HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-31 - Finance-Accounting Committee Meeting Minutes1
MINUTES OF THE
YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT
FINANCE-ACCOUNTING COMMITTEE MEETING
Friday, May 31, 2013 8:30 a.m.
1717 E Miraloma Ave, Placentia CA 92870
1. CALL TO ORDER
The May 31, 2013 meeting of the Yorba Linda Water District’s Finance-
Accounting Committee was called to order by Director Hawkins at 8:30 a.m. The
meeting was held in the Admin Conference Room at the District’s Administration
Building located at 1717 East Miraloma Avenue in Placentia, California 92870.
2. ROLL CALL
COMMITTEE STAFF
Director Phil Hawkins, Chair Stephen Parker, Finance Manager
Director Gary T. Melton
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
4. ACTION CALENDAR
4.1. Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Discharge Permit Fees
Mr. Parker explained that during a recent review of the FOG program, staff
determined that the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) FOG
review could be eliminated. That combined with efficiencies found in-
house resulted in a significant reduction of fees necessary to administer
the FOG Program. As a result, staff requested the elimination of the
OCHCA inspection services and the reduction of the FOG fees to $145 for
initial and annual FOG Permits, the Noncompliance Fee reduced to $200
and the Mitigation Fee reduced to $1,500. The Committee supported staff
recommendation, with Director Melton recusing himself.
4.2. Financial Reserves Policy for FY 2013/14
Mr. Parker presented the Financial Reserves Policy for FY 13/14. Mr.
Parker explained that by adding the Debt Service Reserve to the Reserve
Policy, there would be an initial transfer from Operating Reserves to
establish the Debt Service Reserve, and no future rate increase would be
required to fund the reserve as it is already funded with existing rates.
The Committee had questions about the new reserve increasing the
minimum reserve threshold and whether the District would be able to stay
within it. Mr. Parker explained that the reserve policy was not binding to
the Board, but more goal-setting. He also affirmed that should OCWD
approve the District’s annexation request and the District use a short-term
financing option, the District should be able to stay above the minimum
reserve threshold. The Committee supported staff recommendation.
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4.3. Appropriations Limit for FY 2013/14
Mr. Parker offered for the Committee’s review the annual Appropriations
Limit calculation. Mr. Parker explained that the Appropriations Limit was a
state requirement designed to assure that government agencies do not
assess and collect taxes in excess of controlled limits. Since the District
receives a very small amount of property tax money, the District will
always be quite far from the limit. Mr. Parker showed the calculation
moving up to $5,983,590 for the upcoming year. The Committee
supported staff’s recommendation of the resolution adopting the new limit.
4.4. Unaudited Financial Statements for the Period Ending March 31, 2013
Mr. Parker presented the unaudited quarterly financial statements to the
Committee. He explained that this item would go on the consent calendar
for the Board with the Committee’s approval. The March 2013 debt
service coverage is at 1.78%, well above the 1.10 required coverage level.
Mr. Parker said that he believed this would go up in the final three months
of the year, as January – March is the District’s lowest revenue period of
the fiscal year. After some further discussion about the financial
statements the Committee supported staff recommendation.
5. DISCUSSION ITEMS
5.1. Short-Term Financing Options (Verbal Report)
Mr. Parker shared some of the conversations he had been having with
CSDA Finance Corporation as well as other financial institutions looking at
different short-term financing options. Mr. Parker presented preliminary
terms from the different institutions and the Committee recommended that
Mr. Parker continue discussions with the financial institutions.
5.2. CalPERS Employer Contribution Rate Increase (Verbal Report)
Mr, Parker informed the Committee that with the recent CalPERS vote,
future employer rates will be going up by approximately 1% per year over
the next 5 or 6 years. Mr. Parker shared that the District’s current rate
was between 10% and 11%.
5.3. Investment Report for Period Ending April 31, 2013
Mr. Parker presented the investment report for April 2013. He also
explained that the District’s yield of 0.65% would be going up in the
coming months, as staff has begun making investments in Certificates of
Deposit (below the $250,000 FDIC threshold) and Federal Agency
Securities (which have the full faith and credit of the US Government). He
further explained that all investments purchased so far had a higher yield
than the CalTRUST medium term portfolio’s 0.67%. As such, Mr. Parker
expected the yields in future month’s reports to begin inching up. Mr.
Parker pointed out that the District gained over $700,000 in total reserves
and explained that it was due to capital project being paid for with
borrowing from the District’s Line of Credit.
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5.4. Budget to Actual Results for April 2013
Mr. Parker shared the April Budget to Actual results with the Committee.
As nothing dramatic had changed from previous results, the Committee
had no questions.
5.5. Broker Dealer Approval
Mr. Parker informed the Committee that he has vetted his 5th (and final)
broker/dealer. Bank of the West is owned by BNP Paribas, the 5th largest
bank in the world, and being a primary dealer, Craig Conley will be able to
provide the District with inventory that 3 of the other 4 broker dealers do
not have access to.
5.6. Future Agenda Items and Staff Tasks
None.
6. ADJOURNMENT
6.1. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 a.m. The next Finance-Accounting
Committee meeting is scheduled to be held Friday, June 28, 2013 at 8:00
a.m.