CC SR 20240116 D - FY 2023-24 Investment Policy
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 01/16/2024
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to approve the revised Investment Policy for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2023-24.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Approve the FY 2023-24 Investment Policy applicable to the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes, Rancho Palos Verdes Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency,
and Rancho Palos Verdes Improvement Authority as revised to extend the
maximum maturity for government sponsored agency bonds from three years out
to five years when deemed favorable for the City’s investment portfolio .
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Jason Loya, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Vina Ramos, Director of Finance VR
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft Redlined FY 2023-24 Investment Policy (page A-1)
BACKGROUND
The City’s FY 2023-24 Investment Policy was initially reviewed by the Finance Advisory
Committee (FAC) on June 1, 2023, and approved by the City Council on June 20, 2023.
This item was brought to the City Council in June to ensure timely adoption of the policy;
however, it was noted that additional recommendations were under review and that the
item would return at a later date. During the FAC’s initial review, it was unanimously
approved (prior to making a formal recommendation ) to amend Item Number 4 of the
Investment Policy pending that the Committee receive a presentation from the City’s
Investment Broker, Stifel, regarding a proposed change to the maturity duration of
government sponsored agency bonds. Item Number 4 of the policy currently states that
the maximum maturity for government sponsored agency bonds is out to three years.
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At that time, Staff requested for the FAC to consider the option of extending agency bonds
out to five-years to enhance the City’s investment portfolio diversification and match the
allowable duration with Certificates of Deposit (CDs) and Treasury Bonds.
On December 14, 2023, the FAC received a presentation from Josh Gorham, Managing
Director of Stifel, regarding this investment strategy and to revisit the proposed
recommendation. The subsequent discussion resulted in the FAC’s recommendation to
revise the City’s FY 2023-24 Investment Policy as proposed to extend the maturity
duration out to five years. The purpose of this item is to provide the revised policy to the
City Council for review and consideration.
DISCUSSION:
As reported on June 20, 2023, Staff reviewed current investment statutes in the 2023
LAIG published by the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDAIC).
The guidelines provide updated information on the Government Code Section 53600 et
seq. and can be used as a baseline for local municipalities’ investment policies.
Additionally, Staff’s consultation with the City’s investment broker resulted in a
recommended policy improvement by the FAC consistent with the City’s investment
criteria of safety, liquidity, and yield:
• Amend item Number 4 to extend the maximum maturity for government sponsored
agency bonds from three years out to five years (Attachment A).
This change would ultimately improve financial flexibility and align the maximum duration
of agency bonds with CDs and Treasuries. Following additional discussion, the proposed
recommendation was unanimously supported by the FAC and is included as a revision to
the FY 2023-24 Investment Policy.
CONCLUSION
Extending the allowable maturity duration of agency bonds from three (3) years out to five
(5) years enables the City to capitalize on opportunities if such market conditions exist.
Given the market’s continuously changing conditions, amending Item Number 4 as
proposed diversifies the City’s investment portfolio and maximizes opportunities for
additional earnings and improves the City’s financial flexibility.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff recommendations, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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ATTACHMENT A
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, RANCHO PALOS VERDES SUCCESSOR
AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND RANCHO PALOS VERDES
IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY FY 2023-24 INVESTMENT POLICY
OBJECTIVES
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Palos Verdes Successor Agency to the
Redevelopment Agency, and Rancho Palos Verdes Improvement Authority (hereafter
referred to as “City”) strive to maintain the level of investment of all idle funds as near
100% as possible through the optimum operation of its cash management system. The
City has determined that its investment criteria, listed in order of priority, are safety,
liquidity, and yield.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
The City has designated the Director of Finance as the City Treasurer, the Successor
Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency and Improvement Authority (hereafter
referred to as City Treasurer). The City has delegated the authority to the City Treasurer
to invest subject to the limitation set forth in the Investment Policy. The City Treasurer
shall be trustee and fiduciary on behalf of the City. If the City Treasurer is unavailable,
the City has delegated authority to the City Manager, also designated as the Executive
Director of the Successor Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency and Chief
Administrative Officer of the Improvement Authority, to conduct transactions in connection
with the investment of the City’s funds.
INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS
The City can invest in the following investment instruments as approved by the California
Government Code:
1. Demand deposits and money market savings accounts totaling a book
balance up to five million dollars ($5,000,000) with Bank of the West or any
other financial institution approved by the City Council; provided, however,
that not more than 15% of the City's funds are on deposit at said bank.
Demand deposits and money market savings accounts may exceed five
million dollars ($5,000,000) or 15% of the City’s funds for no more than thirty
(30) days if the accounts are to hold monies being transitioned between
investment instruments listed in the Investment Policy.
2. The Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) administered by the Treasurer
of the State of California.
3. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) and U.S. Treasury Obligations (Treasury)
placed through Stifel, formerly Vining-Sparks, and/or Bank of the West, as
well as Certificate of Deposit Account Registration System (“CDARs”)
through Malaga Bank. The maximum maturity for all investment instruments
is five years. All entities are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation as authorized by Government Code Section 53601.8 through
53635.8 (enacted by AB 2011 in September 2006) or by the National Credit
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Union Administration (NCUA) for up to $250,000.
4. The City may invest in the following government sponsored agency bonds
out to three five years: Freddie Mac (FHLMC), Fannie Mae (FNMA), Federal
Farm Credit Bank (FFCB), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), and Farmer
Mac (FAMCA).
5. Total CDs, CDARs, Treasury, and agency bonds, are at the maximum of
50% of the total portfolio, or whichever is more restrictive as specified by
the Local Agency Investment Guidelines.
6. Money Market Savings Accounts and demand deposits with institutions
other than those specified in paragraph 1 above, provided that no deposit
made pursuant to this paragraph in any one institution shall exceed the
amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
7. Shares of "money market funds", which are sold without any sales
commission or sales charge of any kind (true no load funds), which limit
investment to securities issued by (or guaranteed as to both principal and
interest by) the United States, which are issued in the City's name and are
rated in the highest ranking or numerical rating by at least one of the
nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (not to exceed 15% of
the total portfolio).
The listed investments are the only authorized investments for the City.
POLICY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING INVESTMENTS (IN ORDER OF PRIORITY)
SAFETY:
Safety, and the minimizing of risk associated with investing, refers to attempts to reduce
the potential for loss of principal, interest, or a combination of the two. The first level of
risk control is reduction of default risk by investing in instruments that appear to be the
most credit worthy. The second level of risk control is reduction of market risk by investing
in instruments that have relatively short maturities, thereby eliminating risk of loss from a
forced sale. The City only invests in those instruments that are considered very safe.
LIQUIDITY:
Liquidity refers to the ability to easily sell at any time with minimal risk of losing some
portion of principal or interest. Liquidity is an important quality for an investment to have,
for at any time the City may have unexpected or unusual circumstances that result in
larger disbursements than expected, and some investments may need to be sold to meet
the contingency. Most investments of the City are highly liquid, with the exception of
insured Time Certificates of Deposit issued by banks and savings and loan associations
whose maturities are selected in anticipation of disbursement needs, thereby obviating
the need for forced liquidation or lost interest penalties.
YIELD:
Yield is the potential dollar earnings an investment can provide, and also is sometimes
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described as the rate of return. The City attempts to obtain the highest yield possible
when selecting an investment, provided that the criteria stated herein for safety and
liquidity are met.
POLICY CONSTRAINTS AND GUIDELINES
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes operates its investment program according to the
prudent investor standard with many additional, self-imposed constraints. The Treasurer
shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence to safeguard principal and maintain
liquidity. The Treasurer shall: (1) not speculate; (2) not buy corporate debt securities; (3)
not deal in futures or options; (4) not purchase on margin or through reverse repurchase
agreements; (5) not buy long term securities; and (6) not acquire any investment
expressly prohibited by State statute.
REPORTS PROVIDED BY THE TREASURER
The Treasurer shall annually render a Statement of Investment Policy to the City Council
for their approval, and this policy shall be in compliance with all applicable State statutes.
The Treasurer shall render a monthly report of cash balances to the City Manager and
City Council showing the type of investment, date of purchase, custodian (if applicable),
institution, date of maturity, amount of deposit or purchase price, current market value for
all securities, and rate of interest. The report shall also include a description of any of the
City's funds, investments, or programs that are under the management of contracted
parties.
The monthly Report of Cash Balances shall state its relationship to the Investment Policy
by indicating each and every instance that there is a divergence from, or violation of,
policy or stating that the monthly report is in compliance with the Investment Policy.
INVESTMENT AUDITS AND INVESTMENT POLICY EVALUATION
As a part of the City's annual independent audit, there shall be a review of the City's
Investment Policy regarding compliance with the Policy guidelines. These review
procedures will be performed in conjunction with the internal control testing applied to City
policies. Any discrepancies will be reported directly to the City Council in the auditor’s
management letter issued upon the completion of their examination.
INVESTMENT GUIDELINES
Cash Availability Guidelines:
1. A cash flow analysis shall be developed as necessary which will serve as a basis
for determining the cash available for investment and maturity dates needed to
cover future disbursements.
2. Revenue receipts are consolidated into one bank account and invested on a
pooled concept basis. Interest earnings are allocated according to fund cash and
investment balances.
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3. Active bank balances are kept as low as possible without jeopardizing good
banking relationships by maintaining investment of available cash as near to 100%
as possible.
4. Sufficient funds are maintained in very liquid investments to meet most unexpected
contingencies.
Investing Guidelines:
1. Only investments authorized by the Investment Policy are utilized.
2. A copy of the Investment Policy should be given to each financial institution with
which the City does business, and the City will request an acknowledgement not
less than annually that such financial institution has received and reviewed the
Policy.
3. Before an unfamiliar security is purchased, the issuer and the instrument are
researched and investigated and all contractual agreements and administrative
procedures are completed before any transactions are consummated.
4. The City does not permit the purchase of securities on margin or via reverse
repurchase agreements (using the security to be purchased as collateral).
5. Every investment transaction is documented and the procedure for monitoring is
clearly defined.
6. Investment strategies are reviewed by the City Treasurer for possible need to
change at least annually. They are reviewed more frequently as changes in
economic conditions dictate.
Guidelines for certain Types of Investments:
California State Local Agency Investment Fund
A resolution is on file with the State Treasurer that permits maintaining an account
in LAIF.
Custody
Custody of investments in securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States Government shall be placed, pursuant to a written custody agreement, with
Bank of the West or any other financial institution approved by the City Council.
INTERNAL CONTROL OBJECTIVES FOR INVESTMENTS
Internal control for investments is the procedure established by management of the City
to assist in ensuring as far as practicable:
1. An orderly and efficient conduct of investing, including adherence to investment
policies.
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2. The safeguarding of assets.
3. The accuracy and completeness of the accounting records for investments.
4. The timely preparation of reliable financial information.
5. The prevention of errors.
6. The detection of fraud.
Elements of Internal Control of Investments:
Adherence to the use of sufficient elements of a system of internal control is the method
by which the City can satisfy the objective of internal control. A list of sample elements
follows:
1. Responsibility
Specific responsibility for the performance of duties should be assigned and lines
of authority and reporting clearly identified and understood.
2. Segregation
Segregation of functions reduces the risk that a person is in a position to conceal
errors. If two different people process the components of a transaction, collusion
is necessary to conceal errors or fraud. In particular, the functions that should be
considered when evaluating segregation of functions are authorization, execution,
recording, and performing reconciliations.
3. Authorization
Only the appropriate responsible individual shall authorize all transactions. The
responsibilities and limits of authorization should be clearly delineated. Delegation
of authority to authorize transactions should be handled very carefully.
4. Transfers of Investment Funds
The transferring of investment funds will be carried out exclusively by use of the
Federal Reserve Bank's electronic wire transfer system. Each Banker or Dealer
with which the City does business shall receive in writing from the City Treasurer
a listing that limits transfers of funds to pre-authorized bank accounts only.
The listing will also contain the names of City staff authorized to request such
transfers and will be updated in writing for all changes of authorized staff and bank
accounts as necessary.
Transfers from one account of the City to another shall require the request of only
one authorized staff member. Transfers from the City's account to third parties
shall require the request of two authorized members.
5. Recording
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The recording system should provide that the recording procedures, both manual
and computerized, be carried out independently of the individual doing the
investment execution to help assure that recorded transactions are complete,
valid, authorized, and properly recorded.
Signed:__________________________
Treasurer
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