HomeMy WebLinkAbout5E 2019 Insurance Policies with LMCIT Report
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: APRIL 1, 2019
AGENDA #: 5E
PREPARED BY: DANIELLE AMIRA, ACCOUNTANT
PRESENTED BY: CATHY ERICKSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE 2019
INSURANCE POLICY RENEWALS
GOAL AREA
AND
OBJECTIVE:
High-Value City Services
1. Establish financial stability for all funds.
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to consider approval of the 2019
insurance policy renewal with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance
Trust (LMCIT) for the period 02/01/2019 – 02/01/2020.
History
The City of Prior Lake participates in the LMCIT for securing liability,
property, casualty, automobile, volunteer and workers’ compensation
insurance coverage. Council approval of the insurance policies is
appropriate since the total premiums exceed the $20,000 threshold which
the City Manager is authorized to approve. This approval is requested on
an annual basis.
Current Circumstances
The City has been insured by the LMCIT since 1987. The LMCIT is a self-
insurance pool of cities formed to meet cities’ coverage and risk
management needs. They provide coverage for over 90% of Minnesota
cities. The LMCIT also provides a prorated dividend when claims for their
long-time members are favorable and the members are successful in
avoiding and controlling losses. This practice is unusual in the insurance
industry. For the 2017 coverage year, the LMCIT provided the City with a
$21,746 dividend on the property/casualty program, and $10,017 for the
2018 coverage year. The 2018 dividend amount was lower due primarily to
two factors:
1. During 2017 and 2018, overall member property claims were higher
than anticipated, largely because of a few large fire losses and
several weather- related events.
2. There have been no Workers Compensation program dividends
declared since the 2012 coverage year, mainly due to rising medical
costs and membership overall loss experience.
For Workers’ Compensation coverage, the City has historically chosen the
LMCIT’s Retrospective Rating option. Under the retrospective rating option,
the City pays an estimated premium amount at the beginning of the
agreement period. The final premium is determined based on the City’s
actual losses during the claim period. The City is then either billed or
refunded the difference between the two. The policy year is evaluated
annually at the 18-month mark and remains open for 16 years. While the
City received $117,347 last year for the 2/1/16-21/17 policy year, the city
will pay $89,959 additional premium on the Retro Adjustment for the
2/1/17-2/1/18 policy year based on Workers Compensation paid and
pending loss reserves.
Based on the 2/1/2018 to 2/1/2019 retrospective rating plan claim loss
experience through December 31st, current indications forecast a $20,000
dividend if there are no more claims or increase in loss reserves. Due to
the city’s upward trending Workers Compensation claims frequency and
loss costs, the higher risk Work Comp Retrospective Rating plan has been
stopped in favor of the standard premium option that is subject only to a
payroll audit adjustment at year end.
The coverages included in the City’s Property & Casualty coverage are:
municipal liability, property, automobile, open meeting law, and public
employee faithful performance as required by State Statutes. Since 2014,
the City has carried a deductible of $25,000 per occurrence/$50,000 annual
aggregate/ $1,000 per occurrence. The cost for these same coverages at
the $500 minimum deductible would be $300,345 premium, or $89,959
additional premium.
Maintaining the same deductible amount for Property & Casualty coverage,
the following table provides a comparison between the 2018 and 2019
insurance premiums:
Premium
Coverage 2019 2018 $ Chg. % Chg.
Property 80,801 77,745 3,056 3.9%
Equipment Breakdown 9,565 9,232 333 3.6%
Mobile Property 5,911 5,738 173 3.0%
Faithful Performance Bond 1,443 1,414 29 2.0%
Municipal Liability 86,465 88,422 -1,957 -2.3%
Automobile 23,617 25,451 -1,834 -7.3%
Total P/C Premium 207,002 208,002 -1,000 -0.48%
Workers Compensation 294,987 204,022 90,965 +44.6%
Total Premium 501,989 412,024 89,965 +21.8%
Since 2013, the City has paid a $9,000/year fixed fee for insurance agent of record
services versus a commission based on the premium which amounted to about
$20,000 yearly. The agent also provides services related to the workers
compensation insurance which was not the case in prior years.
The LMCIT Workers Compensation premium went up due to an increase in
our experience modification from .65 or 35% credit to .89 or 11% credit
(1.00 considered average) which is still very good, but not as good as prior
years. Without this experience modification increase, the 2019 Workers
Compensation premium would have been $216,215. The City continues to
have a great safety record due to the efforts of the staff and Safety
Committee.
Following is a summary of the drivers of the renewal premium increases:
• Overall Workers Compensation and Property& Casualty Rate
Adjustments
• Liability Experience Premium Modifier improved slightly from a
0.961 credit to a 0.927 credit.
• Property & Casualty annual aggregate $50,000 loss limit cost factor
went down slightly from 1.105 expiring, to 1.083 on the renewal.
• WC Experience modification credit went down from a .65 or 35%
credit, to .89 or 11% credit (1.00 is considered average).
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
The 2019 budget (all funds) includes $222,130 for general liability,
property, automobile and bond insurance. Based on the current quote for
Property/Casualty ($207,002), the premium would be less than budget by
approximately $15,128.
The 2019 budget (all funds) include $295,828 for worker’s compensation
insurance which is within $1k of the premium quote.
The City has an Insurance Internal Service Fund, previously approved by
the City Council, to absorb the shock of any forthcoming Work Comp
Retrospective Adjustments or increases in the experience modification
factor. The fund will also be used to help offset any future Property/
Casualty premium increases and to maintain funding to cover the $50,000
annual aggregate deductible. Funding sources include any
property/casualty dividends and work comp retro adjustments received.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and a second as part of the consent agenda to approve the
resolution authorizing the 2019 insurance policy renewals incorporating
the modifications recommended herein.
2. Motion and a second to remove this item from the consent agenda for
further discussion.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
Alternative #1.
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 19-___
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE 2019 INSURANCE POLICY RENEWALS
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, The City of Prior Lake participates in the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT)
for securing liability, property, casualty, automobile, employee faithful performance (bond),
open meeting law defense, equipment breakdown and worker’s compensation insurance
coverage; and
WHEREAS,
The insurance renewal period is 02/01/201 9 through 02/01/2020; and
WHEREAS, Premium costs for the respective coverage are as set forth in the April 1st, 2019 agenda report;
and
WHEREAS, The insurance includes a $25,000/$50,000/$1,000 deductible amount for liability coverage.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. The City Council hereby approves the 2019 insurance policy renewals.
3. Staff is authorized to transfer to the internal services Insurance Fund at year-end 2019 any
property/casualty dividends and work comp retro adjustments received.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 1st DAY OF APRIL 2019
VOTE Briggs Erickson Thompson Burkart Braid
Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Michael Plante, City Manager