HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-03-2010 Minutes - Not signedPage 1 of 4
THE CITY OF OCOEE POLICE OFFICERS’/FIREFIGHTERS’
RETIREMENT FUND BOARD MEETING –FEBRUARY 3, 2010
Chairman Brown called the meeting of the City of Ocoee Police Officers’/Firefighters’
Retirement Trust Fund to order at 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. The roll
was called and a quorum declared present.
PRESENT:Chairman Charlie Brown, Secretary Ken Strickland, Wayne Vaughn, Bill Wagner
and Butch Stanley
Also present: Board Attorney Lee Dehner, Tim Nash of Bodgahn, Doug Lozen of Foster &
Foster, and Mr. Pete Prior of Benefits USA
ABSENT:
CALL TO ORDER – Chairman C. Brown
Roll call and determination of quorum
Roll call was taken and it was determined that there was a quorum.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Regular Session dated December 17, 2009.
Trustee Strickland moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Trustee Vaughn seconded the
motion and the motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Election of Chair and Secretary
Chairman Brown and Trustee Strickland were both reelected.
Christiansen and Dehner - Proposed Ordinance to Amend and Restate the Fund
Attorney Dehner noted that the restatement is completed. Attorney Dehner asked that the board
review the document that Benefits USA sent to the Trustees in email. Attorney Dehner reviewed
the summary of the document noting that the plan will be easier to read and understand, as well
as including the language from HB 538. Chairman Brown asked if the window for the back drop
was included. Attorney Dehner said no but they can add the back drop. Chairman Brown asked if
there was a window for the employee to buy back time. Attorney Dehner said that the window is
the first 12 months. Chairman Brown said that he did not think the window is appropriate as the
employee may have a life altering change and decide to buy back the time at a later date. After
reviewing the summary, Chairman Brown said that he would like to open the buy back policy for
the employees.
Mr. Prior asked if employee works 30 years and back drops the employee pension is calculated
at 25 years of service and contributions are returned. Attorney Dehner confirmed that is how it
would apply. Attorney Dehner said he will amend the restatement, adding the removal of the
window for the back drop.
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Christiansen and Dehner – Memorandum Regarding Pre-tax Treatment of Health
Insurance Premiums
Attorney Dehner discussed the fact that since The Pension Protection Act of 2006 that “eligible
retired public safety officers” are allowed to elect to exclude from gross income certain
deductions made from their Pension Plan to pay for “qualified health insurance premiums.” This
exclusion is limited to the amount of annual premiums paid, up to $3,000. Trustees discussed
that in order for the retiree to get the pretax treatment, that they actually have to complete the
necessary form and turn it into the City.
Trustee Notebooks/Educational Information
Chairman Brown said the books are for the trustees to offer them an insight into the plan.
Chairman Brown would like to have 175/185 in the booklets as well. Mr. Prior said he would
send FS 175 and 185 to the trustees.
Foster and Foster Report on Valuation
Mr. Doug Lozen provided a brief explanation to the new trustees of what a Valuation is and what
it means to the plan and the employer. Mr. Lozen reported that the City and State contributions
to the plan are 22.1% of payroll. State contributions total $421,324 or 5.96% of payroll. Member
contributions total 7.6% and the balance from the city is 16.25% of payroll. Mr. Lozen explained
the smoothing technique the plan uses. Mr. Lozen noted that over a four year period the plan
averages the returns. The plan currently has an annualized return of 2.40%, clearly not making
the assumption rate of the plan. The smoothing method is used by nearly every plan in the state,
as it provides a stabilized return to the plan, rather than causing the city to avoid the peaks and
valleys of contributions. Mr. Lozen noted that the main reasons for the increase in the city costs
is the lower returns on investments and a higher than assumed salary increases.
Chairman Brown asked Mr. Lozen to review the state premium rebate to the trustees. Mr. Lozen
noted that the plan uses the state money to pay for the 3.5% benefit the employees enjoy. There
is still a reserve of over 600k. Trustee Vaughn asked how the dollar amounts are determined and
is annexed properties included. Chairman Brown noted that the city has a data base they use, in
conjunction with other fees collected by the city, with Tallahassee determining the amounts.
Chairman Brown also noted that the city monitors any annexation the city undertakes and takes
into consideration the subsidies paid by the state for 175/185. Finally, Mr. Lozen said that page
one needs to be amended.
Trustee Vaughn moved to approve and Trustee Wagner seconded the motion and the motion
passed. Attorney Dehner noted the board should make a motion reflecting the expected rate of
return in the short term and the long term. Chairman Brown asked Mr. Nash what his
recommendation would be. Mr. Nash said based on market history and asset allocation of 60/40,
the plan should meet the assumption rate of 8%. Motion by Trustee Stanley to approve the 8%
assumption rate and Trustee Wagner seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Mr. Prior asked Mr. Lozen if he has a matrix. Mr. Lozen stated that he did not have it, but that he
would provide it before the next meeting. Motion by Vaughn and seconded by Wagner to have
the actuary prepare a matrix for buy back. The motion passed.
Page 3 of 4
Christine Zorman Divorce Calculation
Chairman Brown asked who pays for the calculation when a member is getting divorced.
Attorney Dehner said the plan can pay for the calculation or the employee can be billed for it.
Richard Firstner Retirement Calculation
Mr. Prior said that this is the latest calculation for Mr. Firstner. Mr. Prior said that he left a
message for him on voice mail but has not heard from him. Mr. Prior provided a copy of the
calculation to Trustee Stanley to provide to Mr. Firstner.
OTHER BUSINESS
Ratification of Paid Invoices (Warrants #1-#4)
FPPTA Annual Membership Dues $ 600.00
Christiansen & Dehner, P. A. $ 729.50
The Bogdahn Group (Invoice 4766 10/1/09-12/31/09) $ 4,750.00
Reimbursement to Chairman Brown Brown – Hyatt Hotel FPPTA Conf $ 264.00
Reimbursement to Butch Stanley – Hyatt Hotel FPPTA Conf $ 264.00
Eric J. Speanburgh - Refund of Member Contributions $1,297.83
Benefits USA (Inv 001 Oct, Nov, Dec 2009) $6,300.00
FPPTA Conference (Chairman Brown Brown and Benjamin Stanley) $ 800.00
Christiansen & Dehner, P. A. $ 776.89
Trustee Stanley moved to ratify the invoices as presented. Trustee Vaughn seconded the motion
and the motion passed.
Bogdahn Report
Mr. Nash provided the trustees with a handout titled “Chasing Returns: Fundamentally
Problematic” and reviewed the process as part of the trustee education program.
He presented the firms perspective on chasing returns and the mistakes that had been made in the
past. This information provided Trustees with insight to the their investment management
philosophy.
Mr. Nash concluded his report in reference to “Chasing Returns” and provided the Trustees with
a quarterly report of the Fund. The market value of the Fund September 30, 2009 was
$21,107,278 and the market value of the fund December 31, 2009 was $21,765,347, an increase
of $658,069 for the quarter. The total fund was up a net rate of return of 3.27% for the quarter
which slightly lagged the policy by .08%. All Cap Core led the policy, the Russell 3000, 6.46%
versus 5.90% and All Cap Value also led the policy by 3.21%, 7.38% versus 4.17%.
International was the worst performer at -.01% which lagged the policy by -2.23%. Overall the
fund did well for the quarter and for the one year. The Fund had a net return of 18.12% for the
calendar year which slightly lagged the policy at 19.60%.
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ATTORNEY COMMENTS
H. Attorney Dehner Dehner, Esq.
Attorney Dehner reported on the HELPS 2 bill noting that the bill is still pending. The 3k
insurance benefit is in place. Regarding the 60t rule, any amendments to the rule are still being
reviewed and there are no changes as of yet coming from the state.
Attorney Dehner also noted that the IRS is still sending out the surveys. If the plan does receive a
survey they are not to be ignored and must be completed.
Attorney Dehner reviewed the handout regarding the Administrative Duties and Responsibilities
of the Board of Trustees.
COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND TRUSTEES
MEETING DATES FOR 2010 @ 1:00 PM
May 5, 2010
August 4, 2010
November 3, 2010
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting is adjourned at 5:17 pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
______________________________________
Mr. Pete Prior
Administrator
______________________________________
Chairman Brown
Contact the City Clerk’s Office to listen to an electronic copy of the complete minutes.