b'20052006 OnJanuary20,2005,anordinancewasenactedAn ordinance was effective January 4, 2006, which allowing former Tier 2 members who had prior servicegave current Port Police Officers the choice of trans-as paramedics or civilian ambulance personnel underferring to Tier 5 or remaining in the Los Angeles City the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement SystemEmployeesRetirementSystem.Personsappoint-to purchase this period of service. ed on or after January 8, 2006, as specified in the In the March 2005 election, the voters approved twoordinance, become members of Tier 5 upon gradu-Charter amendments. The first amendment autho- ation from academy training required by the Harbor rizedtheCityCounciltoadoptanordinancetoDepartment.transfer the sworn Port Police Officers to Tier 5 of FireThe actuarial valuation of 2005 found the Plan less and Police Pensions. than 100% funded for pension benefits. As required The second amendment provided the following: bytheLosAngelesAdministrativeCode,Tier5 1.Institutedreturn-to-dutyprovisionssimilartomember contributions were increased to 9% effec-those in Tier 2 to members in Tiers 3, 4, and 5. tive July 1, 2006.2.Authorized the City Council to allow a City Defray-alofEmployeeContributionsbyOrdinance. This means the City may pay a portion of the employee contributions to Tiers 3, 4, and 5, not to exceed 2% of the required contributions in lieu of a salary increase or a portion of an increase. This provision is to be used during Memorandum of Understanding negotiations as part of a total economic package and the cost will be evaluated at that time.3.Authorized the City Council to set the maximum sworn retiree health insurance premium subsidy byordinance.Priortothischange,theCharter limited the maximum sworn retiree health insur-ancepremiumsubsidytothelesserofthe maximum active sworn member health subsidy or the maximum civilian retiree health subsidy. The CityCouncilcandelegateauthorityforsetting sworn retiree subsidies to the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners.Jim Donaway PhotoSECTION 9MILESTONES 175'