ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY
WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY
BILL NO. R-26-20
RESOLUTION
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Resolution Authorizing the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority to Establish Employee Benefit Plans
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WHEREAS, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (the “Water Authority”) is a separate public entity created pursuant to state law and governed by its own Governing Board; and
WHEREAS, the Water Authority currently participates in employee insurance and benefit arrangements provided through the City of Albuquerque; and
WHEREAS, the Water Authority retained a consultant to perform a feasibility analysis regarding the separation of its employee benefit plans from the City of Albuquerque benefits program, and that analysis identified the operational, financial, and administrative considerations associated with establishing a stand-alone Water Authority benefits program; and
WHEREAS, the feasibility analysis indicated that cost savings may be realized for the Water Authority and its employees from establishing its own benefits plan, and would permit the Water Authority to better tailor its benefit offerings and responsiveness to employee benefit issues; and
WHEREAS, based on that analysis, the Board finds that it is in the best interests of the Water Authority to plan, evaluate, and negotiate a potential employee benefit program for Water Authority employees and eligible dependents, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, and basic and supplemental life insurance, as well as other voluntary supplemental plans, in order to enhance administrative independence, align benefit administration with organizational needs, and support long-term operational flexibility; and
WHEREAS, the Board further recognizes that implementation of a separate benefits program will require appropriate due diligence, including review of costs, plan design, vendor options, transition requirements, employee communications, compliance obligations, and any contractual or regulatory actions; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to authorize staff to proceed with the planning, evaluation, and negotiation, activities necessary to establish a benefits program for Water Authority employees subject to any applicable laws and final approval of any definitive agreements or actions requiring Board approval.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WATER AUTHORITY:
Section 1. The Board hereby authorizes the Executive Director to proceed with the evaluation, planning, negotiation, and potential implementation activities necessary to establish employee benefit plans for the Water Authority, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, and basic and supplemental life insurance, as well as other voluntary supplemental plans.
Section 2. In carrying out this authorization, staff shall conduct appropriate due diligence regarding plan options, fiscal impacts, funding requirements, administrative feasibility, employee transition issues, legal and regulatory compliance, and procurement requirements.
Section 3. Staff is further authorized to confer and negotiate with the City of Albuquerque, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, brokers, consultants, and other relevant parties, and to prepare such documents, analyses, transition plans, and proposed agreements as may be necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of this Resolution.
Section 4. Any plan adoption, vendor contract, funding commitment, or other action requiring approval by the Board or any other governmental authority shall be presented for such approval before becoming effective.