checkup every year. >> thank you, i really appreciate the work you did on this. this is good. the only thing is that dr. dodd requested this be continued for further input from her. out of respect i'm going to do that and ask that we get this input soon so we can go forward with this. any questions on this? >> just one comment from -- thank you for all your hard work on this one. have we got some alternative branded lines like have a survey from the members to stay healthy, live long? >> we did actually put some signs and i think they are in our lobby that say "live long, stay healthy". we didn't get a lot of buzz on that one. it

wasn't catcherey as you would hope it would be. i think the idea of staying healthy people tune out to that a little bit, versus, that's why nike uses the olympic athletes. that's why you have that picture in your mind when you are trying to meet that goal. you want it to be a little bit beyond everyday. couple of comments. great work. daniel pink who is an author who wrote the book drive. i think i brought that up before. his new book. i'm not promoting it in anyway. it's called "to sell is human" have you heard of that is this? it's a fascinating book because when we think of sales we think about products and this is how to get people to

buy into your idea. he calls it non-sales selling. you are selling your idea. you are trying to convince somebody and you are in a meeting and how do do that. there is a whole fascinating exploration of psychology on how we sell people stuff and we don't think of selling as you would imagine car salesman. in that book is fascinating things. i remember a few of them. when you are trying to sell something, if you notice you are driving down the road and there is a thing about "click it or you get a ticket" rhyming slogans people remember them even if the non-rhyming slogan is non-compelling. our brains are wired to remember and process rhyming things. i love what you have done with the rhyme because it plays into the

behavior of psychology with people. i'm going to say for the record that i don't know what wellness means and is the most over used word that i have heard without a real definition. i would like to propose an alternative word as we think about this. i know that wellness is baked into all sorts of programs. it's a derivation of wellness and it's well being. i think people understand what well being is and not wellness. wellness is amorphous. i think as we start to communicate and i go to these conferences where people talk about all these words that i don't know what they mean and everybody starts talking about these words and we should use words that are more personable and

actionable. there is a program called grow your family strong out of the east coast that i'm involved with. it's cooking at home, cooking real foods. i think it's starting to make a come back. i don't think it means strength but perceived as such. good job anyway. i think it's great. i think we are on the right track. >> thank you. any other comment? any public comment? >> i -- confess, i'm addicted to chocolate but i go to the gym and do martial arts. one thing i would like to add to the wellness website is

weight training programs, stretching programs, information that people can apply. not everyone is going to the gym. some have weights in their garage. some simply do running. that would be very informative and you can download training programs from the internet and also stretching programs, i believe. that would be very good but then you offer resources on that. i would be glad to help with references if anyone needs them. i think it could be a great website for informing people. also now that i think of it, maybe some basic information on anatomy and physiology on how the heart works, how the brain works, how you learn. all of this would be very informative and it would be a very nice website. these are my thoughts and i will say -- favor the

wellness program. "stay strong and live strong.". >> thank you. >> i brought you this. sea salt. i will be getting my 5 grams. i want to compliment maryann on all the hard work. i'm glad you brought up the point about rhyming because it makes a difference. i was thinking flop flop if i was if i was oh what a relief it is. i would working on the bulletin and i would like to put something maybe urging our retirees to think about either a slogan or a possible name might be and get involved in this because strong isn't just

physical. i think rosemary pointed out. it's a matter of well being. well being says mental and brings in that other element in addition to the physical. so i think we need to bounce this around a little bit. we may still end up with the same thing, who knows. i would just like to open the possibility that we share that with many more of our members and have some kind of opportunity for others to chime in and perhaps suggest some other names because you never know what to come up with or some jingles. jingles were fun. >> let's bring it back. >> after the meeting, i'm happy to share. >> one last comment. in writing a piece right now and we talk about vital signs. vital signs really don't speak to our vitality at all. i'm

trying to build a framework for via tality. this is what matters to people, what brings you joy. that candy bar there. but the intersection of health. where is the intersection of joy and health versus gluttony. that is where you find real vitality. that inspires longevity. >> you need to find a rhyme for vitality. >> i'm working on it. i will leave that up to rosemary. >> no other comments. okay. item no. 12. >> city clerk: item 12. action item, approval of revised rfp blackout notice, administrator. pamela levine. >> pamela le vin. we brought

a list of vendors that would be part of a blackout period for the issuance of the rfp for the cobra and fsa administration. in looking at those vendors that list that was given, an hewitt did more diligence and came up with few vendors that we wanted to identify with you and pg & e group and advantage group. we were hoping to have, if we are lucky it will be tomorrow, if not, monday. it would be based on the board policy to not communicating with any of these vendors or if there are additional vendors that may come to you and ask you questions about this subject matter. thank you. >> we have a motion on this?

>> so moved. >> second. >> okay. any public comment on this item? >> all in favor say, all in favor say, "aye". >> aye. >> opposed? unanimous. >> item 13. >> approval request for qualification pamela levine. >> pamela levine. hhs. we are in review for qualification for services. we hope to issue that later this month or at least before the next board meeting. this rfq will allow to have a prequalified list of vendors that we can then contract for and without having to go through a full rfp process. the communication, the vendors would be for health benefits

and wellness communication consulting services. these are large rubrics of services. it's communication strategies, design, eligibility, website engineering, wellness tuesday and digital support services. so we cannot come forward right now and give you a list of vendors that we ask to not talk to you. we try to get as much as possible prequalified list of vendors and we continue to work on the website or work on the communication strategy for the wellness well being strategy. so, in looking at the advice that we would like to get in terms of the blackout period, we went back to the

governance policy and when there is a provision that is not possible when a time of providers for which the blackout period provides it's a good faith effort to comply with the blackout provisions by taking all reasonable to determine if providers communicate with our potential candidates in an hhs search process. so while this is a little higher categories in saying specific to data warehouse or fsa, we are asking that you avoid discussing this r fq to this type of vendors. there is ability for this board to

communicate with vendors for reasons that aren't related to hhs business disclosing with directions within the actual policies and the agenda item on how to disclose them. what we are hoping as much possible is to be able to send out these types of documents, rfp's, rfq, to as many people as possible to qualify so that we have a rich group of members to be able to choose from. so, and that's basically the foundation of san francisco government is to provide everybody as much as possible, the ability to at least try to get a city

contract. i'm sorry i can't give you a list of the vendors, just ask that you observe this blackout period by if someone would come talk to you about services or ask questions to refer them to the department. >> i completely understand the issues of what i do. i cannot agree to say that i will not discuss anything about communications with any firm. it's just too broad. so which is what it looks like you are asking for. one of the things that might help is i don't know how long the blackout period is. >> let me ask the question -- >> i understand in theory i would have to disclose before i have these communications. that's what the paragraph

says. >> while i haven't been around for the way the policy was developed, i think the intent is to not talk about hhs specific. i under the blackout period. as soon as we issue the rfq and we select the or we qualify the candidates, we don't have the exact calendar together but i believe it will probably hit the streets in another 2-3 weeks. it will be out there may be 3-4 weeks and come back and we have to qualify them as vendors. >> this is where the conflict between my day job running the health department for san mateo county and sitting on the health service system is difficult for me. i don't typically talk to communication firms but on

occasion i do. we have to talk to them about communication. it's just literally not feasible to do that quote in advance because i may have the pio come talk to me. i don't know if i can abstain from doing this. it's such a broad question. >> i can tell you that my experience in other organizations in the city who have a board, you don't actually, you could abstain to any decision that has to be made to a specific group of -- to this rfq. >> i just want to also clarify, paragraph 12. during

the blackout period board member shall not communicate on matters pertaining to hhs. >> to be to communicate with such service providers for reasons unrelated to business. agree to disclose to the director prior to taking such communication and the disclosure of the board shall be made at the meeting of the board. i think the odds of this happening is incredibly slim, but i don't want to violate it mistakenly. >> any other comments? >> i would agree. i wouldn't recommend you agreeing to it. when this was adopted, it was really adopted with this sense with concerns over communications with this board and blue shield and the main health care providers. i also think it's problematic not knowing the specific vendors. it would be easy to make the

communication. if you say i can wait 2 months without talking to these vendors. but with that being said, this board does not vote to support a blackout period. the concept is there. at least in the first sentence that there is an expectation that board members are not going to be communicating to perspective members about hhs business regardless of what the board does here today. >> i'm happy to abide by that. it's just too broad and i'm afraid i may run a foul about that. >> any other comments? >> this is an action item. we don't have to take an action on it, but it is an action item. we can take the vote. anybody would like to make a motion. >> i would move we not have this blackout period. i'm happy to have staff come back

and have a narrower group and that would work and i can abide by not discussing this rfq with anyone. >> anyone second that ? >> i can't repeat that but i will second that item. >> any public comment? >> no public comment. all in favor say, "aye". >> aye. >> the motion fails. 2 ayes, two nos. >> i didn't hear the vote. >> it was dr. sclarn and commissioner lynn voted no. >> we can't hear you. >> the motion failed. and if there is another motion? if

not, there won't be any action taken on this item >> i move -- [inaudible] >> we can't hear you. >> sorry. i move to approve the staff recommendations of communication request for qualifications blackout period. >> is there a second? no second? no second. the motion fails. okay. that's it. item no. 14. >> do i understand if the staff are to come back at the april meeting, this is one where the list of vendors is extensive and we are interested in install

business locally in web design and communications and branding. these are small contracts where we can encourage and involve our local small business and the business of health care services where usually we don't get that opportunity. we do want to make sure we do avow that and be broad about the request for people's organizations for participation. the way to bring this back in a way that it will pass and will get the support of the board will be to do what? i guess. we are struggling a little bit with not knowing how to get a list of vendors because the list is so extensive in this area. and then how to meet the meets the of the board in terms of, commissioner fraser, your objections. do you have a recommendation for us.

>> i guess i have to acknowledge that it's not clear to me that you have to initiate a blackout period. >> i can take a look at that and maybe i will work with you to try to come back at our report. either way, as i understand the main concern of this board, the first sentence would be okay. sounds like the board is on board with agreeing to limit not having communications with potential vendors as directly related to hhs. this firm can now modify it's own policy that is commendable with commissioner fraser and i'm look at the rfq as well. >> okay. very good. did i have public comment on this item?

i did. item no. 14. city clerk: item 14. discussion item report on network health plan issues if any? >> any network people out there? seeing none, no. okay. any public comment on this item? item no. 15. >> city clerk: item 15. discussion item, opportunity to place items or future agendas. >> there slaen might have some when he comes back. i noticed that our governance rules needs updating and it won't be possible during this period. but the board evaluation

hadn't been done since 2012 and there are other issues on the governance rules looked at and updated and best practices. we'll to have look at a consulting firm in the past we had cortex. and there is board training has been lacking, i think. so are there any other items for future agendas on this one? >> president, would the request be for hhs to prepare a report and budget to support the board in reviewing board policies? >> yes. definitely. like we had before. that was pretty good. just needs tuning up and

something done because we haven't been doing what we should be doing. >> it's been reviewing it's policy and provider that did that. it maybe helpful to see what they have done or if it's close to wait until they finish and piggy back on what they have done. >> the retirement board does continuing in updating actually. that's a good reference. >> all right. any public comment on this item? seeing none. sorry. >> i'm going to make just a quick comment. we use time energy and we've piggy back on our training in order to minimize the cost of bringing

this out from canada and he's very familiar with this board. and our training and governance and i would suggest we do that again and piggy back on the timing because that saves us a lot. he'll look for us and we don't have to pay for the transportation and lodging cost. the other thung is the board training and commissioner training is that i have noticed that we've had a number of commissioners come on board and previously we all used to go to trainings from the international foundation, although a lot more is online these days or you can get the dvd's and such, i noticed that no one on the board has been, a lot has been done on the budget but no one is attending any of those conferences and trainings. those are really vital. there is a couple of those held in california specifically for

public applies. if nothing else, i think that commissioners should be taking advantage of those now that there is a different budget issue and that can be affordable. i would like to already include that staff, especially senior staff have an at some -- opportunity to attend some of those because especially with regard to fiduciary responsibilities and other board responsibilities it will go a long way to making things a little smoother. i haven't seen that in a long time. >> thank you. any other public comment? seeing none, item no. 16. >> city clerk: item discussion, discussion item, opportunity for the public to comment on any matters within the boards jurisdiction? >> all right. any comment on

this item? item no. 16? come forward. >> good afternoon. my name is christina bay cove and daughter of a member of health services. we want to make a comment about the public health system. my father has problems and he complains against the health services of san francisco. basically what happened, my father retired. he moved back to europe. he couldn't live here on his pension. he didn't leave with the health service system. he got free health cover in bulgaria. there was something

that got lost and the mail came back to my father. basically, the health service system would not let my father go. based on some kind of internal rules, despite the evidence that he was detached from the health service system, they were able to keep enrolling him automatically and able to change his plans and increase his premiums up to $357. i think this is meeting last year. you make wonderful presentations analysis. i guess you can assume how much is $357 from a patient that is $350. i met most of you in a closed session. my opinion is the board wasn't that friendly in

the closed session as it appears to be in the open session. i will say as i said last year. you have thousands of members which is a huge organization. not all live here in san francisco and have the opportunity to attend these meetings and have access to the information. it's not that easy to come from a different country and speak another language and follow all the rules. actually i have a comment also on your customer service. i believe on your website it says that you have a very high standard of customer service. our experience shows something else. we worked with my father last year in the office, we couldn't figure out who was the director. reporter told us who is the director. my father just has two sentences to say. he has traveled a long