BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA

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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA

AB 4582

December 6, 2010

Consent Calendar

SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM

Proposed Council Action:

Approve of Resolution No. 1430 in Support of Employee Wellness Program

DEPARTMENT OF Human Resources (Kryss Segle)

COUNCIL LIAISON n/a

EXHIBITS 1. Resolution No. 1430

2. Employee Wellness Program Policy

APPROVED BY CITY MANAGER

AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE $ 3,000 AMOUNT BUDGETED $ 3,000 APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $ 0

SUMMARY

The City of Mercer Island began its well-established Employee Wellness Program in 1989. Since then, the Wellness Program has evolved into an essential aspect of our work culture and environment that supports employee mental and physical health.

Elements of the Employee Wellness Program include:

• The establishment of a Wellness Committee represented by each department of the City, which meets monthly.

• Access to wellness programs by a broad range of employee groups, departments, and/or shifts. • Permits employees to participate in wellness activities during regular work hours. Examples of

wellness activities include:

• Healthy cooking classes (scheduled during lunch or after work) • Health screenings

• Brown bag luncheon presentations (stress reduction, financial security, skin care, nutrition, etc.) • Proper weight training instruction (scheduled during lunch)

• Weight loss support groups

• Support of various wellness promotional events throughout the year (Wellness Games, AWC-sponsored promotions, etc.)

• Free access to weight rooms located at City Hall, CCMV, and the Main Fire Station (before and after work, or during the lunch break)

Beginning January 1, 2012, the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) will provide a 2% premium discount for Employee Benefit Trust members whose 2010 wellness programs qualify for AWC’s 2011 WellCity Award. Since the City of Mercer Island provides insurance benefits to its employees through the

AWC Benefit Trust, the 2% premium reduction will amount to more than $53,000 in 2012. Furthermore, City employees will also save 2% of their premium costs, which amounts to $5,500 in 2012.

AWC requires that the City establish an annual budget of no less than $100 per employee. In 2011, the City’s total proposed Wellness Program budget amounts to $3,000. This is a $7,000 reduction from the annual budget in past years, which recognizes the City’s current budget challenges. Staff believes we can maintain required elements of the Wellness Program at this funding level.

Once the City Council approves the Employee Wellness Program Resolution, the City will have met all of the requirements to qualify for the 2010 WellCity award, and therefore, qualify for the 2% insurance premium savings beginning in 2012.

RECOMMENDATION

MOVE TO: Approve Resolution No. 1430 demonstrating support of the City of Mercer Island Employee Wellness Program.

AB 4582 Exhibit 1

CITY OF MERCER ISLAND

RESOLUTION NO. 1430

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERCER

ISLAND, WASHINGTON, SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS

PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the City of Mercer Island began its Employee Wellness Program in 1989 to aid and

encourage employees in maintaining good physical and mental health choices and recognizing

that many illnesses and injuries can be prevented by positive individual health practices; and

WHEREAS, this program educates and reinforces employee health awareness and helpful

lifestyle choices; and typically increases participants’ awareness of their health options by

helping them to acquire the knowledge, skills and motivation to achieve and maintain healthy

lifestyles; and

WHEREAS, the City of Mercer Island further recognizes that improvements to employee health,

achievable through active workplace health promotion programs and activities can result in

better morale, reduced absenteeism, enhanced productivity and performance, and can be a

prudent strategy to control healthcare expenditures; now, therefore,

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON, HEREBY

RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1.

The City Council supports the continuation of the Employee Wellness Program

and hereby provides that the program be sustained indefinitely unless cancelled

by action of the City Council.

Section 2:

This resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON,

AT ITS REGULAR MEETING ON THE 6TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2010.

CITY OF MERCER ISLAND

______________________________

Jim Pearman, Mayor

ATTEST:

______________________________

Allison Spietz, City Clerk

City of Mercer Island Wellness Program Policy Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish the framework for the administration and purpose of the City’s Wellness Program. The City of Mercer Island recognizes that employee health is related to lifestyle choices and decisions, and that many illnesses and injuries can be prevented by positive health

practices. The City further recognizes improvements to employee health, achievable through an active workplace health promotion program, can result in reduced absenteeism, better morale, and enhance employee productivity and performance. Finally, empirical data supports that an active workplace health promotion program reduces health insurance claims, and therefore, positively impacts insurance premiums over time.

Mission

The mission of the Wellness Committee is to promote and improve the health and well being of our employees in order to prevent illnesses and injuries, improve morale, reduce absenteeism and enhance productivity and performance. The Wellness Program is established in recognition that:

1. Healthy productive employees are critical to the delivery of high quality and efficient local government services.

2. The health and well being of employees has a direct effect on the cost of government services.

Administration

The Wellness Program is administered through the Human Resources Department. This includes: 1. Management of the budget and financial program requirements in conjunction with

approving expenditures for the purpose of legal compliance; 2. Applying for, obtaining, and managing grant funding requirements; 3. Submittal of the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Well City Award;

4. Oversight of the committee appointment process and facilitation of committee meetings. Application of Program

All City employees are encouraged to participate in wellness activities and events. Employees shall be provided time to participate in wellness activities during regular working hours at their normal rate of pay with supervisor approval. Any participation in the Wellness Program and related activities are on a voluntary basis.

Program Promotion

The Wellness Committee will promote its program through emphasis in the following areas: • Information and Awareness

• Behavioral Change • Environmental Change

AB 4582 Exhibit 2 Page 5 Employee Wellness Committee Requirements

The Committee will consist of at least seven (7) members representing the following departments: • City Manager’s/City Attorney’s/Human Resources/Finance Departments

• Development Services Department • Police Department

• Fire Department

• Maintenance Department • Parks & Recreation Department • Youth & Family Services Department

At least one (1) Department Director will serve on the Committee at all times. If any member must relinquish their position for any reason, the responsible department director will have four (4) weeks to appoint a department representative to the Committee.

Committee members are responsible for the following: • Regularly attend Wellness Committee meetings;

• Share ideas and participate in activities to ensure program success;

• Represent his/her department and educate fellow employees of various wellness activities; • Participate in the organization and promotion of wellness events and activities;

• Work in conjunction with AWC to increase awareness about the benefits of healthy living. All committee members are equal participants and have equal rights and responsibilities to voice opinions and ideas and share in the success of the program. The committee will be chaired by a member of the Human Resources Department. The duties of the Chair are as follows:

• Schedule and facilitate monthly committee meetings; • Prepare meeting agenda and assign minute taker;

• Schedule and facilitate an annual planning meeting each January to establish annual goals; • Manage the Wellness Committee Budget;

• Submit required paperwork for grants and awards;

• Ensure the submittal of annual report to City management outlining the progress toward meeting the Wellness Committee annual goals.

Committee members will be provided time to participate in Wellness Committee meetings and the planning/implementation of related events and activities.