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08-27-1973 Regular MeetingPENSION BOARD MEETING A meeting of the Miami Shores Village Pension Board was held Monday August 27, 1973 at Uncle John's Pancake House, Biscayne Blvd, at 8:00 AM. The following were present: Absent: Mayor James Condit John McIntyre Michael Franco John Fletcher James Glaid Chief Wayne Thurman Dean Miller Minutes of the previous July 26th meeting were not available. A discussion was carried on regarding the intent of the old or prior council in giving Steve Tong either 19 or 20 years credit in figuring his vested pension amount. It was suggested that we get an opinion from both the Actuary and the Attorney as to what would be proper without causing future problems or setting precedent, and what the options and alternatives are in this case. A discussion was held on the Cost of Living increased benefits as previously suggested and outlined in the Wyatt Company's August 6, 1973 letter. More information and figures were desired in the following areas, with the Cost of Living increased based on Price Index when: 1. The adjustment up or down not to exceed 1% 2. The adjustment up or down not to exceed 1 3. The adjustment up or down not to exceed 2% 4. One time 5% catch up adjustment 5. $10.00 per month minimum adjustment on item #4 above. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 AM. Ap oved ,�t 4h►� V4eN. C airman Respectfully submitted CHICAGO CLEVELAND DALLAS DETROIT FORT WORTH HONOLULU HOUSTON LOS ANGELES THE Waft COMPANY ACTUARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT CONSULTANTS 9595 NORTH KENDALL DRIVE MIAMI, FLORIDA 33156 (305) 274-8080 August 6, 1973 Mr. J. A. Glaid Director of Finance Miami Shores Village 10050 N.E. Second Avenue Miami Shores, Florida 33131. MIAMI NEW YORK PHILADELP¢IIA SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON OTTAWA TORONTO Re: Possible Linking of Fixed Retirement Benefits to a Cost -of -Living Index Dear Mr. Glaid: The upward movement in prices over the last quarter century has led to a decline in the purchasing power of fixed retirement benefits. We have suggested below three alternatives that would help maintain the pur- chasing power of retirement benefits for Miami Shores' retired employees. Each alternative calls for some change in the amount of benefit which a retired employee would receive after his retirement date. 1. Cost -of -Living Pension • The more direct and responsive method of adjusting retirement benefits is to vary the amount of income to offset variations in the cost -of -living. This can be accomplished by stipulating that plan benefits will be modified in accordance with a prescribed procedure to reflect variations in a speci- fied index of prices. Three indexes of prices have been suggested with which to link cost -of -living increases to; they are: a. Consumer Price Index b. Wholesale Price Index c. Gross National Product Implicity Price Deflator The index that has been most widely used in the past for this purpose has been the Consumer Price Index. Each year at Miami Shores' valuation date, the benefit being paid to each retiree would be increased or decreased by the percentage change of the Consumer Price Index during the past year. The Village could place a limit on the extent of change in benefits on any one adjustment date. Four cost -of -living alternatives are listed below with our estimated costs to the Village: a. The plan could be amended to provide for adjusting retiree's bene- fits yearly on Miami Shores' valuation date by the percentage change Mr. J. A. Glaid August 6, 1973 Miami Shores Village Page Two in the Consumer Price Index for that year, but such adjustment shall not exceed 1% per year. If this change were adopted ef- fective January 1, 1973, the increase in cost of the plan would be from 5% to 15% of the total Village contribution. b. A second alternative would be to adjust the benefits yearly by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for that year, but such adjustment shall not exceed 2% per year. If this change were adopted effective January 1, 1973, the increase in cost of the plan would be from 15% to 25% of the total Village contribu- tion. c. A third alternative would be to adjust the benefits payable to retirees yearly by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for the year, but such adjustment shall not exceed 3% per year. This change would have the effect of increasing the cost of the plan from 25% to 35% of the total Village contribution. d. A fourth alternative would be to adjust benefits for retirees yearly by the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for that year, but not impose a maximum change. In light of the large increases to the Consumer Price Index over the past few years, this alternative would result in a 35% to 1.5% increase in the current year's cost. 2. Variable Annuities The so-called variable annuity plan is a less direct method of adjusting retirement benefits to the price level changes. As each retiree attains re- tirement, the single -sum value of his benefits are placed in a fund which would be invested and reinvested in equities. The benefits that the retirees would then receive under this program could be directly related to the per- formance of the fund based on the current market value of the portfolio. The theory underlying this plan is that over an extended period of time, fluctuations in the market value of a representative group of common stocks and other equity investments will tend to conform rather faithfully to changes in the consumer price level. Experience, however, has shown that the market value of a common stock portfolio can deviate sharply and for considerable periods of time from the trends of prices, and not necessarily in the same directions. During periods of the past few years, just when the Consumer Price Index was rising sharply, the market value of a great many stocks was falling. The participants, not Miami Shores, would be the ones who would bear the risk inherent in the variable annuity plan. For these reasons, it is suggested that if a variable annuity plan is considered, it be one where, at most, only one-half of the value of the retiree's benefit be placed in a common stock portfolio; the other half would remain in Miami Shores' Trust • (012 IFEcl 6DDU r,. ,0.:I :na¢F Pel hote,LLte S /iciiiij .�L� V FL OR I DA 3 3 1 3 8 Mr. Dennis I. Clum, Vice President First State Bank of Miami 8017 N. E. 2nd Avenue Miami, Florida 33138 Dear Mr. Clum: JOHN W McINTYRE LA ,E MANAGER July 26th 1 9 7 3 Enclosed is the Wyatt Company's certification on the retirement of Clyde R. Blue starting August 1, 1973. This was authorized at the Pension Board meeting of July 26, 1973. His current address is as listed below: JWM:v Enc. Clyde R. Blue 1001 N. W. 106th Street Miami, Florida 33150 Thank you for your cooperation. Very truly yours, ).\ , Village Manager for: Pension Board