2002 05 08 IAB Minutes INVESTMENT ADVISORY BOARD
Meeting
May 8, 2002
I CALL TO ORDER
Regular meeting of the La Quinta Investment Advisory Board was called to order at the
hour of 5:30 P.M. by Chairman Mahfoud, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT: Board Members Moulin, Olander, Lewis, and Chairman
Mahfoud, Board Member Osborne (5:35)
ABSENT: Board Member Felice
OTHERS PRESENT: John Falconer, Finance Director and Vianka Orrantia,
Secretary
II PUBLIC COMMENT - None
III CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
IV CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Minutes of Meeting on April 10, 2002 for the Investment Advisory
Board.
Board Member Moulin advised the Board that on page 2, section B second
paragraph, last line, should be deleted:
~.~ ~A~.~. ~A~,,,;.. ~,, ......... *"~ ';~*="~ ' ;~"=~+" ' *~" first
r,,-~,-,-~,-,r~,~l-, ,,,-~,,1~,- "V;~IA"
Board Member Moulin also advised the Board that on page 3, third paragraph,
fourth/fifth line should read:
Mr. Falconer stated that it would be up to the_.....~-~--~, ~ as to
what is decided.
And also on page 3, last paragraph should read'
Investment Advisory Board May 8, 2002
Minutes
Board Member Moulin suggested that it reads "maturing =.".d ~ not
more than five years."
Board Member Moulin also advised the Board that page 5, third paragraph,
eighteenth line should add the following:
Board Member Moulin feels that a banking institution
is a lot more solid credit wise than commercial paper.
Board Member Moulin, along with Mr. Falconer advised the Board that on page
6, first paragraph should read:
It was the consensus of the Board to raise GSE'~
to ~ ~ million except for Sallie Mae, which should remain, at $3
million.
Board Member Lewis advised the Board that on page 2, under section B, first
paragraph should read'
.Board Member Lewis briefly summarized the article (handout) that
was obtained from Merrill Lynch, using Treasuries
MOTION - It was moved by Board Members Moulin/Olander to approve the
minutes of Minutes of April 10, 2002 as corrected. Motion carried
unanimously.
V. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Transmittal of Treasury Report for March 2002.
In response to Board Member Lewis, asking about the decrease in cash
Mr. Falconer advised the Board there was possibly one debt service
payment and one large Capital Project bill due that caused a drop in the
cash outflow.
Mr. Falconer informed the Board that on page 3, "Annualized Earnings on
investments," are below the City's benchmark, which is reflected on
maturity, which is down to 35 days. Staff has been currently laddering
the portfolio, investing in a two-year treasury, eighteen-month treasury
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Investment Advisory Board May 8, 2002
Minutes
and a one-year treasury. In response to Board Member Osborne, Mr.
Falconer informed the Board that the Iow rates were due to the yield
curve.
Mr. Falconer advised the Board that he is using more of LAIr as same day
short-term cash.
Board Member Lewis suggested to the Board that on page 4, US
Government Securities, fourth column titled "Yield Price," changing the
word "Yield." Mr. Falconer advised the Board that he would check the
title on the trade ticket and re-label the title.
MOTION - It was moved by Board Members Lewis/Olander to review,
receive and file the Treasurer's Report for March 2002. Motion carried
unanimously.
B. Consideration of Fiscal Year 2002/03 Investment Policy
The Board reviewed the attached Investment Policy and
changes/additions/deletions are shown in amended form.
Board Member Moulin advised the Board that on page 1, Table of
Contents, item IXX should read:
IXX: Maximum,.,~,~,~A~*"-;*"
Board Member Lewis suggested moving IXX section to page 7, prior to
Section V. Board Member Moulin felt that it should come after
Section V.
Chairman Mahfoud suggested that on page 3, of the Executive
Summary, the sixth paragraph, third sentence that the $10 million
dollar amount is misleading and suggested that it should read except
amount or projected annual amount. Board Member Lewis advised the
Board that the current amount under discussion is $10 million. Board
Member Lewis advised the Board that a dollar amount is not
mentioned in any other section of the policy. Mr. Falconer advised the
Board that he would like to leave the Executive Summary as is.
Chairman Mahfoud again suggested changing the wording to read
"projected annual amount, not to be projected within the next five
years.
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Investment Advisory Board May 8, 2002
Minutes
The Executive Summary and page 10 was amended as follows:
· ..except .r...+.,,... -.~.'"' ...... ~ I O ,,,,,,,..,,,"';';"" the projected annual dollar amount as
detailed in Section !XX V may be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes
and bonds maturing between 2 and 5 years.
Board Member Moulin suggested to the Board that on page 20, fifth
column, under restrictions, sixth row, leaving at two years due to the
fact that it has not changed the overall general policy. Board Member
Osborne suggested to the Board that it change to "invest 2 to 5
years." Board Member Moulin suggested that placing the 2-year
limitation with the word "except, "$10 million 2 to 5 years. Chairman
Mahfoud agreed with Board Member Moulin in using the word
"except." Board Member Lewis suggested to the Board that it should
read "no more would be invested than 5 years. Board Member
Osborne suggested it read "no more than $10 million would be
invested up to 5 years," Board Member Lewis stated that the
maximum maturity is limited to 5 years. Board Member Osborne
suggested it read: "no more than $10 million invested in 2 to 5 years."
Board Member Moulin advised the Board that they should strike out
GSE's and 100% does not imply individually. Board Member Lewis
stated that the State does not differentiate a breakdown.
Mr. Falconer advised the Board that he would need to change GNMA
line item on page 20. Board Member Moulin advised the Board that
the maximum maturity column should be left blank and suggested that
Mr. Falconer make the corrections. Board Member Moulin stated that
it does not belong on the form. Mr. Falconer advised the Board that
this could be eliminated.
Motion - It was moved by Board Member Lewis/Olander to finalize the
Fiscal Year 2002/03 policy at the next scheduled meeting.
VI CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
A. Month End Cash Report - April 2002
In response to Board Member Moulin, Mr. Falconer advised the Board that
the Sweep Account is now going into Dreyfus. Mr. Falconer also
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Investment Advisory Board May 8, 2002
Minutes
informed the Board that the negative balance does reflect on the City's
book.
Noted and Filed
B. Pooled Money Investment Board Reports - January 2002 and February
2002
Noted and Filed
VII BOARD MEMBER ITEMS
Mr. Falconer updated the Board on the conference in Monterey, California that
was attended by Staff, Board Members Olander and Mahfoud.
Chairman Mahfoud advised the Board of the various meetings during the
conference; the first meeting was how a municipality can raise money, the
following day there were several meetings, cash flow forecast and short-term
cash management and on Wednesday, there were several meetings held, one
of interest was about LAIF. In previous year's attendance for this particular
subject consisted of about 10 attendees, this year there was standing room
only. Mr. Falconer advised the Board of the two Speakers, Elaine Parks, LAIF
Administrator who replaced Pat Biehl and Bill Sherwood the Chief Investment
Officer. Mr. Falconer informed the Board that there is a concern for the budget
deficit, which is projected to be $22 billion and that the budget not be passed
by June 30th. Mr. Falconer advised the Board that if the budget is not passed,
Bill Sherwood went through the steps that LAIF would go through in order to
maintain the State's perspective of cash needs and the borrowing techniques
that would be implemented. Mr. Falconer advised the Board that it was similar
to the 1995 scenario LAIF encountered.
Mr. Falconer informed the Board, at this particular meeting he asked Mr.
Sherwood about commercial paper and the difficulty obtaining quality paper.
Mr. Sherwood approached it from a different perspective, they're limited to
1 $0 days, where the City of La Guinta is at 270 and they cannot pay more than
10% of an isuers outstanding commercial paper, which sometimes they bump
up.
Mr. Falconer also advised the Board, that Mr. Sherwood addressed what would
happen if the State does not pass the budget in time and the impact to LAIF.
Mr. Sherwood stated that he has asked for written insurance from the State
Investment Advisory Board May 8, 2002
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Controller that the State would not come after LAIF to meet the State's cash
needs, at this current Mr. Sherwood has been assured verbally, but not in
writing, and the City may need other liquid cash available. Mr. Falconer
informed the Board, that the City of Palm Desert is trying to draft legislation,
that the State cannot go after LAIF Funds, that these are ear marked for those
agencies that participate in LAIF. Mr. Falconer also stated that if the City of
Palm Desert is looking for sponsors. Board Member Osborne asked that in the
February report, that it states "loans were for 6% of the fund," is there limit on
that number? Mr. Falconer replied that he would have to look at the handbook.
Mr. Falconer also advised the Board that they do not invest in any GSE's with
imbedded options, "callables."
Board Member Moulin asked what other cities were doing? Mr. Falconer replied
that most agencies are investing 50 to 100% of their portfolio in LAIF. In
response to Board Member Olander, Mr. Falconer stated to the Board that it
does not matter whether it's a Republican or Democrat Administration, as long
as things are running smoothly, the Treasurer can focus on their one or two
core issues that they really want to focus and leave their day-to-day operations
with the staff. Mr. Falconer expressed his concern to the Board referencing the
key people in the state that have held their current positions for quite a length
of time, such as Bill Sherwood with over 30 years experience, Bill Dodd, an
investment officer with 30 years experience and Elaine Parks with 28 years,
these key people could leave their positions at the same time and leave a void
in the state. Board Member Olander informed the Board that there is also
concern in regards to automobile tax and the receipts that may or may not be
coming in, and surprising number of cities dependant on this tax if they do not
come in.
In response to Board Member Moulin, Board Member Olander advised the Board
that there was not enough time to discuss how banks are picked for their time
deposits. Mr. Falconer advised the Board that he spoke with Mr. Sherwood and
they will be holding an annual LAIF Conference in September and we were
welcome to attend or if a conference call about any concerns or questions, he
would accommodate that call.
In response to Chairman Mahfoud, Mr. Falconer informed the Board that when
the state had it's budget problems in 1998, the state went into issuing warrants
without a budget and the Jarvis Group, from the County of Los Angeles filed
a law suit claiming that the state cannot be issuing warrants without a budget.
There was a stay on this issue and an appeal was made and will be heard in
June. Depending on the outcome, it will probably be appealed at the California
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Supreme Court. Mr. Falconer also informed the Board that if the budget is not
passed that the State Controller has a handle on meeting the short-term needs
of the agencies and does not want to impact the State's credit rating.
Board Member Lewis asked Mr. Falconer what the difference between Pooled
Loans and General Fund Loans? Mr. Falconer will get back to the Board on this
issue.
Board Member Osborne expressed his feelings about raising the percentage on
LAIF and would not increase the percentage at this time. Board Member Lewis
asked if LAIF had to be liquidated, would every agency get their money back?
Board Member Osborne replied to the Board that it would probably depend on
the market value of their portfolio. Mr. Falconer informed the Board that the
state has liquidity percentages that they break the portfolio down to. Chairman
Mahfoud advised the Board that attendance at the LAIF Conference would be
strongly recommended. In response to Board Member Lewis, Mr. Falconer
stated that there is a restriction on the amount you can take in and out of LAIF,
per day. He also stated that LAIF has a market value at the end of the year.
VIII ADJOURNMENT
MOTION - It was moved by Chairman/Board Members Mahfoud/Osborne to
adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Submit, ted-by,
Vianka Orrantia
Secretary