2012 03 14 IAB MinutesINVESTMENT ADVISORY BOARD
Meeting
March 14, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Regular meeting of the La Quinta Investment Advisory Board was called to order at the
hour of 4:00 p.m. by Chairperson Spirtos followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT: Board Members Mortenson, Spirtos, Park and Donais
ABSENT: Board Member Blum
OTHERS PRESENT: John Falconer, Finance Director and Vianka Orrantia, Senior
Secretary
II PUBLIC COMMENT - None
III CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA — Confirmed as amended.
Mr. Falconer advised that the federal guidelines state that the payment the
Board receives for their attendance to the monthly Investment Advisory Board
meeting is subject to payroll taxes. As a result, staff conducted a survey with
all valley cities with four of the nine cities compensating their commissioners
and /or board members. The Cities of La Quinta and Indio were the highest
paying, with the City of Indio currently running their commissioner /board
member payments through payroll. Mr. Falconer advised that this issue will be
brought before the City Council on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
General discussion ensued amongst the Board and staff regarding possible
alternatives in lieu of payment for the attendance to a City Board /Commission
meeting.
IV CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Minutes of Meeting on February 8, 2012 for the Investment
Advisory Board.
MOTION - It was moved by Board Members Donais /Park to approve the Minutes
of February 8, 2012. Motion carried unanimously.
V BUSINESS SESSION
A. Transmittal of Treasury Report for January 2012
Mr. Falconer presented and reviewed the staff report for the month of January
advising the Board that the City was in receipt of the first installment of
property taxes. He further advised that as a result of elimination of the RDA,
the City will no longer receive these installments and that the January tax
installment would be the final payment. Mr. Falconer did note that although the
tax installments have been eliminated, the City will continue to receive the debt -
service payments from the County.
Mr. Falconer advised that the January pass - through payments were made
closing out the RDA and ending the cash balance for the month at $180 million.
Mr. Falconer noted that the current cash balance will not remain at these levels
due to the fact that the City will not be issuing bonds in the near future.
Mr. Falconer advised the Board on the status of the construction of the Adams
Street Bridge.
General discussion ensued amongst the Board and staff regarding the previous
Adams Street bridge contractor and the takeover of the completion of the bridge
by the bonding company.
Mr. Falconer advised that the January expenditures included $34,000 on
Transient Occupancy Tax Rebate for Homewood Suites as well as $66,000 on
the Washington Street dual left turn lane at Avenue 48.
In response to Board Member Donais, Mr. Falconer advised that the TOT rebates
are considered and approved by the City Council.
Mr. Falconer advised that the average maturity decreased by twelve days from
the prior month ending the month of January at 74 days. Mr. Falconer
previously reported that Rabobank stood 10 basis points below LAIF and
currently Rabobank stands 10 basis points above LAIF.
Mr. Falconer advised that due to a near investment maximum in LAIF and
Rabobank, staff has been investing in commercial paper as an alternative. As
the investments mature, they are not reinvested and are used for any
expenditures.
Mr. Falconer reported that the overall portfolio's performance was one basis
point lower than the prior month ending the month of January at .34 %.
2
In response to Board Member Donais, Mr. Falconer clarified that the $750,000
for Economic Development referenced in the third major change in cash flow on
page 9, were funds budgeted from bond proceeds, not all funds were spent,
therefore the balance will remain.
In response to Chairperson Spirtos, Mr. Falconer advised that the Federal Home
Loan Bank Notes & Bonds (FHLB) on page four, first column, fifth row, were at
a near maximum investment due to fact that their rates were currently better
than the T -Bill rates at this time, with $15 million invested in bond proceeds and
$9 million invested in the pooled investments.
In response to Chairperson Spirtos, Mr. Falconer replied that the Panasonic
Finance Commercial Paper was a short -term investment purchased on January
13, 2012 and matured on March 6, 2012. The investment was not reinvested
due to cash needs.
MOTION — It was moved by Board Members Mortenson / Donais to review,
receive, and file the Treasurers Report for January 2012. Motion carried
unanimously.
B. Continued Consideration of Fiscal Year 2012/2013 Investment Policy and Work
Plan Items
Mr. Falconer advised that at the previous board meeting, staff was asked to
follow -up on several items and these items were returned for the Boards review
and /or discussion.
The Board reviewed the attached Investment Policy pages (Attachments No. 1,
2 and 3).
Attachment 2: Mr. Falconer advised that listed under the "Unauthorized
Investments," sixth item: - State and Government Indebtedness should now
read: State Indebtedness. Board concurred.
Attachment 3: The Board and staff reviewed the language in the third
paragraph, last sentence and suggested the following;
For all other funds, investments are limited to three years maximum maturity.
wkh n o more than 25% of surplus funds I invested in maturities
exceeding two years and less than three years. Mr. Falconer suggested that
staff review the language to make sure that the language complies with the
investment policy.
I:7
Mr. Falconer advised that "Local Agencies" were referenced in the table on page
9 of the policy and should also be incorporated into the table on page 18 for
continuity.
In response to Board Member Donais, Mr. Falconer clarified that the -third party
custodian for the City is Bank of New York, who also holds all investments with
the exception of bond funds which are held by U.S. Bank.
In response to Board Member Donais, Mr. Falconer clarified that the review of
the auditor's letter is discussed during the Board's annual meeting with the
auditor and is also part of the audit report.
Mr. Falconer updated the Board on Councilman Osborne's thoughts in reference
to the City's budget and the interest income shortfall, as well as investing in
local agency bonds and maintaining the ability to invest in local agency bonds
within the policy for future investments.
MOTION — It was moved by Board Members Mortenson /Park to continue the
review of the 2012/2013 Investment Policy and the Work Plan Items. Motion
carried unanimously.
VI CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
A. Month End Cash Report — February 2012
Mr. Falconer presented and reviewed the month end cash Report for the month
of February advising the Board that the ending balance for the month (on page 2
of the report) was unusually large due to the cash need for the debt - service
payment. The money was taken from LAIF in order to meet the payment.
Mr. Falconer noted the payments of LAIF and Rabobank advising that LAIF pays
on a quarterly basis with Rabobank paying on a monthly basis.
In response to Board Member Mortenson, Mr. Falconer clarified that Councilman
Osborne did not restrict bond investments to just "local" agency bonds, his
statement included "agency" bond investments.
General discussion ensued amongst the Board and staff regarding investing in
agency bonds and their current market rates.
Noted and Filed
n
B. Pooled Money Investment Board Reports — February 2012
Mr. Falconer advised the Board on the decrease of the portfolio from the
previous year, with the January 2012 balance at $65 billion versus the January
2011, at $70 billion. He further advised that the average life of the portfolio
went from 180 days to 245 days.
(This item references back to the City's interest shortfall previously discussed
under Item B of the Business Session)
General conversation ensued amongst the Board and staff regarding interest
income and how it was reported.
Noted and Filed
C. Bond Money Market Funds
Mr. Falconer advised that at the previous Board meeting, staff was asked to
contact U.S. Bank, (the City's bond trustee) and asked if they could provide a
list of additional money market funds. Mr. Falconer advised that the list is
provided for the Board's review.
General discussion ensued amongst the Board and staff regarding the U.S. Bank
Money Market funds and their current market rates.
Mr. Falconer suggested, with the Board's direction, staff consider investing in
First American Money Market Funds. Mr. Falconer advised that page 6 of the
attachment provides information regarding the fund. Mr. Falconer noted that
this particular fund strictly deals with Government Agencies and
Instrumentalities, which is part of the City's investment criteria. In addition, Mr.
Falconer noted that page 14 contains information of the Money Market Fund
that the City is currently invested in.
Noted and Filed
VII BOARD MEMBER ITEMS - None
VIII ADJOURNMENT
E
MOTION - It was moved by, Board Members Park /Mortenson to adjourn the meeting at
5:03 p . Mown carried unanimously.
Vianka Orrantia
Senior Secretary
0