(Minutes not formally adopted
until next meeting)
Meeting Date: September
7, 2004
Board Members Present: Shelley Smith
(President), Mary Dennis (Vice-President), Judith Reel (Secretary),
Marsha Berkowitz (Civil Director), Lisa Berger (Proprietary Director),
Terri Siegel (Criminal Director)
SEIU Local 347 Representative Present:
Bob Hunt (General Counsel)
I. Old Business
A. MOU Update
Board members on the MOU bargaining team and
City management continue to meet to discuss ways to ensure career
advancement and transfer opportunities for attorneys intending
to have a career in the Office; the Board encouraged members of
the negotiating team to continue efforts to build a better relationship
with management. In the meantime, SEIU, Local 347, agreed to a
successor MOU for many of its units. The agreement includes continued
increases in the health care subsidy at the rate imposed by Kaiser
Permanente, and a 6 1/4% cost of living increase over the next
three years, as follows: zero percent the first year of the contract;
two percent on July 1, 2005, 2 percent on July 1, 2006, and 2
1/4 percent on January 1, 2007.
II. New Business
A. Deferred Compensation
Great West Retirement Services administers
the City= s Deferred Compensation Program. The Great West
contract with the City was scheduled to terminate, and both Great
West and Nationwide submitted bids to administer the program.
The City staff and an independent consultant both recommended
that the City accept Great West= s bid. On August 17, 2004,
the Board of Deferred Compensation, in a 4 to 2 decision, voted
to accept Nationwide= s bid. Shelley Smith, by virtue of serving
as President of LACERS, sits on the Deferred Comp Board and was
one of the two Board members voting in favor of Great West.
Nationwide= s services will cost plan
participants more than did Great West= s. In light of the
increased costs and many members= satisfaction with Great
West= s administration, many Program participants raised objections
with Council members about the selection of Nationwide. SEIU,
Local 347, objected, and Shelley Smith and the General Manager
of the City= s Personnel Department, sent a lengthy letter
to Councilmembers explaining their opposition to the selection
of Nationwide. Shelley, SEIU, Local 347, and many others urged
the City Council to assert jurisdiction over the Board= s
decision.
The votes of ten Councilmembers were needed
to assert jurisdiction over the decision to select Nationwide,
and on September 14, 2004, the City Council voted ten to zero
to assert jurisdiction. On September 29, 2004, the City Council
Personnel Committee will hear the matter, after which it will
return to the Council for a decision. The Council cannot order
the Board of Deferred Compensation to reverse its decision, but
it can require the Board to reconsider.
Association members are encouraged to express
their opinions regarding the selection of Nationwide to serve
as Plan Administrator. Anyone desiring an update re: future Council
and Committee actions in this matter should contact Board Secretary
Judith Reel, who will send updates.
B. Political Participation
SEIU, Local 347, offers members a variety
of ways in which to participate in City and Statewide politics;
any members desiring to learn more about such opportunities should
contact SEIU, Local 347, political director Teresa Sanchez at
(213) 482-6660.
SEIU, Local 347, General Manager Julie Butcher
briefed the Board on Union efforts to promote Proposition 1A (Local
Government Financing Initiative) and Proposition O (bond measure
for Clean Water Bonds for Bay storm water clean-up), both of which
are thought to be vital to the City= s fiscal health.
C. Board Elections
The Board authorized the sending of a notice
concerning the nomination and election process for City Attorney
Board positions. A notice will be sent to all members. The Board
seats up for reelection are Vice President, Treasurer, Civil Director
and two Criminal Director positions. Please understand that this
is a separate election from the election for the SEIU Board of
Directors.
.......
Note: these minutes include reference to subsequent
events.
