HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 9DRAFT Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting
Town of Los Altos Hills
Town Hall, Monday, January 9, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 pm.
Members present: Allan Epstein, Kjell Karlsson, Jim Lai, Stan Mok, Jean Mordo, John Radford and
Roddy Sloss.
Member absent: Frank Lloyd, Bill Silver, and Lalla Stark
Staff present: Nick Pegueros, Finance Director
Guests present: Paula Cone of HdL Coren & Cone, Town’s property tax advisors
Public Present: Gary Waldeck (in audience)
Approval of minutes: Minutes of the November 11, 2011 Regular meeting were approved as submitted.
Discussion 2011-2012 Preliminary Property Tax Report by Paula Cone
Ms. Cone handed out a 2011-12 Property Tax Summary and 2011-12 Property Tax Data booklet related to the
Town. She reviewed the contents of the handouts highlighting comparisons to neighboring communities and
changes from the prior year. She noted the Town experienced a 3.8% taxable value increase in 2011/12 that she
expects to shrink to approximately 3% after appeals. The 2011/12 Town budget assumed a 1.9% increase. Ms.
Cone also noted that another 3% increase for the 2012/13 year is a reasonable expectation. Mr. Pegueros noted
that HdL services cost about $12,000 annually (subsequently determined to be $5,000) and through discussion
the Committee noted that information is helpful for budgeting and assessing the reasonableness of this largest
individual component of the Town’s revenue.
Report by Jean Mordo on recent Council activities of interest:
Mr. Mordo will represent the Town in library commission discussions regarding the fair distribution of funds.
Report by Nick Pegueros on Finance Department activities:
Mr. Pegueros noted that the Town’s finance manager resigned and the Town is recruiting for a replacement.
Mr. Pegueros noted that he is presently assisting a Town neighborhood committee representing 45 properties
who is proceeding to underground its utilities using Mello Roos financing. Mr. Pegueros distributed by email
final copies of the Town’s 2011 CAFR before the meeting and noted changes made as a result of discussion in
the committee’s previous meeting. He also noted that beginning in fiscal 2012, yearend Council approval of
budget revisions would only be sought for major items specifically authorized by Council.
Review on CalPERS June 30, 2010 Valuation of the Town’s Pension Plan and future contributions
Mr. Pegueros commented on pension costs related to CalPERS October 2011 annual report on pension costs for
the 6/30/10 fiscal year and cost reducing employee benefit changes to medical and new employee pension
provisions. Previously, a committee member suggested exploring the opportunity to cap pension costs at
existing levels and funding future cost increases with employee participant contributions up to 7% of covered
pay. Mr. Pegueros reported that this option will be on the table again when the Council Ad Hoc Committee on
Employee Benefits reconvenes in the next several weeks. On the advice of legal counsel, however,
modifications to current employee pensions are not being studied further, i.e. reducing pension benefits for
current employees (tier 1) on the 2% @ 55 benefit formula to 2% @ 60. The Town has already modified the
pension benefits for employees hired on or after September 1, 2011 (tier 2). Tier 2 provides the 2% @ 60
benefit formula with the employee picking up the full 7%.
DRAFT FIC Minutes January 9, 2012, continued page 2.
Mr. Sloss reviewed slides covering changes in the June 2011 GASB Pension exposure draft and the
aforementioned CalPERS report. From data in the CalPERS report, Mr. Sloss estimated the Town’s unfunded
pension liability at approximately $400,000 as of June 2010 noting the Town had established reserves of
$140,000 to cover that cost as of June 30, 2012 through annual $70,000 accruals beginning in fiscal 2010-11.
Prior adverse investment performance has been recovering; however pension rates are expected to continue to
rise due to adverse changes in actuarial assumptions related to retirement age, compensation and mortality.
Employer pension contributions increased 1 percentage point in 2011/12 and are expected to increase about 0.2
percentage points each year there after through 2016/2017. Sensitivity to reasonably expected earnings
performance is relatively low.
Review of Professional Services Draft Bidding Policy by Nick Pegueros
Mr. Pegueros handed out a revised draft of the subject policy incorporating changes previously proposed. Mr.
Karlsson noted some of the difficulties experienced by Town management related to arranging bids and
receiving third party advice on proposed work and related costs. The Committee had no further comments on
the policy draft and recommended that it be submitted to Council for review and approval.
Presentations from the Floor:
Mr. Mok proposed a discussion of alternative higher yielding investment strategies.
Proposed topics and dates for future meetings:
The next FIC meeting is scheduled for 4 pm, Monday, February 6, 2012. The non recurring topics are: a) A
review of the OPED valuation with Mr. Bartell and b) discussion of alternative higher yielding investment
strategies. A review of the Planning and Building Fee Study is anticipated at the March meeting.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 5:35 pm
Respectfully submitted by Roddy Sloss, Committee Secretary