HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-Authorizing the investment policy of the City of Ashland
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-02
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INVESTMENT POLICY OF THE
CITY OF ASHLAND AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2009-33
RECITALS:
A. ORS Chapter 294.035 prohibits local governments form investing money unless the
governing body of the local government has authorized the investments.
B. The Mayor and City Council resolved: The investment of City monies in accordance with
the attached policy is authorized.
C. This resolution superseded Resolution No 2009-33 authorizing the investment of City
monies.
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
This resolution was duly PASSED and ADOPTED this X19' day of
2018, and takes effect upon singing by the Mayor.
Melissa Huhtala, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this I10 ' day of 7Y wee 2017.
o Stro berg, Mayor
Reviewed as to form:
J
avid H. Loh an Cit Attorney
Resolution No. 2018- Page 1 of 1
City of Ashland Investment Policy
2018 Current
Page I of 6
CITY OF ASHLAND, OREGON
INVESTMENT POLICY
1. POLICY STATEMENT
It is the policy of the City of Ashland to invest public funds in a manner which will provide the
highest investment return with the maximum security while meeting the daily cash flow demands
of the entity and conforming to all state and local statutes governing the investment of public
funds.
II. SCOPE
This investment policy applies to activities of the City of Ashland regarding investing the
financial assets of all funds except for funds held in trust for deferred compensation funds for the
employees of the City of Ashland. In addition, funds held by trustees or fiscal agents are
excluded from these rules; however, all funds are subject to regulations established by the State of
Oregon. Other than bond proceeds or other unusual situations, the estimated portfolio size ranges
from $15,000,000 to $50,000,000.
These funds are accounted for in the City of Ashland's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
and include:
General Fund
Reserve Fund
Special Revenue Funds
Capital Projects Funds
Debt Service Funds
Enterprise Funds
Internal Service Funds
Trust & Agency Funds
Funds of the City will be invested in compliance with the provisions of all applicable Oregon
Revised Statutes. Investments of any tax-exempt borrowing proceeds and any related Debt
Service funds will comply with the arbitrage restrictions in all applicable Internal Revenue Codes.
III. OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGY
The primary objectives, in priority order, of the City of Ashland's investment activities shall be:
1. Legality. This Investment Policy will be in conformance with federal laws, state statutes,
local ordinances, and internal policies and procedures.
2. Liquidity. The City of Ashland's investment portfolio will remain sufficiently liquid to
enable the City of Ashland to meet all operating requirements which might be reasonably
anticipated.
3. Diversification. Diversification of the portfolio will include diversification by maturity and
market sector and will include the use of multiple broker/dealers for diversification and
market coverage.
4. Yield. The City of Ashland's investment portfolio shall be designed with the objective of
attaining a market rate of return throughout budgetary and economic cycles, commensurate
with the City of Ashland's investment risk constraints and the cash flow characteristics of the
portfolio. "Market rate of return" may be defined as the average yield of the current three-
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2018 Current
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month U.S. Treasury bill or any other index that most closely matches the average maturity of
the portfolio.
Effective cash management is recognized as essential to good fiscal management. Cash
management is defined as the process of managing monies to ensure maximum cash availability.
The City shall maintain a comprehensive cash management program that includes collection of
accounts receivable, and the management of banking services. .
Large and small financial institutions in the Ashland area are a vital part of our economic,
philanthropic, and civic infrastructure, and many bank leaders in this region strive together with
government to create a more vibrant community. When financial institutions tailor their decision
making, lending policies, and practices to the needs of the local community, they are better
positioned to help sustain the local economy and local employment.
IV. STANDARDS OF CARE
1. Delegation of Authority. Authority to manage the City of Ashland's investment program is
delegated to the Administrative Services Director who is the designated Investment Officer
of the City and are responsible for investment decisions and activities, under the review of
City Council and City Administrator., The Administrative Services Director is responsible for
the day to day administration of the cash management program. In the absence of the
Administrative Services Director, the Administrative Services Manager will oversee the day to
day cash management program. In both of their absences the Deputy Finance Director will be
delegated the authority to day to day cash management.
Management responsibility for the investment program is hereby delegated to the
Administrative Services Director, in collaboration with the City Administrator, who shall
establish written procedures for the operation of the investment program consistent with this
investment policy and subject to review and adoption by City Council. Procedures should
include reference to: safekeeping, PSA repurchase agreements, wire transfer agreements,
banking service contracts and collateral/depository agreements. Such procedures shall include
explicit delegation of authority to persons responsible for investment transactions. No person
may engage in an investment transaction except as provided under the terns of this policy
and the procedures established by the Administrative Services Director and City Council. The
Administrative Services Director shall be responsible for all transactions undertaken and
shall establish a system of controls to regulate the activities of the investment program.
2. Prudence. The standard of prudence to be used by the Investment Officer shall be the
"prudent" person" standard and shall be applied in the context of managing an overall
portfolio. These standards states: "Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under
circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise
in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering
the probable safety of their capital as well as the probable income to be derived."
3. Limitation of Personal Liability. The Investment Officer acting in accordance with written
procedures, the investment policy and in accord with the Prudent Person Rule shall not be
held personally liable in the management of the portfolio.
4. Ethics and Conflict of Interest. Investment Officer involved in the investment process
shall refrain from personal business activity that could conflict with proper execution of the
investment program, or which could impair their ability to make impartial investment
decisions. Investment Officer shall disclose any material fiscal interests in financial
institutions that conduct business within this jurisdiction, and they shall further disclose any
large personal financial/investment positions that could be related to the performance of the
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2018 Current
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investment portfolio. Investment Officer and their family shall refrain from undertaking
personal investment transactions with the same individual with whom business is conducted
on behalf of the City, Investment Officer shall, always, comply with the State of Oregon,
Government Standards and Practices Commission, code of ethics set forth in ORS Chapter
244.
V. AUTHORIZED AND SUITABLE INVESTMENTS.
1. Authorized Investments. All investments of the City shall be diversified by type, maturity
and issuer. Before any transaction is concluded, to the extent practicable, the Investment
Officer shall solicit and document competitive and offers on comparable securities. When
not practicable, the reasons should be similarly documented. At all times, the Investment
Officer will strive for best execution of all transactions. Additionally, if reasonably
unanticipated events cause the portfolio limits to be exceeded, the Investment Officer will
take the steps necessary to correct the situation as soon as practicable. Investments may be
sold at a loss when the Investment Officer deems that such a decision is prudent.
2. Suitable Investments.
a. U.S. Treasuries
b. Agencies and Instrumentalities of the United States.
c. Savings and Demand Accounts (Oregon depositories only)
d. Time Certificates of Deposit (Oregon depositories only)
f. Banker's Acceptances (Oregon issued)
g. Corporate Debt
h. Municipal Debt (States of Oregon, California, Idaho and Washington only)
I . Oregon Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP)
The specific permitted securities are defined under Oregon Revised Statutes Chapters 294.035,
294.040, 294.046 and 294.810. (See Addendum A) Collateral requirements are bank deposits,
time deposits, certificates of deposit and savings accounts are defined in ORS Chapter 295. (See
Addendum B)
VI. INVESTMENT PARAMETERS
1. Diversification. The City will diversify the investment portfolio to avoid incurring
unreasonable risks, both credit and interest rate risk, inherent in over investing in specific
instruments, individual financial institutions or maturities.
Diversification Constraints on Total Holdings:
ISSUER TYPE % of portfolio
U.S. Treasury Obligations Up to 100%
U.S. Government Agency Securities and
Instrumentalities of Government Sponsored Corp. Up to 75% and 50% per issuer
Bankers' Acceptances (BA's) Up to 25% and 15% per issuer
Certificates of Deposit (CD) Up to 35%and 5%ofdeposits per
institution
Municipal Debt Up to 35% and 10% per issuer
Corporate Debt (AA, Al, P1) Up to 25% and 5% per issuer
State of Oregon Investment Pool Securities ORS Limit 294.810
I
The Investment Officer will routinely monitor the contents of the portfolio comparing the
holdings to the markets, relative values of competing instruments, changes in credit quality, and
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2018 Curtent
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benchmarks. If there are advantageous transactions, the portfolio may be adjusted accordingly,
but not to exceed percentage as stated.
2. Investment Maturities. The City will not directly invest in securities maturing more than
three (3) years from the date of purchase.
a. The maximum weighted maturity of the total portfolio shall not exceed 2 years. This
maximum is established to limit the portfolio to excessive price change exposure.
b. Liquidity funds will be held in the State Pool or in money market instruments maturing
six months and shorter. The liquidity portfolio shall, at a minimum, represent six-month
budgeted outflow.
c. Core funds will be the defined as the funds in excess of liquidity requirements. The
investments in this portion of the portfolio will have maturities between 1 day and 3 years
and will be only invested in high quality and liquid securities.
Total Portfolio Maturity Constraints:
Under 30 days 10% minimum
Under 90 days 25% minimum
Under 270 days 50% minimum
Under 1 year 75% minimum
Under 18 months 80% minimum
Under 3 years 100% minimum
Exception to 3-year maturity maximum: Reserve or Capital Improvement Project monies may be
invested in securities exceeding three (3) years if the maturities of such investments are made to
coincide as nearly as practicable with the expected use of the funds.
Due to fluctuations in the aggregate surplus funds balance, maximum percentages for a particular
issuer or investment type may be exceeded at a point in time subsequent to the purchase of a
particular issuer or investment type may be exceeded. Securities do not need to be liquidated to
realign the portfolio; however, consideration will be given to this matter when future
reinvestments occur.
VII. SAFEKEEPING, CUSTODY AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS
1. Safekeeping and Custody of Securities. The laws of the state and prudent treasury
management require that all purchased securities be bought on a delivery versus payment
basis and be held in safekeeping by the City, or the City's designated depository.
All safekeeping arrangements shall be designated by the Investment Officer and shall list
each specific security, rate, description, maturity, and cusip number (financial market
identification). Each safekeeping receipt will clearly state that the security is held for the
City or pledged to the City. In addition, repurchase requirements including Master Repurchase
Agreements shall be in place prior to any business being conducted.
2. Authorized Financial Dealers. The Investment Officer shall maintain a list of all Qualified
Depositories for Public Funds per ORS 295.002. An Oregon public official may deposit
public funds up to the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
or the national Credit Union share Insurance Fund (NCUA) in any insured financial institution
with a head office or branch in Oregon. Public funds deposits that exceed these
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2018 Current
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insurance limits, currently set at $250,000, may only be held in a depository qualified by the
Oregon Public Funds Collateral ization Program (PFCP).
At the request of the City of Ashland, the firms performing investment services shall provide
their most recent financial statements or Consolidated Report of Conditions for review.
All dealers with whom the City transacts business will be provided a copy of this Investment
Policy to ensure that they are familiar with the goals and objectives of the investment
program.
If the City hires an investment advisor to provide investment management services, the
advisor will follow the same procedure as outlined in VII Section 2.
3. Competitive Transactions. The Investment Officer will obtain telephone, faxed or emailed
quotes before purchasing or selling an investment. The Investment Officer will select the
quote which best satisfies the investment objectives of the investment portfolio within the
parameters of this policy. The Investment Officer will maintain a written record of each
bidding process including the name and prices offered by each participating financial
institution.
The investment advisor must provide documentation of competitive pricing execution on
each transaction. The advisor will retain documentation and provide upon request.
VIII. CONTROLS
1. Accounting Method. The City shall comply with all required legal provisions and Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The accounting principles are those contained in
the pronouncements of authoritative bodies including but not necessarily limited to, the
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB); the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA); and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Pooling of Funds: Except for cash in certain restricted and special funds, the City will
consolidate balances from all funds to maximize investment earnings. Investment income
will be allocated to the various funds based on their respective participation and in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.
2. Internal Controls. The City will maintain a structure of internal controls sufficient to assure
the safekeeping and security of all investments.
The Investment Officer shall develop and maintain written administrative procedures for the
operation of the investment program that are consistent with this investment policy.
Procedures will include reference to safekeeping, wire transfers; banking services contracts,
and other investment related activities.
The Investment Officer shall be responsible for all transactions undertaken.
No officer or designee may engage in an investment transaction except as provided under the
terms of this policy and the procedures established by the Investment Officer and approved
by the Council.
3. External Controls. The City of Ashland may enter into contracts with external investment
management firms on a non-discretionary basis. These services will apply to the investment
of the City's short-term operating funds and capital funds including bond proceeds and bond
reserve funds.
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If an investment advisor is hired, the advisor will comply with all requirements of this
Investment Policy. The investment advisor will provide return comparisons of the portfolio
to the benchmark monthly. Exceptions to the Investment Policy must be disclosed and agreed
upon in writing by both parties. The Investment Officer remains the person ultimately
responsible for the prudent management of the portfolio.
Factors to be considered when hiring an investment advisory finn may include, but are not
limited to:
a. The firm's major business
b. Ownership and organization of the firm
c. The background and experience of key members of the firm, including the portfolio
manager expected to be responsible for the City's account
d. The size of the firm's assets base, and the portion of that base which would be made up
by the City's portfolio if the firm were hired
e. Management Fees
f. Cost Analysis of advisor
g. Performance of the investment advisory firm, net of all fees, versus the Local Government
Investment Pool or other benchmarks over a given period
IX. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND REPORTING
The investment portfolio shall be designed with the objective of obtaining a rate of return
throughout budgetary and economic cycles, commensurate with the investment risk constraints
and the cash flow needs.
The City's investment strategy is active. Preservation of capital and maintenance of sufficient
liquidity will be considered prior to attainment of market return performance. A market benchmark
will be determined that is appropriate for longer term investments based on the City's risk and
return profile. When comparing the performance of the City's portfolio, all fees and expenses
involved with managing the portfolio shall be included in the computation of the portfolio's
total rate of return. This would include any outside management and identifiable in- house
management.
The Investment Officer shall prepare quarterly compliance summary reports that provide details
of the investment portfolio, as well as transaction details for the reporting period. Details shall be
sufficient to document conformity with the provisions of the statutes and this investment policy
and shall include a listing of individual securities held at the end of the period. All investments
owned will be marked-to-market monthly by the City's third-party custodian.
The perfonnance (total return) of the City's portfolio will be measured against the performance of
the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) and the yield of the 91-day U.S. Treasury Bill.
X. INVESTMENT POLICY ADOPTION BY GOVERNING BODY
This investment policy will be formally adopted by the City Council. The policy shall be
reviewed on an annual basis by the Investment Officer and the City Council. Material revisions to
this policy will require a review by the Oregon Short Term Fund Board, pursuant to current
Oregon Revised Statutes.