03-19-2018CITY OF EDGEWATER
FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION BOARD
QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES
City Hall Council Chambers
Monday, March 19, 2018
TRUSTEES PRESENT: Dominick Fede
Justin Nickels
Dick Calabrese
William Dailey
David Blair
TRUSTEES ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: David Kelly, Bowen, Hanes & Company
Ken Harrison, Sugarman & Susskind
John Thinnes, AndCo Consulting
Tracy Barlow, City Manager
Drew Ballard, Foster & Foster
Will Dailey, Union President
Ferrell Jenne, Foster & Foster
1. Call to Order— Dominick Fede called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m.
2. Roll Call — As reflected above.
3. Public Comments — None
4. Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the December 11, 2017, quarterly meeting were approved upon motion by
William Dailey and second by Dick Calabrese, motion carried 4-0.
Reports
a. Foster & Foster, Drew Ballard, Actuary.
i. Presentation of October 1, 2017, actuarial valuation report.
1. The total required contribution from the City for Fiscal Year ending
September 30, 2019, was 20.8°/x, down from the 21.4% required for the
prior fiscal year.
2. Drew Ballard commented the City could use up to $55,292 (plus any
Supplemental Distribution up to $11,654) in State Contributions under
the traditional interpretation of Chapter 99-1, Laws of Florida (as affirmed
with the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement) for determining its
minimum funding requirements; excess amounts were allocated to the
Share Plan. For budgeting purposes, the required sponsor Contribution
(City and State) was 24.1 % of Pensionable Earnings for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2019. The precise City requirement for the year
was this amount, less applicable State Contributions described above.
3. Drew Ballard commented that there was a City shortfall contribution of
$9,078 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. An interest charge
of $57 was payable for each full month after September 30, 2017, until
this shortfall contribution was deposited.
4. Drew Ballard commented that experience during the last 12 months was
more favorable than expected, relative to the Plan's actuarial
assumptions. The primary sources of the favorable experience included
average increases in pensionable compensation that were less than the
assumed rates, and an 8.52% investment return (Actuarial Asset Basis)
exceeding the 7.5% assumption. These gains were partially offset by
unfavorable turnover experience.
5. Drew Ballard reviewed the LIAAL and the associated pay-off schedule.
6. The funded status of the plan was 100.2%.
7. Drew Ballard advised there were actuarial gains that hadn't yet been
experienced. Once those were experienced, there would be a further
gain to the surplus.
The board approved the October 1, 2017, valuation report as presented upon motion by David
Blair and second by Dick Calabrese, motion carried 4-0.
The board voted the declaration of returns for the plan shall be 7.50% for the next year, the next
several years, and the long-term thereafter, net of investment -related expenses, upon motion by
Dick Calabrese and second by David Blair, motion carried 4-0.
b. Bowen, Hanes & Company, David Kelly, Investment Manager.
L Quarterly report as of December 31, 2017.
1. David Kelly gave a brief overview of the market environment during the
quarter.
2. David Kelly reviewed the allocation to fixed income and common stocks.
3. David Kelly reviewed bonds that were due to mature.
4. The market value of assets as of March 15, 2018, were $13,580,986.71.
5. David Kelly reviewed new holdings in the portfolio.
The board voted to approve the March 15, 2018, update from Bowen, Hanes & Company as
presented upon motion by Dick Calabrese and second by David Blair, motion carried 4-0.
AndCo Consulting, John Thinnes, Investment Consultant.
i. Quarterly report as of December 31, 2017.
1. John Thinnes reviewed the current asset allocations.
2. To date, the market value of assets were approximately $13.7 million.
John Thinnes advised that no rebalancing was needed.
3. John Thinnes reviewed the compliance checklist.
4. The total fund net returns for the quarter were 5.31 %, outperforming the
benchmark of 4.20%. Trailing returns for the 3 and 5 -year periods were
8.17% and 10.28 respectively. Since inception (12/1/01), net returns
were 5.86°/x, underperforming the benchmark of 6.86°/x.
The board voted to approve the December 31, 2017, AndCo Consulting quarterly report as
presented upon motion by David Blair and second by Dick Calabrese, motion carried 4-0.
d. Sugarman & Susskind, Ken Harrison, Attorney.
i. Supplemental benefit accounts procedures.
1. Ferrell Jenne reviewed some comments from the actuary regarding the
draft procedures. Ferrell requested the language in the vesting section
regarding the 5 successive one-year breaks in service and change that
non -vested allocations occur in the year following termination.
2. Ferrell Jenne requested letter b. be removed under the interest section
as the Ordinance didn't authorize a floor, but a net investment return.
Ken Harrison reviewed the issues with IRS and having a possible
negative return. Tracy Barlow suggested drafting an Ordinance
amendment that had a 0% floor for the share plan.
Note: Justin Nickels arrived at 4:50 p.m.
The board voted to directed Ken Harrison to review the proposed Ordinance from the City
Manager regarding a 0% floor on earnings for the Share Plan, upon motion by Justin Nickels and
second by William Dailey, motion carried 5-0.
3. William Dailey asked about the share plan allocation options for a non -
vested member. Ken Harrison reviewed the options under IRS.
4. Ken Harrison gave an update on FSLA and commented the State's
opinion was that the issue should be addressed between the bargaining
units.
5. Ken Harrison commented that Dustin Watkins was no longer with the
firm, as he had left to care for family with medical issues.
6. Tracy Barlow commented the City's opinion was that the Statute is very
clear regarding overtime and they hadn't seen anything from the State to
alter this methodology.
7. Dominick Fede reviewed the emails he received from Ken Harrison on
the State's opinion that the overtime definition would need to be
determined on a local level. Tracy Barlow requested the email chain be
forwarded to him so he could review the State's stance with the City
attorney.
8. William Dailey asked what defined overtime. Ken Harrison reviewed the
300 -hour cap provision and commented the issue was if the forced
overtime should be counted towards the 300 -hour cap.
Legislative update.
1. No pension reform bills passed. Ken Harrison reviewed a bill that
passed which allowed police and fire members to file PTSD under
workers' compensation without any incident occurring.
6. Consent of Agenda
a. Payment ratification of Warrants.
i. Warrant #35, #36, #37 and #38
b. Fund activity report for December 7, 2017 — March 12, 2018
The board voted to approve the consent agenda as presented upon motion by Justin Nickels and
second by William Dailey, motion carried 5-0.
7. Staff Reports. Discussion, and Action
a. Foster & Foster, Ferrell Jenne, Plan Administrator.
i. Upcoming educational opportunities.
1. Ferrell Jenne commented that the FPPTA 34th Annual Conference would
be held on June 24-27, 2018, in Orlando, Florida.
ii. Ferrell Jenne commented that the Division of Retirement conference would be
held on June 4, 2018 -June 6, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida.
iii. Ferrell Jenne reviewed the member appointed seats that would expire in April.
8. Trustees' Reports, Discussion, and Action —None.
9. Adiournment — Meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
10. Next Meeting — July 13, 2018, at 4:00 p.m.
Approved by:
ominick Fede, Chairman