Council Employment Committee Meeting Date: July 23, 2025
To: Members of the Council Employment Committee
From: Michelle Mahowald, Communications/Human Resources
Title
Gallagher presentation: Northfield's transition to Minnesota Paid Leave effective January 1, 2026 and preparation for 2026 health insurance renewal.
Body
Action Requested:
Receive presentation and ask questions as we transition to Minnesota Paid Leave.
Summary Report:
Gallagher Benefits consultants Jessica Nikunen and Katie Reger will present an update on the 2026 employee benefits renewal and implementation of Paid Leave as approved in the 2025 legislative session.
2026 employee benefits renewal: In preparation for labor negotiations in 2024, a benefits analysis was prepared by Gallagher.
City Administrator Martig, Finance Director Angelstad, and Communications & Human Resources Director Mahowald had a meeting with Jessica and Katie in May. Staff received preliminary information on employee benefits and started the renewal process by completing Blue Cross Blue Shield's pre-renewal verification form.
Jessica and Katie will not have the actual renewal in hand for this meeting. They will talk through the city's health insurance claims and healthcare trend. The Blue Cross Blue Shield renewals will be expected around mid to late August and will be shared with the employee health insurance committee before another meeting with the Council Employment Policy Committee.
Paid Leave: The Northfield City Council approved Resolution 2018-128 Approving Paid Family and Parental Leave as a Council Administrative Policy December 4, 2018 and updated the policy in October 5, 2021 for the employee handbook which is now 8.36 paid family and parental leave. The current policy is included as an attachment in this agenda item.
The following tables show the number of approved requests with the reason since 2019:
Costs for paid family leave requests:
2019 $46,198.09
2020 $110,245.22
2021 $116...
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