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Consent
Item No. 5.
MEETING DATE: 02/20/2024
 
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS
 
FROM: JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER
By:  Gabriella Yap, Assistant City Manager

 
SUBJECT:
APPROVE THE CITY’S EXCESS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE POLICY RENEWAL FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM FROM MARCH 20, 2024, THROUGH MARCH 20, 2025

RECOMMENDATION:


That the City Council authorize the City Manager to renew the City’s excess Workers’ Compensation reinsurance policy with Safety National Casualty with a policy limit of $50 million and a Self-Insured Retention (SIR), or deductible, of $1 million per claim for all employees at an annual premium cost of $230,709 for the period of March 20, 2024, through March 20, 2025.

DISCUSSION:

The City’s current excess Workers’ Compensation policy will expire on March 20, 2024.  In an effort to secure the lowest cost renewal option, staff directed the City’s broker, Schrimmer Insurance, to solicit bids from reinsurers. Schrimmer contacted five carriers, of which four carriers declined to quote due to the number of open claims and inability to compete with the current quote.

Current market conditions across the nation have made it challenging to find insurance carriers who are willing to quote workers’ compensation policies for cities, especially due to the risk of exposure from public safety operations. For this reason, Schrimmer Insurance was only able to secure one pricing proposal, which is from the City's current carrier, Safety National Casualty. They indicated that the cost of insuring police personnel continues to be a significant factor in obtaining quotes.

A summary of the City’s current coverage and quote for the excess Workers’ Compensation reinsurance is listed below:           
 
         
  Company Policy Limits SIR Premium  
Current Carrier Safety National Casualty $50 million $1,000,000 $230,050  
           
Quote 1 Safety National Casualty
(RECOMMENDED)
$50 million $1,000,000 $230,709  
           
                   
                                                                                                                                                 
Safety National Casualty’s proposal (Quote 1) has an excellent rating and superior financial strength, and its proposal includes a $1 million Self Insurance Retention (SIR), or deductible, for all employees (including police), and an aggregate policy limit of $50 million, at an annual premium of $230,709. This proposal represents a premium increase of 0.29%, or $659 compared to the City’s current annual premium of $230,050.

Staff recommends renewing the City’s excess Workers’ Compensation reinsurance with Safety National Casualty.  This will provide coverage for all City employees with a $1 million SIR and an annual premium of $230,709. 
 
 

The City’s excess Workers’ Compensation insurance premium history for the last 10 years is listed below:
 
2014-2015 $109,596
2015-2016 $119,752
2016-2017 $120,876
2017-2018 $122,888
2018-2019 $115,363
2019-2020 $106,080
2020-2021 $109,896
2021-2022 $187,988
2022-2023 $212,282
2023-2024 $230,050

FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:

Sufficient funds for workers’ compensation insurance premiums have been included in the adopted Fiscal Year 2023-2024 risk management budget. Staff recommends acceptance of the pricing proposed by Safety National Casualty with a $1 million SIR at an annual premium cost of $230,709.

GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE/CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

Renewal of the City's worker's compensation insurance is consistent with the following area(s) of the General Plan:
LU 17.1 Adequate Community-Supporting Uses
ED 9 Fiscal Strength Stability

It is also consistent with the following FY 2023/2024 City Council Goals and Objectives:
Goal 2, Objective A: Management of Public Revenues and Fiscal Assets