HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 07/19/2018 - Police Pension Fund BoardBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 1 of 6 July 19, 2018
VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND - Minutes
July 19, 2018
UNOFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED AS WRITTEN √
OR AS AMENDED BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
POLICE PENSION FUND ON October 25, 2018
1. CALL TO ORDER:
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Oak Brook Police Pension Fund was called to
order by President Vel Torlo at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Level Conference Room of the Samuel E. Dean
Board Room of the Butler Government Center, 1200 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook, Illinois.
2. ROLL CALL:
The roll was called with the following persons
PRESENT: President Vel Torlo, Vice President Alan Feldman, Secretary Ed Caspers, Trustee Ben
Kadolph, Trustee Hitesh Patel
ABSENT: None
IN ATTENDANCE: Phil Kosmala and Zach Pearsall of Taiber, Kosmala, Spencer Klein of MB
Financial, Finance Director/Treasurer Jason Paprocki, Pension Clerk Rose Kane
3. ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Pension Clerk Kane requested a motion from the floor for nominations for President.
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Trustee Feldman, to nominate Vel Torlo for President.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Trustee Caspers, to elect Vel Torlo as President.
VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
President Torlo then opened up nominations for Vice President and Secretary.
Motion by Trustee Caspers, seconded by Trustee Kadolph, to nominate Alan Feldman for Vice
President. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried. (No other nominations were stated so one vote
nominated/elected Alan Feldman as Vice President.)
Motion by Trustee Kadolph, seconded by Trustee Patel, to nominate Edward Caspers for
Secretary. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
Motion by Vice President Feldman, seconded by Trustee Patel, to elect Edward Caspers as
Secretary. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
4. BOARD COMMENTS: None presented.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
a. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of April 17, 2018
b. Approval of Special Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2018
Motion by Trustee Kadolph, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to approve the Meeting Minutes
of the April 17, 2018 Regular Board Meeting and the May 21, 2018 Special Board Meeting as
presented. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 2 of 6 July 19, 2018
6. CONSENT AGENDA:
All items on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one
motion.
a. Approval of March 1-31, 2018 expenditures in the total amount of $208,491.36
b. Approval of April 1-30, 2018 expenditures in the total amount of $195,786.51
c. Approval of May 1-31, 2018 expenditures in the total amount of $219,230.72
d. Approval of June 1-30, 2018 expenditures in the total amount of $226,631.20
e. Approval of Taiber Kosmala January and May 2018 invoices in the total amount of
$14,000.00
f. Approval of Illinois Department of Insurance Compliance Fee in the amount of $6,709.21
g. Approval of Lauterbach & Amen, LLP April 2018 invoice in the amount of $1,115.00, for
services rendered March 2018
h. Approval of Reimer, Dobrovolny & Karlson LLC March and April 2018 invoices in the amount
of $1,838.34 and $535.38, respectively
i. Approval of reimbursement to the Village of Oak Brook for share of FYE 17 Audit in the
amount of $1,800.00
j. Approval of IPFA pension training invoice (Feldman) in the amount of $180.00
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Kadolph, to approve the Consent Agenda
as presented.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – Vice President Feldman, Secretary Caspers, Trustee Patel, Trustee Kadolph,
President Torlo
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
7. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA – None presented.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Discussion/Action regarding Administrative Rules
Brief discussion ensued regarding the draft of the Rules sent by Attorney Reimer.
Consensus from the Board to direct Attorney Reimer to provide final version of the
Administrative Rules, and to place this item on the October meeting agenda for adoption.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Taiber Kosmala and Associates, LLC Report on Second Quarter, 2018
Prior to reviewing the quarterly report, Mr. Kosmala discussed capital market trends during the quarter
and the firm’s outlook for the balance 2018. Mr. Pearsall stated that the Fund as of yesterday is up just
less than 2%.
Global Economic Review
Mr. Kosmala stated that the first half of 2018 was a continuation of what has been the second longest
economic expansion on record (10yrs), that second quarter U.S. GDP estimates are calling for 3.5%-
4.0% growth, the highest since 2014, driven by robust business and governmental spending. He listed
some of the factors contributing to the strong economic resurgence:
The U.S. job market continued its record-breaking run during the second quarter with headline
unemployment finishing the quarter at 4% at a multi-decade low. The headline rate hit 3.8% during
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 3 of 6 July 19, 2018
the quarter which has only happened one month since the 1960’s. The U.S. is amid record streaks
of 93 consecutive months of job growth and 175 consecutive weeks of less than 300,000 jobless
claims.
Stagnant wage growth (2.7% hourly earnings) continued to persist throughout the quarter but a
0.5% increase in June retail sales and a sharp upward revision to May’s number are reflecting
emerging strength.
Strong demand and limited supply were persistent in the housing market as the Case-Shiller
national price index rose 5.5% from last year, now 8.2% above the 2007 highs.
Consumer confidence and small business optimism remained high. May’s confidence reading was
the eleventh consecutive month over 120 and the NFIB Small Business optimism reading rose to
its highest level in 35 years.
Headline CPI at 2.9% is evidence that inflation pressures continue to build driven by price increases
in services and metals.
Mr. Kosmala stated that U.S., European, U.K., and Canadian central banks have effectively transitioned
from providing to removing accommodation and the Fed tightening campaign which began in December
2015 continued in June with a seventh 0.25% move which took the Fed Funds rate to 1.75%. He
discussed that the June communique revealed a hawkish sentiment and details on the Fed balance
sheet reduction program which has removed over $100b of Fed bond holdings thus far. He added that
the pace of reduction has increased from $10b/mo. in Q3 ’17 to $30 b/mo. in Q2 ’18 on track to increase
to $50b/mo. in Q4 18’.
Mr. Kosmala remarked that the second quarter of 2018 saw the USD reverse its downward momentum
in place since early 2017, strengthening 4.9% via both technic al and fundamental tailwinds and the
strong USD acted as a material headwind to non-U.S. assets such as emerging market debt and non-
U.S. equities.
Market Review
Mr. Kosmala provided the following Market Review:
Simulative fiscal policy (tax cuts, deficit spend), business capital expenditures, continued government
deregulation, and robust corporate earnings were supportive for U.S. equity markets in the second
quarter. Growth stocks (FAANGs) again drove performance with Facebook (21.6%), Amazon (17.4%),
Apple (10.8%), and Netflix (32.5%) leading the way. From a sector standpoint technology, consumer
discretionary, and energy stocks performed well while consumer staples, financials, and industrials
lagged. Small caps performed well due to the perception that they derive marginally more benefit from
the corporate tax cuts and are less exposed to global trade conflicts. Tax cuts have given a meaningful
boost to U.S. corporate earnings. S&P 500 companies grew earnings by 26% in Q1 and are estimated
to grow over 20% in Q2, a third consecutive double-digit quarter, while revenue expectations are at
their highest levels since 2011. U.S. energy companies surpassed the 1970 record level of oil
production (10mbpd) during the quarter, further cementing the new order across the global energy
markets.
International equity markets posted gains in line with the S&P 500 before currency impact however,
adjusted for USD strength, U.S. investors lost 0.75%. Currency, evolving monetary policy, trade
conflicts, and slowing economic momentum were the prevailing themes across international markets.
From a regional perspective, the U.K. (+3%) was a standout on the upside while Brazil (-26%) did the
same on the downside. Overall, developed markets lost 1% while emerging markets fell 8% on the
quarter. Energy was overwhelmingly the leading sector while financials lagged.
Broad U.S. fixed income markets posted mixed returns. The Barclays Aggregate returned -0.16%,
Barclays High Yield 1.03%, and Barclays Municipal 0.87%. Rates moved higher with a mor e
pronounced move on the short end of the curve. The flattening yield curve received much attention
during the quarter as the 3m/10yr spread (0.92%) touched lowest levels since 2007. 10yr rates rose
to over 3% for the first time since 2014, finishing at 2.85% while the 5yr hit its highest level in eight
years, finishing at 2.73%. High yield spreads tightened nearly 0.2% to 3.61%, which is approximately
2% less than the historical average, while investment grade spreads widened marginally.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 4 of 6 July 19, 2018
Commodity prices climbed 0.4% on the quarter, boosted by a 10.7% gain in the energy sector.
Persistent global growth, tight U.S. inventories, and supply disruptions pushed WTI oil up sharply
toward the end of the quarter, to $74.15, while U.S. production growth rampe d up to 10.2mbpd, the
highest recorded figure since the government began keeping records in 1920. Tariff policies hit the
export sensitive agricultural commodities which fell 8.7% in response to potential falling demand due
to higher prices.
Outlook
Mr. Kosmala discussed that while they have become more discerning with respect to client risk
allocations, they are maintaining a cautiously constructive view looking forward. He stated that t he
volume and nature of noise (trade wars, European political theat er, North Korea, U.S. - Russia probe)
emanating from the political sphere can easily lead to more pessimistic market conclusions but, as they
have maintained in the past, the backdrop of earnings and core economic fundamentals suggests
maintaining a cautiously constructive view looking forward. He added that m onetary policy and global
central banks remain the biggest risk to the forward view while fiscal stimulus and economic growth
remain supportive.
Oak Brook Pension Performance
On page 6 of the Taiber, Kosmala Report, the portfolio activity was listed as follows:
Mr. Kosmala illustrated that in the first quarter, the Oak Brook Police pension portfolio increased by
0.81% (net of fees) but underperformed its benchmark by approx. 1%. He stated that an overweight to
non-US equities specifically in Emerging Markets led to underperformance for quarter and that for the
trailing one-year period, the pension portfolio generated a return of 7.2% and outperformed its
benchmark which gained 6.5%.
Discussion ensued regarding effects of the tariff war on the market and other issues.
Mr. Kosmala recommended $750,000 be transitioned from Baron Emerging Markets to Zacks
Small Cap Core.
b. MB Financial Investment Management Performance Report on Second Quarter, 2018
Mr. Spencer discussed the market review in his report in particular to the Real GDP and U.S. Real
GDP graphs. then referred to page 11 of the MB report and discussed the portfolio composition.
MARKET VALUE % OF TOTAL TARGET
TOTAL FUND $12,361,997 100.00 100.00
FIXED INCOME $11,939,314 96.58 99.00
CASH & EQUIV. $422,685 3.42 1.00
Regarding the bond portfolio, he discussed that he has let cash drift a little bit higher than normal. He
stated that he tries to keep around $100,000 to $150,000 in cash and mentioned that there is also
$200,000 invested in ultra-short bonds. He stated that they are now introducing floating rate
investment-grade bonds into the portfolio because the rates are so flat.
Portfolio Activity
Market Value on 04/01/2018 $37,520,429
Net Cash Flow ($209,108)
Net Investment Change ($287,602)
Ending Market Value on 3/31/18 $37,598,924
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 5 of 6 July 19, 2018
More discussion ensued about the tariff issues and the national debt.
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Kadolph, to direct Mr. Kosmala to execute
the recommendation made in regards to moving $750,000 out of emerging markets into U.S.
Small Cap Core.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 –Secretary Caspers, Trustee Patel, Trustee Kadolph, President Torlo,
Vice President Feldman,
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
c. Approval of Investment Transactions for Second Quarter, 2018
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to approve the Investment
Transactions for Second Quarter, 2018.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: 5 – Trustee Patel, Trustee Kadolph, President Torlo, Vice President Feldman,
Secretary Caspers
Nays: 0 – None
Absent: 0 – None
Motion carried.
d. Ratification of Application for Members Pension Benefits Retirement Pension of Thomas
Russell
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to ratify the Russell Application for
Benefits. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
e. Ratification of Application for Members Pension Benefits Retirement Pension of Jeffrey Weber
Motion by Trustee Kadolph, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to ratify the Weber Application for
Benefits. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
f. Ratification of Application for Members Pension Benefits Retirement Pension of Tami Madden
Motion by Trustee Patel, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to ratify the Madden Application for
Benefits. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
g. Ratification of Application for Members Pension Benefits Retirement Pension of Robert Birdsall
Motion by Vice President Feldman, seconded by Secretary Caspers, to ratify the Birdsall
Application for Benefits. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
Brief discussion regarding how these retirements will affect the total pension benefits’ payments.
h. Discussion regarding pending sale between MB Financial and Fifth Third Bank
Mr. Klein discussed that there have been some meetings regarding the sale between the two banks
and transitioning.
10. INFORMATION & UPDATES
a. Scheduling of fourth quarterly meeting in October 2018
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
Minutes Page 6 of 6 July 19, 2018
Consensus to meet on October 25, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Secretary Caspers, seconded by Trustee Patel, to adjourn the Board of Trustees of
the Police Pension Fund meeting at 8:08 p.m. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried.
ATTEST:
Edward J. Caspers /s/
Edward J. Caspers, Secretary
Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund