2012-863 RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -863 AS AMENDED
A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND HEALTH CARE AND RELATED PACKAGE BENEFTS TO ALL
OTHERWISE QUALIFYING CITY AND LIBRARY DOMESTIC PARTNER EMPLOYEES AND
THEIR FAMILIES
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville (City) and the Hedberg Public Library (Library) have always sought
to fill and retain its employment positions with the highest quality candidates; and
WHEREAS, the City and Library recruit in a competitive environment where marketplace ccmpetition
has made it difficult to maintain an edge in the recruitment and retention of high quality emp loyees;
full -time and part-time employees; and
WHEREAS, the attractiveness of the employee benefit package extended to qualifying (full -time and
certain 30+ hr per week part-time) candidates and employees is an important determinant cf
recruitment and retention; and
WHEREAS, the City and Library are committed to equal treatment of all employee families and
couples; an inequity currently exists concerning certain employee benefits for same gender and
opposite gender employees and candidates for employment that is contrary to a fundamental sense
of human fairness; and
WHEREAS, extension of all benefits not currently required by law to be extended to same gender and
opposite gender employees and their families would satisfy this fundamental fairness inequity and be
in the best interest of and benefit to the City and the Library, its employees, taxpayers, and
community; and
WHEREAS, such extension of benefits including, but not limited to, health care, major medical,
prescription drug, dental, and vision care benefit packages to same gender and opposite gender
domestic partners who otherwise would qualify (e.g. vesting requirements, hours per week, etc.)
would increase the attractiveness of the City and the Library's employment benefit package, thus,
significantly facilitating successful employee recruitment and retention; and
WHEREAS, current societal standards as an annunciated by the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
County, the Cities of Madison, Milwaukee, Fitchburg, Appleton, and other Wisconsin communities is
to extend health care and related benefit packages to all qualifying same gender and opposite gender
domestic partners and their families; and
WHEREAS, Wis. Stats. Sec. 40.02(21d) provides some by limited guidance as to the definition of
"domestic partners" for Wisconsin Retirement System and certain State health insurance benefit
purposes; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that Tess than 1% of a city's workforce would utilize domestic pa - trier
extended benefits resulting in minimal fiscal budgetary impact, although it is difficult to estivate the
number of City and Library employees who have domestic partners, with a reasonable rant a of from
1% ($87,45) to 5% ($437,252) of health costs per year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Janesville t iat this
Council authorizes the City Manager to extend funeral leave to domestic partners of a II types
and FMLA as authorized by law - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
domcstic partners and thcir families be allowed accccc to and providcd all of the same heath car°,
major medical, prescription drug, dental, vision carc, and othcr bcncfits, rights, and privilogcs, which
are extended to opposite sex spouse relationships to which the later are currently and, frorr time to
time, may be entitled; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council requests and directs that the City Administration:
(a) Study and consult with the City's health care advisors and others to determine apprc priate
definitions, standards, and related administrative procedures and processes for the ,otential
such extension of "health benefits" to domestic partners who are City employees; and
(b) Bring back to the Council during budget deliberations at the time appropriate i he
question of the extension of "health benefits" to domestic partners for separate, later
Council action so as to potentially €extend all such not - already provided benefits to all
qualifying opposite gender and same gender domestic partners and families who wculd
otherwise lawfully qualify as the City and the Library currently provides to opposite gender
married couples and families, commencing January 1, 2013, to the extent allowed bi law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Administration include the estimated costs arising from
such extension in the proposed budget for fiscal /calendar year 2013 for Council delibera on and
action.
ADOPTED: February 13, 2012 Motion by: Liebert
Second by: Rashkin
APPROVED: Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Dongarra -Adams X
%i // Liebert X
Eric J. i 'Tanager McDonald X
/ Rashkin X
ATT ST: Steeber X
Voskuil X
41 // t
Jea• Ann Wulf, City Clerk- Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM: /
/-.15( .
City Attorney Wald i czyk `
Proposed by: Council Members Liebert and Rashkin -
ashkin - `
Prepared by: City Attorney and Human Resources Director
J: \Attorney \Word\Shared\Resolution Domestic Partner Health Benefit 2012 863 121211 As Amended.doc
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