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May 18, 2020
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEOERLAND 4:30 p_m_ May 18, 2020 1_ MEETING The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Mayor Albanese at the Nederland City Office Building, 207 N. 12« Street, Nederland, Texas. See attached for quorum. This meeting was closed to in-person attendance by the public. A temporary suspension of the Open Meetings Act to allow telephone or videoconference public meetings has been granted by Governor Abbott. Telephonic and videoconferencing capabilities were utilized to allow individuals to address the City Council. The following statement was posted: "PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANDGIJN3, A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (FiANOGIJN LICENSING LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT ZS CARRIED OPENLY_" 2. INVOCATION ANO PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The invocation and pledge of allegiance were led by Emmett Hollier, Mayor Pro Tem. 3. CONSENT AGENDA - All consent agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a councilmember so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. A motion was made by Councilmember Root and seconded by Councilmember Neal to approve the Consent Agenda Items a-c as presented. MOTION CARRIED_ Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. a. Minutes - May 11, 2020 regular meeting b. April 2020 Departmental Reports c. Tax Assessor Collection Report - April 2020 4. REGULAR AGENDA a. A motion was made by Councilmember Root and seconded by Councilmember Austin to approve a proclamation in regards to National Athletic Training Month. MOTION CARRIED_ Minutes Continued, May 18, 2020 Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. b. A motion was made by Councilmember Neal and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Hollier to accept the quarterly Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund financial report from the Nederland Chamber of Commerce. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. c. A motion was made by Councilmember Root and seconded by Councilmember Neal to authorize the solicitation of bids for the Hodgson Road Lift Station Reconstruction project. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. d. Employee Group Benefits: i. The regular meeting was recessed at 4:39 p.m. by Mayor Albanese for the purpose of conducting a City of Nederland Employees Benefits Trust meeting to award bids for employee group benefits. ii. The regular meeting was reconvened at 4:47 p.m. by Mayor Albanese. iii. A motion was made by Councilmember Austin and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hollier to authorize the transfer of funds from the City of Nederland to the City of Nederland Employee Benefits Trust bank account from which monthly insurance premiums shall be paid. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. 5. COMMUNICATION City Manger's Report - *Robert Woods gave a brief construction update: • Contractor for sewerline project is finishing work on Hardy at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and will be moving to 27th and Canal. • Contractor for asphalt street improvements has finished on S. 2nd and moving to S. 13th to begin milling and leveling up work. Drainage work continues between Avenue A and Avenue B on 27th Street. • Contractor for concrete streets is continuing work on Helena at 27th Street and will be there for a couple of weeks. • Bourque Road and Hodgson Road Street Reconstruction bids will open tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. *Chris Duque said staff will be working on a plan to reopen city buildings and should have a rough draft by the end of tomorrow. 6. ADJOURN There being no further business a motion was made by Mayor Albanese and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Hollier to adjourn the meeting at 4:56 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Minutes Continued, May 18, 2020 Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. ‘000"1"1"11/00,,, 4 ..........fs-,4%;_l_ oi, aggr,,,,z______ ,ki F. 0 . �' °�a �•� on Albanese, Mayor ,,.•: �tiff.* ' City of Nederland, Texas A'Y'%G, „�:)EFF,,,.\\\ _iA lidIJA- a Fergon, CityCl 'k Y City of Nederland, Texas SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY OF NEDERLAND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST 4:39 p.m. May 18, 2020 1. MEETING The meeting was called to order at 4:39 p.m. by Chairperson Albanese at the Nederland City Office Building, 207 N. 12T" Street, Nederland, Texas. This meeting was closed to in-person attendance by the public. A temporary suspension of the Open Meetings Act to allow telephone or videoconference public meetings has been granted by Governor Abbott. Telephonic and videoconferencing capabilities were utilized to allow individuals to address the City Council. The following statement was posted: "PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT IS CARRIED OPENLY." 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Trustee Neal and seconded by Trustee Root to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2019 meeting of the Employee Benefits Trust as written. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. 3. HEALTH INSURANCE Mr. Duque, said the City's health insurance provider is Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas (BCBST) which expires on June 30th. The current plan year, July 2019 through April 2020, haS a loss ratio of 68.4%. BCBSTX submitted a renewal option to maintain the current level of benefits, which includes no rate adjustment. Mr. Duque recommended exercising the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas renewal with blended rates (active employees indirectly subsidizing retiree insurance) and retaining as the City's Standard Plan a $1,500 deductible and $6,500 maximum out of pocket benefit. Under the Standard Plan, the current benefit levels are unchanged, such as the deductible and the maximum out of pocket. The only revision is with the high deductible health plan increasing the individual deductible from $2,700 to $2,800 in accordance with the revised IRS regulations. A motion was made by Trustee Austin and seconded by Trustee Root to award a bid for employee health insurance to Blue Cross/Blue Shield with blended rates and providing as the City's standard plan a $1,500 deductible and $6,500 maximum out of pocket. The City's defined contribution would be $613.06 for employee only, $1,020.54 for employee + spouse, $732.64 for employee + children and $1,279.63 for employee + family as recommended by the Director of Human Resources, City Manager, and IPS (insurance consultant). MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. 4. DENTAL INSURANCE Mr. Duque, stated on April 27th staff was authorized to solicit bids for employee group benefits, including dental insurance. The City pays 100% of employee premiums and 0% of dependent premiums regardless whether the employee chooses the HIGH or LOW plan. The majority of city employees utilize the HIGH plan. The City spends approximately $38,400 on dental insurance premiums. On May 7th, the city opened the dental insurance bids with five received bids (see attached tabulation). After reviewing the bids, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas (current provider), Equitable Dental, and United HealthCare (UHC) were categorized as finalists. BCBSTX's renewal quote was a 22% increase, Equitable's bid was the lowest but did not present the greatest value to the City. United HealthCare provided the greatest value in terms of three more new in-network providers and a greater total annual maximum benefit ($250 greater for both the low and high plans). By awarding the bid to UHC, the City's annual dental insurance premium cost would equal approximately $34,592.04. The employees' premiums for dental insurance would also reflect the lowered costs. The City has experience with UHC as its dental provider with no recordEd issues during that period. Mr. Duque, IPS, insurance consultant, and Mrs. Guidry recommend awarding the dental insurance bid to United HealthCare. A motion was made by Trustee Neal and seconded by Trustee Root to award a bid for employee dental insurance to United HealthCare. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. 5. ADJOURN There being no further business a motion was made by Trustee Austin and seconded by Trustee Neal to adjourn the meeting at 4:47 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Hollier, and Root. Noes: None. Don Albanese, Chairperson City of Nederland Employee Benefits Trust ATTEST: Emmett Hollier, Secretary City of Nederland Employee Benefits Trust ca V c k . \ o 0- % E ' 0 05 1- 2 Q 7 c to 0 C C "4" / us 01 0. m q a 9. c @ a CM te V 13 cv■ ■ cE 7 E 7 / C E o CCI S 05 7 © ERS CC O. LI- CC n - 1-2 k a 6 $ c n - 0 2 # CD g 2 C 2 L1.1 a te c m 0 xr � 2 Z CO 2 m c CO," n & a3 cc � � 0 U 2 V OW � § LO e c £ @ $ ca ' ' @ c c • % V % 2 E E 4E. @ E _ E 2 E 2 2 ca LU z — � : Q � c1— m ■ e Z x £ 06 o Q , o O R to 6 2 CITY OF NEDERLAND COUNCIL MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET NAME TITLE PRESENT ABSENT Mayor V Don Albanese Ma Y Talmadge Austin Council Member—Ward I Billy Neal Council Member—Ward II Emmett Hollier Council Member—Ward III 7 Sylvia Root Council Member—Ward IV V Chris Duque City Manager Gay Ferguson City Clerk V V Jesse Branick City Attorney ` / Cheryl Dowden Director of Finance v Gary Porter Police Chief \// Terry Morton Fire Chief V Robert Woods Director of Public Works George Wheeler Building Official V1 / Victoria Klehn Librarian v Holly Guidry Human Resources Director V Executive SecretaryV Joni Underwood Angela Fanette Parks Director V 00„ a64,,,,, Don Albanese, Mayor ttgfiA arW3n, tY Ci Cler ' May 18, 2020 Date ALLISON NATHAN GETZ `i 1 ''}; TERRY WUENSCHEL TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR ^' r • ,f i CHIEF DEPUTY _%.. * TEXN$ STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF JEFFERSON I, Allison Nathan Getz, P.C.C., the Tax Assessor-Collector of Jefferson County, Texas and also, by contract or statute, the Tax Assessor-Collector for CITY OF NEDERLAND, affirm, under oath, that this amount $64,865.80, represents all taxes collected for CITY OF NEDERLAND during the month of April 2020. Allison Nathan Getz, P.C.C. JEFFERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE •P.O. BOX 2112 •BEAUMONT,TEXAS 77704-2112 PHONE: (409)835-8516 • FAX: (409)835-8589