12/16/2019 Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, December 16, 2019
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Trustees
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair George N. Cretekos, Trustee Bob Cundiff, Trustee Hoyt
Hamilton, Trustee David Allbritton, and Trustee Jay Polglaze
Also Present—William B. Horne II — City Manager, Micah Maxwell — Assistant
City Manager, Michael Delk — Assistant City Manager, Pamela
K. Akin — City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, Nicole
Sprague — Official Records and Legislative Services
Coordinator and Jennifer Poirrier— Human Resources Director
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Chair Cretekos
The meeting was called to order at 9:07 a.m. in Council Chambers at the
Main Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the October 14, 2019 Pension Trustees meeting as submitted in
written summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the October
14, 2019 Pension Trustees meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda — None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Approve the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Name/Job Classification/Department Pension Eligibility Date
Christopher Clarke, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 09/02/2019
Robert Ashmeade, Senior Staff Assistant, Public Utilities 09/03/2019
Jason Stransky, Public Utilities Technician I, Public Utilities 09/03/2019
Charles Satcher, Parks Streets&Sidewalks Tech. I, Parks&Rec 09/03/2019
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
Logan Hinrichs, Gas Apprentice, Gas 09/16/2019
Robert Seay, Gas Apprentice, Gas 09/16/2019
Anthony Sylvester Jr., Gas Apprentice, Gas 09/16/2019
Ryan Poppler, Gas Apprentice, Gas 09/16/2019
Star White, Personnel Payroll Technician, Fire 09/16/2019
Alvin Bushnell, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 09/16/2019
Fred Coker, Parks Service Technician I, Parks& Recreation 09/16/2019
Ryan Odegaard, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning &Development 09/16/2019
Angel Lopez, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities 09/16/2019
Jayson Wine, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 09/28/2019
Sherrick Cuffie, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 09/28/2019
Doreen Dreyer, Utility Dispatcher, Gas 09/30/2019
Jason Hauser, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning &Development 09/30/2019
Coreen Tupponce, Police Telecommunication Trainee, Police 09/30/2019
Adon Chavis, Police Telecommunication Trainee, Police 09/30/2019
Lauren Copley, Police Telecommunication Trainee, Police 09/30/2019
Ryan Kenna, Police Officer, Police 09/30/2019
Carissa Costello, Police Officer, Police 09/30/2019
Nicholas Milillo, Police Officer, Police 09/30/2019
Roxanna Padilla Garibay, Police Officer, Police 09/30/2019
Antonio Knox, Recreation Leader, Parks& Recreation 09/30/2019
Natalie Weppler, Recreation Leader, Parks&Recreation 09/30/2019
Chyna Miller-Robinson, Recreation Leader, Parks&Recreation 10/12/2019
Chandler Dobler, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Cullen Ahearn, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Christopher Collins, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Michael Donovan, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Mason St. Martin, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Stephanie Nuszkowski, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
James Desaulniers, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Kaitlin Homme, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Eric Heisler, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Joal Levendoski, Fire Medic, Fire 10/14/2019
Mark Williams, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 10/14/2019
Joshua McKillen, Parks Service Technician, Parks&Recreation 10/14/2019
Christen Moon, Parks Service Technician, Parks&Recreation 10/14/2019
Stephanie Scalos, Economic Dev. Coordinator, Econ. Dev. &Housing 10/14/2019
Charles Erwin, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Public Utilities 10/28/2019
Steven Philyaw, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities 10/28/2019
Mark Suva, Utilities Mechanic, Public Utilities 10/28/2019
Kacey Nguyen, Senior Systems Programmer, Information Technology 10/28/2019
Dyone Davis, Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 10/28/2019
Jariel Candelario, Jr., Solid Waste Worker, Solid Waste 10/28/2019
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
Trustee Cundiff moved to approve the new hires for acceptance
into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
4.2 Approve the following request of employees Dominick Briganti, Fire Department and
Lynne Priester, Customer Service Department, to vest their pensions as provided by
Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Dominick Briganti, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Department, was employed by the City
on October 12, 2009 and began participating in the Pension Plan on that date.
Mr. Briganti terminated from City employment on October 15, 2019.
Lynne Priester, Accounts Program Coordinator, Customer Service Department,
was employed by the City on December 11, 1995 and began participating in the
Pension Plan on that date. Ms. Priester terminated from City employment on
September 14, 2019.
The Employees' Pension Plan provides that should an employee cease to be an
employee of the City of Clearwater or change status from full-time to part-time
after completing ten or more years of creditable service (pension participation),
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 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty
employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (January 1,
2013), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date
on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five years and completed
twenty years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached
age sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service; or the date on
which a member has completed thirty years of service regardless of age. For
non-hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date of this
restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty years and completed
twenty-five years of credited service; or the date on which a participant has
reached the age of sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service.
Ms. Priester will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a
pension in December 2023.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty
employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which the participant has completed twenty years of credited service
regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty-five
years and completed ten years of credited service. Mr. Briganti will meet the
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting pension in November 2025.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the following request of
employees Dominick Briganti, Fire Department and Lynne
Priester, Customer Service Department, to vest their pensions as
provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Approve the following request of employees Kimberly DuPont, Economic Development
and Housing Department, Matthew Dupree, Police Department, Willie Jones, Park and
Recreation Department, Susan Marx, Gas Department and Kathleen Perry, Police
Department, for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Kimberly DuPont, Senior Housing Coordinator, Economic Development and
Housing Department, was employed by the City on October 27, 1997, and her
pension service credit is effective on that date. Her pension will be effective
January 1, 2020. Based on an average salary of approximately $49,568.55 over
the past five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Ms.
DuPont's selection of the Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$30,193.44 annually.
Matthew Dupree, Police Officer, Police Department, was employed by the City
on September 27, 1999, and his pension service credit is effective on that date.
His pension will be effective October 1, 2019. Based on an average salary of
approximately $92,409.23 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Mr. Dupree's selection of the 100% Joint and Survivor
Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $50,146.80 annually.
Willie Jones, Senior Parks Service Tech, Park and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on September 15, 1998, and his pension service
credit is effective on July 3, 1999. His pension will be effective November 1,
2019. Based on an average salary of approximately $33,122.40 over the past
five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Jones' selection
of the Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $18,485.52
annually.
Susan Marx, Customer Service Representative, Gas Department, was
employed by the City on September 2, 1986, and her pension service credit is
effective on that date. Her pension will be effective December 1, 2019. Based
on an average salary of approximately $41,405.06 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Ms. Marx's selection of the 10 Year
Certain and Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately $36,827.52
annually.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
Kathleen Perry, Senior Crime Analyst, Police Department, was employed by the
City on May 21, 1990, and her pension service credit is effective on that date.
Her pension will be effective December 1, 2019. Based on an average salary of
approximately $56,621.50 over the past five years, the formula for computing
regular pensions and Ms. Perry's selection of the Life Annuity, this pension
benefit will be approximately $45,882.24 annually.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty
employees hired prior to the effective date of this reinstatement (January 1,
2013), a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the date
on which a participant has reached the age of fifty-five years and completed
twenty years of credited service; the date on which a participant has reached
age sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service; or the date on
which a member has completed thirty years of service regardless of age. For
non-hazardous duty employees hired on or after the effective date of this
restatement, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which a participant has reached the age of sixty years and completed
twenty-five years of credited service; or the date on which a participant has
reached the age of sixty-five years and completed ten years of credited service.
Ms. DuPont, Mr. Jones, Ms. Marx, Ms. Perry have met the non-hazardous duty
criteria.
Section 2.416 provides for normal retirement eligibility for hazardous duty
employees, a member shall be eligible for retirement following the earlier of the
date on which the participant has completed twenty years of credited service
regardless of age, or the date on which the participant has reached fifty-five
years and completed ten years of credited service. Mr. Dupree has met the
hazardous duty criteria.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the following request of
employees Kimberly DuPont, Economic Development and
Housing Department, Matthew Dupree, Police Department, Willie
Jones, Park and Recreation Department, Susan Marx, Gas
Department and Kathleen Perry, Police Department, for a regular
pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
4.4 Approve changes to the City of Clearwater Employees' Pension Fund "Statement of
Investment Objectives and Guidelines" (Investment Policy) to expand and emphasize the
Roles and Responsibilities section, to clarify responsibilities of the Trustees and
Investment Committee regarding unauthorized investments, to modify performance
measurement criteria for alternative investments, and other minor changes as
recommended by the Plan's Investment Committee.
The Pension Plan's investment policy was last revised in June of 2016. The
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
policy was recently reviewed by the Plan's investment consultant, CapTrust
Advisors; the Plan's pension attorney, Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen & Levinson;
and the Plan's Investment Committee for necessary revisions as proposed.
Recommended revisions to the policy include:
• The "Roles and Responsibilities" section was moved from the back of
the policy to the front.
• The "Responsibilities of the Pension Investment Committee" section
was expanded and a new"Responsibilities of the Investment
Consultant" section was added.
• Minor changes were made to "Unauthorized Investments" section to
clarify responsibilities of the Pension Trustees versus the Investment
Committee.
• A reference to 7% expected rate of return was modified to the "actuarial
investment return rate assumption"
• Aggregate, Bond, and Real Estate Index references were updated as
necessary.
• New language was added for performance measurement of alternative
investments, to recognize non-traditional characteristics of alternative
investments
In response to questions, Finance Director Jay Ravins said the 7%
assumed rate of return was hard-coded into policy. The recent policy
change allows flexibility to amend the rate of return without requiring a
policy amendment. He said the rate of return is being lowered to 6.5%.
The change does not impact the pension fund but will impact the
actuarial study with the required contribution the City provides. Per the
most recent actuarial assumption, the Pension Plan was 104% funded.
Mr. Ravins said as the rate of return is lowered, it is expected that the Plan
may dip a little below 100%, which is dependent upon the investment
market.
Trustee Polglaze moved to approve changes to the City of
Clearwater Employees' Pension Fund "Statement of Investment
Objectives and Guidelines" (Investment Policy) to expand and
emphasize the Roles and Responsibilities section, to clarify
responsibilities of the Trustees and Investment Committee
regarding unauthorized investments, to modify performance
measurement criteria for alternative investments, and other minor
changes as recommended by the Plan's Investment Committee.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees
5. Director's Report — None.
6. Adjourn
Attest
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City Clerk
City of Clearwater
Meeting Minutes December 16, 2019
The meeting adjourned at 9:14 a.m.
Chair
Employees' Pension Plan Trustees
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