Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Additional funding of the vision insurance program is necessary to insure continuation of the vision insurance program in accordance with the negotiated labor contracts. The Human Resources Department requests to modify and extend the existing contract with Vision Service Plan for one year and to provide for funding February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021, for this program. Due to ongoing labor negotiations with collective bargaining contracts citywide in 2018, and subsequent major changes to the City’s health insurance benefits, the Department of Human Resources decided it is not in the City’s best interest to engage in the request for proposal process for vision insurance in 2019.
The Department of Human Resources will bid this contract in 2020 for a start date of February 1, 2021. The current contract, legislated via Ordinance 0018-2019, represents the final year of a three year contract.
The total obligation of this contract is $2,102,000, including this modification.
Cost estimates for 2020 are based on 2018-19 trust fund expenditures using a two year average of actual city utilization, expected changes due to union negotiations, as well as input from insurance carriers and from the City's employee benefits consultant.
Emergency action is requested to ensure the vision insurance program for city employees is able to commence as soon as contractually possible, thereby maintaining continuity of service.
Contract compliance number is 31-0725743.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available in the 2020 Employee Benefits Fund for this contract. This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2020 insurance appropriation ordinance 0001-2020.
Title
To authorize the Human Resources Director to modify and extend the contract with Vision Service Plan to provide all eligible employees vision plan administration from February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021; to authorize the expenditure of $1,026,000.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the costs of said contract; and to declare an emergency. ($1,026,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to modify and extend the contract with Vision Service Plan to provide all eligible employees vision plan administration from February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,026,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay contract costs for vision plan administration; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Human Resources in that it is immediately necessary to modify and extend the contract with Vision Service Plan to ensure the vision insurance program for city employees is able to commence as soon as contractually possible, thereby maintaining continuity of service;
Now, Therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Human Resources Director is hereby authorized to modify and extend the contract with Vision Service Plan to provide vision plan administration to all eligible employees from February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,026,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for coverage is hereby authorized to be expended as follows:
Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550204 | Program: RM005 | Amount: $76,000 (Vision Admin)
Department: 4602 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550204 | Program: RM006 | Amount: $950,000 (Vision Claims)
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage, if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.