Mayor Brown is trying to reform the city's retirement system, which is becoming more and more costly. But now, the city says talks aren't working with the Fraternal Order of Police.  In a letter dated Monday, the city of Jacksonville notified the FOP that it was declaring an impasse, but saying that it is willing to return to the negotiating table whenever the FOP is ready.

FOP President Nelson Cuba says they're not the ones the city should be talking to.

"In my opinion, I don't think this mayor is truly looking for pension reform," says Cuba. "If he really wanted pension reform he would go sit down with the Police and Fire Pension Fund and stop playing games."

The core of the argument lies in where each side believes the other should be negotiating.  Cuba and the FOP say that the city already has a pension agreement with the Police and Fire Pension Fund (PFPF), so that's where they need to take their negotiations.  The city argues that under Florida law, the PFPF is a non-employee organization and therefore is unable to function as a negotiating body.

At an October 31st meeting between FOP and city negotiators, Cuba said in no uncertain terms that the police union was finished discussing the issue with the city, and that they could either go negotiate with the PFPF or take the FOP to court.

The pension reform impasse came as a surprise to the president of Jacksonville's police union. Cuba believes this process will reach the courts, where he says it will continue to drag on. He says, in the meantime, Jacksonville officers are looking for work elsewhere or retiring early.

The case will now be heard by a special magistrate, who will issue a non-binding recommendation on what the two sides should do to resolve the problem.  If either side doesn't like that recommendation, the issue would go to City Council, who could impose changes for a year.

In a letter, the Jacksonville General Counsel says they're giving the FOP until Thursday night to accept their offer to reopen negotiations.  You can read the letter by clicking the link.