South Miami Commission ratifies AFSCME contract, approves pension code changes

The City Commission ratified a three‑year collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 3294 on Dec. 2 and approved an accompanying ordinance to amend the city pension code to implement the contract provisions.

Randy Brown, president of Local 3294, told commissioners union members voted unanimously to ratify the agreement, praising the negotiation team and highlighting retirement changes and other benefits. Brown urged a unanimous vote to show a “unified front” for city employees.

City staff had presented changes embedded in the collective bargaining agreement, including adjustments to sick‑leave payout mechanics, modest increases to safe‑driving award allocations, and stepped increases in the retirement multiplier accompanied by corresponding employee contribution increases. The city’s actuarial analysis, presented on the record, projects the package to be cost‑neutral or positive to the city over a 10‑year horizon because of increased employee contributions.

Following the public hearing, the Commission voted to adopt the ratification resolution and the companion pension ordinance (roll calls were recorded in the meeting transcript). The pension ordinance amends multiple sections of Chapter 16 to reflect the new contribution and deferred retirement option (DROP) provisions.

What this means: City employees covered by the contract will see the negotiated benefits and modified retirement options implemented as described in the contract and memorialized in the amended pension code; the city expects no negative fiscal impact over a 10‑year horizon per the actuarial review presented to the Commission.