5.1. SR 09-05-1995'^~( ~~ ITEM 5.1.
~~
ity of ~~ MEMORANDUM
l~ ~ TO: Mayor & City Council
Rover
FROM: Lori Johnson, Assistant City
Administrator
DATE: September 18, 1995
SUBJECT: Property, Liability, Worker's
Compensation, and Other Insurance
Renewals
The city's worker's compensation, property, liability, boiler and machinery,
and other insurance policies are subject to renewal on October 1, 1995. Dan
Greene of First National Insurance Agency of Elk River will be at Monday's
meeting to present renewal information and answer questions the Council
may have. Consistent with past years, the City requested quotes from all
carriers writing municipal coverage. Once again the League of Minnesota
Cities Insurance Trust quoted the broadest coverage at the lowest rate.
Copies of the LMCIT quotes are attached for your review. Also attached is a
recent publication from the LMCIT on why it is beneficial to remain with
• their program.
The Council will be asked to approve the worker's compensation contract and
the property, liability and other insurance coverage contract. In addition, as
was the case last year, there will be several other issues which the Council
will be asked to consider. Although much of the information will be
presented verbally, this memo outlines some of the issues to be discussed.
Worher's Compensation Insurance
The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust has submitted a quote for
worker's compensation insurance beginning October 1, 1995. The renewal
shows an experience modification of .82; this is down from .89 the previous
year. For the first time last year the city enrolled in the deductible option
with a $2500 per occurrence deductible resulting in a premium reduction of
$10,015. To date, for claims incurred in 1995, the city has paid deductibles of
$3,985.30. A summary of the claims is attached for your information. As you
can see, most of our claims are relatively small, usually less than $1,000.
The $2,500 deductible will result in a premium savings of $10,059 on the
upcoming renewal. If the deductible per occurrence is increased to $5,000, an
additional savings of $3,353 would be realized.
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425
As part of the insurance presentation last year the Council was made aware
. of a managed care option which provides an additional five percent premium
credit. The Council did not approve the managed care option last year,
however, there are some cases in which the employees may have received
more appropriate care had a managed care option been in place. The
managed care program helps employees through the process of dealing with
worker's compensation and ensuring that the injured employee receives
appropriate and timely medical attention. It does require that employees be
treated by network providers. In most cases the local providers are part of
the network. It is anticipated that managed care will be required in the
future. The Council should decide whether or not to implement the managed
care program.
Property Liability and Other Insurance
Attached is a renewal premium summary for property, liability, boiler and
machinery, and other insurance coverage. The total 1995-96 premium is
$188,664 which is a decrease of over $8,000 from the 1994-95 premium. This
is in spite of the fact that there is additional property to be insured and
revenues and expenditures have increased which are the basis for a portion
of the premiums. The premium quoted includes coverage for the Elk River
Municipal Utilities. The main reason for the decrease is because a large
• claim which was to be on our record for three years was determined to be a
shock loss, meaning it was a highly unusual, one-time occurrence , so it was
not factored in as a loss when our renewal rates were determined.
Last year the City Council approved the purchase of Open Meeting Law
coverage. The cost of that coverage for the upcoming year is $1,837. Excess
liability coverage was also discussed last year. Due to the high cost of the
coverage the City Council chose not to purchase excess liability. The 1995-96
quote for excess liability without waiver of immunity is $32,360 and with
waiver of immunity is $43,888. Last year City Attorney Peter Beck reviewed
the need for excess liability. He was unable to find areas of potential liability
that were not already covered by other policies. If the Council wishes,
additional research can be done to determine whether it is necessary to
purchase excess liability.
Summary
At Monday night's meeting the City Council is asked to approve the October
1, 1995, to October 1, 1996, worker's compensation policy, property, liability,
open meeting law, and other insurance coverage with League of Minnesota
Cities Insurance Trust. In addition, the Council needs to determine the level
of deductible for worker's compensation insurance. Other items to be
discussed, but not requiring immediate action, include a managed care
program for worker's compensation and excess liability coverage.
- League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust
Group Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Plan ~~(;1~1V~~
Administrator
. Berkley Administrators s~~p ~ ~ 5~`
Member of the W. R. Berkley Group
P.O. Box 59143 Minneapolis, MN 55459-0143 Phone (612) 544-0311 ~S'~ __ ----.-------
NOTICE OF PREMIUM OPTIONS
FOR STANDARD PREMIUMS OF $50,000 - $150,000
The 'City" Agreement No.:
Agreement Period: - 02-000513-10
ELK RIVER, ELK RIVER UTILITIES, From:
HOUSING & REDEV. AUTH. ECON.AU & SCHOOL BOARD To: 10/01/1995
PO BOX 490, 13065 ORONO PARKWAY 10/01/1996
ELK RIVER hfN 55330-0490
Enclosed is a quotation for workers' compensation deposit premium. Deductible options are now available in return
for a premium credit applied to your estimated standard premium of $ .The deductible will apply
per occurrence to paid medical costs only. There is no aggregate lirr~i}1765.
As an alternative, cities with a standard premium in excess of $25,000 may select from several retro-rated premium
options. The final net cost under the retro-rated option equals the audited standard premium times the minimum
factor plus losses and all loss-related costs, not to exceed the audited standard premium times the maximum factor.
The net cost for each retro option based on your estimated payroll, would be between the minimum and maximum
amounts shown below, depending upon your losses. Adjustments will be made approximately six months after the
close of your agreement year and annually thereafter until all claims are closed. These adjustments will be based
on audited payroll amounts and reserved as well as paid losses.
Please indicate below the premium option you wish to select. You may choose only one and you cannot change
~tions during the agreement period.
OPTIONS
NET DEPOSIT PREMIUM
1 ^ Regular Premium Option
Deductible Options: 101340.
Deductible Premium Credit
per Occurrence Credit Amount
$ 2235. 99105.
500
3 ^ 4%
44?1. 9b869.
4 ^ 1,000 Solo
5588. 9J752.
5 ^ 2,500 9%
10059. 91281.
6 ^ 5,000 12%
13412. 87928.
7 ^ 10,000 17%
19000. 82340.
Retrospectively Rated Premium Options:
Retro-Rated Est. Minimum Maximum Est. Maximum (See #1 above
Minimum Factor Premium Factor Premium for net deposit
8 ^ 52.9% 59124. 130% 145295. premium)
9 ^ 49.9% 55771. 140% 156471.
10 ^ 47.3% 52865. 150% 167648.
This should be signed by an authorized representative of the city requesting coverage.Oneof the above options must
selected. Please return a signed cop y of this notice to the Administrator with payment and make checks payable
o the LMCIT.
Signature Title Date
For more information on the premium options that apply to your city, refer to t he enclosed brochures.
T A ncn~~~ iininn~
- League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust
Group Selt-Insured Workers' Compensation Plan
Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability Agreement
Administrator
Berkley Administrators
a member of th• Berkley Risk Management Services Group
P.O. Box 59143 Minneapolis, MN 55459-0143 Phone (612) 544-0311
The "City" x 02-000513-10
ELK RIVER, ELk RIVER UTILITIES, Ab~~~-F'~RIOD FROM: 10/01/1995
HOUSING & REDEV. AUTH. ECON,AU & SCHOOL BQARD 70: 10/01/1996
FO BOX 440, 13065 ORONO PARKWAY.
ELK RIVER MN 55330-0490
CONTINUATION SCHEDULE FDR QUOTATIDN PAGE
NEW OLD
REMUNERATION RATE RATE CODE DESCRIPTION EST. PREM.
179400. 7.20 7.47 5506 STREET CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE 12917.
48360. 5.72 4.77 7520 WATERWORKS 2766.
545410. 5.93 5.54 7539 ELECTRIC & STEAM PLANT 32372.
163700. 5.86 7.32 7580 SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT 9593.
FOP 17676. 65.46 81.82 7708 FIREFIGHTERS (VOLUNTEER) 11571.
1104200. 5.23 6.54 7720 POLICE 57750.
164900. 2.25 2.81 8017 OFF SALE LIQUOR STDRE 3710.
104300. 6.86 5.72 8227 CITY SHOP & YARD 7155.
726000. O.bS •54 8810 CLERICAL 4719.
74500. 4.09 4.17 9102 PARKS 3047.
301400. 1.85 2.31 9410 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES 5376•
38700. 0.69 2.31 9411 ELECTED .OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS 267.
Manual Premium 151443.
STATE SUPERIOR
CODE STATE FUND EMPLOYERS
POOL P1UTUAL PLAN LEAGUE
5506 ~ 19.95 ~ 16.40 ~ 16.39 ~ 7.47
7539 ~ 7.91 ~ 6.18 ~ 6.63 ~ 5.45
7708 ~ ~ 88.78 ~ 74.52 ~ 65.46
7720 ~ 9.26 ~ 7.81 ~ 7.81 ~ 6.54
8227 ~ 11.87 ~ 9.27 ~ 9.26 ~ 6.86
9410 ~ 3.75 ~ 3.17 ~ 3.16 ~ 1.85
• F-416021790
FIRST NAIL INS AGCY
729 MAIN STREET
ELK RIVER, MN 55330
BA 468 (3/92) Date: 08/29/1995
1~
League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust
Group Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Plan
Administrator
Berkley Administrators
a member of the Berkley Risk Management Services Group
P.O. Box 59143 Minneapolis, MN 55459-0143 Phone (612) 544-0311
Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Quotation
(REhtEWAL of Agreement No. 02-000513-9)
ELK RIVER, ELK RIVER UTILITIES,
10/Oi/1995 10/01/1996
ESTIMATED
CODE RATE PAYROLL
SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE FOR DETAILS
Manual Premium
10% Sick, Holiday, & Vacation Allowance
Add. Manual Premium
Experience Modification 0.82
Standard Premium
Managed Care Credit OY
Deductible $2,500. Deductible Credit 9I
Premium Discount
Discounted Standard Fremium
LMC Insurance Trust Discount 0'/,
l~let Deposit Fremium
DEPOSIT
PREMIUM
151443.
15144.
136299.
111765.
0.
0.
10425.
IOI340.
0.
10i340.
The foregoing quotation is for a deposit premium based on your estimate of payroll. Your final actual
premium will be computed after an audit of payroll subsequent to the close of your agreement year and
will be subject to revisions in rates, payrolls and experience modification. While you area member of
the LMCIT Workers' Compensation Plan, you will be eligible to participate in distributions from the
Trust based upon claims experience and earnings of the Trust.
• If you desire the coverage offered above, please complete the enclosed "Application for Coverage" and
return it and your check for the deposit premium (made payable to the LMC Insurance Trust) to the Plan
Administrator, Berkley Administrators.
BA 441CG (12/92)
9/13/95
•
•
SELF INSURANCE COSTS
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
Employee A
Employee B
Employee C
Employee D
Employee E
Employee F
Employes. G
Employee H
TOTAL
S 137.88
406.16
.243.39
1,144.39
732.30
1,123.98
91.20
106.00
$3,985.30
Berkley Risk Services, Inc.
DAN GREENE/SANDY GREENE
~ FIRST NATIONAL INSURANCE
729 MAIN STREET
ELK RIVER, MN 55330
Date: SEPTEMBER 8, 1995
Re: CITY OF ELK RIVER
Eff. Date: 10/1/95
RENEWAL PREMIUM SUMMARY AND BINDER
•
95-96 94-95
PROPERTY - 6% PROPERTY INCREASE $ 20,060. $ 21,048.
MOBILE EQUIPMENT 2,757. 2,996.
MUNICIPAL LIABILITY- 6% RATE INCREASE 110,450. 117,076.
AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY 15,923. 18,804.
AUTOMOBILE PHYSICAL DAMAGE 7,586. 6,697.
MISC. EQUIPMENT ON AUTOS 824. 742.
CRIME 162. 180.
BONDS 1,194. 1,142.
OPEN MEETING LAW 1,837. 1,756.
BOILER & MACHINERY 26,250. 25,000.
SYSTEMS BREAKDOWN 1,621. 1,537.
TOTAL $188,664. $196,978.
* EXCESS LIABILITY - SEE ATTACHED
•
._. _ _ = f ',i L t1
• t~l' ~ ~ ~'~`Yti
~, -
FROM:
ill Berkley Risk Services, Inc.
920 Second Avenue South, Suite 700
Minneapolis, Minnesota >j402-4023
(612) 376-4200 FAX (612) 376-4299
SUt3JtG f ( DATE
EXCESS LIABILITY QUOTATION FOR THE CITY OF: ~~~ pii~ q ~ 8 ~ G~
-FOLD-
Dear ~~(~ ~.
Liability Limit:
Annual Premium With Waiver of Immunity:
Annual Premium Without Waiver of Immunity:
Quotation Expires:
Follow Form:
Special Exclusions:
Other Endorsements:
Remarks:
$1,000,000.
~ ~, 3~0.
C~..~ ~
Underlying Coverage as Scheduled
Child Molestation
An Election form must be completed,
signed, and returned to us before
the effective date if coverage
is desired.
C~ll'1IC._ (~~.L.~.
DATE SIGNED I ' ._~
•
`.
..~~
~...~
League of Minnesota Cities
August 28, 1995
To: City officials
~z''
s~
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126-8044
From: LMCIT Board of Trustees
Over the past year, private insurance companies have shown renewed interest in selling insurance
to cities. Since your city's renewal is coming up soon, you may well have heard from the St. Paul
Companies, the Employers Mutual program sponsored by the MMUA, or one of the other
insurance companies that would like to sell you some insurance.
LMCIT has done a pretty good job for cities for quite a few years, and we'd like to take a little
time to talk about that record. Ultimately it comes down to one key question: Are cities likely to
get better coverage, lower cost, or better service by leaving LMCIT and going to a private
insurance company?
• Can we get better coverage by leaving LMCIT?
We've yet to see an insurance company match the coverage LMCIT provides cities. Every year
for many. years, LMCIT has introduced improvements and refinements to broaden the coverage.
and better protect cities. Some are relatively minor things that would only rarely come up, like
covering the liability fora physician's administrative acts as the city ambulance service's medical
adviser. Others are much more significant, such as adding coverage for inverse condemnation
.liability arising out of land use regulations, picking up employment-related charges at the EEOC
or Human Rights Commission level, or offering coverage for open meeting law defense costs.
We're working on additional changes right now for 1996.
...Many of these coverage changes and,improvements came about because city officials identified
problems or gaps in coverages and asked LMCIT to find a way to address them.. In other cases,
LMCIT's Board or staff suggested the changes in response to questions or problems we
encountered in handling c}aims or working with the coverage. The result of this continual process
of revision and improvement is that LMCIT member cities have broader coverage than any we've
seen offered to cities anywhere.
But the important thing isn't just to toot our horn about how good your LMCIT coverage is
(though we have to admit that we kind of enjoy horn-tooting once in a while). The real point
we'd like you to keep in mind is that if you see a problem with some aspect of your LMCIT
• coverage, you don't have to shop elsewhere to fix that problem. Instead, the first thing to do is to
talk to us about it. If it's feasible and it makes sense for cities, we'll do it.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPL01rER
(612)490-5600 1-800-925-1122 TDD(612)490-9038 Fax(612)490-0072
LMCIT Auto Rates
~~
,-° 250 .
's 200
~ 150
° 100
50
0
'90 '91 '92 '93 5A '95
Underwritingyear ~
®Liabiiy C]Physical ~rtege
- ~..~...~.,m..•..~•...~
Can we reduce our costs by Leaving LMCIT?
It's pretty easy to promise lower costs. We could •
get into along-winded discussion about whether a
private insurance company would be able to reduce
losses or expenses enough to bring its costs below
LMCIT's while. still providing the same coverage and
making a profit. But we thought it might be more.
helpful to just take a look at what LMCIT's rates
have actually done over the past several years. Here
are some figures.
• Workers compensation - LMCIT's average rate
per $100 of payroll for 1995 is 10% lower than
the 1990 rate.
• Municipal liability - For 1994-95, LMCIT's
average rate per $1000 of city. expenditures is
about 9.6% higher than 1989-90 rates. That's an
average increase of less than 2% per year. •
• Property - LMCIT's 1994-95 rates per $100 of
value for property coverage are 3S% lower than
1989-90 levels.
• .Auto - LMCIT's average rate per vehicle far auto
liability coverage for 1994-95 is 2% lower than
the 1989-90 rate. Per-vehicle rates for auto
physical damage are 20% lower than 1989-90
levels.
In short, LMCIT has a pretty solid record of giving
cities stable or decreasing premium rates.
•
Of course, we also have to look at
LMCIT's dividend history. In the
last five years, LMCIT's
property/casualty program has
returned $41.5 million to mernber
cities. That's equal to 31 % of
premiums for that period.
Besides these dividends, in 1993 the
LMCIT workers compensation
program passed a $5.2 million
refund from the WCRA through to
the mernber cities. After a long
court fight, private insurance
companies ended up keeping their
portion of the WCRA refund, .rather
than returning it to the insurance
buyers as the legislature had directed.
LMCIT Property/Casua~y
Premituns and Dividends
$30
o $20 ^Premituus
®Dividends
$70
$o
'90 '91 '92 '93 '94
• In short, we think LMCIT's record in controlling costs is pretty impressive. Of course, that's not
to say we can rest on our laurels. We're constantly looking for ways we can reduce expenses by
operating more efficiently. LMCIT also puts a lot of emphasis on finding ways to help cities
reduce losses as well, though the spring loss control seminars, the Loss Control Quarterly,
individual consulting assistance and inspections, and so on. But we realize very well that we can
always do better, and we'll continue to try to do so.
It's easy to promise a lower cast. It can be quite another thing to deliver. LMCIT has been
delivering on its promise for a long time.
Can we get better service by going son:eivhere else?
__ __ __
This one's pretty easy to answer. If yors have a problem wfth service from LMCIT, whether it's
from LMCI7"s own staff or from arty of o~ir contract service providers - we want to hear about it
right now. Call Pete Tritz ar Tom Grundhoefer at the League office - 490-5600, or
1-800-925-1122. Or call any of the individual trustees.
We can't guarantee that we'll never make a mistake, or that we'll always be able to deliver
everything. you need exactly when you need it. But we can guarantee that if you tell us about a
problem, we'll be listening and that we will get it fixed just as quickly as we can.
• We can't emphasize strongly enough that we want to hear about it when you run into problems.
The worst problem is the one we can't fix because you didn't tell us about it.
ti-
A final comment
We think LMCIT has done a pretty good job of meeting cities' coverage needs since 1980. We
also recognize that there is still plenty of room for LMCIT to improve and to do an even better
job for cities in the future.
For along time, cities didn't have many options for their risk management needs. Few insurance
companies would even consider writing insurance for cities, and those that did charged steep
premiums. That's changed over the past year or so. Cities are beginning to see private insurance
companies offering some very attractive-looking premiums. Whether those companies will keep
rates as stable over time as LMCIT has remains to be seen. Whether. they'll also match LMCIT's
record of returning unneeded funds to member cities as dividends seems doubtful.
Another point to keep in mind is that with a closer look those low premiums may not be quite the
good deal they seem. We've looked at the actual policy forms that some of the private insurance
companies are offering to cities. What we've found is a list of exclusions, restrictive language,
and coverage limits that add up to a lot less coverage than what LMCIT gives cities. If you're
considering an insurance quote from a commercial insurance company, feel free to give the
LMCIT staff a call. We'll be glad to help you identify in detail how their coverage differs from
what you have with LMCIT.
•
But the real question we'd like you to think about is this: Which alternative is more ikely to
produce the results for you in the future - a private insurance company or LMCIT?
LMCIT is anon-profit cooperative organization of cities, formed by cities, and governed by city
officials, whose sole purpose is to meet cities' coverage and risk management needs. LMCIT is
not going to suddenly decide to stop covering cities in order to get into some other line of
business that might be more profitable. A private insurance company's basic goal and purpose is
to make a profit by selling insurance.
We think the choice is obvious.