The following description is a general overview of the benefits provided to City of Dana Point benefit eligible employees.

Retirement

The City is a member of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).  The City's contract provides a 2% @ 55 formula for Classic PERS Members and a 2% @ 62 formula for New Members.  Employees are responsible for paying the employee contribution toward the retirement system, which is currently 7.0% for Classic Members and 7.75% for New Members. While the City does not participate in the Social Security System, federal mandate requires employees to contribute 1.45% of wages to Medicare insurance coverage.

Holidays

The City observes eight (9) paid holidays, including a Winter Closure at City Hall between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

Comprehensive Annual Leave

The City provides all full-time employees with paid time off for vacation, personal or family illness and personal business. The starting date of each employee is the base date of the leave. For the first year of service, the employee accrues 4.615 hours per pay period, increasing to 9.230 hours per pay period for 10+ years of service.

Education Reimbursement

The City will reimburse eligible employees approved education expenses up to a maximum of the annual cost of full-time, in-state coursework at a California State University.  

Cafeteria Plan

The City offers a “cafeteria style” flexible benefits plan with a fixed monthly contribution provided by the City for all regular and probationary full-time employees and job-share employees. The 2024 amount is $1,718/month for eligible full-time employees.

The benefits plan is covered under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code allowing employees to pay out-of-pocket health benefit premiums on a pre-tax basis. Eligible employees are eligible for coverage the first day of the month following the employee's hire date.

Medical Insurance 

The City contracts with CalPERS to offer medical insurance to employees and their qualified dependents. There is a choice from a number of HMO and PPO plans. 

Dental Insurance

The City contracts with Delta Dental for dental coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. There is a choice among two plans, Delta Dental DPO and Delta Care DHMO.

Vision Insurance

The City contracts with EyeMed for vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.

Life Insurance

The City contracts with Lincoln Financial Group to provide Basic group term life insurance for employees in the amount of $50,000. An eligible employee has the option to purchase Voluntary Supplemental coverage for the employee, spouse, and eligible dependents.

Disability Insurance

The City contracts with Lincoln Financial Group to provide both short and long term disability insurance coverage to the employee, in a benefit amount up to 66% of the employee’s salary (up to a $1,000 maximum weekly short term disability benefit and a $5,000 maximum monthly long term disability benefit).

Flexible Spending Accounts

The City currently offers a flexible spending account plan which allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for a wide variety of eligible non-reimbursable medical expenses and/or eligible dependent care expenses.

Deferred Compensation

The City currently offers employees the option to defer pre-tax earnings through the MissionSquare 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. This program is available to employees who choose to participate.  The City will contribute 1.0% of base salary into the accounts of employees who participate in the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.

Jury Duty Leave

The City provides full-time employees up to ten (10) paid days for jury service.

Bereavement Leave

The City provides full-time employees up to five (5) days in any one (1) instance, to arrange for or attend a funeral of a member of their immediate family and twenty-four (24) hours in any one (1) instance for extended family members.