[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6428271,"mediaKeyId","5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836","parentId",5905465,"title","Pueblo to consider city-run employee health clinic; council scheduled Nov. 10 vote on contract","audioSeconds",1300,"startMs",853000,"endMs",2153000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836&start=853&end=2153","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836/thumbnail_853000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6428271/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Pueblo-to-consider-city-run-employee-health-clinic-council-scheduled-Nov-10-vote-on-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428271-417f5ccd027b511635b42638c67fbd67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=KfuLj1gnyG4JWeEORrxQP5qrne6tUW5DpGSN50xUOy1bI8ZZnHf-v5BgzjJRHVIA4SnVHog6fItbtSCU3frYjOqYBchm0hujVLSonWFVvclg7Tjwuiomi80Jh6WMO4ljbsHphjSW0Ig2Bs1AUyEafJXxtsoBRsIsxLGAsVGEOyjZYIpCXntzCVCk~PVrFmK7Rz-nbR--Q6zPc1BYOLx-KF1-F5lvF-cZTQxuDD6dpgB-QvZ8EhLD~8eMDUJGfCF0J8zl3Q-KZGfrKnAHkuytMp9vYGqxnu6q-FugAancS~1pbuXv~SuKRg1I0UD9ywwDoZP7yWw6p5CTCBhoVMiMvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pueblo City, CO","date","2025-10-07T19:54:51Z","article","Marissa Vacheco, the city’s director of human resources, told the Pueblo City Council on Oct. 6 that the city has selected Crossover Health to operate an on-site employee clinic and that council would see a contract resolution on Nov. 10.

Vacheco said the city funds its health insurance from a self-insurance fund “to a tune of about 14 and a half million dollars per year” and that the fund held roughly $6.5 million in reserves that may be used for benefit-plan functions. She said the proposed clinic would be paid from those reserves and estimated direct operating costs at “about $900,000 a year.”

The nut of the administration’s case was cost control: Vacheco said clinic services would not generate claims on the city’s health plan and therefore should lower plan utilization and unit costs. She said the city’s employee survey showed demand — “92% of survey participants stated they would be likely to use on-site health services” — and that the clinic would focus on primary, urgent and occupational medicine.

Keith Jamtoss, an account executive with Crossover Health, described the company’s on‑site clinic model, which includes in‑person and virtual care, basic lab services and a small on‑site pharmacy. Crossover said it typically staffs an on-site clinic with an NP and medical assistant plus virtual-team support and care navigation to coordinate specialty referrals. The vendor told council it can offer same‑day appointments and 60‑minute annual visits to emphasize prevention and care management rather than fee‑for‑service volume.

Council members pressed on contract structure, risk and expected return. Vacheco said the clinic would also perform city post‑offer physicals, drug screening and fitness‑for‑duty exams, shifting about $56,000 annually from the general fund into clinic services. She and Crossover estimated the city could see more than $1 million in health‑plan savings in the first five years; Crossover staff said their models show a Crossover member typically costs about 30% less than a non‑member.

Councilors asked about governance, hours, staffing and the reserves that would fund the service. Crossover said the initial model for Pueblo would operate standard business hours Monday–Friday with three full‑time on‑site staff (a nurse practitioner and two supporting staff) and virtual coverage for after‑hours issues; the company said hours and services could be adjusted over time. HUB International, the city’s benefits broker and consultant, was on the line and told council there is no legally required reserve amount; HUB said it follows actuarial standards and had recommended the city retain a conservative reserve level before authorizing the clinic funds.

No final action was taken at the Oct. 6 meeting. Vacheco told council the administration will present a contract resolution for Crossover Health on the Nov. 10 council agenda; the council will vote at that later meeting whether to approve the contract.

If approved, city staff said the Dittmer Building’s first floor would be converted for clinic use with minimal changes and the clinic could launch in 2026. Proponents said the clinic would improve employee access to primary care, reduce use of emergency departments for nonurgent complaints and free up community primary‑care appointment capacity, while the city expects long‑term health‑plan savings and improved workforce productivity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session-October 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and Crossover Health presented a plan to open an on-site primary care clinic for city employees, to be paid from the city’s self-insurance reserves. Council was told the clinic would cost about $900,000 annually and could reduce health-plan spending over five years; a contract resolution is scheduled for Nov. 10.","taxTitle","Pueblo City, Pueblo County, Colorado","taxId",4964,"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},6428261,"Mayor ends PEDCO contract pending new agreement; council debates timing and transparency",851,5729000,6580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836&start=5729&end=6580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836/thumbnail_5729000.jpg","/articles/6428261/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Mayor-ends-PEDCO-contract-pending-new-agreement-council-debates-timing-and-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428261-d6203dff26fa1d42f2e17f7541f55fcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=hhoakNJ5H~lIYFKHEPfSlH15pqm8-oY1JmVZ3F7h5gjqVAMtat2MVEOeu-c-ydY210Cpfxq5XriP1PABiutGQ-Z9bHn33AJYixpntKp2ENsd4dwfoMKXoX-iXSM9BuI0D~xhWu6tiYxsz7-VJxW8xmCHibM5m9IJJQiLQc06-6690de0u3vhRg8fZJ2KwVW5gCqgu96eN44383CVO9OwhpZglR9XdiAN~Fu0U4SV55W0qBYjjYn3i6xQ-Qw3U5vLYqA0Hl86j-Fnqbvzs42Aus5cnXDU7nUObJ92ZJ2k3nSd1he5iW85Kpd9QtD3vzbwX32reqV7KIxnZ1i4~Mqp3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Heather Graham informed the Pueblo City Council on Oct. 6 that the city administration has issued notice to end the city’s contract with Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO) and that the termination was tied to the start of a procurement process to rework economic‑development services.

The mayor said the existing PEDCO contract is dated and that the city needs a revised agreement that gives the municipality clearer reporting and accountability for the dollars the city provides to economic development. “If city council wants to waive your executive session conversations, I’d be happy to name all of the reasons why I decided to to end the PEDCO contract,” the mayor said at the meeting.

Council members who serve on PEDCO — including Councilor Maestri and others — said they were surprised by the timing and expressed concern about potential disruption to ongoing business recruitment and retention efforts. Councilor Maestri said he did not recall the council authorizing a unilateral termination and asked whether council could reinstate or negotiate a new contract.

City legal staff told council the mayor possesses charter authority to cancel city contracts and that the PEDCO contract requires 90 days’ notice before termination; that notice was given. City staff also said the mayor’s office and the administration view a reissued, modernized contract or a competitive procurement (an RFQ/RFP) as a way to set clearer performance metrics and protect city funds.

Several councilors urged a cautious approach. Some asked the administration to explore reinstating a renewed contract with PEDCO in order to maintain continuity; others supported proceeding with a public RFQ to invite other organizations to submit qualifications. Council president and other members said separate letters would be sent to related nonprofit entities (the Pueblo Development Foundation and PEDCO Foundation) asking for information about assets and relationships; the administration said those organizations are separate legal entities and that separate requests would be issued.

No formal vote was held Oct. 6. The mayor and council signaled differing views on next steps: the administration argued the city must rewrite or competitively re‑procure economic development services to improve accountability; some council members said the timing — with the termination effective at the end of the year under the contract’s 90‑day notice clause — risks leaving the city without a contracted economic development partner on Jan. 1 unless council negotiates a replacement quickly.

City staff said the contract is nonexclusive and that PEDCO could continue economic‑development activity without a city contract; however, without a contract the city would not be funding those services. Council requested city legal and administrative staff provide a draft professional services contract and a timetable the council could use to consider either a renegotiated agreement with PEDCO or a competitive procurement.","Mayor Heather Graham notified council that the city issued notice to end its contract with PEDCO; council members expressed concern about timing, transparency and the 90‑day termination. Mayor and councilors said a rewritten contract or an RFQ could follow; several councilors requested the option to negotiate a new contract before Jan. 1.",{"_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},6428250,"Council hears police data; councilor seeks clarity after airport‑area shooting",172,159000,331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836&start=159&end=331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6428250/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Council-hears-police-data-councilor-seeks-clarity-after-airportarea-shooting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428250-4263ddde9e87f84fb84828170cfc9980/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=lDRxWIolKINN6D-IAMmmaTKRw2pqYrMgcrP82DcIsAKR0rL3PTOqkSoanvo07Px4QTWk0ja7t0o1dVJrufpjQui7Qv5tN5tqH3oauor9qFkgQ3krVCET6bC~fs6jEIa4yCuLKP17Qf9tntzhavBHjcRowmWYbcd7LWaRipwUKwrGy1jHJTlhoghq-~LDdOiR-QWSoCg~q2CJpXKoHmXY7on2vreFrjd2Tr08ycp~9rlF~FwKcjFVveTmlc2A0J9gEWQ3pN2OmCpTWX24vzry5l~AO5wJWd36VxxaDAWxDt5LsHHUE-jLoNPVstc7l6oypjjd42x9RDNj8E7Nt6Codw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pueblo Police Department presented crime and enforcement statistics to the City Council on Oct. 6, reporting year‑to‑date trends for loitering citations, part‑1 crime and shootings.

Police slides shown to council indicated loitering citations were up about 40% year‑to‑date and that Part‑1 person crimes and property crimes were down 11% and 4% respectively, with overall Part‑1 crime down about 6% from the prior year. The department reported decreases in shootings: a 16% decrease overall, a 10% decrease in nonfatal shootings, a 20% decrease in drive‑bys and a 41% decrease in homicides compared with the prior year; the department also summarized recent patrol arrests, citations and self‑initiated activity.

Councilor Joe Latina asked city staff about shootings near the SpringHill Suites following a weekend air‑show event. City staff and police staff said the shooting occurred on the interstate and involved rounds fired from multiple vehicles; stray bullets struck parked vehicles near the hotel but the shooting was not located at the hotel property itself. Staff said arrests and enforcement activities followed the incident.

Councilors and staff emphasized the ongoing nature of enforcement and directed staff to continue to provide public safety updates and to follow up on community concerns about large events and interstate traffic routing. The council took no formal action on the report.","Pueblo Police presented year‑to‑date crime statistics and activity summaries. Councilor Joe Latina asked about a shooting that damaged vehicles near the SpringHill Suites during an air show; police staff said the incident occurred on the interstate and struck parked vehicles, not the hotel.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428256,"Consultant warns council: broad cuts risk service disruption; recommends targeted plan before 2026 budget",614,3976000,4590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836&start=3976&end=4590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5905465-9bce7dfc9ecaaecb1d0e0495f55e3836/thumbnail_3976000.jpg","/articles/6428256/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Consultant-warns-council-broad-cuts-risk-service-disruption-recommends-targeted-plan-before-2026-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428256-24b465949abf1572742e0e82c00071dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149881&Signature=WW~J~9doBtZ4sdiH6oajTZszT-RBbPPzH771M3RyFZesAFZu2VdFqGzwCJ0BWrMO61E5ki-K0rxGMIKWnFgDI4hGrAjpRG~x-Oy7fix3owd7ESNNDdyhvDkTA01EMYyCy1~a4j~pJQahYJ9cT58gvOQVMQEgNbmggfZKWP2x9Mot-asefDRoX5fPYFSTURpLkuWk9tiGU8eKPLiRs4-9ygjxZx6EgD9xMYDV22c~i1JAVvpkUUoh72W4lXXtwQ9kqqApNL9VFtOt7666Wx90RktzJbQeQ5BDVZV0Lc2SaPW9tkAOxVR6j0mzkGib9~3f83ySLJf4B-W1MO2oAQOGPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jerry Pacheco of Tactical Governance Group briefed the Pueblo City Council on Oct. 6 about lessons from the 2008–2012 recession and how the city might approach potential shortfalls in the 2026 budget.

Pacheco told council that “percentage across the board cuts… don’t work” where departments have differing minimum staffing needs and enterprise funds operate independently. He said in 2008 the city faced a severe deficit and that staff needed to examine the undesignated fund balance and minimum mandatory staffing in public safety and other departments before proposing cuts.

Pacheco urged that the council clarify its undesignated fund balance, the city’s cash‑flow and stop‑loss insurance posture, and to consider citizen or blue‑ribbon panels for public outreach if difficult operational reductions become necessary. He described public‑safety, fire and wastewater as high‑cost areas with minimum staffing requirements and warned that cutting certain positions could produce outsized service disruption.

Councilors asked for concrete guidance on reserve targets and how to weigh one‑time options such as a premium holiday (a temporary rate reduction for employees) against long‑term investments such as an on‑site clinic. Pacheco recommended relying on actuaries and finance experts to model stop‑loss levels and reserve standards, and he said replacement of key senior staff may be unavoidable in a severe downturn but should be managed to minimize service impacts.

No formal council action followed the presentation. Pacheco made materials available and offered follow‑up consulting; councilors signaled interest in additional financial detail from HUB International and the finance department to ground decisions during the 2026 budget process.","Jerry Pacheco, a tactical governance consultant and former city manager, told council that blunt across‑the‑board cuts during a downturn can damage mandatory services and urged targeted planning, clear reserves accounting and citizen engagement ahead of the 2026 budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pueblo to consider city-run employee health clinic; council scheduled Nov. 10 vote on contract

Mayor ends PEDCO contract pending new agreement; council debates timing and transparency

Council hears police data; councilor seeks clarity after airport‑area shooting

Consultant warns council: broad cuts risk service disruption; recommends targeted plan before 2026 budget