City of Brighton
500 S. 4th Avenue
Brighton, CO 80601
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
6:00 PM
Virtual Meeting
City Council
MAYOR - GREGORY MILLS
MAYOR PRO TEM - MATT JOHNSTON
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
CLINT BLACKHURST, ADAM CUSHING,
MARK HUMBERT, KRIS JORDINELLI, MARY ELLEN POLLACK,
ANN TADDEO, TIM WATTS
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mills called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
A. Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag
Councilmember Blackhurst led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
B. Roll Call
Present: 9 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst,
Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Humbert, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
Councilmember Jordinelli arrived at 6:03 p.m.
Councilmember Humbert arrived at 6:16 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF REGULAR AGENDA
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, seconded by Councilmember Blackhurst, to approve the Regular Agenda as presented. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
Absent: 2 - Councilmember Humbert, and Councilmember Jordinelli
3. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of the October 6, 2020 City Council Minutes
B. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO, ACCEPTING THE BID OF ALPINE ROOFING LTD AND APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT OF ROOFING PROJECT, PROJECT #20-006479, TO ALPINE ROOFING LTD FOR THE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT DOLLARS ($360,248.00), AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE AND SIGN THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THERETO
Resolution No: 2020-109
Motion by Councilmember Blackhurst, seconded by Councilmember Taddeo, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 8 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Humbert
4. CEREMONIES
A. Extra Mile Day Proclamation
Mayor Mills read the Proclamation into the record.
Motion by Councilmember Taddeo, seconded by Councilmember Blackhurst, to approve the Proclamation. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 8 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Humbert
B. Veterans Appreciation Week Proclamation
Councilmember Watts read the Proclamation into the record.
Motion by Councilmember Watts, seconded by Councilmember Blackhurst, to approve the Proclamation. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 8 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Humbert
5. PUBLIC INVITED TO BE HEARD ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA (Speakers limited to five minutes)
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7. ORDINANCES FOR INITIAL CONSIDERATION
A. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO, ESTABLISHING CERTAIN BENEFITS FOR CITY PERSONNEL FOR THE 2021 BUDGET YEAR, AND SETTING FORTH THE DETAILS RELATED THERETO
Mayor Mills read the title of the Ordinance into the record.
City Manager Bais DiSessa introduced Administrative Services Director Karen Borkowski Surine.
Administrative Services Director Karen Borkowski Surine introduced HUB representatives Nathan Wolfe and Jakob Regalado. Director Borkowski Surine presented the benefits package for 2021. In 2019, the City made the change to UMR as a third party administrator and RX Benefits for prescription cost control. Both have been proven cost effective for the City and consumers. Savings to some employees has been considerable. Staff is recommending continuing with UMR and United Healthcare for the City’s medical benefits. Delta Dental provides dental benefits and this year the City was able to add dental implants to the package at the same rate to employees. VSP is the vision provider and the City is under a rate guarantee until 2022. The Zero Card program began in 2020. This voluntary program allows individuals to get certain procedures and testing done at no cost. The Telehealth program has been successful in saving time and money for employees when a trip to the doctor is not necessary. The life insurance, long-term disability and short-term disability will remain the same. The Anthem Employee Assistance program will still be available.
HUB Representative Jakob Regalado gave a financial overview of the historical claims that the City has paid on a per month per employee basis since 2017, as well as where things stand in 2020. The City purchases stop loss coverage for large claims in excess of $100,000 and that coverage reduces the cost the City is exposed to on any claims that come in for any one individual below that threshold. The cost per employee per month on a net basis is $817.51 in 2020. HUB works with the City to provide a budget that adjusts for the ever increasing cost of care each year to make sure that the City has a sustainable benefit package that provides for the needs of its employees, but also is sustainable in the long-term. The budget has been set to increase each year, however the performance to budget has come in at a surplus each year going back to 2015. Because of managing costs over time, the budget has been kept from an accrual standpoint at a reasonable level the past two years with a 5% decrease for the overall budget in 2020 and rates staying flat for employees in 2020. There are no proposed increase to rates for 2021 for the City or employees. Two drivers around the pandemic include the release of pent up demand due to facilities being shut down or at partial capacity and the other is inflationary increases for facility and provider costs. Many providers and facilities are expected to attempt to recoup lost revenues due to the shutdown in the next six to eighteen months. The City is expected to have the reserve funds available to offset those costs in 2021 and this will be evaluated as costs are tracked in projecting for 2022.
HUB Representative Nathan Wolfe explained that federal laws have affected how health plans can cover COVID. The CARES Act mandated that all COVID testing be covered at 100% by health plans. Brighton amended coverage to include 100% coverage for all COVID treatment. The plan was also adjusted to allow virtual physician visits in lieu of in-person visits. Mr. Wolfe presented a summary of the COVID claims that have been filed.
Director Borkowski Surine answered questions from Council regarding:
• The reason this was not presented to Council at a Study Session or during the budget review.
• There being an increase in the cost of the dental plan because of the addition of dental implants.
• COVID costs being covered by worker’s compensation if an employee gets COVID on the job and getting help not to use health insurance for the coverage.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, seconded by Councilmember Humbert, to approve the Ordinance. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 9 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Humbert, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
8. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION
9. RESOLUTIONS
10. UTILITIES BUSINESS ITEMS
11. GENERAL BUSINESS
A. Schedule a Special City Council Meeting at 8:30 p.m. on November 10, 2020 following the Study Session for an Executive Session for Negotiations
Motion by Councilmember Watts, seconded by Councilmember Blackhurst, to schedule a Special City Council Meeting at 8:30 p.m. on November 10, 2020 following the Study Session for an Executive Session for Negotiations. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 9 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Humbert, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
B. Review of COVID Statistics
Economic Development Director Michael Martinez presented the COVID statistics for the City of Brighton and Adams County.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, seconded by Councilmember Jordinelli, to schedule a Special Meeting to discuss a new action in order to facilitate COVID testing as it has increased to such a high level. Motion passed by the following vote:
Aye: 9 - Mayor Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Johnston, Councilmember Blackhurst, Councilmember Cushing, Councilmember Humbert, Councilmember Jordinelli, Councilmember Pollack, Councilmember Taddeo, and Councilmember Watts
12. REPORTS
A. By the Mayor
Mayor Mills reminded City Council of the Goal Setting session on Thursday.
B. By Department Heads
City Manager Bais DiSessa announced some organizational changes in City staff. The departments reporting directly to City Manager Bais DiSessa are Finance, Police Department and Utilities. Marv Falconburg will have the new title of Deputy City Manager and will oversee Community Development, Parks and Recreation and Public Works. Michael Martinez will have the new title of Assistant City Manager of Economic Development and Community Engagement and will oversee the Brighton Housing Authority, Brighton Urban Renewal Authority, Economic Development and Communications and Engagement. Karen Borkowski Surine will have the new title of Assistant City Manager of Internal Services and Innovation and will oversee Facilities, Human Resources, Municipal Court, the Office of the City Clerk and Information Technology. The position held by Nicole Samson of Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Governmental Affairs will be changed to Senior Financial Management Analyst and will be under Finance.
Finance Director Maria Ostrom announced that she will be sending out the draft budget book and the hearing for the budget is scheduled for December 1, 2020.
C. By the City Attorney
D. By the City Manager
City Manager Bais DiSessa asked for direction from City Council regarding their priorities so these goals can be scheduled and can be accomplished.
13. REPORTS BY COUNCIL ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Councilmember Jordinelli attended the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting.
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
15. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Mills adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m.
CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO
_____________________________
Gregory Mills, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Natalie Hoel, City Clerk
______________________________
Approval Date