next year.

Officials provided preliminary cost estimates. The CAO's presentation reported an anticipated general fund annual increase of about $1,135,000; the CAO noted that if all eligible general fund employees transferred the total cost could be approximately $18,800,000. Weber also said the city could amortize costs over 15 years if it chose to do so.

Council members asked about timeline and implementation materials for counseling employees. The council approved the CAO recommendation to proceed and asked staff to continue preparing ordinances and application/counseling materials for employees who choose to exercise the election.

The motion to approve the CAO recommendation was moved by the chair and carried on roll call.

The council's action authorizes the City Attorney to begin the drafting and administrative steps necessary to implement the charter amendment. Staff will return to council with ordinances and supporting materials as the CAO described.