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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 24, 2001 11 <br />of Plymouth, MN in the amount of$11,746.24. The motion carried unanimously <br />5-0). <br />C. Pay Estimate#9 (Final),West Round Lake Road Improvements, Phase I, Forest <br />Lake Contracting <br />Mr. Brown explained the Pay Estimate and that it included the release of the final landscaping <br />retainage. <br />MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Aplikowski seconded a motion <br />to approve Pay Estimate#9 (Final Payment) for Forest Lake Contracting, Inc. of <br />Forest Lake, MN, in the amount of$4,232.85. The motion carried unanimously <br />5-0). <br />D. Personnel Policy Benefit Recommendation <br />Mr. Lynch explained the follow up information on the total amounts for benefits, including new <br />city employees, and the total financial impact for 2001 and 2002. <br />Mr. Post explained the recommendation for the policy to be effective October 1, 2001. He stated <br />one assumption made was that the benefit level would increase in 2002 by 5%over the 2001 <br />level. <br />Councilmember Grant asked if nine people were not impacted by the change. Mr. Post <br />responded there were two non-bargaining unit employees that were not impacted because they <br />currently elect family health coverage. <br />Councilmember Aplikowski asked for the rationale behind the change. Mr. Post responded it <br />was a fairness issue. He stated all employees would have the same benefit level. <br />Mayor Probst stated the Council had had this discussion on a couple of occasions. He noted it <br />was a fairness issue. He added a person electing single coverage did not receive the same level <br />of benefits as a person electing family coverage. <br />Mr. Post stated the other alternative would be to give everyone single coverage and have those <br />electing family coverage pay the difference in premium. He noted the City benefit would then be <br />capped at $255.13 per month. <br />Councilmember Larson stated he was in support of the recommended change. He noted it was a <br />matter of elementary fairness. He noted they are trying to treat employees fairly by providing <br />benefits equally. <br />Councilmember Aplikowski stated she had a problem with that concept. She noted the <br />employees with family coverage have hospitalization that they may or may not use. She added <br />this was not the same as putting the money in the bank. She stated if they did not use it they did <br />not get any benefit.