HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/19/1998 BAKERSFIELD
Patricia J. DeMond, Chair
Mark Salvaggio
Jacquie Sullivan
Staff: Dolores B. Teubner
AGENDA
Special Meeting
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Wednesday, AuguSt 19, 1998
4:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room
1501 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA
1. ROLL CALL
2. APPROVAL OF APRIL 13, '1998 MINUTES
3 PRESENTATIONS
4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
5. DEFERRED BUSINESS
None
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. HEALTH CARE CONSULTANT CONTRACT - Hayden
B. FIRE UNION LETTER - Hayden
7. ADJOURNMENT
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FILE COPY
DRAFT
BAKERSFIELD
Ah~n Tandy, City Manager Patricia J. DeMond, Chair
Staff: John Stinson Mark Salvaggio
Jacquie Sullivan
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Monday, April 13, 1998
4:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room
1501 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
1. ROLL CALL
Call to Order 4:05 p.m.
Present:Councilmembers Patricia J. DeMond, Chair; Mark Salvaggio
and Jacquie Sullivan
2. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 9, 1998 MINUTES
Approved as submitted.
3. PRESENTATIONS
None
4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
None
5. DEFERRED BUSINESS
None
DRAFT
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Monday, April 13, 1998
Page -2-
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PROGRAM -Teubner
Assistant City Manager Teubner presented the proposed Employee Incentive
Program to the Committee. She indicated that the plan was the result of much
discussion and input from employees via an employee survey, an employee
committee and meetings with the various bargaining units. The Committee took
comments from members of the Employee Incentive Committee who were present.
The Committee suggested changes to clarify one section of the program and
recommended the proposed plan be submitted to the City Council for approval.
B. PERSONNEL CHANGES
1. Amendment No. 6 to Resolution No. 12-96 setting salaries and related
benefits for employees of the Blue Collar Unit
2. Job Specifications: Building Maintainer and Park Maintainer Broadbanded
into one Facility Worker Classification
3. Reclassifications: Building Maintainer I to Facility Worker and Park
Maintainer to Service Maintenance Worker
A brief overview of these items was presented by Human Resources Manager
Carroll Hayden. The Committee (Sullivan absent) recommended approval of the
proposed changes.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Staff present: Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; Assistant City Attorney Michael
AIIford; Human Resources Manager Carroll Hayden; Recreation and Parks Director Stan
Ford; and Incentive Committee members Suzanne Boatman, Maurice Randall, Connie
Walls and Isabel Williams.
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
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I MEETING DATE: August 12, 1998 AGENDA SECTION: Consent
ITEM: 8. §.
TO: Honorable MaYOr and Councilmembers ~ APPROVED
FROM: Carroll Hayden, Human Resources Manager DEPARTMENT HEAD
DATE: July 29, 1998 CITY ATTORNEY
SUBJECT: Health Care Consultant Services
RECOMMENDATION: Referral to Personnel Committee
' 'CKGROUND: The City's contract with Godwins Booke and Dickenson (AON), for health care consulting
,~ired March 1, 1998. A Request for Proposal for health care consulting was issued on April 28, 1998. The
RFP was sent to 18 firms. As of June 1, 1998, the filing deadline, the City had received eight proposals.
Staff met with the joint City/Employee Insurance Committee to solicit volunteers to serve in an advisory capacity
in reviewing the eight proposals and interviewing the top three firms. Representatives from the Association of
Bakersfield Police Officers, Central California Association of Public Employees (Blue and White Units) and the
Management Employees Unit agreed to so work with staff.
The three firms selected for interview were AON, The Segal Company and Buck Consulting. All three firms are
experienced human resources consulting firms with nationwide practices. After carefully reviewing again the
RFPs from these three firms and after having detailed interview sessions with all three, the advisory group
unanimously agreed to recommend Buck Consulting for a three year contract for health care consulting. While
Buck was not the least expensive of the three firms, it was felt they could offer the most professional services
and that the City would benefit from a change in consultants. Buck demonstrated an expertise and knowledge
base in employee benefits, as well as the ability to communicate well.
Staff recommends referral of the proposed contract to Personnel Committee.
July 29, 1998, 1:20PM
· . AGREEMENT NO.
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on , by and between
the CITY OF BAKERSFIELD, a municipal corporation, ("CITY" herein) and BUCK
CONSULTANTS ("CONSULTANT" herein).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the CITY issued a Request for Proposals and CONSULTANT has
submitted a proposal concerning employee health care plan analysis and
recommendation, said Request for Proposal and proposal are incorporated herein by
reference; and
WHEREAS, CONSULTANT represents CONSULTANT is experienced and well
qualified in employee benefit consulting; and
WHEREAS, the CITY does not have expertise currently on staff to conduct an
analysis, recommend and implement a multi-year strategy to control health care costs for
active and retired employees; and
WHEREAS, CONSULTANT is aware that information may come into
CONSULTANT's possession which may impact the CITY's legal position in the event such
information was released to outside parties; and
WHEREAS, CITY now desires to employ CONSULTANT to provide data analysis,
present alternatives to the City's present health care system, assist in current plan
management, and marketing health plans as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, incorporating the foregoing recitals herein, CITY and
coNSULTANT mutually agree as follows:
1. SCOPE OF WORK. The scope of work is described as:
Analyzing, recommending and implementing a multi-year strategy to control health care
costs for active and retired employees. The scope of work shall include all items
contained in CONSULTANT's Proposal and CITY's Request for Proposals.
CONSULTANT's Proposal and CITY's Request for PropoSals are incorporated herein by
reference as though fully set forth. CONSULTANT's services will include all the
procedures necessary to properly complete the task CONSULTANT has been hired to
perform whether specifically included in the scope of work or not.
2. COMPENSATION. Compensation for all work, services or products called
for under this Agreement shall consist of a total payment of not to exceed One Hundred -- '
Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000) which shall be paid as follows: not to exceed sixty
thousand dollars annually, over a period of three years.
The compensation set forth in this section shall be the total compensation under this
Agreement including, but not limited to, all out-of-pocket costs and taxes. CITY shall pay
only the compensation listed unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties.
3. PAYMENT PROCEDURE. coNSULTANT shall be paid for services
rendered after receipt of an itemized invoice for the work completed and approved by CITY
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Payment by CITY to CONSULTANT shall
be made within thirty (30) days after receipt and approval by CITY of CONSULTANT's
itemized invoice.
4. TITLE TO DOCUMENTS,. All documents, plans, and drawings, maps,
photographs, and other papers, or copies thereof prepared by CONSULTANT pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement, shall, upon preparation, become the propertY of the CITY.
5. LICENSES,, CONSULTANT shall, at its sole cost and expense, keep in effect
or obtain at all times during the term of this Agreement any licenses, permits and approvals
which are legally required for CONSULTANT to practice its profession.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY. During the term of this Agreement, CONSULTANT will
be dealing with information of a legal and confidential nature, and such information could
severely damage CITY if disclosed to outside parties. CONSULTANT will not disclose to
any person, directly or indirectly, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time
thereafter, any such information or use such information other than as necessary in the
course of this Agreement. All documents CONSULTANT prepares and confidential
information given to CONSULTANT under this Agreement are the exclusive property of the
CITY. Under no circumstances shall any such information or documents be removed from
the CITY without the CITY's prior written consent.
7. NEWS RELEASES/INTERVIEWS. All news releases, media interviews,
testimony at hearings and public comments by CONSULTANT shall be prohibited unless
authorized by the CITY.
8. WAIVER OF DEFAULT. The failure of any party to enforce against another
a provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that party's right to enforce
such a provision at a later time, and shall not serve to vary the terms of this Agreement.
9. FORUM. Any lawsuit pertaining to any matter arising under, or growing
out of, this contract shall be instituted in Kern County, Califomia.
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
P:~AGREEMEN~UCK CONSULTANTS.wDd
-July30,1998 Page 2 of .7
10. NOTICES. All notices relative to this Agreement shall be given in writing
and shall be personally served or sent by certified or registered mail and be effective upon
depositing in the United States mail. The parties shall be addressed as follows, or at any
other address designated by notice:
CITY: CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
CITY HALL
1501 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, California 93301
CONSULTANT: BUCK CONSULTANTS
1801 Century Park East
Suite 500
Los Angeles, California 90067
11. ASSIGNMENT. This contract shall not be assigned by any party, or any
party substituted, without prior written consent of all the parties.
12. BINDING EFFECT. The rights and obligations of this Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties to the contract and their heirs,
administrators, executors, personal representatives, successors and assigns, and
whenever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter,
and the singular number includes the plural. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be considered as an original and be effective
as such.
13. EXHIBITS. In the event of a conflict between the terms, conditions or
specifications set forth in this Agreement and those in exhibits attached hereto, the terms,
conditions, or specifications set forth in this Agreement shall prevail. All exhibits to which
reference is made in this Agreement are deemed incorporated in this Agreement, whether
or not actually attached.
14. MERGER AND MODIFICATION. This contract sets forth the entire
Agreement between the parties and supersedes all other oral or written representations.
This contract may be modified only in a writing approved by the City Council and signed
by all the parties.
15. CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Each individual executing this Agreement
represents and warrants they are duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement
on behalf of the corporation or organization, if any, named herein and this Agreement is
binding upon said corporation or organization in accordance with its terms.
16. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by any party upon
30 days written notice, served by mail or personal service, to all other parties.
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
P:~AGREEMEN~BUCK CONSULTANTS.wpd
-July30,1998 Page 3 of 7
17. COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LAWS. CONSULTANT shall, at CONSULTANT's
sole cost, comply with all of the requirements of Municipal, State, and Federal authorities
now in force, or which may hereafter be in force, pertaining to this Agreement, and shall
faithfully observe in all activities relating to or growing out of this Agreement all Municipal
ordinances and State and Federal statutes, rules or regulations now in force or which may
hereafter be in force.
18. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. This Agreement calls for the performance
of the services of CONSULTANT as an independent contractor. CONSULTANT is not an
agent or employee of the CITY for any purpose and is not entitled to any of the benefits
provided by CITY to its employees. This Agreement shall not be construed as forming a
partnership or any other association with CONSULTANT other than that of an independent
contractor.
19. INSURANCE. In addition to any other insurance or bond required under this
Agreement, the CONSULTANT shall procure and maintain for the duration of this
Agreement the following types and limits of insurance ("basic insurance requirements"
herein):
19.1 Professional liability insurance, providing coverage on claims made
basis for errors and omissions with limits of not less than One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) aggregate; and
19.2 Automobile liability insurance, providing coverage on an
occurrence basis for bodily injury, including death, of one or more
persons, property damage and personal injury, with limits of not less
than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence; and the policy
shall:
19.2.1 Provide coverage for owned, non-owned and hired
autos.
19.2.2 Contain an additional insured endorsement in favor of
the CITY, its mayor, council, officers, agents and
employees.
19.3 Broad form commercial general liability insurance, providing
coverage-on an occurrence basis for bodily injury, including death, of
· one or more persons, property damage and personal injury, with limits
of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence; and
the policy shall:
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
P:~AGREEMEN~BUCK CONSULTANTS.wpd
--Ju~/3o, 1998 Page 4 of 7
19.3.1 Provide contractual liability coverage for the terms of
this Agreement.
19.3.2 Contain an additional insured endorsement in favor of
the CITY, its mayor, council, officers, agents,
employees and volunteers.
19.4 Workers' compensation insurance with statutory limits and
employer's liability insurance with limits of not less than One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence; and the policy shall contain a
waiver of subrogation endorsement in faVor of the CITY, its mayor,
council, officers-, agents, employees and volunteers.
Except for professional liability, all policies required of the CONSULTANT shall be primary
insurance as to the CITY, its mayor, council, officers, agents, employees, or volunteers
and any insurance or self-insurance maintained by the CITY, its mayor, council, officers,
agents, employees, and volunteers shall be excess of the CONSULTANT's insurance and
shall not contribute with it.
Insurance is to be placed with insurers with a Bests' rating of no less than A:VII. Any
deductibles, self-insured retentions or insurance in lesser amounts, or lack of certain types
of insurance otherwise required by this Agreement, or insurance rated below Bests' A:VII,
must be declared prior to execution of this Agreement and approved by the CITY in writing.
All policies shall contain an endorsement providing the CITY with thirty (30) days written
notice of cancellation or material change in policy language or terms. All policies shall
provide that there shall be continuing liability thereon, notwithstanding any recovery on any
policy.
The insurance required hereunder shall be maintained until all work required to be
performed by this Agreement is satisfactorily completed as evidenced by written
acceptance by the CITY.
The CONSULTANT shall furnish the City Risk Manager with a certificate of insurance and
required endorsements evidencing the insurance required. The CITY may withdraw its
offer of contract or cancel this contract if certificates of insurance and endorsements
required have not been provided prior to the execution of this Agreement.
Unless otherwise' approved-by the CITY, if any part of the work under this Agreement is
subcontracted, the "basic insurance requirements" set forth above shall be provided by,
or on behalf of, all subcontractors even if the CITY has approved lesser insurance
requirements for CONSULTANT.
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
P:~AGREEMEN~BUCK CONSULTANTS.wpd
-July30,1998 Pacj'e 5 of 7
20. INDEMNITY. CONSULTANT shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless
CITY, its officers, agents and employees against any and all liability, claims, actions,
causes of action or demands whatsoever against them, or any of them, before
administrative or judicial tribunals of any kind whatsoever, arising out of, connected with,
or caused by CONSULTANT, CONSULTANT's employees, agents or independent
contractors or companies in the performance of, or in any way arising from, the terms and
provisions of this Agreement whether or not caused in part by a party indemnified
hereunder, except as limited by California Civil Code section 2782.
21. EXECUTION. This Agreement is effective upon execution. It is the product
of negotiation and all parties are equally responsible for authorship of this Agreement.
Section 1654 of the California Civil Code shall'not apply to the interpretation of this
Agreement..
22. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR. The Contract Administrator for the CITY
is:
° Carroll Hayden, Human Resources Manager'
o CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
o 1501 Truxtun Avenue
° Bakersfield, California 93301
° Telephone (805) 326-3773
CONSULTANT's project manager shall be:
° Tim Beck
o Principal and Health and Welfare Consultant
° 1801 Century Park East, Suite 500
o Los Angeles, California 90067
° Telephone (310) 282-8232
The Contract Administrator and the Project Manager shall be the primary contact
persons for CITY and CONSULTANT. It is expressly understood that only the CITY
Council may approve modifications to the contract, which modifications must be in writing.
23. ACCOUNTING RECORDS. CONSULTANT shall maintain accurate
accounting records and other written documentation pertaining to all costs incurred in
performance of this Agreement. Such records and documentation . shall be kept at
CONSULTANT's office during the term of this Agreement, and for a period of three years
from the date of the final payment hereunder, and said records shall be made available to
CITY representatives upon request at any time during regular business hours.
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
P:~AGREEMEN~BUCK CONSULTANTS.wpd
-Ju~/~o.~9~JS Page 6 of 7
24. TAX NUMBERS.
CONSULTANT's Federal Tax ID Number
CONSULTANT is a corporation? Yes No
(Please check one)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed, the day and year first-above written.
"CITY" "CONSULTANT"
CITY OF BAKERSFIELD BUCK CONSULTANTS
By: By:
BOB PRICE TIM ,BECK
Mayor Principal and Health and Welfare
Consultant
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
By: ,'~' '"-'" /'-'%
I . ' -, "~ [ f ,,
...___~/ A LA~N-D;ZDA NtEE~-~-----
Assistant City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
CITY DEPARTMENT
· '~nt City Manager
COUNTERSIGNED:
By:
GREGORY J. KLIMKO
Finance Director
CONSULTANT'S AGREEMENT
P:~AGREEMEN~UCK CONSULTANTS.wpd
'--July 30,1998 Page 7 of 7
REOUEST FOR PROPOSALS
GENEKAL INFORMATION
The City of Bakersfield is seeking proposals from experienced consultants to research, analyze,
make recommendations and assist in the implementation of a multi-year strategy for a multi-
faceted health insurance program for its employees. The consultant will work closely with Human
Resources staff, City Council members and the Joint Employee/City Insurance Committee, a meet
and confer group made up of the City's seven bargaining units and also retirees. The following
will be required of the Health Care Consultant:
· Ability to analyze our present health care plans for any cost saving opportunities and make
recommendations regarding implementing any changes.
· Ability to analyze alternative/additional health care choices to improve our benefit package
and contain costs.
· Ability to act as the City's liaison with health care vendors and negotiate contract
renewals or changes.
· Ability to provide benefit recommendations in conformance with cun'ent state and federal
laws and regulations.
· Attendance at numerous City Council meetings, Insurance Committee meetings and
meetings of the Personnel Committee of the City Council.
· Ability to work with City staff'to keep them informed of benefit strategies and plan design
changes.
· Ability to account and report on the City's plan experience and analyze financial reports
provided by vendors.
The proposal shall address these considerations, and shall include:
· An outline of the method to be used in developing the City's health care strategy.
· A resume of the primary person responsible for the account.
· A Current client reference list.
· Proposed fees and conditions; the City desires service on a not-to-exceed, flat fee basis for
items required above. Fees for any additional proposed services should be provided in
detail.
· An executed sample contract. (Attached)
· Experience with retiree health plans.
· Experience with public agencies and labor unions.
The City currently has approximately 1,200 full time employees and 300 retirees for whom health
coverage is provided. During 1997, the City marketed its health plans and contracted as follows:
l-IMOPmdemnity OPO) Plan
Blue Cross of California
((HMO) California Care)
Ms. N'ma Billinger, Manager Group Sales
499 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 108 - Fresno, CA 93704
K:~i_~r Permanente
Ms. Sarah Marquez, Senior Account Manager
5055 California Ave., Suite 110 - Bakersfield, CA 93309
Secure Horizons - Medicare Risk Plan
PacifiCare
23046 Avenida De La Carlotta - Laguna I-Ftlls, CA 92653
Fee for Service Plan
Blue Cross of California
(see above)
HBI (a.k.a. Pacific Dental)
Mr. Lee Schneider, Vice President, Sales
1300 Clay St., Suite 550 - Oakland, CA 94612-1427
DDS (Dedi~ted Dental Systems)
3990 Ming Ave - Bakersfield, CA 93309
2
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLAN
Pacific, are
Ken Katz, Sr. Account Manager
516 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 200 - Fresno, CA 93704
MENTAL HEALTH PLAN
Pacific, are
Ken Katz, Sr. Account Manager
516 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 200 - Fresno, CA 93704
¥ISION PLAN
Medical Eye Services
Reggie Morgan, Regional Manager
7803 Madison Ave., Suite 700 - Citrus Heights~ CA 95610
The consultant selected to provide these services shall be protu'bited fi.om performing as a broker
and/or receiving commissions or any other remuneration for any health, mental or dental insurance
with any provider for the City of Bakersfield during the term of their contract.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal to conduct this service, you must do so no later than
June 1, 1998. It is anticipated that a decision shall be made as to whom the consultant contract
shall be awarded to by July 15, 1998, and services shall begin immediately thereaRer as
determined by the City Council.
Proposals are to be submitted to:
Carroll Hayden
Human Resources Manager
City of Bakersfield
1501 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
and are to be received no later than June 1, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. Late proposals will not be
accepted.
4/28/98
3
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~IE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION ! - ORGANIZATION & HISTORY ................................................. 1
SECTION 2 - PERSONNEL QUAI.MCATIONS .............................................. 3
SECTION 3 - CONSULTING APPROACH & SERVICES ................................... 9
SECTION 4 - CONSULTING FEES .............................................................. 20
SECTION 5 - REFERENCES ...................................................................... 21
APPENDIX A - RESUMES
APPENDIX B - HEALTH PLAN MANAGEMENT CONTINUUM
APPENDIX C - SAMPI~F. CONTRACT
MAI'~I36145W MRO:jtm
BUC~
CO,.'NSULTANT~
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR 2~ttE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 1
- SECTION 1 - ORGANIZATION & I-IISTORY
Buck Consultants, Inc. is a leading worldwide employee benefit, actuarial and compensation
consulting f'u'm. Buck is headquartered in New York and has over 65 offices worldwide. We
employ over 2,?00 professiomis and serve over S,000 clients and their employee benefit
progr'am~ in all $0 states and throughout the world. The customized nature of our services has
helped create a reputation of quality, objectivity and innovation.
The firm George B. Buck, Consulting Actuary, was originally established in New York City in
1916 as an individual proprietorship, working primarily' with states and major, cities in
establishing funded retirement systems. Since our founding, Buck has grown into a diversified
firm which provides consulting services to both public and private entities, covering the entire
employee benefits and human resources management fields. In 1970, the fh'm was converted
to a privately-held, employee-owned corporation. In 1997, Buck became a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation, under the direction of our existing mm~gement team.
Buck Consultants retai~ our identity and our operational and professional independence.
We have a unique set of global resources that offers our clients an integrated network of
worldwide offices. Our organization is guided by the following principles:
· Integrity: Buck's integrity has been, and continues to be, the cornerstone of its success.
We partner with our clients based on the highest degree of professiomlism and mutual
respect.
· ~huz~y: Buck's consultants are leaders in their fields of expertise. We are committed to
providing exceptionally-high quality consulting services to our clients. Our goal is to
exceed our clients' expectations.
· Dedication: We are dedicated to our clients and the consulting profession a_nd committed
to helping our clients meet their objectives.
M,4Y98U61451V MRO.'jrm
BUC'
~]b"NSULT. AN TS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE ClYY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 2
· Versatility: Buck's consultants are flera'ble. We offer uniquely customized approaches
based on our clients' health and welfare issues and their related orga-i~ational, professional
and human resourc~ needs.
· Innovation: Buck is an industry leader in developing creative solutions for both routine
and unusual problems. We seek and provide new ideas and new ways of thinking about ~
complex issues affecting our clients' global business objectives.
Buck brings our clients --paralleled depth of knowledge, bwad experience and a firm
commitment tO integrated client service in:
· ' Actuarial
· Adminiswation
· Compensation
· Health and Welfare
· Tax and Legal
· Retirement
We continue in the forefront of employee benefit developments to meet today's needs and the
needs of the future.
M~$tJ614$W MRO:jtm
CO'NSULTAN TS
CONSULITNG SERVICES PROPOSAl. FOR THE ClYY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE
SECTION 2 - PERSONNEL QUALII~ICATIONS '
When the City retains Buck, it retains all of Buck's employees and their combined expertise.
This reservoir of professional talent is the basis of our team approach, which allows us to meet
your needs quickly' and efficiently. Each Account Executive and his or her staff are ready to
give assistance to another in the group, to lend their special expertise and insights.
The consultants and staff of Buck Consultants recognize that Buck's role is that of a
professional advisor aixi that our clients are the. ultimate decision makers. We approach each
assignment as a collaborative partnership with the client organization's key leaders. We will
treat the City individually, respecting its uniqueness and tailoring our .approach to its
relationships and organizational objectives. Our goal is to deploy our expertise in support of
informed and timely decisions that serve the best interests of the City.
The staff assigned to the City's Buck consulting team will be drawn from our strong presence
in Southern California. The team will be led from our Los Angeles office and will include
experts from our Anaheim and San Diego offices. These three offices form a regional practice
group within Buck, and regularly work together on consulting assignments.
The consulting team has been organized with an Account Executive who has overall
responsibility for all services delivered to the City.. Experts for each primary consulting
discipline (i.e., general consulting and plan management, actuarial and legal) have been
established as Buck leads for each discipline. Additional consulting staff has been identified to
support the ongoing consulting and project work in each discipline.
A summary of the City's Buck consulting team follows. Brief resumes for each individual are
included in Appendix A.
M,4F98L~6145W MRO:jtm
BUC' ,
C~'"NSULT~NTS
__ CONSULITNG SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR TItE CllY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 4
27mothy D.' Beck
Tim is a Principal and the Health and Welfare Southern California Practice Leader in our Los
Angeles office. Tim will be the City's Account Executive, and will have overall respom~ility
for managing all delivered consulting services. Tim has more than 20 years of experience in
employee benefit consulting, claim adminisuation systems, claim auditing and group insmance
brokerage. His respons~ilities for the City will include:
Assembling teams from the appropriate specialty practices and coordinating their activities
Obtaining a complete understanding of the City needs, objectives, and constraints
· Assuring the quality and timely completion of assignments
· Monitoring ongoing costs of the assignments
· Keeping the City aware of relevant developments.
Examples of Tim's work include:
City Government Managed overall consulting services delivery to a City government
for its health and welfare benefit plans.
Quasi-Government Managed overall consulting services delivery to a quasi-government
Agency agency for its health and welfare benefit planE.
Construction & Coordinated the development of a client-based integrated health care
Engineering Firm claim management information reporting system to include flexible
benefits program development, geographical pricing, managed care
delivery system management and implementation, and employee
communications.
M~Y98~I6145W MRO:j~
BUC~
CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICES PRoPosAL FOR THE CIYY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE $
Mark IL O~echowski
Maztc is a Health and Welfare Benefit Consultam located in our Los Aageles office. Mark will
be the City's project manager for general consulting and plan mamgement. Mark has 10 years
of experience in employee benefit COns~l~n~, health alld welfare plan design and pricing
analysis, and client service. Mark has assisted clients with a wide variety of consulting needs
includin~ strategic planning, plandesign evaluation, health plan pricing and analysis,
carrier/vendor renewal negotiations, flexible benefits design and implementation, managed care
and mergers and acquisitions.
Examples of Mark's work include:
City Government Responsible for analyzing and negotiating multi-year premium and
fee guarantees for its health and welfare benefits plan including plan
design review, rmaacial analysis, carrier/vendor negotiations and
contract review.
County Government Responsible for overall client service delivery for its medical plan_n
(HMO, POS and Indemnity) including annual renewal
presentation/negotiations, performance measurement, open
e~ollmcat coordination and day-to-day service.
Manufacturing Firm Responsible for delivery and management of health and welfare
consulting activities including strategic planning, plan design
analysis and review, health plan utilization analysis, annual renewal
analysis and negotiations, compliance and routine day-to-day
consultation.
M41'98U6145W MRO.jtrn
BUC'
~Dxt',IS U LTA N TS
CONSULlING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CHT OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE
Michael Schionning, F.S.A., M.A.A.A
Mike is a Principal and Health and Welfare Actuary located in our San Diego, California
office. Mike will be Buck's lead for actuarial consulting services. Mike's acn,srial
respons~ilities will include analysis and pricing of medical managed care plans (PPO, POS,
lIMO, etc.), retiree health care plar~% retiree post-retirement liabilities and flexible benefit
programs. Mike has extensive experience in flexible benefits design and pricing, product
development, managed care delivery systems, and financial, legislative and regulatory
compliance.
Examples of Mike's work include:
School district Develop' annual reserve requirements for the District's self-funded
programs, develop proposed premium equivalents and budget
projections, provide Workers' Compensation reserve analysis and
funding analyses.
County Government Reviewed benefit plan changes for overhaul of the County's flexible
benefits program, developed price tags, employer and employee
contributions, developed budget projections for future years,
developed and produced employee enrollment forms and
con.f'u'marion statements.
Large multi-employer Representing the management side of the multi-employer Ixust,
trust responsible for developing annual actuarial valuations (SOP 92-6
valuations), reviewing and negotiating HMO renewal rate actions,
developing cost impact of proposed benefit plan and funding
changes in the collective bargaining process, developing annual
financial projections.
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CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 7
Laura A. Pas'zMewicz, J.D.
Laura is a Health and Welfare Benefit Consultant in our Anaheim office. Laura will be the
City's lead for legal and compliance consulting services. Laura has nearly 10 years of
experience in employee benefits consulting, and also several years working in employee
benefits public policy as an attorney with the United States Senate. Laura has extensive
experience in. state and federal employee benefits legislation and regulatory compliance,
contract review and managed care delivery systems.
Examples of Laura's work include:
Responsible for providing legal research, plan drafting and
County Government compliance review services. Also assisted with all aspects of
flexible' benefit plan implementation.
Responsible for development, drafting and on-going maintenance of
Large Multi-state Firm
a he.~lth and welfare plan administration manual which includes a
wide range of legal and administrative issues.
Responsible for compliance audit of all health and welfare plans
Various Entities including review of plan documents, employee communications,
insurance contracts, government filings and a~trative
procedures.
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CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 8
Additional Consulting Support
Additional consulting staff has been identified to support the ongoing consulting and project
work in each discipline. A brief summary of these individuals' responsibilities and experience
follows. Additional staff will be added as needed based on client activity and project scope.
· Vivian D. Neudeck: Vivian is a Senior Benefit Special~ in our Los Angeles office.
Vivian will provide day-to-day support for various City assignments and projects. Vivian
has several years of experience in employee benefits, and several years of experience in
plan administration with a q-~i-public agency.
· Rene Betsch: Rene is a Principal and Communications Consultant in our Los Angeles
office. Rene is the Communication Practice Leader in our Los Angeles office. Rene will
provide communications support for the City's communications prOjects. Rene has more
than 20 years of professional experience in public relations, employee relations and benefits
communications. She has a local team of communications professionals to assist in
ongoing client communications projects.
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CONSULTANTS
_ CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 9
SECTION 3 o CONSULTING APPROACF! & SERVICES
Overv/ew
At Buck, we will pursue a relationship with the City in which your needs are matched by our
expertise. Once a client relationship is established, our philosophy is to maic¢ our clients
aware of the opportunities available in the employee benefits area and to assist them in taking
full advantage of these opportunities.
Buck will customize its consulting approach to ensure proactive management of the City's
health and welfare programs through our:
· People: Buck is our people. We believe that quality services involve more than just the
highly technical expertise necessary to prepare evaluations and design benefit plans. Our
consultants are experienced, intelligent, hardworking and creative. Each member of our
consulting team brings a special dimension to the project.
· Full Service Capabiff#es: Buck can provide the City with assistance in every area related
to the evaluation, design and management of its benefit program. We have a proven track
record in plan design, pricing, compliance, contracting, surveys, administration and
communication.
· Custom Products: Buck does not have a standard or "canned" approach. Our goal is to
provide advice and recommendations consistent with each client's organizational, human
resources and benefit objectives. We tailor our approach to meet your needs.
· Shared Consulting Resources: We will bring a full range and depth of resources to the
City. While we establish local resources where it is efficient to do so, Buck strongly
encourages the sharing of specialized resources between offices to best meet your needs.
Our consultants take pride in anticipating and identifying clients' concerns and needs before
they develop into problems. We do thi~ by constantly monitoring the benefit, financial and
compliance environment, and by suggesting action plans which fit each client's benefit and
human resource philosophy.
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CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOXAI. FOR THE C177 OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 10
Consulting Approach
Our consulting approach is continuous alld dynamic. It is aa integrated plan maaagement
process that helps employers manage, measure and monitor the performaace of their benefits
program. Our approach is designed in a flexible framework allowing adjustments to the
program's design to ensure consistency with organizational, finaacial and benefit objectives.
We believe the health plan management continuum is aa effective tool for managing the City's
benefits program. The health plan management continuum follows a three-year cycle:
· Year 1 - Strategic Planning and Implementation: Year 1' sets the stage for the City's
benefit program. Strategic planning enables us to provide appropriate consulting advice to
City, and helps determine benefit design objectives, pricing strategy, cost sharing strategy
and managed care philosophy.
· Year 2 - Plan Maintenance and Measurement:. Year 2's focus is plan management. The
changes implemented, based on the strategic planning process, must be monitored and
measured to ensure that the benefit program objectives remain consistent with the City's
organizational and human resource objectives.
· Year 3 - Plan Measurement and Adjustments: The City's benefit program will continue to
be monitored ia Year 3. The continuous measurement and monitoring of the benefit
program will enable us to identify and implement any plan adjustments necessary to ensure
that the City's benefit program remains consistent with organizational and human resource
objectives.
Our consulting approach is further discussed in Appendix B.
Consulting Services
Buck's approach to the City's plan management will create a sound benefit plan foundation,
and provide plan management tools enabling the City to maintain a competitive, high-quality,
cost-effective benefits program for employees and eligible dependents.
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BUc~DXNSULTANT[
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF B.4KF. gSF~ELD PaGE 11
We understand that the City is seeking a qualified consulting firm to:
· Analyze the City's current health care plans for cost-saving oppommities, identify
alternative health care choices, and make recommendations regarding irr?lementing any
changes that will improve the overall benefit program and contain costs.
· Act as the City's lisi_~on with health care vendors and negotiate contract renewals or
changes.
· Provide benefit recommendations in conformance with current slate and federal laws and
regulations.
· Attend various City Council meetings, Insuran~ Committee meetings anti meetings of the
Personnel Comm~ of the City Council.
· Keep the City staff ~ormed of benefit strategies and plan design changes.
· Account and report on ~e City's plan experience and plan utilization.
The City's benefit and financial objectives will be achieved by providing effective consulting
advice in the following principle areas:
· General consulting and plan management
· Actuarial consulting
· Legal consulting
The following summarizes the consulting services we will provide to the City and its staff:
General Consulting and Plan Management
We offer a full range of general consulting and plan management services including:
· Financial management of insured and self-funded program~
· Plan management and analysis
· Program administration
· Vendor management and marketing
· . Employee communications
BUC(
CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOI~ THE CITY OF B~F.~I~.LD PaGE 12
- Buck is prepared to assist the City with the design, implementation, and management of its
employee benefits program. The general consulting and plan management support includes:
· Meet periodically with the City to facilitate the determination of benefit objectives,
· comment on current plan costs and design, project future costs, recommend design changes
and costs.
· Attend, as requested, various City Council meetings, In.m~nce Committee meetings and
meetings with the Personnel Committee of the City Council.
· Assist the City with irr.?lementation of changes tl~t meet its overall objectives.
· Provide the City with assistance in the collective-barg~i,~ing process. This will include
reviewing goals and objectives, providing information on trends in collective bargained
benefits, developing cost estimates of proposed cl~nges, and analyzing the impact of
proposals from the unions.
· Monitor ongoing claim turnaround and accuracy reports of carriers/vendors and service
organizations to assure timely and accurate claim processing.
· Monitor ongoing financial experience and alert the City to favorable/unfavorable trends
quarterly.
· Keep the City up-to-date on leading edge benefit trends.
· Review, analyze, and negotiate :~nm~l vendor renewals and year-end accountings.
· Evaluate funding mechanisms and report on appropriateness of different financial
arrangements for the City.
· Recommend and comment on plan design/administration modifications.
· Advise the City on employee contribution levels.
· Analyze carrier/vendor contracts, agreements, and commu~cation material to assure
consistency and accuracy of information and approach.
· Conduct informal surveys of competing employer benefit plans, and report on benefit
adequacy, industry practice or other information as directed by the City.
· Assist the City in communicating to its employees plan changes and benefit issues through
printed and electronic media.
· Provide day-to-day telephone consultation on matters relative to benefit plans.
· Analyze specific claim situations and advise the City in determining eligibility and accuracy
of submitted charges.
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BUC~3XNSU LTA N TS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE C1'17 OF B~RRSFIFd. I~ PAGE 13
Employee Communication Services
Our full-service Communication staff is comprised of individuals who provide a solid core of
knowledge, talent, and skill in' project planning and management, writing, graphic design,
- audiovisual/video production, and development of benefit statements and other personalized
communications. The communication services we routinely provide include:
· Orchestxate the overall employee awarene~, education, and enrollment process
· Design, write, and oversee the production of brochures, enrollment guides, forms, plan
descriptions, employee handbook.s, videotapes, and other media
· Closely monitor quality and timely delivery of all commttnications materiala
· Conduct employee meetings and training meeting leaders.
In addition to our internal resources, we also team up with top-notch design, production,
printing, and fulfillment vendors. We select vendors based on the nature of each project, the
_ supplier's capabilities and reputation for quality as well as price. We also supervise and
assume responsibility for the quality of the work our suppliers produce.
Buck can provide the City with a mix of communications consulting services which meet your
needs. In partnership with the City, we believe that we can build a foundation for a successful,
ongoing employee communications program that will:
· Prepare personnel to handle benefit issues with your work force
· Attract and keep employees' interest, support, and involvement
· Demonstrate good stewardship of the City's f'mancial resources tlu'ough the selection of
tasteful, cost-effective media
· Keep employees "in-the-know" about the City's business objectives
· Maintain complete technical accuracy and full disclosure of all the City and employee
fights, obligations and responsibilities
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(: "NSUL"rAN-rS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAl, FOR THE CRY OF BAI~RSFIEI~ PAGE 14
· Provide a means of two-way communication
· Support employee recruiting and retention goals
· Simplify enrollment and a~tration.
Actuarial Consulting Services
At Buck, we believe that quality actuarial consulting services involve more than just the highly
technical expertise IL~c_~Jsary to prepare valuatioll$ and experiellce studies. Our consultants are
experienced, intelligent, hard-working, imaginative businessmen and women who feel that
their communication skills and broad business viewpoints are just as imporlant as their
actuarial proficiency.
Buck acts as 'actuarial consultant on health and welfare benefit plans of all types and sizes. Our
consultants design benefit plans to meet the specific needs of clients, recommend plan changes
and evaluate the assochted costs or savings. Recurring actuarial valuations of plan assets and
liabilities to determine contribution levels and to analyze the past experience of the plan are a
major, ongoing activity, as is the preparation of actuarial information for governmental filings
and financial statements. ,
Our consultants advise employers on the diverse issues and the financial implications affecting
benefit platte. We have extensive experience in labor negotiations, mergers, acquisitions, plant
shutdowns, spinoffs and plan terminations. We also provide a range of actuarial consulting
services to health care provider organizations and HMOs. The expertise developed in our
provider consulting practice can also be brought to bear on behalf of employer groups.
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CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 15
Buck has always been dedicated to ~. ity. Our Actuarial Review Department, an independent
group of experienced actuaries, provides a comprehensive review of major submissions to
clients in order to maintain Buck's high standards.
At Buck Consultants, our acn~;~ries have priced the full range of health and weffare products,
such as medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, disability, life and other insurance
coverages. The actuarial support includes:
· Price and analyze medical managed care plans (PPO, POS, HMO, etc.)
· Price and analyze retiree health care programs and value the associated liabilities
· Provide information on funding options for retireeand post-employment benefits
· Price proposed benefit changes for the collectively bargained process
· Review and provide commentary on the impact of proposed changes from unions
· Price and design flexible benefit programs
· Review incun'ed but not reported (I]3NR) claim patterns for self-insured plans
· Benchmark plan utilization rates and plan costs
· Develop pricing alternatives for various benefit design alternatives
· Price carved-out plans (e.g., prescription drugs, MH]SA, etc.)
Legal Consulting Services
As a public entity, the City faces a unique set of legal and compliance challenges. While
exempted from some (though certainly not all) federal requirements, public employers face a
complex combination of state and federal rules that can impact their employee benefit plans.
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gt~)"lqSU LTA~TS
CONSb'L~TNG SERV~CSS PROPO,g4L FOR FHF. C~ OF B, tKF. RSFIELD PAC~. 16
Buck provides clients with assistance in complying with increasingly complex federal and state
requigments. We regularly monitor statutory and regulatory activities, including federal laws
and regulations, state law developments, and court rulings.
Consultants with specialized legal training provide plan document and plan booklet drafting
services and review imurance contracts, certificates, and booklets to ensure consistency with
intended plan design and administrative procedures..
Buck Consultants wutinely assists with Internal Revenue Code compliance, including
discrimination testing and reporting, and assists in the preparation of any required ammal
rrports. Our comprehensive compliance audits focus on tax code, COBRA, Family & Medical
Leave Act, and employment discrimination laws. Clients are provided ongoing information
regarding new developments such as the recently-enacted Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA).
Buck re..al~es'th~t minor issues become major issues if not handled properly, timely, and
accurately. In an effort to respond to these challenges, we use both local and national
expertise. Our goal is to provide the City with the regulations, interpretations, and other
technical resources for the immediate resolution of benefit issues.
Our legal consultants (including attorneys, actuaries and other professionals) are the best in the
business. They have extensive experience in all aspects of employee benefits, enabling them to
see problems in a practical light as well as from a technical standpoint.
The compliance and legal support includes:
· Work closely with the City and your local Buck consulting team to ensure that all legal
issues arising from federal and state laws, regulations and court rulings are fully addressed.
Bi~%"'NSU LT. kx TS
_ CO~VSUL~NG S£RV~C£S PROPOSe. FOR T~F. CrIr OF B~F~ P~ 17
~s~ ~ ~e p~fion of pl~ d~e~ for ~1 of ~ h~ ~d welf~e pl~
~~ by ~e Ci~.
· Renew p~ ~~ ~d a~~five ~i~s ~c~ to de~i~e whe~er
pro~io~ tach ~ ~o~ rela~g m ~emnifi~fion, ~~on, ~d d~lo~ of r~s
-- ad~ly pro~ ~e Ci~.
Renew pl~ ~es ~ o~er employ~ comm~on ~~ to de~i~ whe~er
· ey m~t co~l~ ~me~ ~ adeptly pro~t ~ 'Ci~.
· ~de advig ~ ~mpl~ ~ ~la~g to a v~eF of ~mplex ~~ ~es~
tach ~ ~e h~ ~ ~n~mfion cove~ge ~~ of COB~ ~ ~e
admini~fion of p~-~ ~fi~ ~er ~m~ ~venue.~e ~1~.
· K~ pl~ provhiom ~d a~~five pr~es up to Om wi~ ~ new la~, ~lu~g
Buck provides quick and accurate observations regarding the effect of new laws, court
decisions and regulations on health and welfare benefit issues. We provide our clients with
current in-depth analyses of new rules through our publications For Your Benefit, For Your
_ Information, and For Your Information International.
Our compliance and legislation professionals understand the im,r~rtance of providing technical
assistance in all areas of health and welfare plan design, implementation, and day-to-day
operationS. Although our technical staff cannot provide legal advice, they will comment and
make recommendations on technical issues. Our legal consultants will work closely with the
City's Counsel to ensure that the City benefits and human resources personnel receives timely,
complete and accurate information/
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CONSU LTA, TS
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOS~L FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 18
S'unilar Work Experience
The very first clients of Buck Consultants were public sector entities. Our merger with W F
Corroon in 1996 brought an added history of over 70 years of public sector experience ia the
"' Western States, particularly California.' We have provided a full range of employee benefit
consulting services, including extensive retirement plan work, for many public sector clients.
Our public sector experience has ranged in size from California PERS with over 960,000
participants to the Sacramento Fire District with 20 participants. We have several current
pUblic sector clients for whom we provide the type of consulting services requested by the City
of Bakersfield. This work has included:
CASE STUDY
Type of Business Government Agency
Services Provided Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Organizational Structure and
Staffing Plan, Capitation Pricing, Assistance with Contracting
Strategies, Research into Telephone Triage Services and
mi.qcellaneous other projects.
CASE STUDY 2
Type of Business Government Agency
Services Provided Developed revision to its flexible benefit program; marketed
the plan and selected new carriers; revised the flexible benefits
program contribution strategy for its management employees;
met regularly with a steering committee consisting of
representatives from the various collective bargaining units, the
county commissioners office and the major administrative units;
developed and administered employee surveys and
communications material to assist in the implementation of the
changes. ,
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CONSULTING SERVICES PROPO.~J. FOR THE CITY OF BAKEI~FIELD PAGE 19
CASE STUDY 3
Type of Business County Government
·. Services Provided Ongoing review of benefits program for approximately 10,000
active and retired employees. Services include marketing of
medical programs, union negotiations and active/retiree plan
and contribution analysis.
CASE STUDY 4
~pe of Business Government Agency
Services Provided Ongoing review of benefits program for this government
agency. Services include marketing of medical programs,
union negotiations and active/retiree plan pricing, carrier
evaluation and marketing and contribution analysis.
CASE STUDY 5
Type of Business Quasi-Government Power Agency
Services Provided Ongoing review of benefits program for this employer.
Services include marketing of medical programs, union
negotiations and active/retiree plan pricing, carrier evaluation
and marketing and contribution analysis and implementation of
a defined contribution flexible benefits program. Assisted
management in negotiating the changes with the collectively
bargained units, including shifting from a super-composite
contributiOn structure (one rate for all employees, regardless of
family size) to a family- tier conu'ibution structure.
CASE STUDY 6
Type of Business State Government
Services Provided Provided full range of actuarial services, strategic planning,
benefit plan review, state and federal compliance and legislation
support, plan document drafting, renewal negotiations and
benefit plan marketings.
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CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~IE CrlT oF BaKJ~RSFZELD PAC, E 20
SECTION 4 - CONSULT~G F~S
Buck is commiRed to proactive fee management. Our goal is to execute projects efficiently
and eliminate unnec~sary steps or activities that will not add value to the f'mal product.
Buck will perform each project on a tlme-alxl-expense basis. We will charge only for the
amount of work actually performed. -Buck will provide detailed mo,thly invoices illustrating
services performed and the applicable consulting fees.
Buck's professional fees and expenses for its consulting service~ will no~ exceed $60,000
annually. Our consulting fees include strategic planning assistance for employee
communications. A separate project budget will be establi~ed for any services or projects
performed outside the scope of services discussed in Section 3. The communication services
outlined in Section 3 represent the scope of services available to our clients. Any specific
communications project -- other than strategic plannin~ -- is outside the scope of our
$60,000 fee quotation.
A summary of Buck billing rates follows:
- . '-. , .... ~ :~
Principal $250 - $400
Consultant $150 - $250
Assistant Benefit Consultant/Senior $75 - $150
Benefit Specialist
Buck will guarantee these hourly billing rates for three years from the commencement date of
our contract.
BUC(
CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICF~ PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PAGE 21
SI~CTION 5 - R~.~c~
I) Ms. Eileen K. Bitten
Assistant Director of Personnel
Contra Costra County
651 Pine Street, 3'0 Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
510-335-1754
2) Mr. Victor Cortez
Chief Fimncbl Officer
Los Angeles County Department of Health '
313 North Figueroa Street, 6~' Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-240-7862
3) Mr. David Bmwnlee
Chief Financial Officer
Memorial Hospitals Association
1700 Coffee Road
Modesto, CA 95355
209-526-4500
4) Ms. Sioban Kaaine
Human Resources Principal
Solar Turbines Incorporated
2200 Pacific Highway
P.O. Box 85376
San Diego, CA 92186-5376
619-544-5680
BUC¢
CONSULTANTS
APPF.~tX A
CONSULlING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAXE~~
TIMOTHY D. BECK
Tim Beck is a Principal and Health and Welfare Consultant in the Los Angeles office. He is
the Southern California Health and Welfare Practice leader respons~le for professional staff in
Buck's Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego offices.
Tim consults with private and public-sector clients on designing, funding, and administering
their health and welfare benefit program.~. He ha~ over 20 years of experience in employee
benefit consulting, claim auditing administration systems, and group insurance. He also has
expefieme in workers' compenmfion cost conminmem which includes medical cost
management, claim administration, disability case management, and risk management
information systems. He is a frequent speaker on employee benefit-related topics and a regular
contributor to industry-related publications.
Examples of his projects include:
· Assisted a national environmental engineering and laboratory services firm- formed from
two merged organizations -- in designing, pricing (i.e., overall plan costs and employee
contributions), marketing and implementing a new comprehensive health and welfare
program.
· Assisted an international plastics and toy manufacturing firm in pricing and negotiating
multi-year premium and fee guarantees and year-end settlements for its health and welfare
benefit plans.
· Managed overall client Service delivery to an animated and motion picture entertainment
firm for its health care (i.e., HMO, point-of-service and indemnity) programs.
· Coordinated the development of a client-based integrated health care claim management
information reporting system for a multi-state/multi-national native-owned construction,
engineering, oil field services/refining, gas and mineral production and management
services firm. The project included flexible benefits program development, geographically
varied flex pricing, managed care delivery system implementation, and an extensive
employee communications campaign.
· Evaluated the effectiveness of U.S.-domestic workers' compensation medical management
systems and vendor interfaces in compliance with federal and multi-state statutory
requirements, leading to the design and implementation of administrative protocols and
standardized worlalows for a worldwide maritime shipping firm and a defense electronics
M4~U6145W MRO.~o~
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CO~NSULTA NTS
APPENDIX A
-- CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~I'HE ClT'Y OF BAKERSFIELD
· Developed performance protocols to ensure cost-effective TPA claim a~tration of
workers' compensation-insur~ and permissibly self-insured programs for a Pacific Rim
automobile manufacturer.
- · Performed comprehensive audits of TPA administration to determine compliance with
employee health care coverage requirements, adequacy of claim payment staff, and
accuracy of claim payment process for a leading defense and electronics fa're.
Tim holds the Registert~l Health underwriter and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant
designations. Before joining Buck Consultants, Tim has served in senior management and
consulting positions with major employee benefit and risk management consulting firms. He
has a BA degree from California State University, Northridge~
Tim is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters, the California
Association of Health Underwriters, a Founding Member of the Orange County Association of
Health Underwriters, the Orange County Employee Benefit Council, the Employee Benefit
Planning Association and the Orange County Business Council.
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BL~"NSULi. kN TS
APPENDIX A
- CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE Cl'lT OF BAJIERSFIELD
MARK R. ORZECHOWSKI
Mark is a Health and Welfare Consultant is our Los Angeles office.
_ Mark has 10 years of experience in employee benefits consulting, health and Welfare plan'
design and pricing analysis and client service. Prior to joining Buck Consultants, Mark spent
5 years with a national managed care organization as a senior underwriter, and Assistant
Director of National Account Underwriting. His experience also includes several years of
'employee benefits consulting and client service with a ~tional consulting firm and commercial
insurer.
Mark has extensive experience in consulting, analyzing, pricing and servicing private and
· public sector clients. Examples of client and project work include:
· Assisting an international engineering and construction firm with implementing a national
managed care program, pricing and negotiating plan renewals and year-end settlements,
and crear~g comprehensive performance standards.
· Assisting a city government in pricing and negotiating multi-year premium and fee
guarantees and year-end settlements for its health and welfare benefit plans.
· Managing overall client service delivery to a local county government .for its health care
(i.e., HMO, point-of-service and indemnity) programs.
· Assisting a national environmental engineering services firm- formed from two merged
organizations - in designing, pricing (i.e., overall plan costs and employee contributions),
marketing and implementing a new comprehensive health and welfare program.
· Assisting a law services f'um in redesigning and repricing its flexible benefits program.
· Assisting a heavy equipment manufacturer and dislxibutor design and implement a national
managed care program for a new operating division with unique health care needs
sensitive to its business environment.
Mark holds a BA in Economics from the University of Connecticut. He is also pursuing his
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation. Mark is a member of the Western Pension
& Benefit Conference, Employee Benefits Planning Association of Southern California,
Orange County Employee Benefits Council and International Foundation of Employee
Benefits.
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~b'~xlSULTANTS
CONSULIING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~'llE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
MICHaeL SCHIONNING, F.S.A., M.A.A.A.
Mike sehionning, F.S.A., M.A.A.A. is a Principal and Consulting in the San Diego,
California office. Mike has over 17 years of experience in managed care ach_ ~rial analysis,
produc~ design, capitation development, and provider corm'acting. He is responsible for
providing a full range of health and weffare services as well as provider consulting support.
He has ex~ensive experience in implementing and ~g. flexible benefits programs,
pefformin~ alltl~ renewal negotiations and desi~lynin~ customized benefit programs and
delivery systems for his clients. Mike also rune Buck's Southern California Flexible Benefits
Administration unit and provides primary actuarial support to Buck's Multiemployer consulting
practice, which is based in Anaheim.
Prior to its acquisition by Buck, Mike was Vice President and Chief Health Care Actuary for
the Western Region of W F Corroon. He was responsible for managing the region's Actuarial
& Technical Unit, which included provider consulting support and health and welfare services.
Prior to .joining W F Corroon, Mike was Senior Director and Health Care Actuary for Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.' He had responsibility for all actuarial fimctions for the
managed care lines of business at the plan,' including HMO, PPO, and point-of-service
products. The HMO business line included commercial HMO, Medicaid Managed Care and
Medicare Risk. He was also the plan's actuary for the State of Texas account, with over
250,000 covered members.
Mike has also served as a Senior Consultant and Actuarial Practice Leader for Treacy and
Rhodes Consultants, a San Diego-based regional consulting firm. While there, he provided
health and welfare consulting services to large employers, specializing in flexible benefits
~ consulting. His clients included the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles and
Southern California Edison. In addition, he served as the manager of the actuarial department
for Humana, a national healthcare provider/plan network.
Mike is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of
Actuaries. He received his B.S. degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame.
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CC~SULTA~TS
APPENDIX A
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~lE CI'[Y OF BAKERSFIELD
LAURA A. PASZKIEWICZ, J.D.
Laura Paszkiewicz is a Consultant in the Los Angeles office of Buck Consultants, Inc. She
oversees contract review and regulatory compliance efforts for a wide range of clients. Ms.
__ Paszldewicz specializes ia the management of health and welfare benefit accounts. She
provides clients with a full range of account management services. Her client base has
included several large medical systems, and she has played an integral role ia the
irr,?lememation of innovative managed care services. Based in Los Angeles, she provides
services to clients throughout the west coast. Ms. Paszkiewicz had been with W F Corroon for
eight years prior to that firm's recent merge with Buck Consultants, Inc.
For six years, Ms. Paszkiewicz served as an Employee Benefits Attorney in the W F Corroon
National Legislative & Legal Research Department, where she handled a wide variety of legal
and regulatory issues arising in the areas of welfare benefits platt% Section 125 programs,
qualified retirement programs and human resource management. Her respons~ilities included
legal research and monitoring legislative and regulatory developments for use by all W F
Corroon consultants. She also served as an instructor ia the International Foundation's
Certified Employee Benefit Specialist Program at St. Louis University.
Before joining W F Corroon, Ms. Paszkiewicz served as a Professional Staff Member and later
as Minority Coun~l to the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging under the late
Senator John Heinz (R-PA). Her areas of responsibility included employee pension and
welfare benefit programs, age discrimination, the federal budget and a variety of other issues
of concern to older Americans. In addition to developing legislation and preparing Committee
hearings and repons, she worked with a wide range of constituents and the Reagan
Adminiswation on the development and implementation of federal employee benefits policy.
Ms. Paszkiewicz received her undergraduate degree from Benedictine College, magna cum
laude, and her law degree from Washington University.
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CO,'NSULTANTS
APPENDIX A
- CONS~r~V~ Sr.~v~cr.s P~obos, u. ro~ Tar. Ctrr or BA~Zasr~r. zo
RENE BETSCH
Rene Betsch is the Communication Practice Leader for the Los Angeles office of Buck
· Rem has more than 20 years of professional experience in public relations, employee
relations and benefits communications.
· She spent 10 years with ARCO in Los Angeles where she worked as a graphic illustrator
and audiovisual writer/producer in Public Affairs and a newsletter editor, staff writer and
employee communications representative in Human Resources.
· Since 1984 Rene has worked as a communication consultant in the employee benefits field
and has managed and produced print and electronic communication media.
· She has strong experience in communicating health and welfare benefits as well as defined
benefit and defined contribution retirement plans.
CLIENTS
Rene's consulting clients have included:
Al,ARIS Medical Systems, ARCO, Creative Artists Agency, Hilton Hotels Corporation,
MedParmers, PacifiCare, Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), PIMCO
Advisors, Solar Turbines (a Caterpillar Subsidiary), Sunkist Growers, and U.S. Borax Inc.
EDUCATION & ACHIE~
Rene majored in Journalism at California State University at Northridge. Her work has
received a number of awards for excellence from the International Association of Business
Communicators.
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CO'NSULTANTS
APPENDIX A
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
VIVIAN D. NEUDECK
Ms. Vivian Neudeck, a Senior Benefits Specialist, has been with Buck Con.mltants in the Los
Angeles office for two years now. Before joining Buck, Ms. Neudeck was Special Projects
A~ini_~trative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources and to the Assistant General
Manager/ChiefF~ngineer, of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Ms. Neudeck assisted with a major, national healthcare provider contracting engagement recently
and with 'the development of a provider contracting manual. She has assisted with the
implementation of effective systems for provider communications and contract monitoring. She
has worked with health plans and providers on contracting systems, is completely fluent in both
English and Spanish, and is proficient in a variety of computer progr'am~.
SOme of her accomplishments include the following:
Assisted with the development of a healthcare provider contracting manual and conlzacting
training program.
Assisted with both facility and physician provider contracting systems, including
communications, analysis, tracking, and implementation.
· Assisted with the development of marketing presentations for a Medi-Cal HMO.
· Coordinated multi-faceted projects for timely and cost-effective completion.
· Conducted market research on health plan features and contracts.
· Gathered, analyzed, and summarized data for a variety of different projects.
· Assisted with the development of numerous proposals and presentations.
· Administered employee benefit plans.
· Conducted a comparative cost/benefit analysis of thr~ major HMOs.
· Prepared and analyzed reports on administrative and organizational issues, personnel, and
planning.
· Assisted in implementing and maintaining various human resources division programs.
· Prepared speeches and presentations on diverse human resource issues, such as corporate
benefits, work/family programs, health plans, Medicare risk contracts, worker's
compensation, sexturd harassment, and diversity training.
Ms. Neudeck graduated Cum ~ from the University of Southern California with a B.S.
degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Policy and A~tration.
She received the Order of the Laurel Award, which is the University's highest award presented
to a senior who excels in both scholarship and leadership. Her lb'st-hand knowledge of
healthcare services includes volunteer work at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
BUG
co'NSULTA,NTS
APPENDIX B
CONSUL17NG SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CI'IY OF BAKERSFIELD
PLAN MANAGEMENT CONTINUUM
Buck's approach to the City's plan management will create a sound h~th plan foundation, and
- provide plan management tools enabling the City to ~ a competitive, comprehensive,
high-quality, cost-effective benefits program for its employees and eligible dependents.
We provide a full range of employee benefit and compensation consulting services, from
complete plan admini.nration and employee communications services to advising on life,
disability and health care benefit programs, retirement programs, plan compliance and strategic
planning.
The City's benefit and financial objectives will be achieved by providing effective consulting
advice in the following principle areas:
· General consulting and plan management
· Actuarial consulting
· Legal consulting
We believe that this consulting approach will assure that the City designs, implements and
maintains the most effective benefits program~ available to the City and its employees.
Health Plan Management Continuum
Our consulting approach is a continuous and dynamic process. We believe the health plan
management continuum is an effective tool for managing the City's benefits pmgrarn. The
health plan management continuum follows a three-year cycle:
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CONSULTANTS
CONSULTING SERVICE$ PROPOSAL FOR THE CIYY OF BAKERSFI~r~n
Year 1 - Strategic Planning and Plan Implementation
Year one sets the stage for the City's benefit program. Understanding the City's
organizational, benefits and human resource objectives is of paramounI im?onance. Strategic
planning enables us to provide appropriate consulting advice to the City. Strategic planning
helps determine the program benefit design objectives, pricing strategy, employee contribution
slrategy and managed care philosophy.
The strategic planning process will include the following steps:
· Step 1: Evaluate the current benefit environment. Before any strategic benefit planning
can begin, it is impo, rtant to understand the current benefit environment. The evaluation
process includes taking inventory of all carriers/liMOs and the benefit plan.~ offered to the
City employees, assessing the cost-effectiveness of the City's benefit program, evaluating
the quality of service the City and its employees are receiving from its providers and
analy-zing the benefit program's competitiveness.
· Step 2: Establish benefit objectives. Next, benefit objectives must be established. The
benefit objectives must be measurable, achievable and supported by the City and its senior
management. These benefit objectives include competitive, cost-effective benefit
programs, ease of administration, employee satisfaction and regulatory compliance. The
established benefit objectives must be consistent with the City's organizational objectives.
· Step 3: Manage the strategic gap. The strategic gap is the difference between the City's
strategic objectives and its current plan. Differences could exist with the City's plan
design, plan costs, plan administration, employee satisfaction and regulatory compliance.
These differences, or gaps, must then be prioritized and addressed on both a short- and
long-term basis.
During this period, Buck provides all routine consulting services including regulatory
compliance, issue resolution and clay-to-day consultation.
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'rs
APPENDIX B
CONSULI7NG SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~IE CHT OF BAKERSFIELD
Year 2 - Plan Maintenance and Plan Measurement
Year two's focus is plan management. The changes implemented, based on the strategic
planning process, must be monitored and measured to ensure that the benefit program's
operation remains consistent with the City's benefit and business objectives. Measurement
tools include experience monitoring, provider performance 'monitoring, Plan cost and
utilization analysis and regulatory compliance.
Year $. Plan Measurement and Plan Adjustments
The City's benefit program will continue to be monitored in year three. Measuring the success
of those steps implemented as a result of the strategic planning process enables the City and
Buck to develop proactive solutions to benefit plan issues. However, the monitoring,
measurement and analysis is more detailed, and includes the strategic planning process
characteristics employed in year One. This enables us to identify and implement any plan
adjustments necessary to ensure that the City's benefit program remains consistent with its
business objectives.
How does this approach benefit the City?
Buck's consulting approach enables the City to:
· Establish benefit objectives consistent with its organizational objectives
· Design and maintain a benefit program consistent with its objectives and its employees'
needs
· Maintain a proactiVe approach to plan management and plan maintenance.
We believe that our consulting approach will help the City design, implement and maintain the
most effective benefit program available to the City and its emplOYees.. This consulting
approach will be applied to all health and welfare benefit program~.
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CONSULTANTS
CONSDT.,~'ING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR ~FIE El'IT OF BAI~RSFIELD
I:IEALTH PLAN MANAGEMENT CONTINUUM
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR
·
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EC)~X6ULTAN'13
_ A~P£NDP~ C
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFI~r~
The City provided a sample consulting contract in its r~luest for proposal, and requested all
-- bidders to submit an executed copy of thi.~ contract with the bid responses. We have reviewed
the sample contract. Several issues need to be clarified prior to signing the requested contract.
We are prepared to sign a contract with the City prior to commencement of consulting work
once all contractual issues have been resolved.
BUCk.
CONSULTANTS
" F~'dighters · l~on · Representation · Education
· : ~ ~ 3960 Canyon Way, Martmez, CA 94553 (510) 228-2861
F. I. R. £.
June 13, 1998
Fire De~mme~ Civil Service Board
Bakemield C~ Hall
1501 Tmxton Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
To All Honorable Members:
Thi.n is to offi~al]y notify you that the BakcrMield Fn'efightcrs Unica
I.A.F.F., Local 0246 is exlmnely upset and concerned with the City and the
Civil So.ce Board in the manner in which they treated some of our mmdm~
who took the recem Engineer's examination.
As you are aware, and admitted, some of the partieilmnts were issued
the wrong Uniform F'n'e Code Book. There were several questions on the
exam requiring the use of the Uniform Fire Code, Volume I. Some of the
pam~ts were ,~i.~akenly issued Volume K The ~-~ers to the questio~
were to be found only in Vol,--e I. There was a time lapse ofeon.~derable
time. (approve .ly 20 or more minutes) before the problem was identified
and corrected.
As you and every firefighter who has ever taken a Imamofional exam
knows, time is critical and the loss of so much time is disastrous. We are
convinced that at least one of the participants fa]ed the exam as a direct
result of the City's error.
When protest was made to the Civil Service Board the issue was heard
and d/-~missed in a very cas,,:,i and tmeoneerned manner. This is, and was,
wrong. All pamcipants should have a fair and equitable oppoWm/ty to test
for promotions. This recent test was tainted and something of a positive
manner shotdd have been done immediately.
Mayor, City Counc~ and
Fire Departm~ Civil Sen~ice Board
June 13, 1998
Page Two
The Union has been advised that we do not have a grievance, as the
issue was settled by the Civil Service Board.
It is unfo~m~ that we must consider, ~ny do we have a Civ.'
Se~ice Board'T We have always thought ~ ~he Board was there for our
protection. It appears that perb~s we are wrong in that belief.
The Union contends that thi~ must never happen aga~ and that it is of
extreme importance to our members who pursue advancement through the
examination process. If an exam becomes tainted it must be correct~ or a
new e~m given at the time.
We are asking for the opporVmi~y to settle this matter as quickly as
po~ble. We request to meet with the City Represen~rives in a good faith
effort to resolve this.
If you have any questions, or if I may be of further service to you,
please contact me, Bob Roberts, 3960 Canyon Way, Martinez, CA 94553,
(925) 228-286 I.
Yours very truly,
Bob Roberts, Labor Representative
Bakersfield Firefighters Union
I.A.F.F., Local 0246
BR:jr
ce: Bill Avery., City Representative
T. Laken. President
A. Tandy, City Manager