[Roll Call]
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YEAH. OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF THIS MEETING. IT'S A SPECIAL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026. CAN YOU DO THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MISS ORTEGA, MISS SCURLOCK HERE.
MISS SANTOS HERE. MR. BENDER, PRESENT. MR. NAPOLI HERE. MR. PONGO HERE. MISS SAFIR AND MISS
[15-8459 Bill 46 Amending Part 1 – Administrative Legislation, Chapter 75 – Pensions and Retirement, Article III – Police Pension Fund, by adding a new section 75-53 “Limited Deferred Retirement Option Plan”. ]
MODA CANNOT MAKE IT TODAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, TONIGHT'S SPECIAL MEETING. WE HAVE A TOPIC REGARDING THE THE PENSION REFORM BILL TO DROP AT THE REQUEST OF THE FOP. THIS MEETING WAS SCHEDULED TO SHARE DETAILS AND TAKE POTENTIAL QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC. WE HAVEN'T. WE HAVE PRESIDENT OUR FOP PRESIDENT, MR. CHRIS MATTHEWS, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING. AND FRANK KANE, OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR. SO I WILL PASS IT ON TO YOU. AND PRESENTATION IS ALL YOURS. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU ALL FROM THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, JUST TO THERE WERE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST MEETING AS FAR AS STATS AND STATISTICS RELATED TO OUR HIRING, OUR STAFFING. WHILE I WON'T GO INTO SPECIFIC NUMBERS AND DETAILS ABOUT THAT, I WILL SAY THAT THE OFFICERS THAT WERE HIRED IN 2025, WE STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THEM.
SO WE HAVE HAD OTHER OFFICERS RETIRE ALREADY IN 2026, AND WE AGAIN, STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THEM EITHER. SO THE PURPOSE OF THE DROP IS AGAIN, TO SLOW THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT ARE SEPARATING FROM THE CITY WHILE WE RAMP UP RECRUITING EFFORTS TO BE ABLE TO BACKFILL THE ALREADY OPEN SPOTS WHILE NOT CREATING ADDITIONAL EXISTING OPEN SPOTS. AND ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS THE REFERENDUM FOR AMENDING THE PENSION ORDINANCE FOR CITY COUNCIL IS SIMPLY TO REFLECT THE ALREADY SIGNED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE FOP CURRENTLY. OKAY, SO MAYBE I COULD WAIT. SO BROADLY, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT IF YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, THE DROP IS A PROGRAM. IT'S IT'S IT'S A DEFERRED RETIREMENT PROGRAM. THE POINT OF THE THING IS TO GET PEOPLE TO STAY. WE'RE HAVING IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TO RECRUIT NEW POLICE OFFICERS. FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING MUCH SUCCESS, NOR IS ANY DEPARTMENT REALLY ANYWHERE EXPERIENCING SUCCESS IN RECRUITING POLICE OFFICERS. SO WHAT WHAT WHAT WE HAVE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO DO, AS MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE, IS WHEN A POLICE OFFICER HITS THEIR RETIREMENT RATHER THAN RETIRE, THEY THEY LEAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY LEAVE THE PENSION PROGRAM PORTION OF THE CITY. RIGHT. AND SO THEN THEY RECEIVE THE CITY, PAYS OUT, CONTINUES TO PAY OUT THEIR PENSION PAYMENTS, BUT INTO ANOTHER POT OF MONEY. AND THEN THAT POT OF MONEY ACCUMULATES OVER FIVE YEARS. AND THEN WHEN THEY WHEN THEY EXIT, THEY TAKE THAT MONEY WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, AND WE RETAIN THE INTEREST OUR PENSION. WHAT I THINK OUR ASSUMPTION IS WHAT IS THE DROP GIVES YOU 4.5, 5.5 THE THE DROP ON THE MONEY. SO THE MONEY STAYS IN THE PENSION FUND. IT DOESN'T GO INTO A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. IT SIMPLY DOG EARED FOR WHEN THE OFFICER SEPARATES. SO WHATEVER REMAINING INTEREST UP UP UNTIL 4.5% IS WHAT THE OFFICERS WOULD GET AT TIME OF SEPARATION. ANY REMAINING INTEREST STAYS IN THE PENSION FUND. RIGHT. SO ALL OF THE INTEREST THAT ACCRUES, I MEAN, THIS COULD COME CLOSE TO BEING COST NEUTRAL, DEPENDING ON HOW INVESTMENTS GO AND HOW, YOU KNOW, AND HOW THE MARKET GOES AND HOW OUR, OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, HOW OUR PAYOUTS GO. SO REALLY THE WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS IT'S A, IT IS A TOOL TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOR OPERATIONS, IT'S FOR OPERATIONAL. CONTINUITY. WE, IF WE WERE TO EXPERIENCE A MASS RETIREMENT OF 20 OR 30 OFFICERS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR, FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO FUNCTION AND TO PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE IN ALLENTOWN EXPECT. SO THAT'S WHY THE MAYOR HAS ENTERED INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
OKAY. ANY OTHER ANYTHING ELSE? BEFORE I TAKE SOME QUESTIONS? NO, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES REGARDING THE DROP AND SINCE THE LAST MEETING, ANYTHING? OKAY. I MEAN, I CAN I CAN SAY THE ONE THE ONE ISSUE I'VE CONTINUED TO HEAR IS NOT KNOWING WHAT THIS WILL COST BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A CONCERN, YOU KNOW, FROM A BUDGET
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STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WHEN, WHEN YOU BUILD A, A CAPITAL PROJECT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST AND HOW THAT'S AMORTIZED OVER TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS. THIS IT'S, IT'S, I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS I'VE HEARD IS HOW MUCH IS IT? AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ANSWER TO THAT, BUT IT'S HARD. IT'S HARD TO JUSTIFY IT. I WILL SAY THAT IN MY OPINION, THE COST OF DOING THE DROP IS SIGNIFICANTLY, MUCH LESS THAN IT WILL BE. THE COST OF NOT DOING THE DROP THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. OKAY. AND THAT'S AND THAT'S THE COST OF DOING THE DROP WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE COST OF IF THE DROP IS NOT DONE THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IMPLEMENTED, OR IF IT'S NOT DONE AT ALL. AND THAT'S SIMPLY FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE, ARE SHIFT OVERTIME ALREADY IS UP THIS ALREADY, THIS TIME IN 2026, IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THAN IT WAS IN 2025. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE SHIFT STAFFING ISSUES ALREADY AS THEY ARE. AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T FOR OVERTIME RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENTS OR ANY TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, IF AN OFFICER HAS A LATE CALL, THE NUMBERS THAT I'M REFERRING TO ARE SHIFTS, STAFFING NUMBERS. SO IF AN OFFICER IS CALLS OUT SICK OR THERE'S A VACANCY DUE TO ANY OTHER TRAININGS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF SHIFT STAFFING ISSUE, WE HAVE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT WE MAINTAIN ON ON PATROL. THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT I'M REFERRING TO, AND THOSE ARE THE SHIFTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PAID OUT IN OVERTIME TO BE TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THE SAME BASIC PATROL SERVICES THAT WE OFFER. AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING ALL OF OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER SPECIALTY COMMUNITY OUTREACH UNITS THAT WERE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE SHORTAGES IN WITH THE NUMBER, WITH THE NUMBER HAVING DROPPED FROM 2025 AND THAT WHICH WE STILL HAVEN'T RECOVERED FROM.AND IF I CAN GIVE YOU SOME OTHER NUMBERS. SO WE ARE REIMBURSED FOR EACH POLICE OFFICER, $12,500 FOR THEIR PENSION. SO WHEN THESE WHEN A PERSON LEAVES THE PENSION PLAN AS AN ACTIVE DUTY POLICE OFFICER, LET'S SAY WE NO LONGER RECEIVE THAT 12,500. SO FOR EVERY PERSON THAT ENTERS THE DROP, WE WILL NOT WE WILL NOT RECEIVE THAT 12,500. RIGHT. AND THEIR PENSION WILL THEN, YOU KNOW, TECHNICALLY WHETHER IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE EARMARKED AS, AS, AS A DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY IN THE PENSION. BUT TECHNICALLY THAT'S, THAT'S MONEY THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING OUT ANYWAY TOO. SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN REALLY COUNT THAT MONEY AS A LOSS. THE LOSS IS 12,500. BUT YOU KNOW, THE IDEA IS THEN THAT WE WOULD HIRE OTHER OFFICERS THAT WOULD THEN PAY INTO THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE TIME THAT THESE THAT THESE OFFICERS REMAINED, WE WOULD THEN HAVE MORE TIME TO HIRE OTHER RECRUITS THAT WOULD COME IN AND THAT WOULD PAY INTO THE PENSION FUND. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD KEEP IT SOLVENT AND WOULD KEEP IT GROWING. SO IT'S REALLY THE $12,500 THAT WE THAT WE LOSE FROM FROM THE STATE. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR. PONGO. GO AHEAD. ABSOLUTELY. SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. YOU KNOW, BETWEEN LAST MEETING AND THIS MEETING, IT THIS PROGRAM IS TOUTED AS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE BENEFIT OF RECRUITING. AND I KNOW WE KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LAST TIME AROUND. IT SEEMS LIKE, AND I THINK WE MENTIONED SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS AT THE BEGINNING AT OUR LAST MEETING, JUST THE IDEA OF IF IT'S A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT NOW TO HIRE WHAT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE GUARANTEE THAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS WON'T ALREADY RETIRE? MAYBE WE CAN FOR SOME, MAYBE WE CAN'T, FOR OTHERS CAN WE GUARANTEE WE WILL HIRE? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY CAN. MAYBE WE WILL INCREASE OUR CHANCES. BUT I GUESS MY OTHER PART OF IT IS IF RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING A CRUNCH AND IT'S NOT JUST US AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, A WIDE CRUNCH AROUND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES ALL AROUND. MAYBE THIS IS AN OPTION, BUT IS THERE ANY REASON WHY IT COULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, A TEMPORARY OPTION WHERE IF WE'RE SAYING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW AND IT'S IN, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HELP COMBAT THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S AT LEAST THE WAY THAT WHEN I KIND OF GO THROUGH THE NUMBERS AND I UNDERSTAND IT, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A RECURRING COST AS THE PROGRAM CONTINUES AND AS WE WE DO THIS AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL OTHER LONG TERM EFFECTS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES TRANSITION PLANNING LOOK LIKE? DO WE HAVE OFFICERS WHO STAY MAYBE IN THEIR POSITION? AND THEN IT LIMITS SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS WHO COULD KIND OF CLIMB UP THE RANKS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M JUST SAYING IF THESE ARE POSSIBILITIES, YOU KNOW, IS IT NECESSARILY THE TOOL THAT WE WANT TO KEEP FOR THE LONG TERM VERSUS, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, FILL IN A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE SEEING A STRUGGLE?
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I UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, FROM FROM THE ADMINISTRATION'S PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN I'LL LET SERGEANT MATTHEWS GIVE THE FOP PERSPECTIVE. BUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE A WE HAVE A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE FOP. IT'S BEEN IT GOES THROUGH PROCESS TO BE VOTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP THERE. AND THIS IS THE DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE TO BRING BEFORE YOU. AND I DON'T THINK I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WOULD BE A PROCESS TO AMEND IT.I THINK IT'S JUST THE AGREEMENT IS IN ITS FINAL FORM. THE AGREEMENT IS IN ITS FINAL FORM, AND PART OF THE ISSUE THAT YOU RUN INTO IS IF YOU PUT AN END DATE ON THE DROP, WOULD YOU END UP HAVING IS A. RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MASS EXODUS THAT WE. THAT THE DEPARTMENT FELT IN 2005, WHERE OUR NUMBERS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, MUCH LOWER THAN THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
TO COMBAT THAT, THE DEPARTMENT RAMPED UP HIRING AND HIRED A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN 2006. BECAUSE OF THAT, 20 YEARS LATER, 2026, WE NOW HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHO ARE READY TO RETIRE. IF WE DO A TEMPORARY DROP, WHAT THAT WILL DO IS, ONE, IT WILL ONLY BENEFIT IF WE WERE EVEN WILLING TO OPEN UP THE THE TERMS WHICH WERE NOT RIGHT NOW. BUT IF THAT WERE AN OPTION, WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS ESSENTIALLY TAKE THIS LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT CAN RETIRE, THAT ENTER INTO THE DROP AND BUILD A LARGER NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT CAN ALL LEAVE AT THE SAME TIME. THEN THE YEAR THAT THE DROP EXPIRES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. IT DOES. AND I GUESS I'M ALSO CURIOUS THAT THE SAME PHENOMENON HAPPENS NOW WITH WITH THE DROP. I BELIEVE IT'S OVER FIVE YEARS NOW. SO EVEN IF THE DROP EXISTS, DOESN'T THAT JUST KIND OF SHIFT THAT TIME HORIZON? FIVE YEARS AND AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN 2026 BECOMES A 2031 ISSUE.
YES AND NO. BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT BUYS US TIME TO RAMP UP OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS AND AGAIN, BE ABLE TO AND ALSO USE THE DROP AS A RECRUITMENT TOOL. IT ALSO GIVES OFFICERS THE THE FREEDOM ENTERING INTO THE DROP DOES NOT LOCK YOU IN FOR A FULL FIVE YEARS OR 60 MONTHS. ONCE YOU'RE IN, YOU CAN DO AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE OF THAT TIME AS YOU'D LIKE IN THE DROP. SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT SPREADS, IT SPREADS IT OUT A LITTLE BIT. AND WE'RE NOT HAVING THESE LARGE NUMBERS OF MASS EXODUSES. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY, MISS HOFFA, I THINK YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TRUE NUMBERS ON.
WE CAN'T LOOK AT FIGURES AND THINK, WELL, IF WE DO THIS, IT'S AN ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF THE MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY TRUE FIGURES ON THINGS. WE DON'T KNOW IF ANOTHER PLAN AS LIKE I'M A PROPONENT OF RECRUITING MORE, USING THE MONEY TO GET MORE POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE. SO IF WE DON'T HAVE TRUE FIGURES AND NUMBERS TO COMPARE AND MAKE A DECISION ON, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO SAY, WELL, WELL, IT COULD BE THIS MUCH OR IT COULD BE THAT MUCH. OR IF WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN IN MIND, WE MIGHT ALL DECIDE THAT, THAT WE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN OR WE DON'T HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN, BUT ANOTHER PLAN CAN COME UP THAT WILL BE MORE ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY WITH MORE PATROLMEN AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO IT MAKES US IT'S DIFFICULT IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE TRUE FIGURES, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR LIKE FOREVER, BUT YOU CAN'T COME UP WITH ANY OF THEM. HOW MUCH IT'S REALLY GOING TO COST WITH THE DROP? YOU DON'T KNOW. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WE DON'T KNOW. SO IF I MAY. THE WE'LL USE. WE'LL USE 2026, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OFFICERS THAT ARE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO LEAVE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, IF THOSE OFFICERS LEAVE, THEY'RE GONE.
THE MONEY THE PENSION FUND CEASES TO GET THE STATE FUNDING THAT WE WOULD GET FOR THOSE OFFICERS. THE PENSION FUND LOSES THE MONEY OUT OF THE PENSION FUND ON A ON A BI WEEKLY BASIS. AND ALL THE WHILE WE ARE WE'RE IN THE POSITION WHERE WE ARE HIRING OVERTIME OR OR STRIPPING DOWN VARIOUS UNITS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, REDUCING THE SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC WHILE WE TRY TO HIRE THOSE OFFICERS. AND AGAIN, EVEN WHEN WE HIRE OFFICERS, IT'S WE HAVE THE ACADEMY, WHICH IS A 28 WEEK PROGRAM. WE HAVE OUR FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO TAKES A COUPLE MONTHS. SO IT'S NOT AN INSTANT FIX TO, TO JUST HIRE ALL THESE OFFICERS THE ENTIRE TIME. THE CITY WILL INCUR THOSE COSTS. BUT IF I MAY INTERRUPT YOU A MINUTE, MR. PONGO'S IDEA WOULD THEN BE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. WE
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COULD THEN IF IT'S FIVE YEARS OR WHATEVER, WE COULD SEE THE PLAN WORKING. BUT FOR FOREVER.IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'LL WE'LL SEE THE PLAN. WE'LL SEE HOW IT'S WORKING. WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IT COSTS. WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND SEE EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE THE PLAN. BUT FOR US TO VOTE LIKE A FOREVER THING, IT'S I MEAN, THE ONE POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT IT'S A PROJECTION. LIKE, LIKE ALL BUDGETING IS A PROJECTION.
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOUR HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR. WE JUST DID A WHOLE, WE JUST DID A WHOLE, A WHOLE COMMITTEE ON. WE, WE DON'T WE DON'T KNOW. WE CAN GUESS. WE HAVE NUMBERS. WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $30,000 PER EMPLOYEE. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW. AND THE SAME THING, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO INTO THE DROP. WE DON'T KNOW THE MONEY WE'RE GOING TO. WE HAVE AN ACTUARIAL STUDY WHICH YOU'VE WHICH YOU'VE SEEN AND YOU'VE SEEN THOSE PROJECTIONS.
BUT ALL BUDGETING IS REALLY JUST PROJECTIONS. THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO KNOW. AT THE END OF THE DAY, A FIVE YEAR PLAN WOULD BE MUCH BETTER. I THINK WE HAVE A WE HAVE WE.
IT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE IS THE IS THE ISSUE TODAY. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES? OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? WELCOME. PUSH BUTTON. THIS ONE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BARBARA REDMOND WITH IMPROVING LIVES AND I AGREE WITH MISS ALPHA. YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PLAN. HOW CAN YOU GO OUT THERE AND HAVE THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR? IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, IT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT YOU NEED TO BE IN PAPER WRITING SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY.
I DID PUT TOGETHER A STATEMENT JUST TO MAKE SURE I COVER EVERYTHING, BUT AT THIS POINT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. ON BEHALF OF CITY COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO DID PROVIDE INFORMATION, PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUPPORTING OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE DEPARTMENT AND ADDRESS THE STAFFING NEEDS. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EARLIER THIS SUMMER, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE HIRING OF MA DUSABLE TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO MAKE INFORMED FINANCIAL DECISIONS. THE FIRM IS PREPARING A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTION THAT WILL GIVE US GREATER CONTEXT, AS WE CONSIDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, AND HOW THOSE DECISIONS COULD AFFECT THE CITY BUDGET IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
THESE AREN'T EASY DECISIONS, AND THEY'RE NOT DECISIONS THAT TAKE LIGHTLY. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING OUR CITY WORKFORCE.
MA IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER ITS FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS BY MID-OCTOBER. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I HOPE EVERYONE WILL RESPECT COUNCIL'S DECISION TO PAUSE CONSIDERATION OF THE DRAFT PROGRAM UNTIL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE AND REVIEW THAT ANALYSIS. IN THE MEANTIME, I ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION, THE FOP AND MY COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OTHER WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS APD STAFFING CHALLENGES. I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK. I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND DEVELOP INCENTIVES THAT HELP US ATTRACT AND RETAIN OFFICERS. ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO BE THINKING BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE STAFFING CHALLENGE. WE DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATIONS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN OFA, WHO CHAIRS THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN CONSIDERING AND EVALUATING LONG TERM SOLUTIONS. SHE'S EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I KNOW SHE WILL HELP LEAD THAT CONVERSATION. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. WE'LL PICK UP THIS CONVERSATION AFTER COUNCIL HAS HAD A CHANCE TO CONSIDER THIS PROGRAM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTION AND THE 2027 BUDGET PROCESS. SO THANK YOU, FOP PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, I WOULD STRONGLY URGE AND REQUEST THAT CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON THIS PENSION ORDINANCE REFERENDUM SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, PLEASE. THIS CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, THE MAYOR, BACK
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IN FEBRUARY, AND MY MEMBERS HAVE WAITED VERY PATIENTLY SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS PAST YEAR TO FOR THIS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET THIS PART OF THE THIS MANDATORY FUNCTION RESOLVED, AS IT'S THE MAYOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO EXECUTE ALL CONTRACTS AND WRITTEN OBLIGATIONS OF THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. AND WAITING UNTIL MID-OCTOBER PUTS THE OFFICERS WHO WOULD BE RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR. AND WITH CERTAIN TIMELINES THAT ARE LAID OUT IN OUR CONTRACT, AS WELL AS WITH THE CITY, WE'LL PUT THEM IN A VERY TIGHT BIND. AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE EMPLOYEES MAKING THE DECISION OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN IN THE NEW YEAR. SO I WOULD STRONGLY URGE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE AT HAND AND VOTE ON THE AT THE NEXT POSSIBLE MEETING. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M I'M UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY PUSH BACK. AND WE WE HIRED A FIRM TO HELP US WITH BUDGET PLANNING AND HELP US FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE OUR BUDGET IS APPROPRIATELY FUNDED AND USED. AND THAT'S WHY WE PAUSED CAPITAL PROJECTS. WE. WE PAUSED THE. WE DIDN'T. THE DROP IS PART OF IT, AND WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING BEFORE WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS THAT MAKE. THAT COULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPACTS ON OUR RESIDENTS FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. AND FOR US TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS PRIOR TO GETTING THAT INFORMATION, I THINK WOULD BE NOT VERY THOUGHTFUL OR PRUDENT TO OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE COUNTING ON US TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE FOR OUR BUDGET. SO WHILE I DO RESPECT AND APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, I SINCERELY MEAN THAT. I HOPE YOU RESPECT WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING, NOT JUST FOR 2027, BUT FOR THE YEARS AFTER IN THESE REALLY IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AND A PENSION REFORM BILL SUCH AS THE DRAFT AND MY COLLEAGUES, I'VE PULLED THEM AND THEY ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY.SO I, I, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, NOT MYSELF, THAT THEY'RE ALL WAITING FOR THIS, THIS, THIS REPORT, YOU KNOW, IN MID OCTOBER TO HELP GUIDE US PRUDENTLY, YOU KNOW, INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT. HOWEVER, THIS IS A NEGOTIATED BENEFIT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ENTERED INTO BY THE CITY WITH EMPLOYEES, THE MEMBERS OF THE FOP THAT ARE ACTIVELY WORKING. THIS IS NOT A CAPITAL PROJECT. THIS IS A NEGOTIATED BENEFIT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SIGNED AND ENTERED INTO WITH THE CITY. AND THIS IS A NECESSARY FUNCTION, A MANDATORY FUNCTION OF CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND THIS. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ACT 47 BENEFIT THAT WAS INTRODUCED AND SPOKEN ABOUT FOR TWO MINUTES AT THE CITY COUNCIL, TWO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO AND VOTED ON. THAT WAS ALSO NEGOTIATED BENEFIT THAT WAS ENTERED INTO WITH THIS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FOP. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.
MY COLLEAGUES FIND IT VERY DIFFERENT, AND I'M SORRY THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE BEING PUT IN THIS POSITION. BUT AND ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM OUR DIESEL. AND THAT'S REALLY OUR INTENT IS TO FOLLOW THAT ADVICE. AND IF WE MAKE DECISIONS BEFORE WE GET THAT ADVICE, I DON'T THINK I, I KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS WOULD NOT LOOK FAVORABLY ON THAT. I THINK THEY'RE COUNTING ON US TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION. SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT REPORT. AND I'M SORRY THAT IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T MATCH UP WITH YOUR TIMELINE. I'M SORRY THAT IT DOESN'T WORK OUT LIKE THAT. BUT WE'RE FOCUSED ON OUR BUDGET AND OUR NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND THIS THIS REPORT COMING OUT OCTOBER 15TH IS CRUCIAL FOR US. SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHY WE ALL FEEL LIKE THAT. SO AGAIN, I'M SORRY. NOTHING. JUST BEING RESPECTFUL. THAT'S YOU DON'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO ME. THE 30 PLUS OFFICERS THAT NOW NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER FOR THIS TO A DECISION TO EVEN BE THOUGHT ABOUT BEING MADE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLANNING THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. AFTER DOING OVER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE APOLOGIZED TO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT BEING SAID, THAT WRAPS UP OUR MEE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.