City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Lisa Roos, City Clerk & Finance Director
Date: 03/10/2026
Subject: CalPERS Industrial Disability Retirement Resolution RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution making the necessary findings and determinations under the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law that Police Sergeant Stephen Meece is incapacitated for the performance of duties and is eligible for industrial disability retirement, and directing staff to submit the Resolution and supporting documentation to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS).
BACKGROUND:
On October 15, 2025, the City received a letter from CalPERS notifying us that Stephen Meece submitted an application for industrial disability retirement, asserting an incapacity to perform the essential duties of his position as Police Sergeant. CalPERS is requesting the governing body to make a determination of Mr. Meece’s disability and submit a determination resolution in accordance with Government Code Sections 21154 and 21156.
Government Code Section 21154, 21156 and 21157 govern the industrial disability retirement process through CalPERS. Pursuant to these codes, the following steps are taken in order for the public safety member to receive industrial disability retirement:
1. A public safety member shall make an application to CalPERS stating their physical or mental incapacity to perform their duties.
2. On receipt of an application for disability, the City shall coordinate a medical examination of the member to determine whether the individual is incapacitated for the performance of duty.
3. The governing board shall make a determination within 6 months of the letter from CalPERS.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s worker compensation program administrator (AIMS) has reviewed relevant medical evaluations, employment records, and other supporting documentation. Based on their findings and review, staff concludes that Stephen Meece meets the statutory criteria for disability retirement under the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact should be minimal through CalPERS because the injured worker was of normal retirement age.
RESOLUTION NO. 26-11
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON MAKING FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS WITH
RESPECT TO THE DISABILITY OF STEPHEN B MEECE
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT LAW
WHEREAS, the City of Ripon (hereinafter referred to as “City”) is a contracting agency of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS); and WHEREAS, the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law requires that the City determine whether an employee who is classified as a local safety member of the City is disabled for purposes of the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law and whether such disability is “industrial” within the meaning of such law; and WHEREAS, an application for Industrial Disability Retirement of Stephen B Meece, employed by the City in the position of Police Sergeant, has been filed with CalPERS; and WHEREAS, as part of the application process, CalPERS is asking the City to confirm Stephen B Meece’s disability; and
WHEREAS, the City has reviewed the competent medical opinion evidence regarding Stephen B Meece’s injury prior to making this determination.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City finds and determines that Stephen B Meece is eligible to retire for disability because he is substantially incapacitated within the meaning of the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law from the performance of his duties in the position of Police Sergeant and the City does hereby certify under penalty of perjury that this determination was made on the basis of a competent medical opinion and that the determination was not used as a substitute for any disciplinary process in accordance with Government Code section 21156(a)(2).
Pursuant to such authority, the City also determines that such incapacity is a result of injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his employment as a Sergeant. The City hereby certifies that neither the City nor the member has filed a “Petition for Finding of Fact” under Government Code section 21166, to be made by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
Stephen B Meece filed a Workers’ Compensation claim for a bilateral arm and bilateral hand condition. The Workers’ Compensation claim was accepted. The member is competent to act on his own behalf in legally binding retirement matters. The primary disabling condition is a bilateral arm and hand condition.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the member retired from his employment in the position of Sergeant effective March 12, 2023 and that no dispute as to the expiration of such leave rights is pending. His last day on pay status was March 11, 2023. There is not a possibility of third party liability. Advanced Disability Pension Payments will not be made.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the competent medical opinion has certified that duration of the medical condition is expected to be permanent.
The City certifies under penalty of perjury that it has made the foregoing determinations and that this is the decision of the City with regards to the industrial disability retirement application of Stephen B Meece.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 10th day of March, 2026, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED BY CONSENT VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER:Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
GARY BARTON, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk