HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up DocumentsSUMMARY OF THE MONEY MANAGERS MEETING OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI
GENERAL EMPLOYEES' AND SANITATION EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT TRUST
THE ROSE GORDON BUILDING
2901 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE
WALDEMAR LEE CONFERENCE ROOM
COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133
TELEPHONE: 305-441-2300 I FAX: 305-441-2307
WWW.GESE.ORG
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
9:34 AM
MEMBERS: LUIS FERNANDEZ (Present)
CLARENCE GRAVES (Present)
PORFIRIO JIMENEZ (Absent)
MARY LUGO (Present - Remote)
SEAN MOY (Present - Remote)
ANN-MARIE SHARPE (Present)
JOE SIMMONS, JR. (Present)
COREY TAYLOR (Present)
OLGA TORRES (Present - Remote)
ALSO PARTICIPATING:
EDGARD HERNANDEZ
MARLENE JANE
FORTUNA LEVY
EDWIN MIRANDA
ALIBEL SANCHEZ
RONALD A. SILVER, ESQ.
HILDA THOMPSON
TODD GREEN
ANDREW T. PHILLIPS
VANESSA HERNANDEZ
NELSIA KING
YVES LOUISSAINT
GEORLIAM RODRIGUEZ
GIANNINA SANCHEZ
ENRIQUE RAMOS
WALLY WILSON
PETER SCHWEDOCK
MICHAEL BARNES
*Other individuals were present; however, their signatures were illegible.
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ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT:
Proposed Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Draft) for fiscal year ended
September 30, 2023 — Mr. Hernandez stated that this report is more comprehensive
than the report that auditors presented at the last meeting. At the last meeting they
presented only the performance of the plan as it relates to the audit, internal controls,
investments, and the actuary. This comprehensive financial report was submitted to
the GFOA. It has five sections. The introductory section which the initiative on that
is to maintain a cyber security posture with a risk -based strategy which is Invest,
Protect, Detect and Restore. It is important to have a business continuity plan. We
have a Mock Event, where we will mock that we have a hurricane to ensure that we
provide all the benefits as they are due to the retirees and continue to maintain data
integrity in the Trust. The second section is the financial section. Part three is the
investment section with the audited performance results. GESE performance was
13.4, Staff was 15.3. The plan is actuarially sound with changes in the discount rate
going from 7.45 to 7.0. The last section is unaudited, and it shows statistics on how
many people choose the different types of retirement options and the benefit
amounts. This eventually makes it to the experience study. The benefit level total
is the statistical analysis of the average retirement benefit for the fiscal year 2023
which is $3,495.00 per month. It increased from $3,370 last year to $3,495, up an
average of $125 and perhaps this is a reason to look into ways to improve the COLA
for retirees. Mr. Hernandez requested a motion to approve the reports to submit to
the GFOA. Trustee Graves moved to approve. Trustee Fernandez seconded
the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Trustee Jimenez was
absent. No other discussion took place. This report concluded.
Proposed GESE Plan budget for fiscal year October 1, 2024, to September 30,
2025 — Mr. Hernandez stated that the budget supports 4,191 members and we have
approximately as of last fiscal year $891 million in the fund. We have the first
section is the wages to the staff of the Trust. The second section is the accrued
payout, paid time, sick time, vacation balance payout, and overtime. The third
section is the car allowance, payroll taxes, retirement contributions, life insurance,
and workers' compensation. The fourth section is the professional services provided
by the consultants and others. The fifth section is the office and administrative
expenses such as travel, training, communications. The last section is insurance and
occupancy, which includes utility, rentals, IT, machinery, and equipment. Mr.
Hernandez is proposing a 5% COLA to offset inflation in addition to the anniversary
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SUMMARY OF THE MONEY MANAGERS MEETING OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI
GENERAL EMPLOYEES' AND SANITATION EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT TRUST
THE ROSE GORDON BUILDING
2901 BRIDGEPORT AVENUE
WALDEMAR LEE CONFERENCE ROOM
COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133
TELEPHONE: 305-441-2300 FAX: 305-441-2307
WWW.GESE.ORG
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024
9:34 AM
MEMBERS: LUIS FERNANDEZ (Present - Remote)
CLARENCE GRAVES (Present -Remote)
PORFIRIO JIMENEZ (Late Attendance - Zoom)
MARY LUGO (Present - Remote)
SEAN MOY (Present - Remote)
ANN-MARIE SHARPE (Late Aliival - Present)
JOE SIMMONS, JR. (Present)
OLGA TORRES (Present - Remote)
ALSO PARTICIPATING:
EDGARD HERNANDEZ
MARLENE JANE
FORTUNA LEVY
EDWIN MIRANDA
ALIBEL SANCHEZ
RONALD A. SILVER, ESQ.
HILDA THOMPSON
TODD GREEN
PETER SCHWEDOCK, ESQ.
GARLENE FELIX-DUNOIS
LARRY BROWN
CHRISTOPHER BARNETT
VANESSA HERNANDEZ
NELSIA KING
YVES LOUISSAINT
GEORLIAM RODRIGUEZ
GIANNINA SANCHEZ
ENRIQUE RAMOS
WALLY WILSON
JOSE FERNANDEZ
SOLOMON CARR
FELICIA ARCHIE
BRIAN HARVEY
MICHAEL SEBESTA
*Other individuals were present; however, their signatures were illegible.
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Motion passed unanimously. Some more discussion took place. No further action
was taken.
Mr. Silver added that we received an IRS amount due notice that was handled by
Mr. Tarcza and Mr. Klausner. Mr. Hernandez stated that the issue has been resolved.
But the amount due has not been updated with the IRS. No action was taken. This
item concluded.
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT:
Proposed Annual Disaster Recovery Plan — Mr. Hernandez stated that the Disaster
Recovery Plan is used for unexpected events to maintain continuity of the GESE
Trust operations, to pay retirees regardless of what may occur in South Florida. This
is typically used for hurricane season and recently we were able to implement parts
of it during COVID. There are minor edits and updates to the plan documents such
as internet connectivity and backup provider. The petty cash amount increased from
$250 to $300 for any unforeseen expenses, such as parking and certified mail
postage. Some discussion took place. Vice -Chair Simmons moved to approve.
Trustee Graves seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
No further action was taken. This report concluded.
Staff Cost of Living Allowance — Mr. Hernandez requested a six percent cost of
living increase for the Staff to bring parity between the city employees and the GESE
Staff. Mr. Hernandez stated that the City Manager gave an increase to the
Unclassified/Executive employees effective April 1st. Mr. Hernandez clarified that
the increase that was approved at the previous board meeting was to be effective
next fiscal year. Mr. Hernandez stated he would make an adjustment to the budget.
Vice -Chair Simmons moved to approve, and Trustee Lugo seconded the
motion. Chair Moy requested the Staff COLA increase be made retroactive to April
1st. Vice -Chair restated his motion to approve the Staff cost of living increase
effective April 1, 2024. Trustee Lugo seconded the motion. Motion passed
unanimously. Mr. Hernandez thanked the Board for their support. Some discussion
took place. No further action was taken. This report concluded.
Amended Agenda Item — Local 1907 Impact Statement - Mr. Hernandez informed
that the impact statement was prepared by Mr. Todd Green, the actuary. This is for
the multiplier change for Local 1907 Bargaining Unit going from 2.25% for the first
increase for the Staff. Chair Moy proposed a 6% COLA increase instead of 5% for
the Staff. Some discussion took place. Mr. Silver stated he has not received any
response from the new commissioners about setting up a meeting to go over the
GESE Pension Plan. Chair Moy stated that the meeting must be scheduled in person
at City Hall. Trustee Fernandez commended Chair Moy and Vice -Chair Simmons
for going the extra mile for the plan members and offered to join them in the meeting
with the new commissioners. Mr. Hernandez added that the additional 1% would
increase the budget by $7,672.00. On the fringe benefits the only item that went up
was the actuarial contributions as Todd reported last meeting. The contributions for
the Staff plan went up due to the loss we had from a few years ago. No workers
compensation. The cost of insurance is cheaper because the Staff has newer
employees. Legal fees increased based on Mr. Silver's 5% increase. Mr. Schwedock
is paid on a per case basis. Some discussion took place. Mr. Klausner and his firm
are also included in the legal fees. This year we did the audit death. Next year we
should see some savings there. Travel expenses increased as the Board approved
more conferences for Trustees. Conferences and hotel lodging prices have
increased. On communications it remains flat. We have decreased postage costs.
Mr. Hernandez expressed the desire of the members to have certain plan features
available online. The hybrid meetings have decreased costs as well. Insurance did
increase and it is not expected to go down; roughly a 10% increase. The occupancy
items went down by $40,000, mainly on the building; it went down from $153,000
to $135,000. Depreciation and machinery remained the same. The new proposed
budget total amount is $3,193,544.00. The last item, which is non -budgetary, but it
does affect the general fund was the employer contribution of $53,785,473. Thanks
to the work the Unions have done, we may have to modify that actuarial funding for
October 1'. Mr. Hernandez congratulated both Unions on negotiating the contracts
for their employees. More discussion took place. Mr. Hernandez asked for a motion
to approve the GESE budget as amended for $3,193,544.00. Trustee Taylor moved
to approve. Trustee Graves seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously
approved. Trustee Jimenez was absent. Some discussion took place. No further
action was taken. This report concluded.
Proposed Excess Plan budget for fiscal year October 1, 2024, to September 30,
2025 - Mr. Hernandez stated that the Excess Budget is an allocation budget. The
administrative cost increased $5,544.00 because of the related GESE expenses
increase. Vice -Chair Simmons moved to approve the proposed Excess Plan
budget for fiscal year October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Trustee Graves
seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Trustee Jimenez
was absent. No other discussion took place. This report concluded.
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