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Council tables resolution that would have limited future councilors’ access to city health plan
Summary
A proposed resolution to rescind future councilors’ ability to participate in the city group insurance plan (effective Jan. 1, 2027) was debated; councilors raised concerns the language would unintentionally affect past council members and retirees, and the council voted 3–2 to table the measure for revision.
The council debated a resolution (item 9.1G) that would rescind city group insurance benefits for future council members beginning with terms that start Jan. 1, 2027. Attorney Brian Lindsay told the council that paragraph three of the draft resolution as written could affect previous council members who had relied on continued participation in the city's plan as part of retirement planning.
Councilor Paulson and others urged caution, saying the paragraph limiting participation "for a period equal to the number of years the individual actually served" could create hardship for past members. Counsel explained that if the council moved participants to COBRA there are time limits (commonly 18 months) and that deleting or revising the paragraph would allow past councilors to continue paying to remain on the plan in the same way they have historically.
After discussion, Councilor Johnson moved to table the resolution and Councilor Paulson supported the motion; the motion to table passed on a roll-call vote (three in favor, two opposed). Councilors asked staff to produce a clean copy or to move the item to Committee of the Whole to reword the language so it would not unintentionally affect past council members who currently pay premiums to remain on the plan.
The council did not adopt the rescission at the meeting; the item will be revised and returned for further consideration.
