DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Investment Policy and Strategy for the City of San Antonio
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance approves an Investment Policy and Strategy for the City of San Antonio, Texas, in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Public Funds Investment Act (the “Act”), as amended, for City Council to annually review and approve the City’s Investment Policy; designates certain employees as Investment Officers for the City of San Antonio; and provides an effective date.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The purpose of the City of San Antonio, Texas (“the City”) Investment Policy (the “Investment Policy”) is to provide a framework for the prudent and efficient investment of City funds, with the objectives of satisfying cash flow requirements, preservation and safety of principal, liquidity and diversification, maximize yield, and proactive portfolio management. The Investment Policy designates the following employees as Investment Officers for the City of San Antonio: Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance, Assistant Director of Finance - Financial Services, and the following individuals from the Financial Management Division: Financial Management Administrator, Financial Manager, Banking Officer, and Investment Officers. The Investment Policy also designates the composition of the City’s Investment Committee. The Investment Committee is comprised of two representatives from the City Council, three representatives from the City Manager’s Office including the Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Assistant Director of Finance - Financial Services, and the following individuals from the Financial Management Division: Financial Management Administrator, Financial Manager, Banking Officer, and Investment Officers.
The Act requires an annual review of the Investment Policy by City Council. The Texas Legislature was in session this year, the sole change to the Public Funds Investment Act was to reduce the number of required recurring training hours for the Investment Officers from ten (10) to eight (8), therefore this change was implemented to the Investment Policy. Other minor changes were made throughout the Investment Policy to update various terms and funds but there were no significant or material changes made to the Investment Policy. The proposed changes to the Investment Policy were reviewed by the Investment Committee on August 18, 2015 to be presented to City Council for approval.
In accordance with the Act and the Investment Policy, the City prepared a Request for Qualifications to Provide Broker/Dealer Services to the City of San Antonio (“Broker/Dealer RFQ”) for a two (2) year period beginning October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2016. Prior to releasing the Broker/Dealer RFQ, staff met with the City’s Goal Setting Committee (the “Committee”) on June 9, 2014 to discuss the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy Program (“SBEDA”) goals for the solicitation. The Committee’s recommendation was to allocate 20 points in the evaluation criteria for Small Business Enterprise and Minority/Women Business Enterprise firms, 10 points for the Local Preference Program, and 5 points for the Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program.
On June 16, 2014, the Broker/Dealer Services RFQ was distributed to forty-nine (49) firms and was advertised on June 14, 2014 in the San Antonio Express News and posted on the City’s website. On July 16, 2014, thirty (30) firms responded; however, four firms were excluded from the evaluation as follows: two (2) firms were disqualified for late submittal, one (1) submitted a no bid response, and one (1) firm did not submit all the required documents and retracted their response. The written proposals were scored according to the criteria incorporated in the Broker/Dealer RFQ, which included experience, background and qualifications, proposed Broker/Dealer services, and SBEDA goals that were recommended by the Committee. The proposals were scored within three (3) categories based on capital structure: (1) firms with capital greater than $500,000,000; (2) firms with capital greater than $20,000,000 but less than $500,000,000; and (3) firms with capital less than $20,000,000. This evaluation methodology allowed for the selection of a well diversified list of Broker/Dealer firms comprised of large, medium, small, local, and SBEDA firms.
On August 19, 2014, the firms listed in Exhibit I were approved by the Investment Committee to engage in investment transactions with the City for a two (2) year period beginning October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2016. While it is anticipated that these firms will remain in effect for a two (2) year period, the Investment Committee is required to annually review, revise, and adopt the list of qualified, eligible Broker/Dealers and banks with whom the City does business.
On August 18, 2015, the firms listed in Exhibit I were approved by the Investment Committee to engage in investment transaction with the City for the period beginning October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016.
ISSUE:
The annual review of the Investment Policy and the designation of certain City employees as Investment Officers for the City of San Antonio is consistent with the Act’s requirements. In addition, the Investment Policy complies with all other requirements of the Act and provides the framework utilized by City staff to manage the Investment Portfolio, invest in money market mutual fund, local government investment pool, securities lending agreement, repurchase agreement, and to execute investment transactions with Broker/Dealers.
ALTERNATIVES:
Taking no action to approve this Ordinance would cause the City to fail to comply with the requirements of the Act to annually review the Investment Policy and to review, revise, and adopt the list of qualified, eligible Broker/Dealers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance has no direct financial impact; however, approval of this Investment Policy provides the mechanism for the prudent, stable, and efficient administration of the City’s investment activities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance approving the Investment Policy for the City of San Antonio, in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Public Funds Investment Act as amended.