06/18/2001
TRUSTEES OF THE EMPLOYEES' PENSION FUND MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
June 18, 2001
Present: Brian J. Aungst Chair
Ed Hart Vice-Chair/Trustee
Whitney Gray Trustee
Hoyt P. Hamilton Trustee
William C. Jonson Trustee
Also present: William B. Horne II Interim City Manager
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Lee Dehner Pension Trustees Attorney
Paul O'Rourke Human Resources Administrator
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:22 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes:
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2001, meeting, as
motion
recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The
carried
was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Request for Acceptance into Membership:
The Interim City Manager presented the PAC (Pension Advisory Committee)
recommendation to approve membership for these employees:
Kimberly McDaniel, Jessica Jameson, Vicki Duffey, Eileen Karner, Katie Robinson, Michelle
Arnold, William Daniel, Manuel Cordero, Charles Walden, Stanley Conord, Lydia Moreda,
James Wagner, & Samantha Stahl.
Trustee Hamilton moved to accept the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
motioncarried
Committee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #4 - Request for Pension:
Richard Vellucci &
The Interim City Manager presented the PAC recommendation that
William Buchenhorst regular pensions
be granted under Sections 2.393 and 2.397 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
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Richard Vellucci was employed on December 17, 1973, and his pension service credit
is effective on that date. His pension will be effective May 1, 2001. Based on an average
salary of approximately $51,103 per year over the past 5 years, the formula for computing
regular pensions, and Mr. Vellucci's selection of the 100% Joint & Survivor Annuity, this
pension will approximate $37,965 annually.
William Buchenhorst was employed on October 4, 1976, and his pension service credit
is effective on that date. His pension will be effective June 1, 2001. Based on an average
salary of approximately $43,999 per year over the past 5 years, the formula for computing
regular pensions, and Mr. Buchenhorst's selection of the 100% Joint & Survivor Annuity, this
pension will approximate $29,156 annually.
The PAC approved these pensions on May 10, 2001. Section 2.393 (p) provides for
normal retirement eligibility when a participant has completed 20 years of credited service in a
type of employment described as “hazardous duty” and further specifically defines service as a
Fire Lieutenant as meeting the hazardous duty criteria. Section 2.393 (p) also provides for
normal retirement eligibility when a participant has reached age 55 and completed 20 years of
credited service, has completed 30 years of credited service, or has reached age 65 and
completed 10 years of credited service. Mr Vellucci qualifies under the hazardous duty criteria.
Mr. Buchenhorst qualifies under the age 55 and 20 years of service criteria.
Trustee Gray moved to accept the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
motioncarried
Committee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #5 - Request to Vest Pension:
John Weppler
The Interim City Manager presented the PAC recommendation that be
vest his pension
allowed to under Sections 2.397 and 2.398 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
John Weppler was employed on April 21, 1991, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. He terminated from City employment on May 4, 2001. The Employees’
Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an employee of the City of
Clearwater after completing 10 or more years of creditable service (pension participation), then
such employee shall acquire a vested interest in the retirement benefits. Vested pension
payments commence on the first of the month following the month in which the employee
normally would have been eligible for retirement.
Section 2.393 (p) provides for normal retirement eligibility when a participant has
reached age 55 and completed 20 years of credited service, has completed 30 years of
credited service, or has reached age 65 and completed 10 years of credited service. Mr.
Weppler would have completed 20 years of service and reached age 55 on April 21, 2011.
His pension will be effective on May 1, 2011. On May 10, 2001, the PAC approved the
request.
Trustee Jonson moved to accept the recommendation of the Pension Advisory
motioncarried
Committee. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
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addition of 5 members
ITEM #6 - Approve to Investment Advisory Committee, 1
representative from each union
The Investment Advisory Committee meets quarterly to receive updates from
investment managers, review performance, and discuss investments with the plan’s
consultants. In addition, the committee meets on an as needed basis for items such as
manager searches. Currently, the committee is served by the Finance Services Administrator,
Assistance Finance Director, Finance Controller, Risk Manager, Senior Accountant, General
Services Controller, Fire Administrative Support Manager, and Cash & Investments Manager.
Staff recommends formally adding to the committee one representative from each of the five
unions. Some union representatives are regular attendees. Meetings are open to all.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the addition of five members to the Investment
motion
Advisory Committee, with one representative from each of the unions. The was duly
carried
seconded and unanimously.
domestic mid-cap
ITEM #7 - Approve contract with Artisan Partners Limited Partnership as
equity manager
for Employees' Pension Plan
The Pension Trustees previously authorized Callan to conduct a search for a domestic
mid-cap equity manager. Callan recommended: 1) Artisan Partners Limited Partnership; 2)
MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc.; 3) Seneca Capital Management, LLC; 4) Sit Investment
Associates, Inc.; 5) Putnam Investments; 6) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investments
Management; and 7) T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. After review, the Investment Committee
ranked the managers and conducted interviews with the top three firms, listed above first.
The Investment Committee recommends adding Artisan Partners Limited Partnership
and funding it with $30-million to start, with funds taken from growth style domestic equity
managers: 1) $15-million – Denver; 2) $10-million – Aeltus; and 3) $5-million – Bridge.
Artisan’s management fee is 0.80 of 1%, or $240,000 per year on $30-million. This is
Artisan’s lowest fee for new customers. While higher than the Plan pays most current money
managers, it is consistent with other mid-cap equity manager charges for new customers.
Trustee Gray moved to approve the contract with Artisan Partners limited Partnership
as domestic mid-cap equity manager for the Employee’s Pension Plan, and that the
motion
appropriate officials be authorized to execute same. The was duly seconded and
carried
unanimously.
In response to a question, Finance Services Administrator Margie Simmons said the
PAC recommendation regarding a large-cap equity manager would be brought forward to the
Pension Trustees in July after the contract is complete.
Actuary's Report
ITEM #8 - Accept for Employees' Pension Plan for plan year beginning
1/1/01
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The January 1, 2001 actuarial report for the Employees’ Pension Plan indicates that no
City contribution is required due to investment performance over the last five years that
exceeded the actuarial assumption. However, the City Ordinance governing the pension plan
requires the City to contribute at least 7% of the compensation of all employees participating in
the plan, estimated at $3,840,521. The difference between the legally required contribution of
$3,840,521 and the actuarial determined contribution of $-0- will accrue to the existing credit
balance, increasing it from a current level of $15,156,006.
The actuarially required contribution of $-0- is primarily due to the phase-in of prior
asset gains per the rolling five-year average used to “smooth" investment performance. The
recent market value basis performance has been 14.8% in 1996, 17.49% in 1997, 16.74% in
1998, 18.61% in 1999, and (3.43)% in 2000. Although calendar year 2000 investment returns
were negative, the 5-year average return, in excess of 12%, exceeded the 7% actuarial
assumption. The funded status of the plan, ratio of assets at market value to the actuarial
present value of accumulated plan benefits, decreased from 162% at January 1, 2000 to 148%
at January 1, 2001, primarily due to the plan investment performance for calendar year 2000.
The plan experienced a negative 3.43% investment return for calendar year 2000, due to the
downturn in the stock market.
Trustee Hamilton moved to accept the Actuary’s Report for the Employees’ Pension
Plan for the play year beginning January 1, 2001, and that the appropriate officials be
motioncarried
authorized to execute same. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
ITEM #9 - Other Business:
a)
Chief Sidney Klein's application for inclusion in Pension Plan
The City Attorney reported Chief Sidney Klein’s attorney has requested pre litigation
mediation regarding his application for inclusion in the Pension Plan. While the PAC could
review the issue, the decision is up to the Pension Trustees. The Pension Plan would pay the
plan’s attorney’s fee, half the mediator’s cost, plus staff time. The City’s counsel, Mr. Cypen,
charges $235/hour plus travel costs.
Pension Trustees Attorney Lee Dehner recommended contacting Mr. Cypen, the Plan’s
counsel on this issue, before deciding to go forward. He said the supplemental pension board
has asked to be involved. He recommended the Trustees retain Mr. Cypen on behalf of the
Plan. In response to a question, the City Attorney said the mediation process would identify
common ground and report these findings to the PAC and Pension Trustees.
Trustee Hamilton moved to retain Mr. Cypen on behalf of the Pension Plan to provide
an opinion regarding whether to have pre litigation mediation regarding Chief Klein’s
motion carried
application for inclusion in the Pension Plan. The was duly seconded and
unanimously.
ITEM #10 - Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m.
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