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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05232006 - C.61 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS s L Contra FROM: Lori Gentles, Assistant County Administrator Costa Director of Human Resources :c �� �;�° DATE: May 23, 2006 County SUBJECT: Employee Health and Welfare Benefits Consulting Services Contract Amendment and Extension SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMNISTRATOR - DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES to execute a contract amendment and extension with Buck Consultants by extending the period from June 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 and increasing the payment limit by $110,000 to a new total of $600,000 for the purpose of providing support for employee health and welfare benefits. FISCAL IMPACT: Program costs for these services will be paid from the Benefits funds that receive revenues from monthly premiums charged to County Departments. The premium charges are reviewed annually by the County Administrator's Office and the Human Resources Department to establish premiums required to cover the cost of these programs. Extending the current contract with Buck Consultants would save the costs associated with soliciting new proposals from consulting firms and the potential internal costs to educate a new firm, if selected, on the County's policies and programs. BACKGROUND: Over the past seven years, the County has utilized the contractual services of Buck Consultants in the development and implementation of specific benefit programs, ongoing annual reviews of benefit programs, annual renewals of insurance contracts, assistance with labor negotiations, and consultation services on the interpretation of new State and Federal laws as they pertain to employee benefits. To provide for a continuation of these services, County staff recommends that the current contract be extended and amended for an additional thirteen (13) months to go through the end of fiscal year 2006-2007. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --,,-RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER 4 SIGNATURE( ---- ------- --- ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ACTION OF BO R ON 3 APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: NOES: SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ; ATTESTED � ��� ^'2_� CONTACT: JOHN CULT EN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY DIRATOR CC: Human Resources Department(5-1747) BY County Counsel DEPUTY Auditor-Controller Benefits Services Unit,Human Resources Department q Buck Consultations is knowledgeable on County policies and all of the County benefit programs, which will be extremely beneficial for the County in order to assist with the ongoing labor negotiations, health and dental plan contract renewals, and complete ongoing consultation services for various benefit programs. In addition, Buck Consultants is currently providing consultation services for the County's compliance for new legislation in the areas of GASB 45, Medicare Part D, new section 125 regulations, and COBRA expansion. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Due the multiple and complex programs and compliance issues that Buck Consultants is currently providing guidance to the County, it is necessary to execute a contract agreement and extension with Buck Consultants in order to ensure the County continues to provide a comprehensive benefits package to our employees that remains in compliance with State and Federal laws.