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Parma council adopts emergency fee, staffing and insurance measures after consultants cite about 10% premium rise
Summary
Parma City Council on Feb. 17 adopted emergency ordinances updating service fees and parks positions and approved two insurance contracts after consultants said the city’s property/liability program rose roughly 10%; council directed staff to pursue an RFP and consider moving renewal timing to June to align with the budget cycle.
Parma City Council adopted a package of emergency measures Wednesday that update municipal fees, modify staffing for parks and recreation, and authorize two insurance contracts after officials said annual premiums rose about 10%.
Council members voted to adopt Ordinance 4-26 (fees for the Director of Public Service) and Ordinance 5-26 (parks and recreation staffing changes) and to approve Ordinance 18-26 and Ordinance 19-26 authorizing property and excess liability insurance contracts. Passage was taken under suspension of the rules to ensure continuity of coverage and budget authority.
Law Director Toome and the city’s insurance consultant explained the increase. "The increase is 10%," said Brad Weber, the city’s insurance consultant from Crane Langer and Company, adding that the rise is concentrated in auto/liability coverage and is partially offset by a modest year‑over‑year decline in property market rates. Weber said higher insured property values — including a new clubhouse at Ridgewood — also pushed property coverage costs higher.
Council and administration discussed steps to limit future spikes. Officials said they plan to shift the policy renewal date toward June to better match Parma’s budget cycle and to issue a request for proposals so multiple carriers can bid. "Once we move the date on that new date, we would have the new coverage that we would put out to bid be effective for that date," Weber said.
The measures include temporary appropriations (Ordinance 17-26) and a certification resolution (Resolution 16-26) to ensure vendor payments and sufficient funds while contracts are finalized. Council members emphasized balancing fiscal prudence with the need to insure city assets.
The ordinances passed by recorded roll call votes; the clerk read the roll for each adoption and the measures were adopted by council.
What’s next: staff will pursue an RFP for insurance coverage, evaluate deductible structures and report back to council on options and timing for any renewal‑date changes.
