Board Members present: Dorothy Anderson, Peter Bartel, and Patrick Lanning. President Sandra Bishop and Commissioner Susie Smith were excused.

Others present: Randy Berggren, Louise Bangs, Jean Meyers, Andrea Mason, Jim Origliosso, Roseanna McArthur, Steve Still, Lamonte Smith, JoAnn Andersen, Cathy Bloom, Dick Varner, Dick Helgeson, Tom Buckhouse, Ken Beeson, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff.

In the absence of President Bishop, Vice President Anderson called the Work Session of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to order.

BENEFITS REVIEW SURVEY RESULTS

Referring to a series of overhead displays, copies of which were distributed to the Board, EWEB Human Resource Operations Manager Jean Meyers, Treasurer Jim Origliosso, Benefits Specialist Janet McClennen, and former Project Manager Louise Bangs presented an overview of the background, evolution and results of the EWEB Benefits Review Survey and a summary of 2001 benefits costs for both EWEB employees and retirees.

The survey purpose, design, and response profile was described, as follows:

Purpose:

• Measure employee opinions of EWEB benefits program
• Identify employee priorities and concerns

Design:

• Five survey dimensions: satisfaction, understanding, importance, communication, philosophy
• 50 questions, many multi-part responses
• Five-point scale
• Demographics
• Write-in questions

Response Profile:

• 305 surveys tabulated
• 2/3 male, 1/3 female
• 46 years, average age
• 13 years, average length of service
• 39 percent without children
• 96 percent full-time

EWEB benefits satisfaction was described, as follows:

Satisfied:

PERS (95 percent favorable)

Employee parking (63 percent)

Deferred compensation (73 percent)

Sick leave time (73 percent)

Holiday leave (73 percent)

Fitness facility (73 percent)

Flexible spending accounts (68 percent)

Life insurance (65 percent)

Wellness programs (63 percent)

Unsatisfied:

Prescription plan (50 percent unfavorable)

Vacation leave (31 percent)

Mixed Satisfaction:

LTD (59 percent favorable)

Vision plan (41 percent)

Child development center (41 percent)

Dental plan (39 percent)

Medical plan (32 percent)

Employee cafeteria (31 percent)

It was reported that the following benefits were rated by employees as "not important:" 1) Child Development Center (83 percent); 2) Employee cafeteria (56 percent); 3) Wellness programs (49 percent); 4) Fitness facility (44 percent); and 5) Flexible spending accounts (33 percent).

Highlights of the survey results included the following:

• Survey response confirms a high benefits interest
• Employees feel satisfied that benefit package provides adequate retirement financial security
• Overall satisfaction is mixed, employees see their benefits as "average" when compared to others
• Newest employees are most satisfied
• Employees say that benefits are very important for EWEB's ability to attract and retain good workers. 43 percent of employees would encourage others to work for EWEB
• Longest length of service employees feel the best about EWEB's benefits philosophy

The following recommendations concerning EWEB benefits were reviewed and discussed:

• Study opportunity areas with cost analysis
• Focus on benefits areas where EWEB is low, starting with vacation, health, and security.
• Involve employees in design process
• Identify the trade-offs of various benefits options
• Revisit with Board in 2001 before making changes
• Discuss the specific short- and long-term recommendations
• Identify implications to Board policy in context with Total Compensation
• Recommend time frame for Board consideration

The Board discussed and asked a number of clarifying questions regarding the EWEB Benefits Review Survey results.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

_____________________________________ ______________________________________

Assistant Secretary President