Bottom line

City commissioners will consider making changes to the health insurance program offered to city employees.

Background

Staff members are recommending that the city continue to pick up the full costs of coverage for employees. The city’s employee plus spouse insurance plan will cost employees $72 per pay period, unchanged from the current year. The employee plus children plan will be $64 per pay period, which also is unchanged for the year. The family plan, which covers both a spouse and children, will cost employees $102 per pay period, which is an increase of 11 percent for the year. Staff members are recommending an increase in that plan because a study found the city was subsidizing it to a greater degree than the others.

Other business

Recognition

• Proclaim Sept. 5-11 as International Literacy Week.

• Proclaim Sept. 5-11 as Suicide Prevention Week.

Consent agenda

• Approve City Commission meeting minutes from July 20 and 27.

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions:

• Approve claims.

• Approve licenses as recommended by the city clerk’s office.

• Approve appointments as recommended by the mayor.

• Bid and purchase items:

a. Set bid opening date of Sept. 21 for the DeVictor Park Trail extension. The city is receiving grant funding for part of these improvements.

b. Set bid opening date of Sept. 28 for Indiana Street water line crossing at Sixth Street.

c. Set bid opening date of Sept. 28 for sanitary sewer main replacement for the 1100 block of Delaware Street, the 1500 block of New Hampshire Street and the 700 block of Michigan Street.

d. Approve purchase of one Laser Shot LE Pro Law Enforcement Trainer System for the police department for $28,207. The city is receiving grant funding to partially fund this item.

e. Approve payment to Alpha Omega Geotech Inc. for specialized inspection services for the Carnegie Library rehabilitation project for $23,331.25.

• Adopt these ordinances on second and final reading:

a. Amending contractor licensing regulations found in Chapter 5, Articles 15 and 17 of the City Code.

b. Exempting the city from the nonuniform state statute on primary elections for city commissioner and requiring a primary election if seven or more candidates file for office.

• Approve extension request for Final Development Plan for Miracon Plaza Planned Commercial Development — Phase 1 at the northeast corner of Wakarusa Drive and Clinton Parkway.

• Approve a Temporary Use of Public Right-of-Way Permit to close Seventh Street from Tennessee Street to Kentucky Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17 and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 for a Strongman Competition.

• Approve a street vendor license for Last Stop Snack Shop at the southwest corner of 10th Street and Massachusetts Street, pending satisfactory inspection of the cart’s heating devices by the Fire Medical Department.

• Approve a Temporary Use of Right-of-Way Permit for the use of various streets for the Jingle Bell Run, including the rolling closure of Massachusetts Street downtown from approximately 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. Dec. 12.

• Approve these items relating to sidewalk dining and hospitality area at Wa Restaurant, 740 Mass:

a. A site plan, submitted by Mary Kol for Freda Miller and Jack Miller co-trustees, property owner of record.

b. Sidewalk dining and hospitality license.

c. Allow possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on certain city property pursuant.

• Authorize the mayor to sign mortgage releases for:

a. Jerry and Judy Davis, 942 Hilltop Drive (two mortgages)

b. Nancy Edwards, 1607 W. 27th St.

c. Priscilla Howe, 347 Elm (two mortgages).

• Receive city manager’s report.

Regular agenda

• Receive staff report regarding the Sept. 4 Oread Tailgate Event.

• Receive request from Sunflower Broadband for the sale and transfer of cable television and telecommunications franchise agreements from Sunflower Broadband to Knology.

• Consider approving recommended changes to the city’s employee healthcare plan for 2011.

• Consider approving the selection of American General Life as city’s voluntary employee benefit vendor and authorize city manager to enter into contract negotiations with American General Life.

• Receive memorandum from Commissioner Rob Chestnut and city staff concerning next steps for solid waste services.