Redmond staff recommend WCIA pre‑membership; council directs placing item on consent

Finance Director Kelly Cochran told the committee that staff are recommending a pre‑membership arrangement with the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA) as part of the city’s upcoming insurance renewal work.

"We are eligible to join WCIA," said Kelly Shih, the finance program manager for risk management, who summarized staff research on coverage, prevention programs and training resources WCIA offers. She said the authority would provide a broader risk pool, centralized coverage and “pre‑defense” legal support once Redmond became a full member.

Council members asked whether the pre‑membership step would require large up‑front payments and whether the city had alternative options. Rob Roscoe, WCIA’s deputy director, said: "There is no cost for pre membership other than if you utilize services like training and other different consults that we would then charge just for the training" — citing examples of typical nonmember training fees in the low hundreds.

Staff told the committee that staying with the current provider remains an option if council prefers not to pursue WCIA. After questions and discussion about alternatives, timing and metrics for evaluating the trial period, the council directed staff to place the pre‑membership interlocal agreement on the consent calendar for the upcoming business meeting so members can review the final packet before any binding decision.

What happens next: Staff will bring the pre‑membership paperwork and any final recommendations to the consent calendar for council consideration; if council later decides not to join, any training or consult fees used during the pre‑membership period would be billed for services used, not the pre‑membership itself.

Quotes in context are drawn from staff presentation and WCIA’s deputy director during the meeting.