HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2017-006 Sponsored by: Hunt
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2017-006
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE CO-APPLICANT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SEWARD COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTER,INC. AND THE CITY OF SEWARD
WHEREAS,the Governing Board and City were awarded a New Access Point Grant as a
Federally Qualified Health Center in accordance with a Notice of Award issued by the United
States Department of Health & Social Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA), establishing an initial project period of November 1, 2013 through January 31, 2016.
Subsequently,a Service Area Competition application was submitted to HRSA in September 2015
and approved by HRSA to continue this grant for a second project period of February 1, 2016
through January 31,2019; and
WHEREAS,the Seward City Council enacted Ordinance 2013-013 on December 16,2013,
authorizing employees of the Seward Community Health Center to be non-PERS employees of the
City for a limited time,amending portions of the City Code,and requiring the Board to enter into a
Co-Applicant Agreement("Agreement")with the City of Seward; and
WHEREAS,the City of Seward serves as co-applicant with the Seward Community Health
Center(stand-alone 501(c)3 entity)as a Federally Qualified Health Center(FQHC),collaborating to
improve access to primary health care in the community, pursuant to Section 330 of the Public
Health Service Act(42 U.S.C. § 254b); and
WHEREAS, the Agreement section 3.4, was amended to read "The Health Center will
work closely and cooperatively with the City as co-applicants of Section 330 federal grant
funding. The City Council and the Governing Board have agreed that it is mutually beneficial for
the employees of the Health Center to be deemed to be City employees for a limited period of
time. Therefore, the issue of employment will be reconsidered by the parties no later than the
completion of each project period of each Section 330 grant award, and the following shall apply;"
and
WHEREAS, the Agreement section 3.4.2 was amended to read "Health Center staff,
including the Executive Director, shall be City employees subject solely to the Personnel Policies
of the Seward Community Health Center, as approved by the Governing Board. The Health Center
is fully and solely responsible for all aspects of employment, including payroll administration,
hiring, training, supervision, discipline, grievances, and termination, in accordance with the
Personnel Policies adopted by the Governing Board." ; and
WHEREAS,the Agreement section 3.4.5 was amended to read "Health Center staff are
expressly prohibited from participating in the Public Employees Retirement System."; and
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2017-006
WHEREAS,the Agreement section 3.4.6 was amended to read"Health Center Staff are
expressly considered to be City employees for the purpose of participating in health insurance
coverage,subject to approval of the Governing Board,although the Health Center may also pursue
an alternate health insurance coverage, if necessary." ; and
WHEREAS, the Co-Applicant Agreement is established for the purpose of describing the
relationship of the parties in the mutual operation of a federally qualified health center in accordance
with Section 330.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that:
Section 1. The Seward City Council hereby approves the Co-Applicant Agreement between
the Seward Community Health Center,Inc.and the City of Seward,as amended,in substantial form
as presented at this meeting.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby authorized to undertake any and all actions necessary
to execute and implement the Agreement.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 23rd
day of January, 2017
THE CITY OF SEWARD ALASKA
: av) / / f / .
can Bardarson, Mayor
AYES: Keil, McClure, Squires, Altermatt, Slater, Bardarson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Casagranda
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
J anna Ki , CMC
ity Clerk .•.......
OF g . •.,�
(City Seal) • G�••,.Go'cy 1 s••.# i
111
SEAL ; •OF AVr'.0
•r�orrcr••••`a
AGENDA STATEMENT
Meeting Date: January 23, 2017
From: James Hunt, City Manager
Agenda Item: Co-Applicant Agreement with Seward Community Health Center, Inc.
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION:
The City of Seward and the Seward Community Health Center Board (“Board”) are co-applicants
in the newly funded Section 330 federally qualified health center in Seward. On December 16,
2013, the City Council enacted Ordinance 2013-013, authorizing employees of the Seward
Community Health Center (“CHC”) to be non-PERS employees of the City for a limited time,
amending portions of the City Code, and requiring the Board of the CHC to enter into a Co-
Applicant Agreement (“Agreement”) with the City.
The attached Agreement establishes the roles and responsibilities of the Board, the executive
director, and the City of Seward, and expresses the following goals: cooperation rather than
competition among healthcare providers to drive efficiency; City financial and administrative
support to build a strong foundation for the newly-formed center and oversight of funding;
operation of the CHC consistent with Section 330 requirements and the best interests of the
community; and restricting the City’s role to the highest level necessary to provide oversight
without involvement in daily operations or management.
The primary responsibilities of the Board include: selecting services to be provided; adopting
policies and procedures; ensuring quality of care; providing a sliding fee discount program;
evaluating CHC programs and services; approving annual 330 grant budgets and grant
applications, then submitting to City Council for approval; selecting, evaluating, and dismissing
the executive director; ensuring that adequate liability insurance coverage is in place for the CHC,
employees, and the Board; and ensuring compliance with all applicable HRSA program
requirements, laws and regulations.
The primary responsibilities of the Executive Director include: managing and supervising
activities of the CHC including carrying out policies, procedures, and programs of the Board;
negotiating and administering contracts; ensuring eligibility for Federal Tort Claims Act medical
malpractice insurance coverage; coordinating with the city manager as to applicable City policies;
informing the Parties of any new pertinent federal guidance and requirements; maintaining all
licensing; and hiring, credentialing, evaluating, managing, and terminating staff.
The primary responsibilities of the City include: providing assistance to the CHC as approved by
Resolution of the City Council; ensuring fiscal management and oversight of grant and local funds
passed through the City to the CHC; approving grant applications as necessary; providing access
to employee health insurance; and approving the annual 330 grant budget upon approval and
recommendation by the Board.
The Agreement provides that employees are City employees subject to the Personnel Policies of
the CHC as adopted by the Board. Employees are hired, credentialed, fired, trained, supervised,
disciplined and terminated by the Executive Director in accordance with the Personnel Policies.
Employment in the CHC is at-will, and Personnel Policies include a grievance procedure,
including the right to file a grievance against the Executive Director, which will be heard by the
executive committee of the Board. Employees of the CHC are not entitled to participation in the
Public Employees Retirement System, but are expected to participate in a deferred compensation-
type plan, and are offered the same health insurance plan as other City employees, including the
requirement to contribute a portion of the monthly premium. Employment at the CHC requires a
probationary period and employees are currently offered the same annual leave allowances as
other City employees. The pay schedule of the CHC will be approved by the Board.
INTENT:
The intent of this action is to establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the City, the
Board, and the Executive Director of the CHC and amend sections 3.4; 3.4.2; 3.4.5; and 3.4.6 to
read : 3.4 The Health Center will work closely and cooperatively with the City as co-
applicants of Section 330 federal grant funding. The City Council and the Governing Board
have agreed that it is mutually beneficial for the employees of the Health Center to be deemed to
be City employees for a limited period of time. Therefore, the issue of employment will be
reconsidered by the parties no later than three years from the Effective Date of this Agreement
the completion of each project period of each Section 330 grant award, and the following
shall apply:
3.4.2 For a period of no longer than three years, Health Center staff, including the Executive
Director, shall be City employees subject solely to the Personnel Policies of the Seward
Community Health Center, as approved by the Governing Board. The Health Center is fully and
solely responsible for all aspects of employment, including payroll administration, hiring,
training, supervision, discipline, grievances, and termination, in accordance with the Personnel
Policies adopted by the Governing Board.
3.4.5 For a period of no longer than three years, Health Center staff may be eligible to
participate in City employee benefit plans authorized by the Governing Board, with the
exception that they are expressly prohibited from participating in the Public Employees
Retirement System.
3.4.6. For a period of no longer than three years, Health Center Staff are expressly considered
to be City employees for the purpose of participating in health insurance coverage, subject to
approval of the Governing Board and retirement plans other than the Public Employees
Retirement System, although the Health Center may also pursue an alternate retirement defined
contribution plan health insurance coverage, if necessary.
The employees of the clinic will be entirely subject to the personnel and employment policies of
the SCHC rather than the City’s personnel policies, and the SCHC will be solely responsible for
all aspects of employment of SCHC employees, to include wage and salary structure (pay scale,
merit increases, cola, etc.), personnel administration, hiring, credentialing, training, supervision,
discipline, grievances, termination, etc. Except as expressly provided in the Agreement, the City
will not have any involvement in employment matters of the SCHC, including in the hiring of the
executive director.
Yes No N/A
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST:
Comprehensive Plan (document source here ):p. 12 “We value effective,
1. accessible and affordable heal thcare”; “encourage cooperation X
between all healthcare providers”;
2. Strategic Plan (document source here): X
3. Other (list): X
ATTORNEY REVIEW: __X__Yes ____ No
FISCAL NOTE:
The personnel costs associated with employees of the Seward Community Health Center will be
costs borne by the Seward Community Health Center. While the City may assist with processing
payroll and payables, all personnel and other costs paid on behalf of the SCHC by the City, will be
assessed to the SCHC and are considered costs of the SCHC.
Approved by Finance Department: __________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Council approve Resolution 2017- approving a Co-Applicant Agreement between the City of
Seward and the Seward Community Health Center, Inc.