12/13/2021 Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
Meeting Minutes
Monday, December 13, 2021
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Pension Trustees
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Frank Hibbard, Trustee Hoyt Hamilton, Trustee David Allbritton,
Trustee Kathleen Beckman, and Trustee Mark Bunker
Also Present—Jon Jennings—City Manager, Micah Maxwell — Assistant City
Manager, Michael Delk — Assistant City Manager, David Margolis -
City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, Nicole Sprague —
Deputy City Clerk, 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 Hibbard
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the October 18, 2021 Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the October 18, 2021
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes 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 Award a contract for pension plan actuarial services for the five-year period ending
December 31, 2026 to Gabriel, Roeder, Smith and Company for a not-to-exceed total of
$284,950 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Annually the pension plan requires an actuarial valuation of the plan to
determine the City's funding contribution, as well as annual benefit statements
to be provided to all employees participating in the plan. In addition, a separate
actuarial valuation is required annually for financial reporting per Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements. The State of Florida also
requires separate annual reporting from the actuary per Chapter 112.664
Florida Statutes. Finally, the pension plan ordinance requires an actuarial
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
"experience study" at least every six years, analyzing the mortality, service, and
compensation experience to determine whether related actuarial assumptions
require adjustment.
Request for Proposals (RFP) 47-21 was issued in August 2021, with proposals
received in September. The RFP selection committee consisting of the HR
Director, HR Assistant Director, Finance Director, Finance Assistant Director,
and Senior Pension Payroll Analyst unanimously chose Gabriel, Roeder, Smith
& Company (GRS) from the eight respondents for pension plan actuarial
services. GRS has been the actuary for the pension plan since January 2010.
The annual fee for the actuarial valuation for funding purposes, along with
employee benefit statements, will be $29,500. The annual fee for the actuarial
valuation for financial reporting purposes, per GASB, is $5,900. The fee for
annual reporting required per Chapter 112.664 Florida Statutes will be $3,750.
Finally, the experience study fee is $24,000.
Subsequent fees will be adjusted annually for inflation, not to exceed 3% in any
year. As needed, additional services will be provided per various hourly rates
provided in the agreement fee schedule, to be adjusted annually.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in cost code 6467410-530100, Professional Services, to
fund this contract.
In response to a question, Finance Director Jay Ravins said actuarial
services for the old fire pension plan were retained for one year on an
emergency basis due to the loss of the actuary. Staff will be seeking
quotes to competitively secure services for the long run.
Trustee Allbritton moved to award a contract for pension plan
actuarial services for the five-year period ending December 31,
2026 to Gabriel, Roeder, Smith and Company for a not-to-exceed
total of$284,950 and authorize the appropriate officials to
execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
4.2 Approve the termination of large cap growth equity money manager Voya Investment
Management and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Voya was hired as a large cap growth equity manager for the plan in December
1987. As of September 30, 2021, the market value of the plan's investment in
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
Voya's large cap growth equity product totaled $10.5 million, or 0.79% of the
Plan's total investment portfolio. Voya's performance has declined in recent
years, as detailed below.
The Pension Investment Committee unanimously recommends termination at
this time. The monies will be moved to the Northern Trust Collective Russell
1000 Growth Index fund.
Percentile
As of 9/30/2021 Voya Ranking Benchmark
Last 3 years 18.97% 72nd 22.00%
Last 5 years 20.29% 55th 22.84%
Last 10 years 18.64% 51 st 19.68%
Trustee Beckman moved to approve the termination of large cap
growth equity money manager Voya Investment Management and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Approve the new hires for acceptance into the Pension Plan as listed.
Name/Job Classification/Department Pension
Eligibility Date
Frank Berlingis, Police Records Specialist, Police 9/10/2021
Jennifer Partee, Senior Staff Assistant, Planning & Development 9/10/2021
Julie Baron, Customer Service Trainer, Customer Service 9/10/2021
Kayla Parker, Police Telecommunicator, Police 9/10/2021
Kevin Drielts, Police Records Specialist, Police 9/10/2021
Matthew Gresh, Multi-Media Specialist, Public Communications 9/10/2021
Peter Papjes, Skilled Tradesworker, General Services 9/10/2021
Rebecca Mulder, Code Enforcement Inspector, Planning & Development 9/10/2021
Victor Gaeta, Customer Service Representative, Customer Service 9/10/2021
William Young, Police Telecommunicator, Police 9/10/2021
Azeen Sarkhosh,Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021
Christian Rodriguez, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021
Christopher Castro, Gas Technician Apprentice, Gas 9/27/2021
Cole Klein, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021
Cordez Gatheright, Solid Waste Equipment Operator, Solid Waste 9/27/2021
Damian Rios, Police Cadet-Attending Academy, Police 9/27/2021
Daniel Bieber, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021
James Goldener, Parking, Facility& Security Aid, Engineering/Parking 9/27/2021
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Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
Jonathan Vangeli, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021
Joseph Beebe, Skilled Tradesworker, General Services 9/27/2021
Keister Crenshaw, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 9/27/2021
Malcolm Holmes, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 9/27/2021
Matthew Bremis, Police Officer, Police 9/27/2021
Michelle Holzhauer, Parking Citation Assistant, Engineering/Parking 9/27/2021
Roxanna Sever, Development Review Technician, Planning & Dev. 9/27/2021
Santana Miller, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 9/27/2021
Shawn Manspeaker, Parking, Facility&Security Aid, Library 9/27/2021
Tyler Dejong, Survey Assistant, Engineering 9/27/2021
Eric Kelly, Water Distribution Operator Lead, Public Utilities 10/11/2021
Greg McCullough, Senior Auditor, Audit 10/11/2021
Jeffery Elliott, Fleet Mechanic, General Services 10/11/2021
Josh Francis, Parks Service Foreman, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021
Keith Robertson, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021
Keona Daniels, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021
Lisa Diamond, Recreation Coordinator, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021
Matthew Farkosh, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021
Michael Jackson, Parks Service Technician, Parks & Recreation 10/11/2021
Trustee Bunker moved to approve the new hires for acceptance
into the Pension Plan as listed. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
4.4 Approve the following request of employee Valerie Craig, Finance Department, to vest
her pension as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan.
Valerie Craig, Senior Procurement Analyst, Finance Department, was employed
by the City on December 20, 2010 and began participating in the Pension Plan
on August 1, 2011. Ms. Craig terminated from city employment on October 8,
2021.
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
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
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. Craig will meet the non-hazardous duty criteria and begin collecting a
pension in December 2039.
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.
Trustee Hamilton moved to approve the following request of
employee Valerie Craig, Finance Department, to vest her pension
as provided by Section 2.419 of the Employees' Pension Plan. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.5 Approve the following request of Douglas Alvarez, Parks and Recreation Department,
Leonard Aragones, Parks and Recreation Department, and Robert Strieder, Public
Utilities Department for a regular pension as provided by Sections 2.416 and 2.424 of the
Employees' Pension Plan.
Douglas Alvarez, Parks Service Foreman, Parks and Recreation Department,
was employed by the City on August 13, 2001, and his pension service credit is
effective on that date. His pension will be effective February 1, 2022. Based on
an average salary of approximately $47,464.16 over the past five years, the
formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Alvarez's selection of the 10
Year Certain and Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$26,323.68 annually.
Leonard Aragones, Senior Parks Service Tech, Parks and Recreation
Department, was employed by the City on November 8, 2010, and his pension
service credit is effective on that date. His pension will be effective January 1,
2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $38,557.76 over the past
five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Aragones'
selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$11,819.76 annually.
Robert Strieder, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator A, Public Utilities
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City of Clearwater
Pension Trustees
5. Adjourn
Attest
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City Clerk
City of Clearwater
Meeting Minutes December 13, 2021
Department, was employed by the City on December 8, 1997, and his pension
service credit is effective on June 8, 1998. His pension will be effective January
1, 2022. Based on an average salary of approximately $52,848.92 over the past
five years, the formula for computing regular pensions and Mr. Strieder's
selection of the Single Life Annuity, this pension benefit will be approximately
$34,246.44 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.
Mr. Alvarez, Mr. Aragones and Mr. Strieder have met the non -hazardous duty
criteria.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the following request of
Douglas Alvarez, Parks and Recreation Department, Leonard
Aragones, Parks and Recreation Department, and Robert
Strieder, Public Utilities 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.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
Employees' Pension Plan Trustees
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