Providence Committee on Finance-Wednesday, July 10, 2024-5:30 PM

July 10, 2024

Call to Order and Roll Call

15:53 - 17:58

Committee on Finance Chair Helen Anthony called the meeting to order and the clerk conducted the roll call. Attendees and staff were introduced and an overview of the evening's agenda was provided.

Item 1: Blue Cross Blue Shield Stop Loss Agreement Extension

17:58 - 23:03

The committee reviewed a proposed one-year extension of the stop loss insurance agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield during a benefits department transition. Following a brief question and answer session with administration officials, the committee voted to approve the resolution.

Items 2 and 4: Co-Response Clinician Contracts with The Providence Center

23:03 - 39:35

The committee heard a joint presentation on grant and city funding for mental health clinicians from The Providence Center who co-respond with police officers to divert individuals in crisis. After discussing program coverage and cultural competency, the committee voted to approve both item 2 and item 4.

Item 3: Police Uniform Contract Award

39:35 - 45:59

Officials presented a two-year contract award for Providence Police Department uniforms and gear provided by a local vendor. The committee discussed uniform replacement schedules and oversight before voting to approve the contract.

Item 5: Traffic Signal and Infrastructure Repairs Contract

45:59 - 53:47

The committee discussed funding and repair prioritization for municipal traffic signals, noting related capital improvement allocations. After discussing traffic safety funding, the committee voted to approve the contract.

Item 6: Recreation Department Uniforms Change Order

53:47 - 01:07:49

The recreation director presented a change order for youth sports leagues, camp counselor apparel, and sponsored uniforms funded in part by outside donations. Following a discussion with the city auditor regarding unit pricing and sponsorship agreements, the committee voted to approve the change order.

Item 7: Executive Session

01:07:49 - 03:03:50

The committee approved a roll call motion to enter into executive session pursuant to state law to discuss personnel matters. Following the closed-door proceedings, a roll call vote was conducted to exit the executive session.

Sealing of Minutes and Adjournment

03:03:50 - 03:04:35

The chair confirmed on the record that no votes were taken in executive session, and the committee approved a motion to seal the executive session minutes. A motion to adjourn the meeting was then made and approved.

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15:53 - 15:54

Yeah. They were

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15:56 - 15:58

How how sun are you, bro? How's your

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15:59 - 16:06

with you. This time. I know. I I went to the beach, but I'm still

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16:06 - 16:08

Oh, I started the freeze.

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16:09 - 16:10

Are we ready?

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16:11 - 16:12

Yeah. Hold on.

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16:12 - 16:16

Please. We ready? Good. Okay. Wonderful.

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16:19 - 16:35

Good evening. My name is Helen Anthony. I'm the chair of the committee on finance, and I'm calling to order a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 10 at 05:33PM. Madam clerk, would you please call the roll? Chairwoman Donald Anthony?

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16:35 - 16:42

Present. Vice chairman James Dale? Here. Councilwoman Sue Annabaugh? Present.

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16:43 - 16:47

Councilwoman Alden Ruiz? Present. Councilwoman Del Sanchez.

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16:47 - 16:48

Here.

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16:48 - 17:04

Vice president. Vice president. Vice Alright. I'd like to thank Steve Nelson who is here from the legal department. Thank you very much.

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17:04 - 17:25

Yes, ma'am. We have counselors. We have the pro tem with us,, and we have Shelly Peterson, councilwoman. And thank you very much for joining us this evening. We have our madam auditor, Gina Falsta, our chief of policy, Erin Easter Gardner, and many distinguished guests.

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17:25 - 17:35

Thank you all for coming. And our wonderful clerks, and we have a new one tonight. Well, we are returning new one, but also Tyler. Robert, thank you for joining us. Mhmm.

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17:35 - 17:40

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Welcome. Welcome.

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17:41 - 17:57

Okay. We are going to be calling these items in order. We are going to hold the... Item seven will be executive session, and that will be at the end. And I'm hoping that we can get through our board of contract and supply issues fairly efficiently.

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17:58 - 18:31

With that, I... Madam clerk, if you would please read item number one. Item number one, resolution authorized the approval of the power of contract award by the board of contact and supply in accordance with 77. Wonderful. And who do we appear to present on this this evening?

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18:32 - 18:39

Thank you, director. Will Good evening. Hello. We will, swear you in.

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18:49 - 18:50

And I'm sorry I called

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18:50 - 18:56

you director. Chief, nice to see you. Thank you. Okay. Please proceed.

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18:58 - 19:00

So the item is 42 Blue Cross Blue

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19:00 - 19:38

Shield is a stop loss agreement that's being extended for one year. We entered into an agreement prior prior to my acquisition here in the city that will carry out to the year prior to this extension. We are also undergoing a transition within the benefits department as well as a series of audits that are the first step in our transitional reorder plan. So at this time, we're gonna need consideration of the entirety of the contract and the of what that would mean to transition. And, of this current time, we felt that it was most feasible to make that one transition now to allow time to do all the internal work and the conclusion of that.

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19:38 - 19:41

We would be obligated to and if we are in. And

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19:42 - 19:47

and can you just explain... Did you call it a stop loss effect? Can you explain that?

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19:47 - 20:02

So, essentially, what happens is when certain claims reach a a mass dollar amount, there's a stop loss that kicks in for the amount or the the the... How much that claim may amount to. So if it's a a million dollars, our stop loss cap, and at at at any time that that claim is

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20:02 - 20:13

a million dollars, that stop loss case savings account for liability. Okay. I'm gonna open it up for questions. Anyone have questions for the chief? Yes.

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20:13 - 20:21

Councilor Vanderbloem. Thank you, chairman. Thank you, chief. How does this dollar amount to compare compare to what we've made in this current fiscal year?

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20:21 - 20:35

So with respect to that... Or between my. We are mindful of the the Blue Cross Blue Shield agreed to keep the same rates. So we're presently looking at saving approximately $51,000

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20:35 - 20:43

more than benefits. Okay. Well, thank you. Are there other questions?

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20:43 - 20:44

No.

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20:44 - 20:45

Yes. ProPam.

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20:59 - 21:20

So this particular agreement, we would start looking at the process before the end of this session period. When do we start taking on that decision? We're kinda knowing this in advance, like, advance. It would be our intent at that time to ultimately anyway. But we will make the decision as we make this decision to extend at this period of time.

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21:20 - 21:23

It's just that at this given time, there's a lot of transitional items that are at play. As you all

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21:23 - 21:24

know, we're obviously going to do a

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21:24 - 21:53

pretty significant reorg, which we've been able to do in a pretty short time. I mean, continue to do, but within that, each of those particular departments have to be in place. The plans with the benefit department in this... In q one of this fiscal year is to complete the ongoing audit center therein for benefits and to make sure that that data makes sense. If you start transitioning certain items away from benefits from knowing that they have all that collective information and the knowledge on the city of problems now, it can compromise our learning to reduce the...

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21:53 - 21:59

Make any subsequent transitions efficiently in the future. They just need to make this decision instead of not

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22:01 - 22:05

Yes. Are you finished, coach M? Good. Okay. Now, Sanchez.

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22:05 - 22:17

Thank you,. Thank you, chief, for the information. My only question is, is this the only contract that we have with Blue Cross Blue Shield when it comes to benefits? And No. This is just, like, one piece of it.

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22:17 - 22:22

It's one piece of They they manage administrative services for our for our plan. You're resolve the charge.

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22:22 - 22:23

Right. So

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22:23 - 22:24

there are other things.

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22:26 - 22:30

Okay. That's. Thank you. I have one final question. Just...

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22:30 - 22:37

I'm new to a lot of this. Can you explain what the acronyms WRI and p m... PEMP stand for?

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22:37 - 22:42

Price per member per month. And I don't have to accept that

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22:42 - 22:51

because the WRI might have an extension. You can try that. Okay. Alright. Are there any other questions?

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22:54 - 22:57

I make a motion to approve number one. Second.

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22:58 - 23:03

Motion to approve made by councilor Taylor. Sented by councilor Sanchez. All in favor? Aye. Aye.

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23:03 - 23:18

All opposed? Thank you very much to you, doctor. May I have a motion to discuss item numbers two and four together? So we can vote separately. Second.

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23:18 - 23:23

Alright. Motion made by counselor Taylor, seconded by counselor Graves. All in favor? Aye. Aye.

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23:23 - 24:15

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you.