HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Pension Public Safety_2/11/2019TEQUESTA PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS’ PENSION TRUST FUND
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
February 11, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Quarterly Board Meeting of the Tequesta Public Safety Officers’ Pension Trust Fund
Board of Trustees was held at the Village Hall Council Chambers, 345 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta,
Florida, on February 11, 2019. The meeting was called to order at 8:31 a.m.
ROLL CALL
A roll call was taken by Pension Administrator Kerry Dutton. In attendance at the meeting were:
Chairman Ed Sabin, Secretary John Terzakis, Board Member Ray Giblin,andBoard Member Kyle
Stone.
Also in attendance were Attorney Bonni Jensen, Pension Administrator Kerry Duttonand A.C.
Lovingood,InvestmentMonitor Jennifer Gainfort,and Actuary Jeffery Amrose.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment at this time.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Tequesta Public Safety Officers’ Pension Trust Fund Board of Trustees Regular
Quarterly Meeting Minutes –November 5,2018
The Board reviewed the Quarterly Meeting Minutes for November 5, 2018.
MOTION:
Board Member Ray Giblinmade amotiontoapprove the minutes fromNovember 5,2018.
Board Member Kyle Stoneseconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 4-0vote.
PRESENTATIONS
2.Actuarial Valuation Report–Jeffrey Amrose
Mr.Amrose presented the Actuarial Valuation report reviewing the Pending Plan Ordinance that will
re-open the Pension Plan to the Village of Tequesta Police Officers and that the 401(b) Plan balances
would be transferred into the Pension Plan. He went on to explain the details of the Pending
Ordinanceand pointed out that the Plan would be eligible to receive future annual Chapter 185
revenueupon state approval. Attorney Bonni Jensen informed the Board that there is also an
Ordinance that allows a one-time opt out election to participate back into the Pension Plan. Mr.
Amrose stated that theemployer contribution has been adjusted for interest on the basis that
payments are made in equal installments at the ending of each month. The required employer
contribution was also computed with the assumption that the amount to be received from the State on
behalf of the police officers is $88,336.00 for 2020, and on behalf of firefighters is $156,518.00 in
2019 and 2020.In addition there is an estimated Chapter185 Reserve balance of $157,081.00 for
2020 that is assumed to be used towards the city’srequired employer contribution. The Employer
and State contributions for police officers for the fiscal year end was $175,116.00 and $0.00,
respectively, for a total of $175,116.00, or 30.08% of payroll. The employer, State, and State reserve
contributions for firefighters for the fiscal year end was $182,198.00, 156,518.00 and $151,438.00,
respectively for a total of $490,154.00, or 32.52% of payroll. The overall experience since the last
valuation was more favorable than expected, resulting in an actuarial gain of $90,947.00 which is
primarily due to the lower than expected pay increases and due to a slightly greater return on
investments. Mr. Amrose continued and stated that the Plan’s Funded Ratiois 98.2% and was
100.6% funded before the Plan Ordinanceas compared to the previous year of 98.1%. The market
value of assets is greaterthan the actuarial value of assets by $363,380.00 as of the valuation date.
This difference will be recognized over the next several years in the absenceof offsetting losses. Mr.
Amrose went on to review the GASB 67 report forthe Village.There was a discussion on the
allocation and rate of return policy for the share plan accounts and a brief discussion on the expected
pay raises compared to the assumption.Chairman Ed Sabin reviewed a past discussion on reducing
the expected rate of return and reviewed the 10 year asset class foreseeable return. Mr. Amrose
stated that he is confident that the Police Officers would not causean increase in Village contributions
ifthe assumed rate of return is changed from 7.25% to 7%, however he stated that he is unsure of
what the Firefighters impact would be if the assumed rate of return was reduced. Trustee Ray Giblin
stated that he believes reducing the assumed rate of returnwhilethe plan is healthy would begood
and Secretary John Terzakis stated that he is in favor of reducing the rate as well.Investment Monitor
Jennifer Gainfort confirmed the decreases in equity returns and is seeing many other Pension Plans
reducing their assumed rate of return to a more conservative expectation
MOTION:
Board Member John Terzakismade amotionto lower the expected rate of return for the
Actuarial Valuation Report to 7%.Board Member Kyle Stone seconded the motion, which
carried by unanimous 4-0vote.
Chairman Ed Sabin requested that Michelle Gload notify the Village that the assumed rate of return is
reduced to 7% for this evaluation.
There was a discussion on smoothing methods versus market value;Mr. Amrose stated that using
theMarket Valueis not commonplace due to volatility which makes it very difficult for the municipality
to forecast their costs associated with funding the Pension Plan. Mr. Amrose then reviewed the risks
associated with measuring the accrued liability andactuarially determined contribution for the Plan
and finally reviewed the GASB 67 reports. Attorney Bonni Jensen informed the Board that they would
not be able to approve the Actuarial Valuation Report due to the Board’s vote to change the expected
rate of return in the report. Mr. Amrose stated that he will calculate the Firefighters contribution at a
7% rate of return.
3.-Jennifer Gainfort, And Co
Consulting
Jennifer Gainfort started her presentation with an update on how AndCo is doing. She informed the
Board that AndCo is now 89 employees strong with over $90 Billion in client assets. Ms. Gainfort
informed the Board that they should expect to receive a client survey from Hellcat Research on behalf
of AndCo so that the company can obtain an accurate picture of how they are doing and where they
can make improvements to meet their clients’ needs.
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Ms. Gainford reported that the stock market suffered losses for the 4Quarter; this was dueto the
global growth slowing down, trade tensionsbetween The United States and China, the midterm
elections in Congress, the ongoing effects of monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve,
Federal debt ceiling negotiationsand the recent partial government shutdown. Ms. Gainfort then
reviewed the Asset Allocationby Asset Class with the Board and stated that there is no need to
rebalance at this time. The quarterly trailing returns werereviewed and Ms. Gainford stated that a
manager search was brought along to possibly replace GAMCO due to its poor performance. There
was also a mention that PrimeCap has an allocation to Nector, which is very volatile; however
PrimeCap has started to decrease the allocation in Nector. The past quarter has been a troubling
start to the fiscal year;however the market is up 5.87% thus far in the current quarter. A discussion
continued on the allocation target and the details on the benchmarks used to compare the funds
returns.
4.-Jennifer Gainfort, And Co Consulting
Ms. Gainfort started her presentation for the Small & Large Cap Value Equity Manager Analysis by
recommending an 80%-20% allocation due to the small cap being a little more volatile. She then
reviewedthe five investment options for the Large Capevaluation reportalong with their
managementfees and investment minimums. Ms. Gainfort did point out that the Investment Minimum
amount for the JPMorgan Equity Income R6 Mutual Fund was waved. She continued to discussthe
Investment Option Comparisons,noting that all of the funds use a primary investment approach of
Bottom-Up and that four of the five funds use a secondary fundamental investment approach. The
only fund that uses a Quantitative secondary approach is DFA US Large Cap Value I. Ms. Gainfort
reviewed the tracking error estimates on all five funds and stating that the Dodge & Cox Stock fund
error estimate is closer to 5%, while the JPMorgan Equity Income I Fund’s tracking error estimate is
closer to 3%.The decision making structure was reviewed along with the number and names of the
decision makers for each fund along with the portfolio construction and performance. Ms. Gainfort
stated that JP Morgan has outperformed over the past several years and that JP Morgan has farless
risk in the 10 year average, noting that this fund has the least amount of risk. Ms. Gainfort informed
the Board that her recommendation is that the Plan goes with the JP Morgan Equity Income I Fund.
Ms. Gainfort then went on to review the Small Cap Value Equity Manager Analysis starting off with
reviewing the management fees for the three manager options noting that all three options have no
minimum investment. All three funds have been around for a long time, noting that Dimensional Fund
Advisors uses a quantitative secondary investment approach. Ms. Gainfort then reviewed the
portfolio construction of the three investment manager options,notingthat Wells Fargo Special Small
Cap Value R6 fund is PM-Led by three CPAsand has 10 investment analysts assigned to thefund.
She also noted that thetypical number of holdingsin the Wells Fargo Fundis 80-120holdings,
comparedto 1,000-2,000 holdings at DFA,and 500-600 in American Beach Small Cap. Finally Ms.
Gainfort reviewed the trailing performance of the three funds compared to the Russell 2000 pointing
out that Wells Fargo has for the long haul always beat the benchmark when the markets have done
well and with the exception of this past year, always beat the benchmark set in down markets.Ms.
Gainfort stated that her recommendation is to go with the Wells Fargo Special Small Cap Value RS
Fund due to is low volatility and stability.
Trustee Stone statedthat he agrees with Ms. Gainfort’s recommendation of 80% in Large Cap,
Trustee Stone went on and stated that he thinks that the Plan should place 10% into Small Cap and
10% into EFT’s as a means to lower the cost of the Plan and capture more of the S&P. Trustee John
Terzakis gave a recommendation of rebalancing the Plan and place 80% of the Large Cap allocation
into JP Morgan and add a stock picker. Trustee Terzakis stated that the Plan should enter into a
defensive market and lean more towards value. Alengthy discussion ensured on pulling from growth
and movesthose funds into value.
MOTION:
Board Member Kyle Stonemade amotionto liquidate Gamco and Primcap, and place 80%
into the JP Morgan Equity Income I Fund, and 20% into the Wells Fargo Special Small Cap Value
RS Fund.Board Member Ray Giblin seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 4-0
vote.
CONSENT AGENDA
Ratification of Invoices Paid Since Last Quarterly Meeting
Check #Paid DateVendor / DescriptionAmount
134511/12/2018Pension Resource Center950.00
Administrative Fees-November 2018
134611/12/2018Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen & Levinson2,233.00
Professional Services Rendered through 10/31/18
134711/12/2018Gamco Investors3,563.00
Investment Management Fees-3QTR18
134811/12/2018Garcia Hamilton & Associates1669.66
Statement of Management Fees-3QTR18
134912/12/2018Pension Resource Center1,050.00
Administrative Fee-December 2018
135012/12/2018Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen & Levinson1,442.00
Professional Services Rendered through 11/29/18
135112/18/2018FPPTA1,442.00
2019 Annual Membership Fee –Cart #1527
13521/9/2019Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company2.303.00
Services Rendered through 10/31/18
13531/9/2019Pension Resource Centers950.00
Administrative Fee –January 2019
13541/9/2019AndCo Consulting, Inc4,500.00
Consulting Service Fee For QE 12/31/18
$19,260.66
Custodian
Fiduciary Trust International
Invoices for QE 12/31/18 4Accounts 2,042.51
$21,303.17
The Board reviewed the ratification of invoices paid since last quarterly meeting.The Board noted
that there are two new hires for the Fire Department on 10/01/2018, Chris Chance and Zack
Whitehurt.The Board also stated that there will also be a new hire on 03/01/2019 named Maximiliano
Maravankin and it was noted that Firefighter John Cox will be coming in to fill out his retirement
paperwork.
MOTION:
Board Member Ray Giblinmade a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.BoardMember
John Terzakissecondedthemotion,whichcarriedbyunanimous 4-0vote.
NEW BUSINESS
5.–Attorney Bonni Jensen, Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen & Levinson
House Bill 265
Ms. Jensen reported onthe proposed House Bill 265, which would amend Florida’s Open Meetings
Law and impose additional procedural requirements. Ms. Jensen stated that HB 265 would require
Boards to publish their agenda and any materials or attachments which would be distributed at the
meeting at least three days in advance of the meeting, that at least two copies of the agenda and any
materials to be distributed at the meeting must be made available for public inspection at the meeting
location, and that emergency meetings must have a minimum 24 hour advance notice to the public.
The proposed bill also addresses public participation which states that at least three minutes shall be
available to each member of the public that wishes to speak as either the first or last item on the
agenda. Ms. Jensen made note that the bill also states that if there are more than twenty people who
wish to speak that the time can be limited to one minute per person and groups can allow one
individual to speak on behalf of the group, thus allowing the group to pool their time together. Ms.
Jensen expressed her concern regarding the requirement of posting materials and attachments for
Board Meetings that address a disability determination due to the sensitive medical information that
her office has to request from the member’s physicians. She stated that her office requests a large
amount of medical information that once it is reviewed may not have any impact on the disability
determination and questions how this information would be handled if this bill is passed. There was a
discussion on when a Shade Meeting would be allowed, prompting Ms. Jensen to review Shade
Meeting rules. Ms. Jensen stated that everything discussed in a Shade Meeting will become public
record due to Florida State Law
Florida’s Public RecordsLaw
Ms. Jensen presented a list of items that are exempt from public inspection that must be removed
prior to a public records release. Ms. Jensen also made mention to the amendment of the public
records law which now includes the removal the address of a victim of an incident of mass violence;
and the removal of any portion of a meeting revealing fire safety system plans.
Power of Attorney
Ms. Jensen presented a memorandum to the board regarding Florida Statute 709, Power of Attorney.
The reason for bringing this information to the board had to do with a recent Power of Attorney that
Ms. Jensen’s office received that did not meet the requirements set forth in Florida Statute 709 and
New York State Law where the Power of Attorney was established. Ms. Jensen reviewed the
information provided in the memorandum and expressed that the Board is required by law to reject a
Power of Attorney or Durable Power of Attorney within a reasonable time if it deems that the Power of
Attorney is not compliant with Florida State Law in addition to if the Power of Attorney or Durable
Power of Attorney is from another state, that it is in compliance with that state’s laws as well. She
went on to say that a reasonable time is not statutorily defined within the law; however the Board
should have its validity confirmed within a month’s time, whenever possible.
Status Update onProposed Ordinance No. 2-19