HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Pension Public Safety_11/7/2022TEQUESTA PUBLIC SAFE
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
November 7, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
was held at the Village Hall Council Chambers, 345 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Monday, November 7, 2022.
The meeting was called to order at 12:35PM.
ROLL CALL
A roll call was taken by Pension Administrator A.C. Lovingood. In attendance at the meeting were: Chairman
Kirstopher Cowles, Trustee Peter Allen. And Trustee Rick Sartory.
Also, in attendance were Attorney Bonni Jensen, Pension Administrators A.C. Lovingood, Investment Monitor
Jennifer Gainfort, and Investment Manager Robert Gronda with ASB Real Estate Investments.
EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR TRUSTEES TO ATTEND ELECTRONICALLY
Trustee Zach Wichert joined the Board Meeting electronically. The Trustees physically present discussed the
parameters with the Plan Attorney regarding when a Trustee can join and participate in the Board Meeting
electronically.
MOTION:
Trustee Rick Sartory made a motion to allow Trustee Zach Wichert to join the Quarterly Board Meeting due
to Extraordinary Circumstances. Trustee Peter Allen seconded the motion, which carried by a 3-0 vote.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Board reviewed the agenda and had no modifications.
MOTION:
Trustee Rick Sartory made a motion to approve the Meeting Agenda as presented. Chairman Kristopher
Cowles seconded the motion, which carried by a 4-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment at this time.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Tequesta Public Safety
dated August 1, 2022.
The Board reviewed the Quarterly Meeting Minutes for May 2, 2022.
MOTION:
Chairman Kristopher Cowles made a motion to approve the Quarterly Board Meeting Minutes dated
August 1, 2022, as amended. Trustee Peter Allen seconded the motion, which carried by a 4-0 vote.
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PRESENTATION
1.ASB Real Estate Investments Quarterly Performance Report as of September 30, 2022 Robert Gronda, ASB
Real Estate Investments
Robert Gronda started his presentation with informing the Board that ASB Real Estate Investments has a CORE Real
Estate Fund that invests in the best assets int eh best markets, keeping properties fully leased. Mr. Gronda reported
no changes in the management at his firm. The portfolio gained 2.29% for the quarter ending September 30, 2022,
beating the benchmark rate of 0.52%, and for fiscal yearend, the fund earned 15.31%, beating the benchmark rate of
13.08%. The fund has delivered 0.40% excess performances gross of fees since 1984. The properties held in the fund
are 93.4% leased, with a $35,199,624 increase in rental income with the largest gains coming from the multifamily
housing sector. Mr. Gronda addressed affordability and high housing cost along with the impact of political pressure
on properties in detail with the Board, noting that public assistance to pay rents should be winding down. Chairman
Kristopher Cowles inquired on the lease length of the different sectors, which Mr. Gronda explained in detail, noting
that residential and self-storage are in one-year increments. historical changes since 2017 for retail
and commercial office reductions were reviewed with the Board along with Mr. Gronda noting that the fund has
increased holdings in the industrial, self-storage, and housing sectors. In addition, the demand for storage is sticky,
which is allowing property managers to raise rents and focusing more on operating income and tenants. The specific
assets and markets in the portfolio were discussed in detail with the Board with Mr. Gronda noting that the fund has
25% leverage and that it is in line with the benchmark and that there has been a que implemented for any distribution
requests.
2. Quarterly Performance Report as of December 31, 2020 Jennifer Gainfort, AndCo Consulting
Ms. Jennifer Gainfort started her presentation by reviewing the market environment executive summary and the
market environment market rate and yield curve comparison with the Board in detail. Ms. Gainfort then reviewed
the Pla, noting that there is no need to rebalance at this time. The
Pension Fund assets had a total market value of $21,085,730 on June 30, 2022, and closed with a total market value
of $20,255,047 on September 30, 2022. For the third quarter, the Plan had a total of $267,924 in contributions,
$112,427 in distributions, management fees of $9,515, and other expenses of $16,074. Income for the quarter totaled
$77,591 and capital losses totaled $1,038,182, resulting in an ending balance of $20,255,047 on September 30, 2022.
For the quarter ending September 30, 2022, the Plan earned -4.53%, beating the benchmark of -4.66%. The Fiscal-
Year-To-Date trailing returns was -14.57%, compared to the benchmark rate of -14.39%. The Three-Year trailing
returns were 4.03%, compared to the 4.51% benchmark, the Five-Year returns were 5.07%, compared to the
benchmark rate of 5.55%, and since inception, the Plan has earned 6.25%, compared to the benchmark rate of 6.45%.
in detail, noting that the JP Morgan
Equity Income R6 Fund performed very well with mitigating losses in the down market.
International Value Search
Ms. Gainfort then presented the Board with the International Value Equity Manager Analysis results to the Board,
reviewing the strategies and fees of the prospective managers. The managers all take a team approach to the
portfolio, the DFA and Dodge & Cox portfolios had the strongest long-term results with the lowest fees. The DFA
provides a consistent value tilt, while the Dodge & Cox team tends to be more of a relative value portfolio. Chairman
Kristopher Cowles commented about his familiarity with both Dodge & Cox and DFA. Ms. Gainfort recommended that
the board diversify the EuroPacific Growth holding to the DFA International Value Fund due that fund having the
lowest correlation to the EuroPacfic Growth Fund, noting that it offers a mutual fund structure like the EuroPacific
Growth Fund.
MOTION:
Chairman Kristopher Cowles made a motion to sell 50% of the EuroPacific Growth Fund and invest the
proceeds in the DFA International Fund. Trustee Rick Sartory seconded the motion, which carried by a 4-0 vote.
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AndCo Investment Monitor Fee Proposal
Ms. Gainfort provide the Board with a proposed fee increase of from $18,000.00 per year to $20,500.00 per year,
guaranteed for three years. The Board reviewed the proposed increase and considered it for approval.
MOTION:
Chairman Kristopher Cowles made a motion to approve the AndCo Annual Consulting fee of $20,500.00
guaranteed for three years as presented. Trustee Rick Sartory seconded the motion, which carried by a 4-0
vote.
Ms. Gainfort thanked the Board and concluded her presentation by reporting that as of market close on
Friday, the Plan was at $21,095,000.
CONSENT AGENDA:
3. Ratification of Invoices Paid Since Last Quarterly Meeting
4. Reporting of New Applicants for Participation in the Pension Plan
There were no new applicants to report to the Board.
5. Terminated Employees Who Have Not Yet Taken Their Contributions
There were no new applicants to report to the Board.
6. Benefit Approvals for Retirements
The Board reviewed the Consent Agenda.
MOTION:
Trustee Rick Sartory made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Peter Allen
seconded the motion, which carried by a 3-0 vote (Trustee Zachary Wicherts connection froze and was
unable to vote).
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business to discuss at this time.
7. ATTORNEY UPDATE Attorney Bonni Jenson, Klausner, Kaufman, Jenson & Levinson
A. Jensen Memo IRS Milage Rate for Remainder of 2022
Attorney Bonni Jensen provided the Board of Trustees with updated guidance on Required Minimum Distributions.
The Board and Mrs. Jensen had a detailed discussion regarding the purpose of the RMD requirements.
B. Jensen Memo PTSD BSOB Benefits
Mrs. Jensen reviewed the PTSD memo with the Board in detail, noting the criteria for the new Act and that
the benefit is retroactive to 2019 for Public Safety Officers who were diagnosed or seeking treatment.
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C. Jensen Memo Delaware Law Change Permits Companies to Insulate Corporate Officers from Liability
for Reckless Conduct
Mrs. Jensen discussed the Delaware Law change that permits companies to insulae corporate officers from liability
for reckless conduct. Mrs. Jensen stated that one of the main reasons for bringing this law up to the Board has to do
with the majority of businesses are incorporated in the State of Delaware due to favorable, business friendly laws
within that state.
D. 2022 Tequesta PSO Plan Restatement - Update
Mrs. Jensen informed the Board that the Plan Restatement was completed and is in the hands of the Village
Council for final review and approval.
E. Interim Firefighters
Mrs. Jensen provided the Board with an update on the status of the Interim Firefighters pensionable wages.
F. Chapter 175 & 185 Premium Tax Dollars
Mrs. Jensen informed the Board that the 2021 Premium Tax Distribution amounts have been released from
the State and payments have been issued. For Chapter 175, the Plan will receive $92,947.13, this is up from
the $91,648.63 that the Plan received for the 2020 Premium Tax Dollars. For Chapter 185, the Plan will
receive $200,648.02, this is up from the $193,278.00 that the Plan received for the 2020 Premium Tax
Dollars.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
A. Resource Centers memo 10-22-2022 SOC1 Type 2 Audit Report
Albert Lovingood presented the Board with the updated Enrollment and Beneficiary Forms that his firm had updated
for the Plan. Mr. Lovingood noted that the Enrollment Form and Beneficiary Form were once a single document that
the Village gave to each new hire and that those two parts have since been separated. Mr. Lovingood also stated that
the Beneficiary Form now has a section where members and list email addresses as an additional way to contact the
beneficiary.
B. 2023 Conference List
Mr. Lovingood presented the Board with the 2023 Conference List. Mr. Lovingood reviewed the list with the Trustees
and stated that if any of them are interested in attending any of the conferences listed, to let him know so that he can
register them for the event.
st
C. 51 Annual Police Officers & Firefighters Pension Trustee Conference
st
Mr. Lovingood informed the Board that the 51 Annual Police Officers & Firefighters Pension Trustee Conference was
rescheduled for December 13, 2022, through December 15, 2022. Mr. Lovingood reviewed the details regarding the
conference and stated that if any of the Trustees are interested in attending to let him know.
D. Fiduciary Liability insurance Renewal
Mr. Lovingood presented the Board with the Fiduciary Liability Insurance Renewal Quotes from both Markel and
Ghering Group. Mr. Lovingood informed the Board that the Ghering Group Quote is an annual amount guaranteed
not to increase for three years, while the Markel Policy renews on an annual basis. At the last Board Meeting the
Board gave Chairman Kristopher Cowles discretion to renew the Policy on behalf of the Board and the decision was
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to move forward with the General Employees Pension Plan with the Markel Fiduciary Liability Policy. Mr. Lovingood
went on and explained that Both Policies provide the same coverage and Mr. Lovingood then reviewed the two policy
quotes in detail with the Trustees being satisfied with the choice.
9. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Marital Portion of Divorced Members
Trustee Peter Allen inquired about Divorced retirees and the marital portion of the Pension being paid directly to the
ex-spouse. Mrs. Jensen explained in detail what the Plan can and cannot comply with when a member is divorced.
Mrs. Jensen explained the reasons for the Plan not being able to comply with a QDRO and the parameters regarding
the Plans ability to comply with Income Deduction Orders.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Lovingood informed the Board that no public comments or questions.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 2:42pm.
MOTION:
Trustee Peter Allen made a motion to
Meeting. Chairman Kristopher Cowles seconded the motion, which carried by a 4-0 vote.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Board Member
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