HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations Committee - 11/17/2015
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES
November 17, 2015
Committee Members Present: Les Thomas, Chair, Dana Ralph and Bill Boyce.
The meeting was called to order by Les Thomas at 4:00 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL.
2. CHANGE TO AGENDA.
There were no changes to the agenda.
3. APPROVAL OF THE CHECK SUMMARY REPORT DATED 10/16/2015 THROUGH
10/31/2015.
B. Boyce moved to approve the check summary report dated 10/16/2015 through
10/31/2015. D. Ralph seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2015.
D. Ralph moved to approve the Operations Committee minutes dated November 3,
2015. B. Boyce seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
5. PREMERA BLUE CROSS 2016 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CONTRACT.
Human Resources Benefits Manager Becky Fowler requested to approve the second
year, 2016 contract for the City’s self-insured health plan. Changes for 2016 include:
1. Switching the Case Management program to the CareCompass 360 program.
2. Adding Virtual Care for your own physician for phone, email, Skype and other
electronic care consultations or use Teledoc, a national provider service.
3. Changing networks to Heritage Prime Network. Projected savings on the network
change would be four to eight percent estimated at about $400,000 for 2016 and
growing to $500,000 over the next three years.
The overall projected cost of the self-insured plan inclusive of administration fees is
approximately $11,583,040 for 2016 and is budgeted in the health and wellness fund.
B. Boyce moved to recommend to Council to approve the second year, 2016 Premera
Blue Cross Administrative Services Contract for the city’s self-insured health plan be
placed on the City Council consent calendar for the December 8, 2015 meeting subject
to approval of final terms and conditions by the City Attorney. D. Ralph seconded the
motion, which passed 3-0.
6. GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE 2016 CONTRACT.
Ms. Fowler next request was for the renewal of the Group Health Cooperative of Puget
Sound contract for the City’s insured health maintenance organization (HMO). The 2016
Operations Committee Minutes
November 17, 2015
Page: 2
contract reflects a 2.64 percent increase in the health care premiums charged by Group
Health Cooperative and is budgeted in the health and wellness fund.
D. Ralph moved to recommend to Council to approve the 2016 Group Health
Cooperative contract for the City’s insured HMO plan be placed on the City Council
consent calendar for the December 8, 2015 meeting subject to approval of final terms
and conditions by the City Attorney. B. Boyce seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
7. STOP LOSS CONTRACT – 2016 LIFEWISE ASSURANCE COMPANY.
Ms. Fowler’s final request was for the City’s third party administrator for the individual
and aggregate stop loss coverage. In November 2015, LifeWise Assurance Company
provided us with a preliminary renewal increase of 19 percent for 2016. The City went
out to the market for a competitive bid process. After the competitive bid process and
appealing LifeWise’s preliminary decision, LifeWise reduced their preliminary renewal
amount to a 15 percent increase for 2016.
B. Boyce moved to recommend Council to approve the 2016 LifeWise Assurance
Company amendment for our individual stop loss coverage be placed on the City
Council consent calendar for the December 8, 2015 meeting subject to approval of
final terms and conditions by the City Attorney. D. Ralph seconded the motion, which
passed 3-0.
8. LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD MEMBER EXPANSION ORINANCE.
Economic and Community Development Director Ben Wolters asked to increase the
committee from its current seven to nine members. This request is a reflection of the
steady increase in the amount of revenue being generated by the motel/hotel tax; and
pursuing an aggressive strategy for marketing Kent. State law requires that half of
members be from those who collect the tax and the other half from the community.
This opportunity will allow the Kent Chamber of Commerce a voting membership.
D. Ralph moved to recommend to Council to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter
2.54 of the Kent City Code, entitled “Lodging Tax Advisory Committee,” to increase the
number of committee members from seven to nine. B. Boyce seconded the motion,
which passed 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:14 p.m. by Les Thomas.
___________________
Jennifer Hays
Operations Committee Secretary