HomeMy WebLinkAbout05(H) - Resolution Approving Part-Time Employee Participation in the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association Report
ITEM: 5H
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 12, 2026
PREPARED BY: Lori Olson, Assistant City Manager
PRESENTED BY: Jason Wedel, City Manager
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Approving Part-Time Employee Participation in the
Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approval of a resolution that will allow James W. Ruzicka, Assistant Fire Chief, to continue
enrollment in the PERA Police & Fire Retirement Plan as a part-time employee effective May 31,
2026.
BACKGROUND:
In early 2026, Assistant Fire Chief Ruzicka announced his retirement from the Prior Lake Fire
Department (PLFD). Although his replacement was promoted in March 2026, the Fire Chief asked
Chief Ruzicka to delay his retirement to complete several projects and assist with the training of
his replacement. By mutual agreement, Chief Ruzicka will transition to a part-time, exempt
employee on May 31 through September 19, 2026.
Below are the specific projects Chief Ruzicka will be responsible for over the next few months:
Finalizing the new ladder truck production, including travel to Appleton, WI for pre-build
and specification meetings with the vendor in August;
Preparing Fire Station 2 (FS2) for staffing, including coordination with Facilities and IT to
ready the building for employees; development of the staffing implementation plan and
schedule for FS2; and drafting updated standard operating procedures to include policies
for fire response from two stations;
Completing “First Due” software implementation, including the rollout of Community
Connect and staff training;
Assisting with the part-time, shift-assigned hiring process which is currently underway for
at least six new firefighters; and
Responding to service calls during PLFD’s high call volume summer season.
As a full-time firefighter, Chief Ruzicka is currently enrolled in the PERA Police & Fire plan.
Minnesota State Statute (MSS) and PERA rules require a City Council resolution for part-time
firefighters and police officers to participate in this plan. Specifically, section 353.64, subdivision
2 of MSS says:
The governing body of a governmental subdivision may adopt a resolution…declaring that
a public employee employed in a position on a part-time basis by that governmental
subdivision is covered by the police and fire plan for that employment.
Chief Ruzicka started with the PLFD as a paid-on-call (POC) firefighter in 1998 at a wage of
$7.50/hour. He was promoted to POC captain in 2002 and to POC Deputy Chief in 2021. His
maximum wage during that time was $14.00/hour with a small monthly stipend for being an officer.
City of Prior Lake | 4646 Dakota Street SE | Prior Lake MN 55372
Item 5H
Page | 2
In 2021, he accepted the full-time Assistant Fire Chief position where he served as one of only
two regular City employees until the PLFD transitioned to a full-time department in 2023. For over
28 years, Chief Ruzica has served the community with honor, dedication, and professionalism.
This resolution applies to Chief Ruzicka only and does not impact PLFD’s part-time, shift-assigned
firefighters’ participation in the PERA – Coordinated Plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no budget impact for this request as the transition allows for cost alignment within the
existing personnel budget due to wage differentials.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Motion and second, as part of the consent agenda, approve the resolution that will allow
James W. Ruzicka, Assistant Fire Chief, to continue enrollment in the PERA Police & Fire
Retirement Plan as a part-time employee effective May 31, 2026.
2. Remove from the consent agenda for discussion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. PERA-RuzickaResolution_May12.2026
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 26 –
Resolution Approving Part-Time Employee Participation in the Minnesota Public
Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Police & Fire Retirement Plan
WHEREAS, Assistant Fire Chief James W. Ruzicka announced his retirement from the
Prior Lake Fire Department (PLFD) in early 2026; and
WHEREAS, Chief Ruzicka agreed to delay his retirement and work part-time effective
May 31, 2026, to complete several projects; and
WHEREAS, Chief Ruzicka began his fire service with the City or Prior Lake in 1998 as a
paid-on-call firefighter and transitioned to a full-time Assistant Fire Chief in
2021, at which time he began participation in the PERA Police & Fire
Retirement Plan; and
WHEREAS,
Minnesota Statute, Section 353.63 gives special consideration to
employees who perform hazardous work and devote their time and skills to
protecting the property and personal safety of others; and
WHEREAS,
Minnesota Statute, Section 353.64, Subdivision 1 permits the governing
body of a governmental subdivision to declare coverage in the PERA
Police & Fire Retirement Plan for a non-full-time firefighter who is:
- employed in a fire department;
- required to be and is licensed by the Board of Firefighter Training
and Education under section 299N.05;
- engaged in or exposed to hazardous conditions resulting from
firefighting or fire prevention, suppression, or investigation;
- assigned less than 50 percent of the time to perform employment
duties in the same department that are not within the scope of fire
service in Minnesota Statute, Section 353.64, Subdivision 1; and
WHEREAS, The position of Assistant Fire Chief, currently held by James W. Ruzicka,
satisfies the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Section 353.64,
Subdivision 1.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR
LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. The City Council authorizes James W. Ruzicka, Assistant Fire Chief, to continue
enrollment in the PERA Police & Fire Retirement Plan as a part-time firefighter effective
May 31, 2026.
N:\Personnel\Benefits\MN Pension (PERA)\PERA-RuzickaResolution_May12.2026.docx
Passed and adopted by the Prior Lake City Council this 12th day of May 2026.
VOTE Briggs Braid Lake Churchill Hellier
Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
__________________________
Jason Wedel, City Manager