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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, October 6,2014 Page 20 Human Resources Manager Eldona Bacon summarized the 2015 employee bene- fit insurance renewal and cafeteria contributions as detailed in RCA dated Octo- ber 6, 2014. Ms. Bacon reviewed planned open enrollment during November of this year using the City's HRIS software system; and advised that the only in- crease was a plan change of 1% for health insurance negotiated from 4% to cover administrative costs across all plans with increased deductibles in place effective January 1, 2015. Ms. Bacon requested that the City cover that 1% increase to in- cent employees in their wellness efforts and improved use of health coverage. Ms. Bacon advised that this amounted to an $11 increase per month for all plans, or a total increase of$16,500 over the 2014 budget, which represented approxi- mately a third of the proposed 2015 budget allocation, with the remainder availa- ble for other purpose and reallocation. At the request of Councilmember Laliberte, Ms. Bacon reviewed the historical and multiple city contribution, as well as a marketplace trend, to cover 100% of single coverage, along with those provisions written into City union contracts. Ms. Bacon provided a summary of the monthly contribution made for those using the single plus one and family plans, with employees also able to take advantage of health reimbursement and health savings accounts, depending on their chosen plan and deductible. Councilmember Laliberte expressed some concern with apparent inequities in the current contribution system, based on her experience in the health care business, particularly with not all employees contributing to their health care coverage if on a single plan. Councilmember McGehee opined that she found this to be standard in the indus- tries with which she was familiar and in union contracts, in using a base plan. Having watched City staff over the last four years, Councilmember McGehee ap- plauded them for reducing annual health insurance increases so significantly, and their willingness to increase their contributions and changing their cafeteria plans and using the wellness plan, as well as the resulting surplus from those savings in one particular year in the past, expressing her appreciation for their efforts. McGehee moved, Etten seconded, approval of the 2015 City benefits insurance renewals and cafeteria contributions as detailed in the RCA dated October 6, 2014 with the respective contracts, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney. Councilmember Etten agreed with Councilmember McGehee, that when consider- ing fairness and equity, the City does pay more for a family plan, as they had more expenses, but less available for the City to put into their family plan than those without a family. Councilmember Etten agreed also that employees have worked diligently to reduce and/or contain these costs. Roll Call