Commission ratifies firefighter collective bargaining agreement and updates pension rules

Hollywood’s City Commission unanimously approved on July 7 an ordinance and companion resolution implementing a tentative collective bargaining agreement with Hollywood Professional Firefighters Local 1375 that changes city pension rules and member contributions.

At a public hearing, Alex Yonker, president of Hollywood Professional Firefighters Local 1375, thanked commissioners for negotiating the agreement and framed the vote as an investment in public safety and retention of experienced firefighters. The agreement incorporated into chapter 33 of the city code increases the benefit accrual rate for service earned on and after July 7, 2026, to 3.4% of average final compensation; changes normal retirement to the earlier of the first of the month following attainment of age 50 with 10 years’ service or upon completion of 21 years’ credit; and sets member contribution rates at 9.85% for tier 1 members and 11.35% for tier 2 members.

Commissioners heard the attorney read the ordinance into the record and then took a roll‑call vote. The ordinance passed on second reading and the resolution ratifying the collective bargaining agreement passed unanimously. The mayor and the commission thanked firefighters for their service and noted the city will move to implement the contract and related code changes per the ordinance schedule.

What happens next: The ordinance is effective as stated in the text and administrative steps to execute the collective bargaining agreement were authorized by the commission vote. The agreement’s effective date and the ordinance language are included in the public record.