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Committee approves routine contracts, authorizes benefits and launches LTD RFP
Summary
The Brainerd City Personnel Finance Committee approved a three-year renewal with CLC for PEG channel operations, granted a two-hour office closure for employee appreciation, approved a revised IBEW MOU for the hydro facility, selected MetLife for paid family leave/STD effective Jan. 1, 2026, and authorized an RFP for long-term disability insurance.
The Brainerd City Personnel Finance Committee on July 7 approved a series of routine administrative actions, including a three-year renewal with CLC for PEG channel operations and selection of MetLife for the city’s paid family and medical leave and short-term disability plans.
The committee approved renewing the city’s contract with CLC to operate the PEG channel for three years. The contract language was largely unchanged, but staff said the rewrite adds coverage of Public Utilities Commission and Brainerd HRA meetings and includes a $150 deduction for meetings the contractor cannot staff. Presenter (first speaking about the item) described it as “pretty straightforward.” The motion passed by voice vote.
The committee also approved an employee wellness request to close city operations for two hours on Oct. 2 (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) for the annual employee appreciation event at the Public Works Building. Committee members clarified that employees who choose not to attend are expected to work and would not receive paid time off for the event.
On labor matters, the committee approved a revised memorandum of understanding allowing IBEW employees to work at the hydro facility through Dec. 31, 2027. Chris Schubert, HR director, said the IBEW had agreed to the revised MOU and that the United Steelworkers also signed a copy the same day.
On benefits, HR reported results of a request-for-proposals process led by broker Integrity Benefits. Chris Schubert said MetLife submitted the most favorable proposal with a payroll-premium rate of 0.79% compared with the state-administered rate of 0.88% and recommended MetLife for both the paid family and medical leave and short-term disability plans effective Jan. 1, 2026. Schubert added that short-term disability is fully paid by employees and noted a projected premium savings the transcript gives as “approximately $13,000” but later references “about $12,000 for the city and $11,000 for the HRA,” an inconsistency recorded in the committee discussion. The committee voted to accept the broker’s recommendation.
Finally, under state law requiring periodic procurement reviews, staff recommended and the committee authorized issuing a request for proposals for long-term disability insurance; Chris Schubert said the city must complete an RFP at least every five years for group benefits. The committee approved authorizing staff and the broker to run an LTD RFP.
Next steps: the approved contracts and benefit selections will be executed by staff as directed; the LTD RFP will be issued and returned proposals reviewed in a future meeting.
