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Home My WebLink AboutMIN SEP 07 2010 M I N U T E S - CITY OF BEAUMONT W.L. Pate,Jr., Mayor Pro Tom BECKY AMES, MAYOR Gethrel Williams-Wright,At-Large Dr. Alan B. Coleman, Ward I CITY COUNCIL MEETING Nancy Beaulieu,Ward II Audwin Samuel, Ward III September 7,2010 Jamie Smith,Ward IV Tyrone E.Cooper, City Attorney Kyle Hayes,City Manager Tina Broussard,City Clerk The City Council of the City of Beaumont,Texas,met in a regular session on September 7,2010,at the City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas, at 1:30 p.m. to consider the following: OPENING Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Presentations and Recognition Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Mayor Ames called the council meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Pastor David Brett of Christ Community Church gave the invocation. Mayor Pro Tern Pate led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was made by Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Present at the meeting were Mayor Ames, Mayor Pro Tern Pate, Councilmembers Coleman, Beaulieu,Wright,Samuel and Smith. Also present were Kyle Hayes,City Manager;Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Tina Broussard, City Clerk. Proclamations, Presentations, Recognitions "Get Your Red On"-Proclamation read by Mayor Ames;accepted by Head Football Coach Ray Woodard and other Lamar University Staff Recognition - Craig Escamilla, Executive Director with Symphony of Southeast Texas, introduced the new Conductor Chelsea Tipton,who recently moved to Beaumont from Teledo, Ohio, he spoke with Council about the Symphony and gave them tickets to the next scheduled Symphony Recognition-Dean Conwell, Executive Director of the Beaumont's Convention and Visitors Bureau, addressed council in regards to the awards that the CVB won at the Annual Convention and Visitors Bureaus Ida Fair at the organization's annual conference "National Preparedness Month" - September, 2010, Proclamation read by Councilmember Beaulieu; accepted by Tim Ocnaschek, Emergency Management Coordinator Minutes-September 7,2010 Public Comment: Persons may speak on scheduled agenda items 1-3/Consent Agenda. None CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes - August 31, 2010 Confirmation of committee appointments - None A) Authorize the City Manager to apply for and receive funding through the Department of Homeland Security's Buffer Zone Protection Plan Program - Resolution 10 - 230 B) Authorize the City Manager to apply for and accept grant funding through the Mamie McFaddin-Ward Heritage Foundation - Resolution 10 - 231 C) Authorize the Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau to apply for grant funds from the Jefferson County Tourism Commission for half the cost of an outdoor billboard-Resolution 10 - 232 D) Authorize a contract for administration of the City's Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts - Resolution 10 - 233 Mayor Pro Tern Pate made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU,WRIGHT, SAMUEL AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Consider approving a contract for a third party administration of the City's self funded Dual Option Preferred Provider Organization medical and dental plans. Administration recommended that Council award to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX)a three(3)year agreement with an option for two additional years effective January 1, 2011 for third party administration of the City's self funded Dual Option Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) medical plan and a self funded dental plan. The City offers medical and dental benefits to 1274 full time employees and medical benefits to187 retirees. As medical costs continue to rise,the City faces a challenge in providing the same level of medical benefits as in previous years. The City currently offers a fully funded Minutes-September 7,2010 Page 2 of 7 HMO and a self funded PPO plan. In March 2010, City staff began working with the City's health benefit consultant, Holmes Murphy&Associates,to request bid proposals for the City's medical and dental plans for 2011. Four (4) medical and nine (9) dental proposals were received and City staff along with Holmes Murphy interviewed the top three(3)finalists which were Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Aetna, and United Health Care (UHC). After analyzing and negotiating with the finalists,City staff and Holmes Murphy concluded that BCBSTX, the incumbent carrier, offered the most cost effective plans with an extensive provider network and deep provider discounts. BCBSTX's projected increase for PPO claims administration is 3.7% and claims cost are projected to increase 7.1%. The monthly dental administration rate of$5.66 per covered employee, regardless the level of coverage,did not change from the prior contract. Monthly PPO administration rates for the Dual Option PPO plan increased from $42.91 per covered employee to$44.50, regardless the level of coverage, effective January 1, 2011. Funds are available for these expenditures in the Employee Benefits Fund. Councilmember Coleman moved to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT,WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND FOR TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS,WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS (BCBSTX) FOR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY'S SELF-FUNDED DUAL OPTION PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION (PPO)MEDICAL PLAN AND SELF-FUNDED DENTAL PLAN EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU,WRIGHT, SAMUEL AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 10 - 234 2. Consider approving annual medical insurance premiums for retirees. Administration recommended approval of medical contribution rates for retirees including their dependents, effective January 1, 2011. Retirees and their dependents are allowed to elect continuation of medical coverage as provided by state statue. The retiree/dependent may continue coverage until the retiree/dependent is covered by Medicare/Medicaid but not beyond age 65.Currently,there are 187 retirees on the City's medical plan. The retiree contribution rate for Police and Fire retirees is based on a provision in the Police and Fire contract agreements which states,"Any employee who retired on or after February 1, 1992 may be subject to an annual increase in contribution. The increase will be effected in accordance with the labor agreement. The single rate will be established at 69%; single Minutes-September 7,2010 Page 3 of 7 rate+ 1 at 58%;and the family rate at 54%of the COBRA rate on January 1 at annually." This same formula is utilized when calculating the contribution rate for civilian retirees. Funds are available for these expenditures in the Employee Benefits Fund. Councilmember Beaulieu made a motion to APPROVE A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE AND HE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR RETIREES INCLUDING THEIR DEPENDENTS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2011. Councilmember Samuel seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU,WRIGHT, SAMUEL AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Resolution 10 - 235 3. Consider amending the Solid Waste Franchise Agreement with Waste Management. Administration recommended City Council consider an ordinance amending the Solid Waste Franchise Agreement with Waste Management in regards to franchise fees associated with the collection of residential recyclable materials. In May 2009, the Mayor and City Council established a Recycling Committee to review the various recycling options that are available and to make a recommendation on which option would best fit the needs of the City.The first Committee meeting was held in June,2009.After reviewing the possible options,the Committee is recommending the issuance of a permit that would allow a company to pick up recyclable materials within the City on a subscription basis. Under this option the City would not be directly involved in the collection or billing process.The residents of Beaumont would be provided an opportunity to subscribe for recycling services directly with the company.The company would then develop routes and a collection schedule based on the number and density of subscriptions. On August 12, 2010, one permit application was received, from Waste Management, for providing subscription recycling services. The cost stated by Waste Management in their application was$10 per month for bi-weekly collection. It is anticipated that recycling services will begin on November 1, 2010. The current solid waste franchises require a seven (7) percent franchise fee be assessed. This fee is based on the revenue generated from the collection of solid waste located within the City. In order to keep the subscription rate to a minimum, the Recycling Committee is recommending that the franchise fee for recycled materials only be waived. Based on $10 per month, at the current franchise fee of seven (7) percent, the estimated unrealized revenue per 1,000 customers would be $8,400 a year. Minutes-September 7,2010 Page 4 of 7 Councilmember Wright made a motion to ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 91-45, WHICH GRANTED A FRANCHISE TO WASTE MANAGEMENT - GOLDEN TRIANGLE TO OPERATE A SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT,TO WAIVE THE SEVEN PERCENT(7%)FRANCHISE FEE ON COLLECTION OF RECYCLED MATERIALS ONLY. Councilmember Beaulieu seconded the motion. AYES: MAYOR AMES, MAYOR PRO TEM PATE, COUNCILMEMBERS COLEMAN, BEAULIEU,WRIGHT, SAMUEL AND SMITH NAYS: NONE MOTION PASSED Ordinance 10 - 073 Mayor Ames read the announcement regarding Executive Session being held at the conclusion of the General Business portion of the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING Receive comments on the 2010 (FY 2011) Proposed Tax Rate Open: 2:13 p.m. None Close: 2:13 p.m. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER SMITH - STATED HE HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE SOUTH PARK CLASS OF 1985 REUNION, LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING AT LAMAR STADIUM FOR A VICTORY COUNCILMEMBER SAMUEL- ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING AT THE LAMAR STADIUM FOR A VICTORY THIS SATURDAY, GO LU MAYOR PRO TEM PATE - COMMENTED ON THE MCNEESE AND LAMAR UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL GAME ON LAST WEEK,ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WILL BE A SALUTE TO HERO'S ON THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 9, 2010, AT 9:00 A.M., AT WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, ALSO A TRIBUTE TO FIRE STATION #1 ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2010,AT 11:00 A.M. COUNCILMEMBER WRIGHT- WISHED THE MAYOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GO LAMAR, ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE Minutes-September 7,2010 Page 6 of 7 LAMAR FOOTBALL TEAM,OFFERED CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF REVEREND SAMUEL LADAY COUNCILMEM13ER BEAULIEU- EXCITED ABOUT LAMAR FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY,WISHED THE MAYOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN - THANKED MEL WRIGHT, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECYCLING COMMITTEE, ALSO THANKED THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND HOURS OF DISCUSSION,WELCOMED PATRICK DONART TO COUNCIL AND TO HIS NEW POSITION, WISHED THE MAYOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY CITY ATTORNEY COOPER- WISHED THE MAYOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY CITY MANAGER HAYES- NONE MAYOR AMES- GO BIG RED Public Comments (Persons are limited to three minutes) Bruce Hoffer 2535 North St. Beaumont TX Commented on Lamar University football,reminded everyone that Lamar University soccer played on Friday and won 5-2, played on Sunday and won 2-1, they will also play in a tournament in Lubbock, TX, on September 10, 2010,they will play their first home game in Beaumont on September 29, 2010, against Houston Baptist University, Beaumont Youth Soccer club will start their season this Saturday,September 10,2010,at 8:00 a.m.,with about 30 games scheduled, Sunday will be the first adult game at the Chris Quinn Complex Open session of meeting recessed at 2:20 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with Section 551.071 of the Government Code: City of Beaumont v. James Mathews State of Texas v. James Mathews, Jr. Kevin Roach v. City of Beaumont Claim of Edwin Michael In the Matter of Arbitration between Beaumont Firefighters Local 399(Jimmy Landrum) and the City of Beaumont, Texas Minutes-September 7,2010 Page 6 of 7 There being no action taken in Executive Session, Council adjourned. Audio available upo request in the City Clerk's Office. Bec y Ames yor V t Tina Broussard, City Clerk Page 7 of 7 Minutes-September 7,2010