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Pleasanton approves Higginbotham interlocal to pursue a governmental benefits cooperative for city employees
Summary
After a presentation by Higginbotham benefits consultant Gilbert Gonzales, council approved an interlocal agreement to join a Higginbotham governmental benefits cooperative intended to reduce voluntary benefit costs and provide additional employee assistance programs.
Pleasanton — The City Council voted Dec. 5 to enter an interlocal agreement with Higginbotham to join a governmental benefits cooperative for voluntary employee benefits and related services.
Gilbert Gonzales, a benefits consultant with Higginbotham, presented the cooperative model and said the firm negotiates with carriers and audits current plans to identify cost savings and benefit improvements. Gonzales cited examples of savings and said Higginbotham’s cooperatives typically produce “around 20 to 25%” savings on voluntary products and that in one case he had lowered rates by about 20% for a client. He described services the cooperative provides at no additional charge for implementation work, billing reconciliation, ACA reporting and two employee assistance programs (EAPs).
City manager recommended joining the Higginbotham Governmental Benefits Co‑op through an interlocal agreement; Miss Cashmere moved adoption and the motion carried. Council members asked whether employees would retain choice; staff and the presenter said employees would be able to choose among offerings and the city would not reduce existing core medical coverage without ensuring comparable or better options.
The resolution authorizes staff to enter the interlocal agreement and proceed with a review and implementation process; final vendor choices and any changes to core medical coverage would be presented to the council before being finalized.
