[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6516760,"mediaKeyId","5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1","parentId",5488266,"title","City to renew Aetna health plans; employees to pay $5/week; Mutual of Omaha recommended for ancillary coverage","audioSeconds",1997,"startMs",5213000,"endMs",7210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1&start=5213&end=7210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1/thumbnail_5213000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6516760/North-Miami-Beach/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/City-to-renew-Aetna-health-plans-employees-to-pay-5week-Mutual-of-Omaha-recommended-for-ancillary-coverage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516760-bfad7107d1841050ca5569b32ef5967c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994229&Signature=U9z9dyT8~IJEbHUdMW5zgeD68Zy-vACcKn~pQyptB2KB8HttvK9plUaGzuPlRjo8~ZAGb2ubdBfNxb3XHdRIiS7YWuO34XxOxBfJxj6VAtZR0Ea0IDoM3MPV1y4vYJV-wRsSdvMe2pShDZRWGBVcUxbKein35haCU1~~fG1xahfhgg17~60UpjWxv9tjaGfOMr6GyyQjc46m4eZsrGY9slIxsY6F~x7bZDX2Fi~1idCfzuzMKyuQKu3GFp8YYp4j7kz8Qd3EjkqfL9irwVpkYkuPTNUYsxVBEh2twkaCYXiFUqLoxou8mlED9f5b9hUoDk9m4iUYVB5iYQhu0eWh2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of North Miami Beach","date","2025-07-16T04:44:32Z","article","City staff and the city’s benefits broker presented options for employee health coverage renewal for fiscal year 2025–26 and the City Commission directed staff to renew with Aetna while adopting a modest employee premium participation.

Interim Human Resources Director Jacob Newman and benefits consultant Eric Brewer said Aetna offered a competitive renewal after analysis of claims history and market data. Staff presented three plan‑design options and a hybrid option: (a) renew with no design or contribution changes; (b) change plan design to increase member cost‑sharing; (c) pair design changes with a $5 per week employee contribution; and (d) an unlisted but discussed option to keep plan design and apply a $5 per week contribution across the board. Staff reported option C would reduce the city’s budget impact the most; option D was discussed as a modest across‑the‑board payroll contribution without changing copays.

Commissioners agreed the city should continue Aetna for medical coverage, authorize an employee payroll deduction of $5 per week per tier (staff characterized that as approximately $44 annually per pay period arrangement), and asked staff to return a refined implementation plan showing wellness incentives that would offset employee cost and encourage preventive care. The commission also directed staff to move voluntary/ancillary coverages from Guardian to Mutual of Omaha to realize estimated employer premium savings, and asked staff to evaluate American Fidelity hospital/indemnity products and on‑site clinic options as longer‑term cost control strategies. Staff said Mutual of Omaha would reduce employer cost by roughly $23,000 and that the Wellness program with Aetna ($70,000 in annual support) would continue.

The commission asked HR to return with final contract terms, a clear employee communications plan for open enrollment and wellness incentives, and to examine self‑insurance and on‑site clinic feasibility for future years. No formal vote on a contract was required at the presentation; staff will finalize and present contract documents and final contribution structure to the commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City NMB - City Commission Meeting 07/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff recommended renewing medical benefits with Aetna and the City Commission directed staff to adopt a modest employee payroll contribution of $5 per week while moving ancillary coverage to Mutual of Omaha and exploring hospital indemnity options.","taxTitle","North Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",60747,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6516766,"Family of teen who drowned urges North Miami Beach to install donated life rings; commission accepts first set",415,2245000,2660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1&start=2245&end=2660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1/thumbnail_2245000.jpg","/articles/6516766/North-Miami-Beach/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Family-of-teen-who-drowned-urges-North-Miami-Beach-to-install-donated-life-rings-commission-accepts-first-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516766-5ada9468011223ffa6251604b42db31a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994229&Signature=HhaHFrxXB37M5B4IrLhTNspamqx7p01lXbgtkTlHd-YmQxulGklsJIvnrxf9KZYtyYXIIymBp0AvgWh5L~r8tgcsxR4~D14ew1i8BZptMRtQQG94kiqTQSX5ff4hY4A4uqFeRjhYIy1IEDl44lHRPz6WLwAnvIHsu97vYZw16UR~afgcc0hnP9VdUw8smsTJCroNI47TnU9CpcfxOIgp6yJO1Sfh0vGoIAnD9Gv4JonoktVliPIyrkskRZux48csP-Js5ntTKw14k~ZUIPjNmbEtWRijHC57oITuY8HRdJH5ulRNlITwU7Td4un9NyRhjsMV0QSfe~PDCSNdqTP-jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The mother of a teen who died attempting a water rescue urged the North Miami Beach City Commission to install life rings along canals and other waterways, and offered the city a donation of 10 “Aiden’s Hero Life Rings” to start the program.

Speaking as president of the Aden Perry Good Samaritan and Scholarship Fund, she described donating more than 500 life rings through her foundation and said the devices are made to be thrown to someone in distress so a good Samaritan can try to save a life without entering the water. “My son died a hero,” she said. The presenter said the foundation will donate the first 10 rings and can offer the city discounted pricing on additional rings.

Commissioners responded with support; Commissioner Smith said she had seen lives saved with the life rings. Commissioner Jean and others asked the Police and Parks departments to conduct an assessment to identify where rings should be placed, and staff agreed to prepare cost and location estimates. Commissioner Smuckler said he would use contingency funds to buy 10 additional rings for distribution at locations the presenter recommended. Commissioners discussed coordinating installation with Public Works or Parks & Recreation and covering the cost of posts, signs and rope, which the presenter said cost roughly $60 per ring and $34.50 for signs when purchased through the foundation’s partners.

Public outreach and a dedication ceremony were suggested as part of installation so residents know the devices are for emergency use, and staff said the Police Department would help identify public‑access sites. Commissioners and the presenter discussed educational demonstrations to accompany roll‑out so residents would know how to use the rings and to publicize them on social media and at community events.

No formal vote was required; the presenter’s donation of 10 rings was accepted and multiple commissioners committed city or personal funds to expand the program and to have staff report back on cost and placement recommendations.","Aiden Perry’s mother, founder of the Aden Perry Good Samaritan and Scholarship Fund, asked the City Commission to install life rings along city waterways. The nonprofit offered the city its first 10 life rings; commissioners pledged up to 20 rings and some council members pledged contingency funds for installation and signage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6516770,"Commission OKs two 10‑story towers at 130 Ninth; alley vacation approved",3315,11831000,15146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1&start=11831&end=15146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5488266-d0e5dde54a2d1e84bd2b0e7f0f80ecd1/thumbnail_11831000.jpg","/articles/6516770/North-Miami-Beach/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Commission-OKs-two-10story-towers-at-130-Ninth-alley-vacation-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516770-0bb2cfee06bc589a38f1286fa0e668d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770994229&Signature=bnP9A539KUPZ5pwCwOz8cQatKuD6XLv-b6aTip3uz93U4vNKhUmSjTB3zM0QdIdXbZ7oaQz4txLZZ5lqQh-i3OdG8ax4ecE3vutmCGnP-L6qCArlOUUo5pN5D9dGr-X1-VZb8~9xkrXgL9kUf7ppoiN-tuyioDaVvQGJg~hf3q0VF3~P~m-H8leAyCgMpVGmUIhnrdoBd73HW7esUL~Iutsm9OitF9lH-vivMKorpPGjI8ZiuxpfxqpqRPYHTgnc3XFMmjtEOVq0yP0hAbnOz2HBEVRu3IyVrzQSa-bFhBKl7EGwcxosfgW06ocz~kfTZUHwXW7YjLNASyY0oyjJSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Miami Beach City Commission approved a consolidated public hearing and separate votes Tuesday to allow a planned development of two 10‑story apartment towers totaling up to 293 units east of Biscayne Boulevard and to vacate a 10‑foot unimproved alley that the applicant said had been unused for decades.

The commission voted 6–1 to approve the development site plan and a variance to allow a building height slightly above the municipal maximum to accommodate mechanical equipment. Commissioner Smuckler cast the lone “no” on the site plan. The separate request to vacate the alley passed 7–0.

The project site sits between Northeast 40th Street and North Highland Drive. Applicant representatives told the commission the parcel was constrained by historic lot configurations, that they are providing a 9‑level parking structure with 419 spaces and that the design provides 35% open space (well above the zoning minimum). Architect Jose Guerra described the buildings as “L‑shaped” with pedestrian‑level setbacks and two landscaped greenway strips.

Community Development Director Zafar explained the procedural sequence: the alley vacation precedes incorporation of the alley into the development parcel. Applicant Vanessa Madrid said the North Miami portion of the historic 20‑foot alley had been unused and that the property owner already paid taxes on the strip. She also said the developer will provide more than required parking and bicycle storage and that the project exceeded many design standards in the city’s mixed‑use code.

Multiple residents spoke during public comment, raising traffic and parking concerns in neighboring Highland Village. Traffic consultant Adrian Dzepkowski said the project was studied with committed nearby development and that the study found the site would generate about 90 net new peak hourly trips; he said most project traffic would use 1 Fortieth rather than the Highland Drive signal. Commissioners and staff said additional traffic mitigation measures and coordination with Miami‑Dade County would be required during permitting.

Mayor Michael Joseph and several commissioners said they supported the design and the added development and revenue for the city, while acknowledging neighbors’ concerns. City staff and the applicant agreed to bring any subsequent contract or design agreements back to the commission for final approval.

The record shows the commission approved the alley vacation under Resolution R2025‑109 and the site plan under Resolution R2025‑110. The project will return for required building permits and any negotiated agreements following finalization of the feasibility/contract terms and county approvals.","The North Miami Beach City Commission approved a consolidated public hearing to grant a site plan for two 10‑story, 293‑unit apartment buildings east of Biscayne Boulevard and separately vacated a 10‑foot alley the developer said was already in private use. The site plan passed 6–1; the alley vacation passed 7–0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City to renew Aetna health plans; employees to pay $5/week; Mutual of Omaha recommended for ancillary coverage

Family of teen who drowned urges North Miami Beach to install donated life rings; commission accepts first set

Commission OKs two 10‑story towers at 130 Ninth; alley vacation approved