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a MOUNDS VIEW City of Mounds View Staff To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Item No: 7H Meeting Date: July 22 2013 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review:/_ From: Desaree Crane, Assistant City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Resolution 8131Approving to Extend Employment on Two Seasonal Positions from 119 Days to 185 Days Introduction: On February 11, 2013, the City Council approved Resolution 8060, which approved Public Works and Parks Seasonal Employees for the 2013 season. One of the provisions of Resolution 8060 states that these seasonal positions shall not exceed 119 calendar days of employment. This was recommended by Staff to start the planning process if and when the Affordable Healthcare Act becomes effective. According to the Affordable Healthcare Act ("Obama Care"), starting in 2014, there are provisions that would require employers to offer health insurance to full-time seasonal employees who work 120 calendar days or more during the year. It further requires that the seasonal employee who is hired to work for 120 calendar days and worked an average of 30 hours perweek to be offered insurance on the 90th day of his or her employment, and would be eligible for health insurance benefits for 30 days. In addition to the obvious administrative nightmare and cost associated with insuring an employee for 30 days, this provision can also subject employers to obligations under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) upon termination of the employee's employment, thereby creating even more burdens to the employer. Staff recommended starting the planning process this year by hiring 10 seasonal employees and staggering them to ensure that they do not exceed 119 days. Discussion: The Public Works Department is requesting to extend employment on two seasonal positions from 119 days to 185 days. In June of this year, a full time Public Works Maintenance employee was placed on medical leave. Staff is unsure of how long this employee will be out on medical leave. In accordance with federal law, state law, and the Mounds View Personnel Manual, this employee is authorized up to 12 weeks in any 12 month period measured backwards from the date the employee initially uses family or medical leave. This employee was placed on medical leave effective June 14, 2013. The Public Works Department is requesting assistance from a seasonal employee to help fill this void until the full time employee returns. The Public Works Department also had a seasonal employee resign in the Parks Division, and Staff has not had very good luck pulling from the pool of other applicants. Therefore, ratherthan