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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965/03/01-Agenda-Pre-Council AGENDA Pre-Council Conference M.irch 1, 190 1. Program Report on Group Insurance Plan Revision ( I. R. #698) 2. Additional Text Revisions - Preliminary Comprehensive Plan (I. R. #696) 3. Award of Contract - Aerial Photography and M.ipptng Services (M&C C-4ht,) 4. Contract for Installation of Community facilities (M&C C-4b5) 5. Recomniendat ions of the laity Independent Auditors ( 1. R. 0,17) 6. Purchase of Garbage Truck Beds (M&C P-419 ltcums 4, 5, and b) 7. Condemnation of Substandard Comercial Buildings (M&C G-767 and L. R. iVb')4) 8. Request for Free Use of Exhibit Building (M&C G-768) V. Other MbCO1. 1965 10. Other Items PRE-COUNCIL CONPFRFIICF March 1 , 19 V, Prevent: LClLe- Absent: 1 . Friedman 7 . Shannon (Item 2) None 2. Kemble 8. Barr (Item 4) 3. Hamm 9 . lkrover (Item 4) 4. Stovall 5. Junes C. Harding; I t e m Fu l l u w-Up 1 . Recommendations of Lhe City Independent 11At7 Auditors (I.R. 697) Vie City Manager referred to this Informal Report transmitting; the reconnrt-ndations of Lhe City's independent a, rotors for improved inventory and other liscdl activi- ties of tht• Ciry yove•rnment , and asked if Council Members hid any questions or Lomments regarding; the recommendations . Councilman Stovall inquired if recommendations and chani;es made by the City auditors were usually implemented, and was informed by the City Manager that most of the recom- mendations ecommendations here put into effect although some required more time for implementation than others . Councilman Stovall reft-rred to the recommendation of the auditors rey:arding; the duplication of work and pernonnel in the Park and Re creation Uepartr.,ent ollic:es , and was informed by the City Maua;•.er that assistance to the Park and Recreation Depart- ment would I>v provided if requested . 2. Purcha:.v of Garbage Tntck Reds (M&C P-419, Irons lW1 4, ,, and 6) The City Manager inquired it any City Council Mem- berb had questions concerning; the proposed purchase of garbage torch_ beds as recornrneuded in this MSC Council rained no questions concerning; the propo:;ed purchases, and purchases were approved at regular Council meeting. 3. Condoi-inaLion t f Substandard Commercial Building-,ss NAN (M&C G-767, I.R. 694) The City Manager reported that additional informa- tion regarding; action in connection with substandard ' cormercial buildings had been provided to the Council as earlier requuested, anti that there were two substandard coianercial buildings for which Council action was being; requested at regular Council meeting- Council had no questions regarding; this item and the M&C was approved at rveular Council nreetiltg. _ 4. Reque::t for Froe Use of Exhibit Builditlg;s. (12X CKD - memo to Magncss . He 511tinI ' G-768) bill Club for all expenses anti s„ advise Club before they occupy Councilman Hamm informed the Council that the building;. General Cynamics Management Club had contacted him re- g,ardinj; irev use of space at one of the building,:: at the Municipal Building,: West in connection with a project for the tioy Scouts camping; prugram, and that lie had in- formed them that it would be necessary for City Cotcncil ANIL . 4 approval of their request. Councilman Ham indicated that the organization would vacate the building if it Was needed for other purposes by the City. Councilman Kemble stated that the request should be approved since the organization had agreed to vacate the building if needed. Mayor Friedman stated that this was an exception to the Council 's policy against free use of space at the Municipal Buildings West, and that he telt the excep- tion opened the door for future requests . Council approved the request for free use of space at one of the buildings at the Municipal Buildings West, based on utilities and other out-of-pocket expenses being paid by the Management Club and the Club being responsible for cleaning the premises after use of the building. 5. Progress Report on Group Insurance Plan Revisions J.P. WOOD - please follow up . (I.R, 698) The City Manager reported that the Council had authorized the employment of a consulting actuary for review of the City employees ' insurance program, and to prepare specifications for a revised plan. The City Manager reported that the specifications for the insur- ance program were being finalized , but before bids were taken the consulting actuaries had been requested to bring the Council up to date on the revisions being considered. Mr. John Jennings, representing the consulting actuarial firm, reported that his firm had examined the present employees insurance program and the insur- ance company underwriting the plan, had met with the City employees insurance committee, and desired to indicate revisions in the plan which were being con- sidered. Mr. Jennings reported that the present insurance program provided for life insurance provi- sions based on the employees salary, a provision for accidental death, and a small weekly indemnifica- tion payment of $30 per week for a maximum of 26 weeks in case the employee was not able to perform his regular duties. Mr. Jennings reported that this was in addition to a fairly generous sick leave program for City employees which provided 15 days sick leave benefits per year up to a maximum of 90 days accumu- lation after 6 years of emplotiinent. Mr. Jennings re- ported that the City employees plan provided for basic hospitalization and surgical benefits , with a $10 per day allowance fo hospital rooms whereas the present rate in Fort Worth for a semi-private hospital room was approximately $18 per day. Mr. Jennings indicated that the primary problem regarding the present employees insurance program was in regard to the hospital and surgical benefits . Mr. Jennings reported that the City pays approximately 40 per cent of the employees ' cost of hospitalization premiums, but that the employee paid 100 per cent of the cost for dependents . It was also reported that the City bears the entire cost of the insurance program for its retired employees. It was reported that the ' OW 04 provi.sionu for retired employees now represented a liability in insurance of appro::imatcly three-quarters of a million dollars, and within 20 .ears this liability ux)uld be increased to approximately 1': million dollars . Mr. Jennings suggested that consideration be given in the future to the insurance benefits for retired em- ployees, anti that they be included in the regular re- tirement prog;rart. Mr. Jcnnin;;s reported that the group life in:.urance provision and the accidental death pro- vision o, the present City plan would be continu..l as they presently exist, but that the employees insurance committee had voted to eliminate the weekly income pay- wcnts, and to use these funds to obtain better hospital- ;sation benefits. Mr. Jennings reported that the in- surance plan being considered was a comprehensive major medical plan, providini. room and 1+oard hospitalization benefits of $15 per day. Under this plan it was reported that the individual employee would pay a percentage of the cost on a deductible basis (rhe first $50 per year being, deductible) , and that t11L' primary hospital benefit would be $300. Mr. Jennings.,: repo ted that it was proposed to re- quest bids from the eight largest Texas hospitalization insurance companies , plus: four cotipanies not headquartered in Texas , and also from Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Mr. Jennings reported that Tc:_<<., companies had an average in the payment of state premium tastes, and that it uas felt that a Te :as conpany could provide better benefits, at a cheaper cost due to this factor. Councilman 11amm inquired as to the cost to the City from premiums under the revi::ed insurance program, and was informed by Mr. Jennings: that it was anticipated that the revised plan would result in the same approx- imatc premium cost as the present insurance program. Mr. Jennings reported that the City's participation by payment epi approximatLly 40 per cent of the employees cost was low in comparison with other employers, and that the City paid appro::i,.,ately 28 per cent of the total annual premium cost nor both active and retired employees. Councilman Harding inquired about the processing; of claims under the revised plan, and also complaints he had received regarding difficulty in obtaining; credits for blood donated by the Police and fire organizations which maintained blood deposits. Mr. Jenniu,;s reported that these two items would be looked into. Mayor Friedman inquired about limiting bidder!-, on the City program, and was informed by Mr. Jennings that it had originally been planned to limit the number of bidders to approximately 15, and that it waw proposed to limit the Texas bidders to those cumpanies, having; over $1 ,000,000 in annual premiums for insurance programs . Mr. Jennings reported that it was desirable to obtain a company w1iich was financially capable of handlings the City plan, and that there would be several hundred companies desiring; to bid on the plan if no limitations were taade. Councilman Hoover inquired as to what action would be taken if the Fids provided for a premiui.t in excess of viiat the City could afford to pay, and was inforned by Mr. Op Oak- �[ Jennings that the request for bids would contain several alternates in order that the amount of premiums to be paid by the City could be adjusted if the basic plan provided for excessive premiums . Council had no further questions , and it ap- peared that consensus of Council was for the con- sulting actuaries to proceed with the preparation of specifications and recei2t of bids on the program. G. Additional Text Revisions - Preliminary Com- EHD - Agenda, March A, 1465 prehensive Plan (Y.R. 696) The City Manager inquired if Council Members had any Further suggestions or comments regarding the revisions in the text of the Comprehensive Plane Councilman Hamm referred to the revised resolution for adoption of the plan as submitted by Councilman Jones, and inquired regarding the changes which had been made from the previous resolution submitted by Mr. Jones . Councilman Jones reported that the re- visions in the two resolutions had been made in order to clarify the resolution, and make it more accept- able. Mr. Jones reported that a provision had been added to include the resolution as a part of the Com- preliensive Plan when adopted by the City Council , and that the plan did not have the effect of an ordinance. Councilman Hoover inquired about the revisions to the map in the plan indicating the industrial areas of the city, and was informed that the maps for inclu- sion in the plan had not been printed, but that a copy of the map indicating the revisions was available for review. Councilman Jones indicated that he would move adoption of the resolution at regular Council meeting, and Councilman Barr stated that he would second the motion. Councilman Hoover stated that if it appeared at the regular Council meeting that there was need for additional consideration, he would like to see the matter delayed for another week. Mayor Friedman re- ported that the bond rating agencies visited by the City and school district officials recently had in- quired about a Comprehensive Plan, and indicated that the interest rates which the City would be required to pay on the bonds to be sold in March could be affected by the presence or lack of a Comprehensive Plan. At regular Council meeting, Council deferred action on the Comprehensive Ptan for one additional week, and requested that the matter be placed on next week 's agenda.