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Council moves to amend CalPERS contract to add airport police to local safety retirement category
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance and adopted a resolution of intention to amend the city's CalPERS contract so airport police officers qualify for local safety retirement benefits; the item passed unanimously and next steps include an employee election and ordinance adoption after a 20‑day period.
The Santa Barbara City Council on April 15 introduced an ordinance and adopted a resolution of intention to amend the City’s contract with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) to move airport police officer classifications from miscellaneous to local safety service.
Sam Ramirez, labor relations manager, told the council that CalPERS review of duty statements confirmed airport police officer classifications qualify for local safety retirement and explained the steps required under Government Code Section 7507, including making future annual costs public at a public meeting, holding an employee election, certifying the election, and adopting the ordinance after a 20‑day period.
Why it matters: Changing a classification from miscellaneous to local safety alters retirement benefit formulas and can affect long‑term pension liabilities and employee recruitment and retention.
Council and staff discussion: Staff recommended two actions: (a) introduce the ordinance to amend the CalPERS contract and (b) adopt the resolution of intention to approve the contract amendment. No public speakers registered on the item. The motion to approve the staff recommendations was moved by Council Member Harmon and seconded by Council Member Gutierrez; the council passed the motion unanimously with Council Member Eric Freeman absent.
Next steps: Staff described the process steps including an employee election and certification, then a 20‑day period between ordinance introduction and adoption. The council’s adoption of the resolution of intention is the first formal step toward amending the retirement contract.
