The city's reestablished General Employees Retirement System (RIGERS) told the City Council on Dec. 2 that it is prepared to implement an enhanced pension benefit outlined in a settlement agreement, but cannot begin payments until a federal court completes a fairness hearing and issues final approval.

RIGERS' executive director said the office has calculated each eligible member's enhanced benefit and is ready to issue both a lump-sum retroactive payment and an ongoing monthly increase once the court signs off. "Once the judge issues final approval of the settlement agreement, we will be ready to proceed with both the lump sum retroactive payment and the ongoing monthly enhanced benefit," the director said.

The council was told the settlement requires assets to be transferred 15 days after court approval and that a lump-sum payment would be issued within 30 days after that transfer. The director estimated that, on current expectations, the initial distribution could occur in the first quarter of 2026 but reiterated that exact dates depend on the court.

Clerk Doyle read the court's notice that a fairness hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Dec. 9, 2025, at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit to consider objections to the settlement and whether it should be finally approved as fair and reasonable to the class. Deputy Mayor Stevens and other city staff said class members were notified and that the hearing is open to the public.

Council members pressed RIGERS on practical questions. Councilwoman James asked who retirees should contact with questions outside the enhanced-benefit topic; the director indicated the RIGERS office will field enhanced-benefit questions and referred other inquiries back to city staff. Councilman Rutherford asked for clarity on the total back-pay amount owed; the deputy mayor said the GERS office is best suited to answer that.

The council did not take action on the settlement itself; members were informed of the hearing date and the implementation steps the system plans to follow if the court grants final approval. The council also asked the administration to share the enhanced-benefit ordinance amendment with RIGERS attorneys for a final alignment check.