COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
SUBJECT:
title
Ratification of Edgewater Professional Firefighter International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4575, Lieutenant, Driver Engineer and Firefighter Collective Bargaining Agreement.
body
DEPARTMENT:
Human Resources
SUMMARY: The changes in this agreement are presented in the underlined and strikethrough format. The changes are as follows:
Ø Article 22 - Holidays -
§ 22.1 - Add Veterans Day
Ø Article 29 - Wages -
§ 29.1 - For the fiscal year 2026-2027, all eligible employees shall receive wage adjustments in accordance with the final results and recommendations of the Classification and Compensation Study, subject to the City Council appropriating sufficient funds in the budget to fund the pay increase pursuant to § 447.309(2)(b), Florida Statutes. For fiscal year 2027-2028 and 2028-2029, all eligible employees shall receive a 2.5% increase in their base hourly rate of pay the first full pay cycle in the month of October. The 2.5% increase for fiscal year 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 will be subject to budget availability and appropriation of sufficient funds in the City’s budget.
29.2 - All bargaining unit employees employed as firefighters who are duly qualified, certified, and cleared to function as a paramedic pursuant to applicable City and County protocols, and who are assigned by the Fire Chief to perform paramedic duties, shall be eligible to receive an annual paramedic incentive stipend in the following amounts:
1. Effective October 1, 2026: $10,000.00 annually, paid bi-weekly.
2. Effective October 1, 2027: $12,000.00 annually, paid bi-weekly.
3. Effective October 1, 2028, and thereafter: $13,000.00 annually, paid bi-weekly.
29.21 The paramedic incentive stipend shall commence with the first bi-weekly pay period following the employee’s receipt of the required paramedic certification, provided the employee is otherwise qualified, cleared, authorized, and assigned to perform paramedic duties. No prorated payment shall be made for any portion of a bi-weekly pay period occurring before the employee becomes eligible for the stipend.
29.22 The stipend shall continue to be paid each bi-weekly pay period for as long as the employee remains qualified, certified, cleared, and authorized to function as a paramedic and continues to be assigned to perform paramedic duties. If an employee ceases to meet any eligibility requirement during a bi-weekly pay period, the stipend shall not be prorated, and payment shall cease beginning with the next applicable bi-weekly pay period.
29.23 The paramedic incentive stipend shall be pensionable and shall be included as pensionable compensation for purposes of calculating retirement benefits, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the provisions of the applicable retirement system.
29.24 The stipend shall not be paid during periods of unpaid leave or during any other period in which the employee does not satisfy the eligibility requirements set forth in this Article.
29.25 The stipend shall be treated for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in accordance with applicable federal law.
Ø Article 32 - Education Reimbursement and Incentives -
§ 32.4 - The incentive pay categories, including Driver Engineer/Firefighter and Lieutenant, will be governed by a mutual agreed-upon policy between the Fire Chief and the President of the IAFF Local 4575. The policy shall provide for adjustments only within the five categories: (1) certifications, (2) certification, (3) advance achievements, (4) classes, and (5) instructor ratings. The Fire Department assigned personnel will be responsible for maintaining employee achievement records and providing the incentives due each employee to the Human Resources Department, based upon the certifications/degrees. Once a certification is obtained and a Category is achieved, the employee will receive the monies for that Category the next applicable pay cycle in the following month.
§ Chart was removed
Ø Article 33 - Entire Agreement/Duration -
§ 33.3 - This Agreement shall be effective upon approval and execution of the parties and shall remain in full force and effect until and including September 30, 2029.
§ 33.4 - Remove the following language: During fiscal year 2025-2026, the agreement will be opened to negotiate for all articles covering the terms and conditions for the subsequent fiscal years 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029.
§ 33.4 - Add the following language: During fiscal year 2026-2027, the parties shall meet to discuss Lieutenant compensation.
Ø Article 36 - Pension Benefits -
§ 36.1 Pensionable Overtime Compensation
36.11 Effective October 1, 2026, for purposes of calculating retirement benefits and Average Final Compensation, active members of the Firefighters Pension Plan shall be entitled to include overtime compensation for up to four hundred fifty-six (456) hours per year.
36.12 A maximum of four hundred fifty-six (456) hours of overtime compensation per year shall be included in the calculation of an active member's Average Final Compensation for pension purposes, regardless of the total amount of overtime worked or paid to the active member during the year, subject to applicable law and the terms of the Firefighters Pension Plan.
§ 36.2 Benefit Accrual Rate - Twenty-Two Years of Credited Service
36.21 Effective October 1, 2026, the accrued retirement benefit for active members of the Firefighters Pension Plan shall increase from sixty-six percent (66%) to seventy-one percent (71%) of Average Final Compensation upon completion of twenty-two (22) years of Credited Service.
36.22 An active member who completes twenty-two (22) years of Credited Service shall therefore be entitled to a retirement benefit equal to seventy-one percent (71%) of Average Final Compensation, subject to the applicable provisions of the Firefighters Pension Plan.
36.23 For Credited Service in excess of twenty-two (22) years, the benefit accrual rate shall increase from three percent (3.00%) to three and twenty-five hundredths’ percent (3.25%) of Average Final Compensation for each additional year of Credited Service. Accordingly, the benefit accrual schedule shall be:
|
Credited Service |
Benefit |
|
22 years |
71.00% |
|
23 years |
74.25% |
|
24 years |
77.50% |
§ 36.3 Investment Return
36.31 Remove the following language from the City of Edgewater Firefighters Pension Plan as adopted in Ordinance 2021-O-36, section 4.07 Supplemental Benefit: “If for any year the actual rate of investment return (less expenses) is less than zero, the return (less expenses) shall be deemed to be equal to zero.”
§ 36.4 Preservation of Existing Benefits
36.41 Nothing contained in this Article shall reduce, diminish, or otherwise adversely affect any pension benefits accrued by a firefighter prior to October 1, 2026.
36.42 The pension enhancements provided in Sections 36.1 and 36.2 shall apply only to active members of the Firefighters Pension Plan and shall not apply to retirees or separated firefighters, regardless of their prior membership or participation in the Firefighters Pension Plan.
36.43 The benefit improvements provided by this Article shall be implemented in accordance with the applicable provisions of the City of Edgewater Firefighters Pension Plan, including Ordinance No. 2021-O-36, as amended, and applicable Florida law.
§ 36.5 Pension Plan Compliance
36.51 The City and the Firefighters’ Pension Plan shall take all actions necessary to amend and administer the Pension Plan to implement Sections 36.1 through 36.4 of this Article. All necessary ordinances, plan documents, and administrative procedures shall be amended in accordance with applicable Florida law.
36.52 The parties intend that the pension benefit enhancements provided in this Article shall be effective October 1, 2026. The City shall use reasonable efforts to complete all necessary implementing amendments no later than January 31, 2027. Nothing in this Section shall require the City or the Firefighters’ Pension Plan to administer or provide a benefit in a manner inconsistent with applicable law.
Ø Signature Page -
§ Update IAFF President
§ Change in designated attorney from Aaron Wolfe to Sabatini Law Firm
Ø Exhibit A - Update employee list
BUDGETED ITEM: ☒ Yes ☐ No ☐ Not Applicable
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ Not Applicable
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve the October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2029 Edgewater Professional Firefighters IAFF Lieutenant, Driver Engineer and Firefighter Collective Bargaining Agreement for the fiscal year 2026/2027 and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement.