Title
Recommendation to Accept the Investment Report for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2018. [City Council and SACIC] (Finance 2410)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the City of Alameda’s (City) investment portfolio for the quarter ending December 31, 2018. It has been prepared to comply with regulations contained in California Government Code Section 53646 and the City’s Investment Policy. The report includes all cash and investments managed by the City. It also includes City-related investments held by bond trustees for debt service obligations as well as money held in the irrevocable trust with PARS for pension and other post-employment benefits. The report provides information on the investment type, issuer, maturity date, cost, and current market value for each security.
BACKGROUND
Each quarter of the fiscal year, an Investment Report is provided to the City Council for review, per the Investment Policy. Attached is the Investment Report for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2018, which includes detailed information on the City’s cash and investments.
DISCUSSION
The investment report includes all cash and investments as summarized in the nine categories listed below as of December 31, 2018. The City utilizes U.S. Bank as its third-party custodian for safekeeping of all investments, with the exception of investments held by Bond Trustees and several Certificates of Deposit purchased through Bank of Marin and Beacon Business Bank.
The City also utilizes the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) as a money market fund administered by the State Treasurer. LAIF has many governmental agency participants and holds securities through its own administrator. Investments held by Bond Trustees are administered in accordance with individual bond indentures.
As of December 31, 2018, the overall pooled investment portfolio average yield at purchase was 2.09%, which is lower than the rate for a two-year U.S. Treasury Note at 2.48% and the LAIF average quarterly rate of 2.21%.
On December 31, 2018, the market value of the total portfolio was $0.74 million less than the book value and the market value of the pooled portfolio was $0.67 million less than the book value. As the City does not intend to sell its pooled investment portfolio securities prior to maturity, this will have no effect on yield.
The investments in Certificates of Deposit, Federal/Agency Issues, Medium Term Notes/Commercial Paper, Asset Backed Securities and Supranationals are managed by PFM Asset Management (PFM) and Chandler Asset Management (Chandler), the City’s two registered investment managers. Several Certificates of Deposits are held by Bank of Marin. PFM is responsible for managing investments ranging from one to three years maturity, and Chandler manages investments ranging from one to five years maturity, all of which have been made in accordance with the City’s investment policy.
These investment managers invested approximately 32% of the pooled portfolios’ investments in U.S. treasuries and agency notes, 16% in Corporate Notes and Commercial Paper, 5% in Certificates of Deposits (CDs), 8% in Asset Backed Securities and 4% in Supranationals. Most of these investments were rated either A-1/BBB+ or better by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.
The remaining 35% of the total Investment Portfolio was deposited with LAIF as of December 31, 2018. LAIF has 69% of its investments in U.S. Treasuries and agency notes, 17% in CDs and bank notes, and 14% in other types of investments. Additional economic summaries and specific information related to each of the investment advisors and LAIF are included in the Investment Portfolio Summary Report in Exhibit 1.
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement 40 requires the City to recognize the fair market value of its investments at the end of each fiscal year. The market values of investments included in this report are obtained from the State Controller’s office for LAIF and from the City’s registered investment managers and bond trustees for all other investments. These market valuations are subject to daily changes. The difference between market value and historical costs, known as Unrealized Investment Gains and Losses, are temporary in nature and are not cash related transactions. Since it is the City’s general intention to hold its investments until maturity, when they would be redeemed at par value, any unrealized gain or loss is only reported at the end of the fiscal year in the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
There may be differences between the market values provided by PFM versus those provided by the custodian (U.S. Bank). PFM’s monthly statement, which includes market values, is intended to detail its investment advisory activity as well as the activity of any accounts held by the City in pools that are managed by PFM. The custodian bank maintains the control of assets and executes (i.e., settles) all investment transactions. The custodian statement is the official record of security and cash holdings and transactions. PFM recognizes that the City may use its reports to facilitate record keeping and that the custodian bank statement and the PFM statement should be reconciled and differences resolved. Many custodians use a settlement date basis, which may result in the need to reconcile due to a timing difference.
Of the total cash and investments reported above, only the portions held in the City’s General Fund (approximately $36 million, or 16%) and Internal Service Funds (approximately $43 million, or 18%) are unrestricted, although a portion of these amounts may be committed for existing obligations or designated for specific purposes. The remaining $153 million, or 66%, of the City’s cash and investments are restricted for specific uses in accordance with federal, state or local agency rules and regulations.
The City’s Investment Policy states that the quarterly investment information be submitted to the City Council within 30 days following the end of the quarter or as soon as practicable. The December 31, 2018 quarterly report is unusually late as a result of vacancies in the Finance Department and the heavy workload experienced in the first half of the year due to the biennial budget process. However, the Investment Advisory Committee, comprised of the City Treasurer, Finance Director and Financial Services Manager, has been meeting with the City’s investment advisors (PFM and Chandler) on a quarterly basis to review the pooled investment portfolio and confirm that the portfolio complies with the City’s Investment Policy.
ALTERNATIVES
• Accept the report due to no further action being requested.
• Do not accept the report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The City’s expenditure requirements for the next six months are covered by anticipated revenues from City operations and liquidity from cash on deposit and maturing investments.
In addition to the quarterly summary schedules, the current quarter investment report also includes all the individual transactions that took place during the three months period.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
All investments were made in accordance with the provisions of the City’s approved Investment Policy. The policy emphasizes safety, liquidity and diversification.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b)(4), because it involves governmental fiscal activities (acceptance of the Investment Report), which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no climate impacts from the acceptance of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the Investment Report for the quarter ending December 31, 2018.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the City Council accept the investment report.
Respectfully submitted by,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Quarterly Investment Report
cc: Kevin Kennedy, City Treasurer