Human Resources Director Megan Gilbreth presented staff’s multiyear strategy to make the city an “employer of choice,” summarizing recent pay and classification work, faster recruitment times and a new safety program, and outlining changes for the 2026 benefits open‑enrollment period.

Gilbreth reviewed the 2023 compensation and classification study (a council‑funded market adjustment the presentation said was roughly a $8 million investment citywide), and cited reduced prescription trend costs and negotiated contract savings. She said the city’s time‑to‑fill metric improved from about 125 days in early 2023 to about 35 days currently, against a public‑sector average of roughly 119 days reported by the city’s HR platform.

On benefits, staff proposed two medical plan options for 2026: a traditional EPO (“Elm” plan) with deductibles and a 15% employee cost share, and a modernized “Oak” plan with no deductible, co‑pay ranges and an 8% employee cost share. Gilbreth said modeling showed that without changes plan costs were projected to rise 9.6% year‑over‑year, and that the proposed modernization reduces that projected increase so employee paycheck deductions would decrease for many employees: “With the modernization, contributions will decrease by up to 15% with a couple of minor increases up to 2.9%,” she said.

Council members asked about plan mechanics, the choice of UnitedHealthcare and whether high‑quality providers would be lower cost in the Oak plan. Assistant City Manager Christine Taylor and the city manager explained benefits added during the past years (paid parental leave, additional holidays, tuition reimbursement) and emphasized staff work to mitigate health‑care‑cost growth. City leaders said staff chose plan options after a market solicitation and that UnitedHealthcare was selected last year as the best bid; HR will continue to solicit and vet providers. Open enrollment will run Nov. 3–14, with an engagement and education campaign beginning immediately.

No action was required at this meeting; council members asked staff to continue outreach and provide additional data on provider quality and plan mechanics during open enrollment.