MIAMI SHORES POLICE - MINUTES MEETING-6-15-2020.edited-9-20201
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE
POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM BOARD MEETING
The Miami Shores Village General Employee Pension Board and Police Retirement Board
jointly met on June 15, 2020, via web conference as follows: Please join my meeting from
your computer, tablet, or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/602395333 You can also
dial in using your phone. United States (Toll Free): 1 866 899 4679 United States: +1 (646) 749-3117
Access Code: 602-395-333.
The Police Officer Pension Board meeting called to order at 1:00 P.M. The following
individuals were present for the meeting:
PRESENT: ABSENT:
Alice Burch, Chairwoman Christopher McDonald, Trustee
John Bolton, Secretary
Shmueal Mauda, Trustee
Jonathan Meltz, Trustee
Dina Lerner & Melissa Moskovitz, Gabriel Roeder Smith (GRS), Pension Plan
Administrators, Doug Falcon, and Yolanda Shea FHA-TPA Benefit Administrators, Inc.,
Dave West, AndCo Consulting, and Pension Attorney Adam Levinson, Klausner Kaufman
Jensen & Levinson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Chairman asked if anyone had any questions regarding the meeting's minutes on February
20, 2020. Trustee Bolton pointed out that at the last meeting, he requested a copy of all the
GRS invoices for the year 2019; Ms. Shea apologized for the oversight and said she would
distribute that information to all the trustees accordingly. There being no further questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded by trustee Mauda to approve the
minutes of the meeting held February 20, 2020, motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
ACTUARY – GABRIEL ROEDER SMITH (GRS) – Melissa Moskovitz & Dina Lerner
Ms. Moskovitz discussed the Miami Shores Village Police Officers Retirement System
DRAFT Actuarial Valuation Report of October 1, 2019. The Valuation determines the
annual Employer Contribution for the year ending September 30, 2021. She pointed out
that this report does not reflect the effects of the pandemic COVID-19 since the report is
through October 1, 2019. The next Valuation scheduled on October 1, 2021, will reflect
the COVID-19 impact.
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Ms. Moskovitz advised the Board that this report reflects the following recommended
changes in actuarial assumptions from the previous Valuation:
▪ The investment return assumption was lowered from 7.5% per year to 7.0%
per year, compounded annually (net of investment expenses).
▪ The inflation rate assumption was lowered from 2.5% per year to 2.25%
per year.
▪ The rate of salary increase assumption was lowered from 6.5% per year to
6.0% per year.
▪ The mortality tables and improvement scales were updated to reflect the
updated mortality assumptions used on July 1, 2019, Florida Retirement
System (FRS) Actuarial Valuation.
The proposed inflation and investment return assumption changes have been made to
align better these assumptions with forward-looking measures of likely investment return
outcomes (for the asset classes in the current investment policy) based on the capital
market assumptions from fourteen nationally recognized investment advisors.
The proposed lower salary increase assumption reflects lower inflation expectations
described above and the Plan's experience of lower than expected average salary
increases over the past ten years.
The proposed mortality assumption change has been made in compliance with Florida
Statutes Chapter 112.63(1) (f), which mandates the use of the mortality tables used in
either of the two most recently published actuarial valuation reports of the FRS.
The net effect of all the assumption changes described above was an increase in the
required employer contribution of $107,576.
The required employer contribution developed in this Valuation has been calculated as
though the full contribution for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, is paid on
December 31, 2020. The Village has a prepaid contribution of $420,389 as of October 1,
2019, which can reduce its contribution requirement for FYE 2020 and FYE 2021 and
future fiscal years.
Ms. Moskovitz discussed in detail the Actuarial Confirmation of the Use of State Chapter
Money FY 2019.
Trustee Bolton asked Ms. Moskovitz why the General Employee Plan does a valuation
every other year vs. the Police Plan every year. Ms. Moskovitz said that decision was
before she handled this account. It was a Board decision, however, she does not know
how far back that was done. Trustee Bolton asked if there are any benefits of doing the
Valuation every two years. Ms. Moskovitz responded that having annual valuations means
having more updated data and being aware of the Plan's requirements regarding funding.
The yearly cost is lower to do it annually because they look at the data for the past 12
months vs. 24 months.
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A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded by trustee Mauda to approve the
Draft Miami Shores Village Police Officers Retirement System Actuarial Valuation
Report as of October 1, 2019, Annual Employer Contribution is Determined by
the Valuation for the year ending September 30, 2021, motion passed
unanimously.
Ms. Moskovitz will send the final report without the DRAFT watercolor and signed by them
(GRS). All other information remains as discussed.
APPROVAL OF WARRANT - 2020-0013
The Chairman asked if there were any questions regarding Warrant 2020-0013 for $1,750.00,
there being no questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded trustee Mauda to approve Warrant 2020-
0013 in the amount of $1,750.00, motion passed unanimously.
RATIFY WARRANTS – 2020-0008-2020-0012
The Chairman asked if there were any questions regarding Warrant 2020-0012 for $10,646.00,
there being no questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded trustee Mauda to approve Warrant 2020-
0012 in the amount of $10,646.00, motion passed unanimously.
The Chairman asked if there were any questions regarding Warrant 2020-0011 for $24,363.95,
there being no questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded trustee Mauda to approve Warrant 2020-
0011 in the amount of $24,363.95, motion passed unanimously.
The Chairman asked if there were any questions regarding Warrant 2020-0010 for $100.00,
there being no questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded trustee Mauda to approve Warrant 2020-
0010 in the amount of $100.00, motion passed unanimously.
The Chairman asked if there were any questions regarding Warrant 2020-0009 for $6,630.00,
there being no questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded trustee Mauda to approve Warrant 2020-
0009 in the amount of $6,630.00 motion passed unanimously.
The Chairman asked if there were any questions regarding Warrant 2020-0008 for $5,516.12,
there being no questions,
A motion made by trustee Bolton seconded trustee Mauda to approve Warrant
2020-0008 in the amount of $5,516.12 motion passed unanimously.
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INVESTMENT REPORT
Mr. West discussed the Investment Performance Review Period Ending March 31, 2020,
and May 31, 2020.
Mr. West discussed the Investment Performance Review Period Ending March 31, 2020,
and May 31, 2020.
Below are some of the Market Environment observations for the portfolio through March
31, 2020:
Global risk asset class returns declined significantly during the 1st quarter of 2020
due primarily to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
Both domestic and international equities experienced significant drawdowns as
investors moved into perceived haven assets such as US Treasury bonds.
As measured by the VIX Index, equity market volatility reached its highest level
since the Financial Crisis in 2008.
Through the quarter, global economic growth turned negative as counties
responded to the pandemic by shuttering their economies.
In the US, as a result of the decision to institute social distancing and shelter-in-
place orders, labor markets suffered significant losses as business closed or
furloughed.
International returns also faced headwinds from a strengthening US dollar (USD),
which appreciated most major currencies.
Mr. West noted as expected during periods of rising volatility, high quality fixed
income outperformed equities during the 1st quarter as investors looked for relative
safety amid the equity market drawdown. The broad market Bloomberg Barclays
Aggregate Index gained 3.1% as interest rates fell following rising concerns related
to the Coronavirus and central bank stimulus from the Fed and other global central
banks. US Government bonds were the best performing securities for the 1st
quarter returning 8.1%.
US equity returns were significantly lower during the 1st quarter with varied results across
both style and market capitalization. Concerns related to the Coronavirus, in combination
with signs that the US economy could be entering
into recession weighed on equities.
Higher market capitalization stocks were down less than lower market capitalization
stocks across the style spectrum during the quarter.
In general, value stocks underperformed growth stocks across market capitalizations
during the 1st quarter despite value stocks trading near all-time lows based on
valuation metrics. Importantly, value indexes contain large exposures to such
sectors as energy, consumer durables, and financials, all of which came under
pressure during the quarter.
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Generally, sector performance was negative across large-cap sectors for the 1st
quarter. The outlier during the period was the energy sector, which saw significant
losses due primarily to the drop in oil prices because of demand destruction related
to the Coronavirus and the inability of OPEC to agree on production cuts.
Quarterly results for small capitalization sectors were generally worse than their
large capitalization counterparts, with only utilities outperforming. All eleven
economic sectors saw substantial losses during the period, with only three of eleven
sectors outpacing the Russell 2000 Index return for the quarter. Like large-
capitalization sectors, defensive sectors were less damaging as investors gravitated
toward their relative safety and higher yields. Utilities were the least negative
sector.
Mr. West reported that the active managers across the Board, both stocks and bonds, did
not perform well during the downturn and discussed the results in detail.
He pointed out that the Domestic Index Fund is overweight by 4%. He recommends
selling 4% of Total Assets Domestic Equity funds the S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund and
allocating the funds to the Integrity Index fund. He explained the rationale behind his
recommendation, and noted that there were no costs for this transaction.
A motion made by trustee Mauda seconded by trustee Bolton to accept the
investment consultant's recommendation to sell 4% of total assets from the
domestic equity (S&P MidCap 400 index); then, those monies will be allocated
into the Integrity Fixed Income, motion passed unanimously.
This concluded the investment report.
ATTORNEY REPORT
Mr. Levinson reminded the trustees that Form 1 disclosure is due July 1, 2020. The form
can be sent by email and offered the trustees' assistance if needed.
He reported that the Plan is required to change the IRS ordinance to include the CARES
Act. However, it does not need to be done this time. This can be discussed at the next
meeting.
This concluded the attorney report.
ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
The Chairman asked Mr. Falcon to give the Board a status regarding the state police
report. Mr. Falcon advised the trustees that he could iron out the differences and send
the report to the Chairman and Mr. Benton for signature.
Trustee Bolton asked the administrator to research the history of when the resolution was
made by the General Employee board to do a valuation every two years. Perhaps the
Police board should also go into a valuation every two years to have continuity between
the two plans. Mr. Levinson advised the Board that the vast majority of the plans do an
annual valuation. He added that it would be beneficial to have the actuary at the next
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meeting and discuss, considering both pension plans be in sync. However, most plans
would be more consistent if both pension plans do an annual valuation instead of a bi-
annual valuation.
The Chairman asked the next meeting to be scheduled by the administrator accordingly.
This concluded the administrator’s report.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business,
A motion made, seconded, and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at
3:08 P.M.
Approved: Meeting held 9/22/2020