HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-11; City Council; 17070; Military Leave Benefits Enhancement'.
CITY OF CARLSBAD -AGENDA BILL +
I> 1 \B# 17,070 DEPT. HD.-
TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENT OF MILITARY LEAVE
TO COMBAT TERRORISM AND STRENGTHEN
DEPT. Human HOMELAND DEFENSES CITY MG
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Resolution No./ which provides for additional temporary partially paid military leave
3f absence and continued health, retirement and leave accrual benefits for City employees called to
tctive duty with the armed forces by the President of the United States to combat terrorism and
strengthen homeland defenses.
//2003-042
ITEM EXPLANATION:
In response to the terrorist attacks on September 11,2001, the President of the United States began
Zalling up military reservists and members of the National Guard for an anticipated war on terrorism
and to increase homeland defense. This recall may affect City employees who may be recalled to
active duty, and it is important to ensure that City employees and their families do not suffer undue
financial hardship as a result. This resolution provides a temporary mechanism to supplement
employees' military pay to equal their regular City gross biweekly wage at the time of activation and
a continuation of health, retirement and leave accrual benefits.
The City of Carlsbad currently complies with federal and state Military Leave Laws and Codes for
employees serving in the military reserve or National Guard. Under California law, employees who
are recalled to active duty and have been employed with a public agency for at least one year are
entitled to receive their salary for the first 30 calendar days while engaged in the performance of
military duty. Compliance with state and federal law is generally sufficient for short term recalls.
However, when reservists are recalled for significant periods of time, some employees and their
families may experience financial hardship. A number of public agencies, including the City of San
Diego and the County of San Diego, have passed resolutions to provide an additional temporary
partially paid military leave of absence and a continuation of benefits for employees recalled to active
duty to assist in alleviating the economic hardship for their employees. The attached resolution
would be in addition to the City of Carlsbad's standard military leave policy to cover the period
during which an employee is called and serves on active duty status for this specific operation or until
February 1,2004, whichever comes first.
The partial military leave pay would be the difference between the amount the employee would have
received from their regular City gross biweekly wage (not including overtime) and the amount the
employee receives from the military, including all allowances (Leave and Earning Statement). Health
insurance, retirement and leave accrual benefits would be continued for the employee and family,
with the employee continuing to pay his or her respective portion of the benefit programs (including
any premiums for dependent coverage.) The partial military pay benefit would be subject to federal,
state and Medicare taxes and, if applicable, would be part of the employee's W-2 wages at the end of
the year. These provisions would ensure that the benefits for City employees and their families would
not be interrupted.
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PAGE 2 OF AGENDA BILL NO. 17,070
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action is difficult to determine at this time. It is estimated that five or fewer
employees of the City of Carlsbad may be called to active duty. Should this occur, the decision
would be made to either leave the position(s) vacant or backfill the position(s) with other staff until
the employee’s return. Should the decision be made to backfill the position(s), existing funds in the
affected department’s block budget would be used to cover this additional expense.
EXHIBITS:
Resolution No. 2003-042
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RESOLUTION NO.( 2003-042
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIAy APPROVING
TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENT OF MILITARY LEAVE BENEFITS
FOR EMPLOYEES CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY TO COMBAT
TERRORISM AND STRENGTHEN HOMELAND DEFENSES
WHEREAS, the President of the United States has ordered military reservists and
members of the National Guard to active duty to combat terrorism and strengthen homeland
defenses; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to support employees called to active military duty
by ensuring their pay and benefits will be continued equal to their regular City pay and benefits
during their time of activation; and
WHEREAS, representatives of management have met and conferred in good faith with
the Carlsbad City Employees’ Association, the Carlsbad Firefighters’ Association, Inc, the
Carlsbad Police Officers’ Association, and the Carlsbad Police Management Association
pursuant to the Meyers-Millias-Brown Act regarding terms and conditions of employment.
NOW, THEREFOREy BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of
Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That temporary partial military leave pay equal to the difference between the amount
of the employee’s regular pay, excluding overtime, and the employee’s military pay will be
provided by the City.
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3. That health insurance, retirement and leave accrual benefits will continue for the
employee and family, with the employee continuing to pay for hisher respective portion of the
benefit programs during hisher military leave of absence.
4. This temporary partially paid military leave benefit is in addition to the City’s
standard military leave policy to cover the period during which an employee is called and serves
on active duty for this specific operation and will remain in effective until February 1,2004.
5. There is no additional fiscal impact associated with the extension of this temporary
partial military benefit.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City
Council held on them day of February ,2003; by the following vote, to wit:
AYES : Council Members Lewis, Pinnila, Kulchin, Hall and Packard.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
CLAUDE A LEWIS, Mayor
ATTEST:
U/
LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk
(SEAL)
lesolution No. 2OC3-042 -2-