2002-118-Authorizing The Town Council To Accept The Investment Policy Dated June 24 2002RESOLUTION 2002 -118
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
AUTHORIZING THE TOWN COUNCIL
TO ACCEPT THE .INVESTMENT POLICY
DATED JUNE 24, 2002
WHEREAS:
A. The Investment policy of the Town must be annually adopted by the
legislative body of local government in a public meeting
B. The Town's existing Investment Policy was redrafted in December
1997 by the Town Treasurer.
C. The Town Council did review and approve this investment policy
this December 15, 1997 .and last .reviewed .and approved the existing
Investment Policy on December 18, 2000.
D. Minor changes have been made to the Investment Policy .for changes
in the state .law and to confirm it .more closely to the model
investment policy published by the Municipal Treasurers'
Association of the United States and Canada.
RESOLVED:
The Town Council .has reviewed and .approves the Revised Investment
Policy dated .June 24, 2002.
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.PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the
Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the 1St day of Judy, 2002 by the following
vote.:
COUNCIL MEMBERS.:
AYES: Steven Blanton, Sandy Decker, .Steve Glicl~nan, Joe Pirzynski
Mayor Randy Attaway.
NAYS : None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST.: r
-~~; v
CLERK OI' 'THE TOWN O LOS GATOS
LOS CATOS, CALIFORNIA
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Investment Policy for the Town of Los Gatos
Revised June 24, 2002
I. Scope
This investment policy applies to all of the Town's short-term operating funds. These funds are
described in the Town's annual financial report and include, but are not limited to:
General Fund
• Special Revenue Funds
• Capital Project Funds
• Debt Service Funds
+ Enterprise Fund
• Internal .Service Funds
Fiduciary Funds
Specifically excluded from this policy are amounts which are held by a trustee or fiscal agent
.and pledged as payment or security for bonds or other indebtedness, obligations under a lease, or
obligations under certificates of participation Such funds are invested in accordance with
statutory provisions, ordinance, resolution, or indenture governing the issuance of the
obligations. In .addition, this investment policy is not applicable to Town's Deferred
Compensation Plan. T11ese investments are directed by each .employee participant in
accordance with the rules of the Deferred Compensation Plan.
II. Investment Objectives
The primary investment objectives, in prioritized order, .shall be safety, liquidity, and yield:
1. Safety. Safety of principal is the foremost objective of the investment program. Investments of
the Town shall be made in a manner that seeles to ensure the preservation of capital in the overall
portfolio. To .attain this objective, the Town will diversify its investments by ecurity type .and
institution. With the exception of US Treasury securities and the California Local Agency
Investment Fund (LAIF), no more than 50% of the Town's total investment portfolio will be
invested in a single security type or with a single financial institution.
2. Liquidity. The investment portfolio shall remain sufficiently liquid to meet all operating
requirements t11at may be reasonably anticipated. However, since all possible cash demands
cannot be anticipated, the portfolio should consist largely of securities with active secondary or
resale marl~ets. In addition, a portion of the portfolio should be placed in money marl~et
mutual funds or'The Local Agency Investment Fund that offer same day liquidity.
3. Yield. The investment portfolio shall be designed with the objective of attaining a market
rate of return throughout budgetary and economic cycles, tal~iilg into account the investment risk
constraints and liquidity needs. Return on investment is of secondary importance compared to
the safety and liquidity objectives described above. The investments are limited to relatively low
risl~ securities in anticipation of earning a :fair return relative to the risk being assumed.
Page 1 of 6
EXHIBIT A
The Town shall pursue a passive "buy and hold" investment strategy rather than a more
aggressive active management strategy. In general, securities shall not be sold prior to maturity
with the following exceptions:
• A security with .declining credit may be sold early to minimize loss of
principal
• Liquidity needs of the portfolio require that the security be sold.
III. Standards of Care
1. Prudence. The standard of care to be used by investment officials shall be t11e "prudent
person" and/or "prudent investor" standard and shall be applied in the context of managing an
overall portfolio. Investment officers acting in accordance with written procedures and this
investment policy and exercising due diligence shall be relieved of personal responsibility for an
individual security's credit risk or marl~et price changes, provided deviations from expectations
are reported in a timely fashion and the -liquidity .and the sale of securities are carried out in
accordance with the terms of this policy.
Investments s11a11 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 principal as well as the
probable income to be derived.
2. Ethics and Conflicts of Interest. Officers and employees involved in the investment process
shall refr~tiin from personal. business activity that could conflict with the proper execution and
management of the investment program, or that could impair their ability to make impartial
decisions. Employees and investment officials shall disclose any material interests in financial
institutions with which they conduct business. They shall further disclose any personal financial
relationships or personal investment positions that could be related to the performance of the
investment portfolio. Employees and officers. shall refrain from undertaking personal investment
transactions with the same individual with which business is conducted on behalf of the Town.
3. Delegation of Authority. Under Los Gatos Town Code Section 2.30 025(c) the Town
Council is responsible for the delegation of authority for management of t11e Town's investment
program. This authority is hereby delegated to the Town Treasurer, who shall develop and act in
accordance with established written procedures and internal controls for the operation of the.
investment program consistent with this inwestment policy. Procedures should include references
to: safekeeping, delivery vs. payment, investment accounting, wire transfer agreements, and
collateral/depository .agreements. No person may engage in an investment transaction except as
provided under the terms of this policy and the procedures established by the Town Treasurer.
The Town Treasurer shall be responsible for all transactions undertaken .and shall establish a
system of controls to regulate the activities of any subordinate officials.
Page 2 of 6
IV. Safekeeping and Custody
1. Authorized Financial Dealers and Institutions.
A. Brol~er/Dealers. In order to do business with the Town, a securities dealer/ brol~erage firm
must be designated as a primary government dealer by the Federal Reserve Bank or meet one
of the other requirements of California Government Code See. 53601.5. The institution must
have assets of at least $1 billion. All financial institutions and broker/dealers who desire to
become qualified for investment transactions must also supply the following:
• Audited financial statements (to be submitted annually)
• Proof of National Association of Securities Dealers registration
• Proof of state registration
• Certification of having read the Town's investment policy, including a
statement that the dealer shall mare a good faith effort to conform to this
policy.
B. Financial Institutions. The Town shall maintain demand deposits and time deposits
only with commercial banks and savings banks that meet exceptionally high standards for
safety ..and soundness. 'Specifically, all banl~s that accept deposits from the Town shall
meet standards with regard to capital strength, assets, earnings, and .liquidity which .allow
them to earn the highest ran if rating (blue/three stars) from the bank rating company
VeNbc~nc, Inc. In addition, the institution must have an office in California and that office
must
perform all transactions with the Town.
2. Internal Controls. The Town Treasurer, in conjunction with the Town's Finance Director
shall estahlisll and maintain an internal control .structure designed to ensure that the invested
assets of the Town are protected from loss, theft or misuse. The internal control structure shall
be designed to provide reasonable assurance that these objectives are met. The concept of
reasonable assurance recognizes t11at {1) the cost of a control should not .exceed the benefits
likely to be derived and (2) the valuation of costs .and benefits requires estimates and judgments
by management. Accordingly, t11e Town Treasurer shall facilitate an annual independent review
by an external auditor to assure compliance with policies and procedures. The internal controls
shall address the following points:
• Separation of transaction authority from accounting and record keeping
• Custodial safel~eeping
+ Avoidance of physical delivery of securities
• Clear delegation of authority to subordinate staff members
• Written confirnation of transactions for investments and wire transfers
Page 3 of 6
3. Delivery vs. Payment All securities trades where applicable will be executed by delivery
vs. payment (IDVP) to ensure that securities are delivered into safekeeping with t11e Town's third
party :custodian prior to the release of funds. The Town's third-party custodian will be
independent from the broker/dealer handling the security transaction to ensure proper, timely
delivery and payment
4. Collateralization, Collateralization is required on all Certificates of Deposits and deposits in
excess ofFDIC insurance limits. Per Government Code Secs. 53652, the required
collateralizatioll level is 110% of market value of principal and accrued interest forgovernment
securities pledged as collateral, or 150% for first deeds of trust pledged as collateral. Such
collateral will be held by an independent third parry custodian.
V. Suitable and Authorized Investments
1. Investment Types. California Government Code Sections 53601, 53631.5 and 5.3635 place
limitations on allowable investments by local :governments. Tl1is investment policy further
restricts allowable investments. The following investments will be permitted by this policy:
Investment Type Maximum
Maturity
US Treasury Obligations S years
LJS Agency Obligations 5 years
Banl~ers Acceptances 180 days
Commercial Paper 1S0 days
Medium teen notes 3 yrs/ 5 yrs
Collateralized CD's 5 yrs
CA LAIF N/A
Money Market Funds N/A
Max. % of Quality
Portfolio Requirements
None N/A
None Active Market (1)
15%
15% '.See below (2)
15% AA/ AAA
15% See below (3)
65% N/A
15% See below (4)
(1) Limited to US Agency Obligations with liquid markets and readily determinaUle fair market value, including
obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank (PHEW), the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (Freddie Mac), the Federal Farm Credit Banlc (FFCB), the Federal Land
Bank, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
(2) Conunercial paper must be "prune" quality of the highest ranking as provided by Moody's or S & P and is limited to
corporations with assets of at least $500 million. Purchases may not represent more than 10% of the outstanding
commercial paper of the issuer.
(3) Must.be collateralized per the requirements ofthis investment policy section IV (4) and the institution must meet the
Veribanc Ulue/three stars rating.
(4) Money market funds must he registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, must .have assets
under management in excess of $500 million, have retained an investment advisor registered with the SEC (or exempt
from registration) with not less. than 5 years experience managing money market mutual funds, .and have attained the
highest ranking provided by not less than two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.
Page 4 of 6
2. Prohibited Investments. Prohibited investments .are any investments not specifically
identified above, including but not limited to:
• Derivatives of the above instruments
Repurchase agreements
• Reverse repurchase agreements
Negotiable certificates of deposit
• Inverse floaters
• Range notes
• Interest only strips
• Any security which could~result in zero interest accrual if held to maturity
VI. Reporting
1. Methods. The Town Treasurer shall prepare a monthly investment report, including a
management summary that provides an analysis of t11e status of the current investment: portfolio.
This management summary will be ,prepared in a manner that will allow the Town to ascertain
whether investment activities during the reporting period have conformed to the investment
policy. The report should be submitted to the Town Clerk within 30 days after the .end of each
month for inclusion as an agenda item at the next scheduled Town Council meeting. The report
shall include the following:
o Detailed listing of individual securities. held at the end of the reporting period
including, issuer, purchase :date, maturity date,. and yield to maturity.
o Realized and unrealized gains or losses resulting from appreciation or depreciation by
listing t11e amortized cost and marl~et value of each security.
o Average weighted yield to .maturity of the portfolio
o Weighted Average. Maturity of the portfolio :and percentage breal~down of the total
portfolio by maturity (e.g., % less dun 1 year, 1 - 2 years, 3 - S years)
o Summary of interest income for the month and fiscal year to date.
o A statement of compliance with the Investment Policy.
o A statement regarding the adequacy of cash flows for the next six months.
Page 5 of 6
2.1VIarl~ing to Market. When "marring the portfolio to market" {i:e., calculating the market
value of the portfolio), the Treasurer shall obtain independent valuation of the portfolio from the
Town's safekeeping or custody service. Investments in LAIF shall be valued as shown on the
month-end statements received from the California State Treasurer. Due to a lack of reliable
marl~et value data, investments in Certificates of Deposit shall be shown at cost provided that the fair
market value of the Certificates of Deposit are not significantly affected by the impairment
of the credit standing of the issuer.
VII. Policy Considerations
1. Exemption.. Any Investment currently held that does not meet the guidelines of this policy
shall be exempted from the requirements of this policy. At maturity or liduidation, such monies
shall be reinvested only as provided by this policy.
2. Adoption. Tl7e Town's investment policy shall be adopted by resolution of the Town Council
at a public meeting.
3. Amendments. This. policy shall be reviewed on an annual basis. Any changes must be
approved by the Town Treasurer .and the Town Council
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