HomeMy WebLinkAbout20954 1 ORDINANCE NO. 20,954
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3 AN ORDINANCE TO DISPENSE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF
4 COMPETITIVE BIDS; TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO THE MUNICIPAL
5 HEALTH BENEFIT FUND, OPERATED THROUGH THE ARKANSAS
6 MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR ELIGIBLE
7 CITY EMPLOYEES AND DEPENDENTS FOR 2015; TO DECLARE AN
8 EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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10 Federal Law mandates that the City provide health care coverage to its employees and appropriate
11 dependents in compliance with legislation commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act; and,
12 WHEREAS, the City currently has a contract with Qual Choice of Arkansas (QCA) which mandates
13 the presentation of certain claim evidence, and a determination of potential rates, and further requires that
14 the City notify QCA no later than November 17, 2014, if the City does not intend to extend the contract
15 into 2015; and,
16 WHEREAS, during the course of review of this issue the City has learned that a program operated by
17 the Arkansas Municipal League can provide comparable coverage for a significantly lower premium; and,
18 WHEREAS, in light of the fact that revenue projections for the City, especially from the Sales and
19 Compensating Use Tax, have not been as anticipated, so the need to save monies in order to maintain
20 operations of the City and its various departments and programs is potentially imperiled for 2015;
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY
22 OF LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS:
23 Section 1. It is impractical and unfeasible under the circumstances to go through a formal competitive
24 bid for health care services in order to get a meaningful response within the deadlines set by the City's
25 current purchasing policy, and Federal Law, so the Board of Directors dispenses with the requirement of
26 competitive bids.
27 Section 2. The City Manager is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Municipal Health
28 Benefit Fund, provided the City Manager determines that this plan is comparable to the program currently
29 offered to City employees.
30 Section 3. Severability. In the event any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, subparagraph,
31 item, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or
32 unconstitutional,such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining provisions of this ordinance,
33 as if such invalid or unconstitutional provision was not originally part of this ordinance.
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1 Section 4. Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions, bylaws, and other matter inconsistent with this
2 ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
3 Section 5. Emergency. The City is mandated by Federal Law to provide health care coverage to
4 eligible employees, and qualified dependents, which the City has done for years without such a mandate;
5 however, the cost of premiums for 2015 is significantly higher for employees, and the lack of anticipated
6 revenues from the City's Sales and Compensating Use Tax requires that measures be taken to lower the
7 cost of health insurance as one means to continue to provide and operate City Departments and programs;
8 it is impossible and unfeasible to bid this agreement; an emergency is, therefore, declared to exist and this
9 ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage.
10 PASSED: November 18,2014
11 A E Tp APPROVED:
12 gi
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14 'Su n � n_ ey,City Clerk Doris Wright,Vice-Mayor
15 AP"0` : 1 AS TO LEGAL FORM:
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17 D.
18 Thomas M. Carpenter,City Attorney
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