HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 CON Phase II Systems DBA Public Agency Retirement Services - Post-Employment BenefitsSection 115 TrustNOTE TO FILE
07-30-2019
IN THE MATTER OF: The 2018 Phase II Systems dba Public Retirement
Systems (PARS) and U.S. Bank — Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits
Trust Agreement and Adoption Agreement for the Post -Employment
Section 115 Trust and other documents necessary to establish and maintain
the City's Trust account. Please note the following:
NO FULLY EXECUTED ORIGINAL AGREEMENTS
WERE FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT:
NTF
CDC Housing & Economic Development
City Attorney Human Resources
City Manager MIS
Community Svcs. Planning
ENG/PW Police
X Finance
Fire
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA
COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
MEETING DATE: March 20, 2018
AGENDA ITEM NO.: 6
ITEM TITLE:
Resolution of the City Council of the City of National City 1) approving the adoption of the Public
Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS)
to prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities; 2) appointing the City Manager as Plan Administrator
for the Trust, and 3) authorizing the Plan Administrator to execute the documents necessary to establish
and maintain the City's Trust account.
PREPARED BY: Mark Roberts, Director of Finance
PHONE: 619-336-4330
EXPLANATION:
See attached explanation.
DEPARTMENT: Finance
APPROVED BY:
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: APPROVED: `` 14. X� FINANCE
ACCOUNT NO. APPROVED: MIS
NA
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
This is not a project and, therefore, not subject to environmental review.
ORDINANCE: INTRODUCTION U FINAL ADOPTION
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the resolution 1) approving the adoption of the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust administered by
Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) to prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities; 2) appointing the City
Manager as Plan Administrator for the Trust, and 3) authorizing the Plan Administrator to execute the documents
necessary to establish and maintain the City's Trust account.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Explanation
2. Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust Agreement
3. Adoption Agreement for the Post -Employment Section 115 Trust
4. Internal Revenue Service Private Letter Ruling — Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust
5. US Bank Investment Strategy Selection and Disclosure Form
6. US Bank Discretionary Trustee Fee Schedule /26s-441 sa 13o . .201 - 32
Attachment
Resolution of the City Council of the City of National City 1) approving the adoption of
the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust administered by Public Agency
Retirement Services (PARS) to prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities; 2)
appointing the City Manager as Plan Administrator for the Trust, and 3) authorizing the
Plan Administrator to execute the documents necessary to establish and maintain the
City's Trust account.
March 20, 2018
Explanation
During the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Priorities workshop on February 7, 2017, staff
provided the City Council an overview of the City's pension plans. The overview
included the growth of the plans net (unfunded) liabilities and associated contribution
costs over the past ten years and recent CaIPERS developments which will accelerate
the growth of the liabilities over the next several years.
At the fiscal year 2018 budget workshop on February 28, 2017, Mary Beth Redding of
Bartel Associates, the City's pension and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) plan
actuarial consultant, provided a comprehensive analysis of the pension plans and an
overview of the OPEB plan, including the plans' unfunded liabilities, and discussed
prefunding options for the plans, recommending establishing an irrevocable trust or
trusts as the most prudent choice.
Having evaluated the prefunding options and consulted with Bartel Associates, staff
brought forward a recommendation to the Council at the April 25, 2017 Fiscal Year 2018
Budget Workshop to authorize the establishment of an irrevocable trust (or trusts) with a
total initial contribution of $1 million. To assist in making its decision regarding the
recommendation, the Council directed staff to prepare an analysis of the benefits and
drawbacks of establishing the trust(s).
At the regular City Council meeting of May 16, 2017, staff presented the advantages
and potential disadvantages of pension and OPEB trusts and recommended the Council
approve the establishment of a trust and an initial contribution of $1 million, with the
contribution allocated amongst City funds with pension obligations and sufficient
available resources. The Council approved the establishment of the Irrevocable
Supplemental Pension Trust Fund, and transfers totalling $1 million to the fund from
various other City funds is included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Adopted.
During the regular City Council meeting of December 19, 2017, the Council authorized
the execution of an agreement with PARS to provide pension trust administration
services.
Staff brings this agenda item forward to request Council approval of the adoption of the
Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust ("Trust") administered by PARS to
prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities, appointment of the City Manager as Plan
Administrator for the Trust, and authorization for the Plan Administrator to execute the
documents necessary to establish and maintain the City's Trust account. Included in
the documents to be executed to establish the account are:
• Adoption Agreement for the Post -Employment Section 115 Trust, required for the
official adoption of the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust
Attachment
Resolution of the City Council of the City of National City 1) approving the adoption of
the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust administered by Public Agency
Retirement Services (PARS) to prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities; 2)
appointing the City Manager as Plan Administrator for the Trust, and 3) authorizing the
Plan Administrator to execute the documents necessary to establish and maintain the
City's Trust account.
March 20, 2018
Agreement (described below) and the establishment of the City's pension trust
account.
US Bank Investment Strategy Selection and Disclosure Form, listing the various
investment portfolios offered under the program from which the City may select.
US Bank, as investment manager, through its subadvisor, HighMark Capital
Management Inc., will invest plan assets in accordance with the City's selection.
US Bank Discretionary Trustee Fee Schedule, disclosing fees charged for trustee
and investment management services for the assets of the trust.
The Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust Agreement established the
multiple employer trust arrangement, i.e., the Trust, in which the City would participate
to prefund its unfunded pension liability.
The private letter ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to PARS in
relation to the Trust is also included with this agenda statement for reference and
information. The private letter ruling, issued on June 5, 2015, confirms that income
derived from the Trust is tax-exempt under Section 115(1) of the Internal Revenue
Code, due to the IRS's determination the Trust serves to perform an essential
governmental function.
PUBLIC AGENCIES
POST -EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
TRUST AGREEMENT
(Effective November 5, 2014)
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 "Adoption Agreement" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.3.
1.2 "Agency Account" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.4.
1.3 "Agreement for Administrative Services" shall mean the agreement executed
between the Employer and the Trust Administrator which authorizes the Trust
Administrator to perform specific duties of administering the Agency Account of
the Employer.
1.4 "Assets" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.5.
1.5 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended from time to
time.
1.6 "Delegatee" shall mean an individual or entity, appointed by the Plan
Administrator or Employer to act in such matters as are specified in the
appointment.
1.7 "Effective Date" shall mean the date first written above, the date the Trust was
established, and with respect to each Employer, the Effective Date shall be the
date on which the Employer executes the Adoption Agreement.
1.8 "Eligible Beneficiary" shall mean any person who, due to his or her relationship
to an Eligible Employee, is entitled to post -employment benefits pursuant to the
Employer's Pension Plan or OPEB Plan, including but not limited to the Eligible
Employee's current or former spouse or domestic partner, child, dependent, or
survivor.
1.9 "Eligible Employee" shall mean any employee of an Employer who is entitled to
post -employment benefits pursuant to the Employer's Pension Plan or OPEB
Plan. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Eligible Employee" as
used herein shall include any Eligible Beneficiaries.
1.10 "Employer" shall mean a public agency that executes the Adoption Agreement,
thereby adopting the provisions of this Trust Agreement, provided that such
agency is a state, a political subdivision of a state, or an entity the income of
which is excludible from gross income under Section 115 of the Code.
1.11 "GASB" shall mean the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
1.12 "Omnibus Account" shall mean an account, established for record keeping
purposes only, to aggregate the balances of the Assets credited to the Agency
Accounts. The Trust Administrator shall maintain and reconcile, at the Agency
Account level (and subaccount level), the investments of the Agency Accounts
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and will provide reports to the Plan Administrator with respect to such
investments. The Trustee will maintain a record of the aggregate balance
(principal and earnings) for all Agency Accounts. The Trust Administrator will in
the ordinary course of business maintain a record of the name, address, taxpayer
identification number, account number and amount of funds, including earnings,
of each Employer. On periodic valuation dates (no less frequently than monthly)
to be established by the Trust Administrator, the Trustee and Trust Administrator
will reconcile the aggregate balance information maintained by the Trustee with
the Agency Account level records maintained by the Trust Administrator pursuant
to this Trust Agreement.
1.13 "OPEB" shall mean "other post -employment benefits," such as medical, dental,
vision, life insurance, long-term care and other similar benefits provided to
retirees, other than pension benefits.
1.14 "OPEB Obligation" shall mean an Employer's obligation to provide OPEB to its
Eligible Employees in accordance with the Employer's OPEB Plan.
1.15 "OPEB Plan" shall mean the Public Agencies Post -Employment Health Care
Plan, as adopted by the Employer under the Adoption Agreement.
1.16 "Pension Obligation" shall mean an Employer's obligation to contribute to the
Pension Plan's Qualified Trust and shall not, for example, mean an Employer's
Obligation to provide retirement benefits under the Pension Plan to the
Employer's Eligible Employees.
1.17 "Pension Plan" shall mean an Employer's defined -benefit pension plan or plans,
each of which is (i) qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, (ii) sponsored by
the Employer in order to provide retirement benefits to its Eligible Employees,
and (iii) partly or wholly funded by the Employer's contributions to a Qualified
Trust.
1.18 "Plan Administrator" shall mean the individual designated by position of
employment at the Employer to act on its behalf in all matters relating to the
Employer's participation in the Trust.
1.19 "Qualified Trust" shall mean a trust which (i) is separate and apart from the
Trust, (ii) constitutes a qualified trust under Code Section 401(a), and (iii) funds
retirement benefits provided under an Employer's Pension Plan to the Employer's
Eligible Employees.
1.20 "Trust" shall mean the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits trust
arrangement.
1.21 "Trust Administrator" shall mean Public Agency Retirement Services or any
successor trust administrator appointed by the Employers as provided herein. The
Trust Administrator shall serve as trust administrator to the Trust established
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pursuant to this Trust Agreement until such Trust Administrator resigns or is
removed as provided in Article Ill.
1.22 "Trust Agreement" shall mean this Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits
trust document adopted by each Employer upon execution of an Adoption
Agreement, as amended from time to time.
1.23 "Trustee" shall mean U.S. Bank National Association, or any successor trustee
appointed by the Employers as provided herein. The Trustee shall serve as trustee
of the Trust established pursuant to the provisions of this Trust Agreement until
such Trustee resigns or is removed as provided in Article III.
ARTICLE II
THE TRUST
2.1 Multiple Employer Trust
The Trust is a multiple employer trust arrangement established to provide
economies of scale and efficiency of administration to public agencies that adopt
it to hold the assets used to fund the agency's OPEB Obligation or Pension
Obligation or both. The Trust is divided into Agency Accounts to hold the Assets
of each Employer as described in Section 2.4.
2.2 Purpose
The Trust is established with the intention that it qualify as a tax-exempt trust
performing an essential governmental function within the meaning of Section 115
of the Code and any regulations issued thereunder and as a tax-exempt trust under
the provisions of the relevant state's statutory provisions of each Employer. This
Trust Agreement shall be construed and the Trust shall be administered in a
manner consistent with such intention. The fundamental purpose of the Trust is to
fund the Employer's OPEB Obligation or Pension Obligation or both. It is
intended that adopting Employers retain an interest in the underlying securities
held in the Trust on their behalf, rather than in the Trust itself.
The Employer hereby represents and warrants that the assets held hereunder
(including the Assets) are not assets of any qualified plan under Code Section
401(a), regardless of the character of such assets once distributed. The Employer
hereby acknowledges that the Trust does not constitute a qualified trust under
Code Section 401(a).
2.3 Employers
Any public agency may, by action of its governing body in writing accepted by
the Trustee, adopt the provisions of the Trust Agreement. Executing an adoption
instrument for the Trust ("Adoption Agreement"), in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit "A" (or such other form as may be approved by the Trustee), shall
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constitute such adoption, unless the Trustee requires additional evidence of
adoption. In order for such adoption to be effective, the public agency must also
execute an Agreement for Administrative Services with Public Agency
Retirement Services, the Trust Administrator, pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Trust
Agreement. Such adopting Employer shall then become an Employer of the
Trust.
Each such Employer shall, at a minimum, furnish the Trust Administrator with the
following documents to support its adoption of the Trust:
(a) a certified copy of the resolution(s) of the governing body of the Employer
authorizing the adoption of the Trust Agreement and the appointment of the Plan
Administrator for such Employer;
(b) an original of the Adoption Agreement executed by the Plan Administrator
or other duly authorized Employer employee;
(c) an original of the Agreement for Administrative Services with Public
Agency Retirement Services executed by the Plan Administrator or other duly
authorized Employer employee and Public Agency Retirement Services;
(d) an address notice; and
(e) such other documents as the Trustee may reasonably request.
(f) Any action taken by the Plan Administrator for an Employer shall be
deemed to have been taken by such Employer. Any notice given to or delivered
by the Plan Administrator for an Employer shall be deemed to have been given to
or delivered by such Employer.
2.4 Agency Accounts
(a) Upon an Employer's adopting the Trust Agreement, as provided in
Section 2.3, a separate "Agency Account" shall be established under the Trust for
that Employer, and all Assets of the Trust attributable to that Employer shall be
held in that Employer's Agency Account.
(b) An Employer's Agency Account comprises three subaccounts: a "Pension
Account", an "OPEB Account", and a "Suspense Account". The Assets of the
Trust that are held in the Employer's Pension Account will be available only to
fund the Employer's Pension Obligation and defray the reasonable expenses
associated with the same. The Assets of the Trust that are held in the Employer's
OPEB Account will be available only to fund the Employer's OPEB Obligation
and defray the reasonable expenses associated with the same.
(c) The Assets of the Trust that are held in an Employer's Agency Account
shall not be available to pay any obligations incurred by any other Employer as
provided in Section 2.8.
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(d) All contributions and transfers received by the Trust on behalf of the
Employer will be held in the Employer's Agency Account and will be allocated to
the subaccounts under the Agency Account as follows:
(1) If the Employer maintains a Pension Account or OPEB Account
(and not both a Pension Account and an OPEB Account), all contributions
and transfers received by the Trust on the Employer's behalf will be
allocated to that subaccount.
(2) If the Employer maintains both a Pension Account and an OPEB
Account, contributions and transfers received by the Trust on the
Employer's behalf will be allocated to either the Pension Account or
OPEB Account, as directed by the Plan Administrator. To the extent the
Plan Administrator does not provide such direction, the Employer hereby
directs the Trustee to allocate such contributions and transfers to the
Suspense Account and to use the assets of the Suspense Account to
purchase a position in the sweep vehicle identified on an exhibit hereto or,
if none is identified, to hold such assets un-invested. The Plan
Administrator may at any time direct the reallocation of cash from the
Suspense Account to either the Pension Account or the OPEB Account.
(3) Once allocated to the Pension Account or the OPEB Account,
amounts under the Trust may not subsequently be transferred to the other
subaccount.
2.5 Assets of Agency Account
The assets held in an Agency Account shall consist of all contributions and
transfers received by the Trust on behalf of the Employer, together with the
income and earnings from such contributions and transfers, and any increments
accruing to the Agency Account, net of any investment losses, benefits, expenses
or other costs ("Assets"). All contributions or transfers shall be received by the
Trustee in cash or in other property acceptable to the Trustee. The Trustee shall
manage and administer the Assets held in Agency Accounts without distinction
between principal and income. The Trustee and the Trust Administrator shall
have no duty to compute any amount to be transferred or paid to the Agency
Account by the Employer, and the Trustee and the Trust Administrator shall not
be responsible for the collection of any contributions or transfers to the Agency
Account.
2.6 Aggregate Balance for Investment and Administration
The balances of the Assets of more than one Agency Account may be aggregated
by the Trustee in one or more Omnibus Accounts for investment and
administrative purposes, to provide economies of scale and efficiency of
administration to the Agency Accounts. The responsibility for Agency Account
level accounting (including subaccount-level accounting within each Agency
Account) within. this Omnibus Account(s) shall be that of the Trust Administrator.
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2.7 Trustee Accounting
The Trustee shall be responsible only for maintaining records and maintaining
accounts for the aggregate assets of the Trust. The responsibility for accounting
and subaccounting for each Agency Account, based upon the Omnibus
Account(s), shall be that of the Trust Administrator.
2.8 No Diversion of Assets
The Assets in each Employer's Agency Account shall be held in trust for the
exclusive purpose of funding the Employer's OPEB Obligation or Pension
Obligation or both and defraying the reasonable expenses associated with the
same. The Assets in each Agency Account shall not be used for or diverted to,
any other purpose, including, but not limited to, the satisfaction of any other
Employer's Pension Obligation or OPEB Obligation.
2.9 Type and Nature of Trust
Neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of each Employer is pledged
to the distribution of amounts hereunder. Except for contributions and other
amounts hereunder, no other amounts are pledged to the distribution of benefits
hereunder. Distributions of benefits are neither general nor special obligations of
any Employer, but are payable solely from the Assets held in such Employer's
Agency Account, as more fully described herein. No employee of any Employer
or beneficiary may compel the exercise of the taxing power by any Employer.
Distributions of Assets from any Agency Account are not debts of any Employer
within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation or restriction.
Such distributions are not legal or equitable pledges, charges, liens or
encumbrances, upon any of an Employer's property, or upon any of its income,
receipts, or revenues, except amounts in the accounts which are, under the terms
of each Plan and the Trust set aside for distributions. Neither the members of the
governing body of any Employer nor its officers, employees, agents or volunteers
are liable hereunder.
2.10 Loss of Tax -Exempt Status as to Any Employer
If any Employer participating in the Trust receives notice from the Internal
Revenue Service that the Trust as to such Employer fails to satisfy the
requirements of Section 115 of the Code, or if any Employer consents to the
Internal Revenue Service's determination that the Trust fails to meet such
requirements, Assets having a value equal to the funds then held in such
Employer's Agency Account shall be segregated and placed in a separate trust by
the Trustee for the exclusive benefit of such Employer's Eligible Employees
within a reasonable time after the Trust Administrator notifies the Trustee of the
Internal Revenue Service's determination. Each Employer participating in the
Trust agrees to immediately notify the Trust Administrator upon receiving such
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notice or giving such consent. The separate trust provided for in this Section 2.10
shall thereafter be considered as a separate trust containing all of the provisions of
this Trust Agreement until terminated as provided in this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
3.1 Appointment of Trustee
The Employers may, with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the
Employers then participating in the Trust, act to appoint a bank, trust company,
retirement board, insurer, committee or such other entity as permitted by law, to
serve as the trustee of this Trust. Such action must be in writing. Upon the
written acceptance of such entity it shall become the Trustee of the Trust. If the
Trustee is removed or resigns pursuant to Section 3.2, the Employers shall appoint
a successor Trustee in accordance with the voting requirements set forth in this
Section 3.1.
3.2 Resignation or Removal of Trustee
The Employers may act to remove the Trustee, provided that such action must
satisfy the voting requirements set forth in Section 3.1 and notice of such action
must be promptly delivered to the Trust Administrator, the Trustee and each Plan
Administrator. The Trustee may also resign at any time by giving at least ninety
(90) days prior written notice to the Trust Administrator and to the Plan
Administrator of each Employer that has adopted the Trust Agreement and not
terminated its participation in the Trust; provided, however, that the Trustee may
resign immediately upon the earlier of the approval date or the effective date of
any amendment of the Trust Agreement by the Employers that would change or
modify the duties, powers or liabilities of the Trustee hereunder without the
Trustee's consent. The Trustee shall, upon the appointment and acceptance of a
successor trustee, transfer and deliver the Assets and all records relating to the
Trust to the successor, after reserving such reasonable amount as it shall deem
necessary to provide for its fees and expenses and any sums chargeable against
the Trust for which it may be liable. The Trustee shall do all acts necessary to
vest title of record in the successor trustee.
3.3 Withdrawal of Employer
An Employer may elect to withdraw from the Trust by giving at least thirty (30)
days prior written notice to the Trustee and the Trust Administrator. If an
Employer so elects to withdraw, Assets having a value equal to the funds held in
such Employer's Agency Account shall be segregated by the Trustee and, as soon
as practicable, shall be transferred to one or more trusts maintained by the
Employer, provided that (i) for Assets transferred from the OPEB Account, any
such trust shall satisfy the requirements of Section 115 of the Code, (ii) for Assets
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transferred from the Pension Account, any such trust shall satisfy the
requirements of either Section 115 or 401(a) of the Code, and (iii) all assets held
by any such trust and previously held in the Employer's Pension Account or
OPEB Account shall qualify as "plan assets" within the meaning of GASB
Statement No. 68 (Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions ---An
Amendment of GASB Statement No. 27) or GASB Statement No. 45 (Accounting
and Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than
Pensions), respectively, in each case as reasonably determined by the Employer
and certified in writing by the Employer to the Trust Administrator. The
Employer shall appoint a trustee for such Employer's separate trust and, upon the
trustee's acceptance of that appointment, the trustee will be vested with title to the
transferred Assets.
3.4 The Plan Administrator
The governing body of each Employer shall have plenary authority for the
administration and investment of such Employer's Agency Account pursuant to
any applicable state laws and applicable federal laws and regulations. Each
Employer shall by resolution designate a Plan Administrator. Unless otherwise
specified in the instrument the Plan Administrator shall be deemed to have
authority to act on behalf of the Employer in all matters pertaining to the
Employer's participation in the Trust and in regard to the Agency Account of the
Employer. Such appointment of a Plan Administrator shall be effective upon
receipt and acknowledgment by the Trustee and the Trust Administrator and shall
be effective until the Trustee and the Trust Administrator are furnished with a
resolution of the Employer that the appointment has been modified or terminated.
3.5 Failure to Appoint Plan Administrator
If a Plan Administrator is not appointed, or such appointment lapses, the
Employer shall be deemed to be the Plan Administrator. As used in this
document the term "Plan Administrator" shall be deemed to mean `Employer"
when a Plan Administrator has not been appointed for such Employer.
3.6 Delegatee
The Plan Administrator, acting on behalf of the Employer, may delegate certain
authority, powers and duties to a Delegatee to act in those matters specified in the
delegation. Any such delegation must be in a writing that names and identifies
the Delegatee, states the effective date of the delegation, specifies the authority
and duties delegated, is executed by the Plan Administrator, is acknowledged in
writing by the Delegatee, and is certified as required in Section 3.7 to the Trust
Administrator. Such delegation shall be effective until the Trustee and the Trust
Administrator are directed in writing by the Plan Administrator that the delegation
has been rescinded or modified.
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3.7 Certification to Trustee
The governing body of each Employer, or other duly authorized official, shall
certify in writing to the Trustee and the Trust Administrator the names and
specimen signatures of the Plan Administrator and Delegatee, if any, and all
others authorized to act on behalf of the Employer whose names and specimen
signatures shall be kept accurate by the Employer acting through a duly
authorized officer or governing body of the Employer. The Trustee and the Trust
Administrator shall have no liability if they act upon the direction of a Plan
Administrator or Delegatee that has been duly authorized, as provided in Section
3.6, if that Plan Administrator or Delegatee is no longer authorized to act, unless
the Employer has informed the Trustee and the Trust Administrator of such
change.
3.8 Directions to Trustee
All directions to the Trustee from the Plan Administrator or Delegatee must be in
writing and must be signed by the Plan Administrator or Delegatee, as the case
may be. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, direction shall include any
certification, notice, authorization, application or instruction of the Plan
Administrator, Delegatee or Trustee appropriately communicated. The above
notwithstanding, direction may be implied if the Plan Administrator or Delegatee
has knowledge of the Trustee's intentions and fails to file written objection.
The Trustee shall have the power and duty to comply promptly with all proper
directions of the Plan Administrator or Delegatee, appointed in accordance with
the provisions of this Trust Agreement. In the case of any direction deemed by
the Trustee to be unclear or ambiguous the Trustee may seek written instructions
from the Plan Administrator, the Employer or the Delegatee on such matter and
await their written instructions without incurring any liability. If at any time the
Plan Administrator or the Delegatee should fail to give directions to the Trustee,
the Trustee may act in the manner that in its discretion seems advisable under the
circumstances for carrying out the purposes of the Trust and/or the applicable
Agency Account which may include not taking any action. The Trustee may
request directions or clarification of directions received and may delay acting
until clarification is received. In the absence of timely direction or clarification,
or if the Trustee considers any direction to be a violation of the Trust Agreement
or any applicable law, the Trustee shall in its sole discretion take appropriate
action, or refuse to act upon a direction.
3.9 Appointment of Trust Administrator
The Employers may, with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the
Employers then participating in the Trust, act to appoint a bank, trust company,
retirement board, insurer, committee or such other entity as permitted by law, to
serve as Trust Administrator of the Trust. Such action must be in writing. Upon
the written acceptance of such entity it shall become the Trust Administrator of
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the Trust. If the Trust Administrator is removed or resigns pursuant to Section
3.13, the Employers shall appoint a successor Trust Administrator in accordance
with the voting requirements set forth in this Section 3.9.
3.10 Trust Administrator
The Trust Administrator's duties involve the performance of the following
services pursuant to the provisions of this Trust Agreement and the Agreement for
Administrative Services:
(a) Performing periodic accounting of each Agency Account (including
subaccount-level accounting within each Agency Account) and reconciling such
Agency Account balances with the Trust/Omnibus Account;
(b) Directing the Trustee to make distributions from the appropriate
subaccount under an Agency Account in accordance with Section 5.9.
(c) Allocating contributions, earnings and expenses to each Agency Account
and the underlying subaccounts;
(d) Directing the Trustee to pay the fees of the Trust Administrator and to do
such other acts as shall be appropriate to carry out the intent of the Trust;
(e) Such other services as the Employer and the Trust Administrator may
agree in the Agreement for Administrative Services pursuant to Section 2.3.
The Trust Administrator shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be under no duty to
question, any direction and/or data received from the Plan Administrator, or other
duly authorized entity, in order to perform its authorized duties under this Trust
Agreement. The Trust Administrator shall not have any duty to compute
contributions made to the Trust, determine or inquire whether contributions made
to the Trust by the Plan Administrator or other duly authorized entity are adequate
to meet an Employer's Pension Obligation or OPEB Obligation as may be
determined under any applicable GASB pronouncement; or determine or inquire
whether contributions made to the Trust are in compliance with the Employer's
OPEB Plan or Pension Plan. The Trust Administrator shall not be liable for
nonperformance of duties if such nonperformance is directly caused by erroneous,
and/or late delivery of, directions or data from the Plan Administrator, or other
duly authorized entity.
3.11 Additional Trust Administrator Services
The Plan Administrator may at any time retain the Trust Administrator as its
agent to perform any act, keep any records or accounts and make any
computations which are required of the Employer or the Plan Administrator by
this Trust Agreement or by the Employer's policies and/or applicable collective
bargaining agreements. The Trust Administrator shall be separately compensated
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for such service and such services shall not be deemed to be contrary to the Trust
Agreement.
3.12 Trust Administrator's Compensation
As may be agreed upon from time to time by the Employer and Trust
Administrator, the Trust Administrator will be paid reasonable compensation for
services rendered or reimbursed for expenses properly and actually incurred in the
performance of duties with respect to such Employer's Agency Account and to
the Trust.
3.13 Resignation or Removal of Trust Administrator
The Employers may act to remove the Trust Administrator, provided that such
action must satisfy the voting requirements set forth in Section 3.9 and notice of
such action must be promptly delivered to the Trust Administrator, the Trustee
and each Plan Administrator. The Trust Administrator may also resign at any
time by giving at least one hundred and twenty (120) days prior written notice to
the Trustee and to the Plan Administrator of each Employer that has adopted the
Trust Agreement and not terminated its participation in the Trust; provided,
however, that the Trust Administrator may resign immediately upon the earlier of
the approval date or the effective date of any amendment of the Trust Agreement
by the Employers that would change or modify the duties, powers or liabilities of
the Trust Administrator hereunder without the Trust Administrator's consent.
The Trust Administrator shall, upon the appointment and acceptance of a
successor trust administrator, transfer all records relating to the Trust to the
successor.
ARTICLE IV
THE TRUSTEE
4.1 Powers and Duties of the Trustee
Except as otherwise provided in Article V and subject to Article VI, the Trustee
shall have full power and authority with respect to property held in the Trust to do
all such acts, take all proceedings, and exercise all such rights and privileges,
whether specifically referred to or not in this document, as could be done, taken or
exercised by the absolute owner, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) To invest and reinvest the Assets or any part hereof in any one or more
kind, type, class, item or parcel of property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or
intangible; or in any one or more kind, type, class, item or issue of investment or
security; or in any one or more kind, type, class or item of obligation, secured or
unsecured; or in any combination of them (including those issued by the Trustee
of any of its affiliates, to the extent permitted by applicable law), and to retain the
property for the period of time that the Trustee deems appropriate;
Page 11 of 25
(b) To acquire and sell options to buy securities ("call" options) and to acquire
and sell options to sell securities ("put" options);
(c) To buy, sell, assign, transfer, acquire, loan, lease (for any purpose,
including mineral leases), exchange and in any other manner to acquire, manage,
deal with and dispose of all or any part of the Trust property, for cash or credit
and upon any reasonable terms and conditions;
(d) To make deposits, with any bank or savings and loan institution, including
any such facility of the Trustee or an affiliate thereof provided that the deposit
bears a reasonable rate of interest;
(e) To invest and reinvest the Assets, or any part thereof in any one or more
collective investment trust funds, including common and group trust funds that
consist exclusively of assets of exempt pension and profit sharing trusts and
individual retirement accounts qualified and tax exempt under the Code, that are
maintained by the Trustee or an affiliate thereof. The declaration of trust or plan
of operations for any such common or collective fund is hereby incorporated
herein and adopted into this Trust Agreement by this reference. The combining of
money and other assets of the Trust with money and other assets of other non -
qualified trusts in such fund or funds is specifically authorized. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall have full
investment responsibility over Assets of the Trust invested in such commingled
funds. If the plan and trust for any reason lose their tax exempt status, and the
Assets have been commingled with assets of other tax exempt trusts in Trustee's
collective investment funds, the Trustee shall within 30 days of notice of such loss
of tax exempt status, liquidate the Trust's units of the collective investment
fund(s) and invest the proceeds in a money market fund pending investment or
other instructions from the Plan Administrator. The Trustee shall not be liable for
any loss or gain or taxes, if any, resulting from said liquidation;
(f) To place uninvested cash and cash awaiting distribution in one or more
mutual funds and/or commingled investment funds maintained by or made
available by the Trustee or any of its affiliates, and to receive compensation from
the sponsor of such fund(s) for services rendered, separate and apart from any
Trustee's fees hereunder. The Trustee or its affiliate may also be compensated for
providing investment advisory services to any mutual fund or commingled
investment funds;
(g) To borrow money for the purposes of the Trust from any source with or
without giving security; to pay interest; to issue promissory notes and to secure
the repayment thereof by pledging all or any part of the Assets;
(h) To take all of the following actions: to vote proxies of any stocks, bonds
or other securities; to give general or special proxies or powers of attorney with or
Page 12 of 25
without power of substitution; to exercise any conversion privileges, subscription
rights or other options, and to make any payments incidental thereto; to consent to
or otherwise participate in corporate reorganizations or other changes affecting
corporate securities and to delegate discretionary powers and to pay any
assessments or charges in connection therewith; and generally to exercise any of
the powers of an owner with respect to stocks, bonds, securities or other property
held in the Trust;
(i) To make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all documents of
transfer and conveyance and any and all other instruments that may be necessary
or appropriate to carry out the powers herein granted;
(j) To raze or move existing buildings; to make ordinary or extraordinary
repairs, alterations or additions in and to buildings; to construct buildings and
other structures and to install fixtures and equipment therein;
(k) To pay or cause to be paid from the Trust any and all real or personal
property taxes, income taxes or other taxes or assessments of any or all kinds
levied or assessed upon or with respect to the Trust;
(1) To exercise all the further rights, powers, options and privileges granted,
provided for, or vested in trustees generally under applicable federal or state laws,
as amended from time to time, it being intended that, except as herein otherwise
provided, the powers conferred upon the Trustee herein shall not be construed as
being in limitation of any authority conferred by law, but shall be construed as
consistent or in addition thereto.
4.2 Additional Trustee Powers
In addition to the other powers enumerated above, the Trustee in any and all
events is authorized and empowered:
(a) To invest funds pending required directions in any type of interest -bearing
account, including, without limitation, time certificates of deposit or interest -
bearing accounts issued by the Trustee, or any mutual fund or short term
investment fund ("Fund"), whether sponsored or advised by the Trustee or any
affiliate thereof); the Trustee or its affiliates may be compensated for providing
such investment advice and providing other service to such Fund, in addition to
any Trustee's fees received pursuant to this Trust Agreement;
(b) To cause all or any part of the Trust to be held in the name of the Trustee
(which in such instance need not disclose its fiduciary capacity) or, as permitted
by law, in the name of any nominee, and to acquire for the Trust any investment
in bearer form, but the books and records of the Trust shall at all times show that
all such investments are a part of the Trust and the Trustee shall hold evidences of
title to all such investments;
Page 13 of 25
(c) To serve as custodian with respect to the Trust Assets;
(d) To employ such custodians, agents and counsel as may be reasonably
necessary in managing and protecting the Assets and to pay them reasonable
compensation from the Trust; to employ any broker -dealer or other agent,
including any broker -dealer or other agent affiliated with the Trustee, and pay to
such broker -dealer or other agent, at the expense of the Trust, its standard
commissions or compensation; to settle, compromise or abandon all claims and
demands in favor of or against the Trust; and to charge any premium on bonds
purchased at par value to the principal of the Trust without amortization from the
Trust, regardless of any law relating thereto;
(e) In addition to the powers listed herein, to do all other acts necessary or
desirable for the proper administration of the Trust, as though the absolute owner
thereof;
(f) To prosecute, compromise and defend lawsuits, but without obligation to
do so, all at the risk and expense of the Trust; and to tender its defense to the
Employer in any legal proceeding where the interests of the Trustee and the
Employer are not adverse;
(g) To exercise and perform any and all of the other powers and duties
specified in this Trust Agreement or the Plan;
(h) To permit such inspections of documents at the principal office of the
Trustee as are required by law, subpoena or demand by a United States agency;
(i)
To comply with all requirements imposed by applicable provisions of law;
(j) To seek written instructions from the Plan Administrator or other fiduciary
on any matter and await their written instructions without incurring any liability.
If at any time the Plan Administrator or the fiduciary should fail to give directions
to the Trustee, the Trustee may act in the manner that in its discretion seems
advisable under the circumstances for carrying out the purposes of the Trust;
(k) To compensate such executive, consultant, actuarial, accounting,
investment, appraisal, administrative, clerical, secretarial, medical, custodial,
depository and legal firms, personnel and other employees or assistants as are
engaged by the Plan Administrator in connection with funding the Employer's
OPEB Obligation or Pension Obligation or both and to pay from the Trust the
necessary expenses of such firms, personnel and assistants, to the extent not paid
by the Plan Administrator;
Page 14 of 25
(1) To act upon proper written directions of the Plan Administrator or
Delegatee, including directions given by photostatic transmissions using facsimile
signature, and such other forms of directions as the parties shall agree;
(m) To pay from the Trust the expenses reasonably incurred in the
administration of the Trust;
(n) To maintain insurance for such purposes, in such amounts and with such
companies as the Plan Administrator shall elect, including insurance to cover
liability or losses occurring by reason of the acts or omissions of fiduciaries but
only if such insurance permits recourse by the insurer against the fiduciary in the
case of a breach of a fiduciary obligation by such fiduciary.
ARTICLE V
INVESTMENTS
5.1 Discretionary Versus Directed Investment
For the Pension Account and the OPEB Account under the Agency Account, the
Employer shall elect either a discretionary or directed investment approach. The
Employer may elect the same or different investment approaches for those two
subaccounts. The Employer hereby elects a directed approach for the Suspense
Account. If the Employer elects a discretionary investment approach for a
subaccount, the Employer shall further elect between the various investment
strategies offered and the Trustee, in accordance with Article IV, shall have
absolute discretion over the investment of the Assets held in such subaccount
under the Employer's Agency Account. If the Employer elects a directed
investment approach for a subaccount, the Trustee shall direct the investment of
the Assets of such subaccount under the Employer's Agency Account in
accordance with the direction provided by such Employer.
5.2 Trustee Fees
As may be agreed upon, in writing, between the Plan Administrator and Trustee,
the Trustee will be paid reasonable compensation for services rendered or
reimbursed for expenses properly and actually incurred in the performance of
duties with respect to the applicable Agency Account or the Trust.
5.3 Contributions
Eligible Employees are not permitted to make contributions to the Trust. The
Plan Administrator shall, on behalf of the Employer, make all contributions to the
Trustee. Such contributions shall be in cash unless the Trustee agrees to accept a
contribution that is not in cash. All contributions shall be paid to the Trustee for
investment and reinvestment pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement. The
Trustee shall not have any duty to determine or inquire whether any contributions
Page 15 of 25
to the Trust made to the Trustee by any Plan Administrator are in compliance with
the Employer's Pension Plan or OPEB Plan; nor shall the Trustee have any duty
or authority to compute any amount to be paid to the Trustee by any Plan
Administrator; nor shall the Trustee be responsible for the collection or adequacy
of the contributions to meet an Employer's Pension Obligation or OPEB
Obligation. The contributions received by the Trustee from each Employer shall
be held and administered pursuant to the terms hereof without distinction between
income and principal.
5.4 Records
(a) The Trustee shall maintain accurate records and detailed accounts of all
investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions hereunder at the Trust
level. Such records shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by the
Trust Administrator. The Trustee shall, at the direction of the Trust
Administrator, submit such valuations, reports or other information as the Trust
Administrator may reasonably require.
(b) The Assets of the Trust shall be valued at their fair market value on the
date of valuation, as determined by the Trustee based upon such sources of
information as it may deem reliable; provided, however, that the Plan
Administrator shall instruct the Trustee as to valuation of assets which are not
readily determinable on an established market. The Trustee may rely
conclusively on such valuations provided by the Plan Administrator and shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Employer with respect to such reliance. If
the Plan Administrator fails to provide such values, the Trustee may take
whatever action it deems reasonable, including employment of attorneys,
appraisers or other professionals, the expense of which will be an expense of
administration of the Trust. Transactions in the account involving such hard to
value assets may be postponed until appropriate valuations have been received
and Trustee shall have no liability therefore.
5.5 Statements
(a) Periodically as specified, and within sixty days after December 31, or the
end of the Trust's fiscal year if different, Trustee shall render to the Trust
Administrator as directed, a written account showing in reasonable summary the
investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions engaged in by the
Trustee during the preceding fiscal year or period with respect to the Trust. Such
account shall set forth the assets and liabilities of the Trust valued as of the end of
the accounting period.
(b) The Trust Administrator may approve such statements either by written
notice or by failure to express objections to such statements by written notice
delivered to the Trustee within 90 days from the date the statement is delivered to
the Trust Administrator. Upon approval, the Trustee shall be released and
discharged as to all matters and items set forth in such statement as if such
Page 16 of 25
account had been settled and allowed by a decree from a court of competent
jurisdiction.
5.6 Wire Transfers
The Trustee shall follow the Plan Administrator's, Delegatee's, or Trust
Administrator's wire transfer instructions in compliance with the written security
procedures provided by the party providing the wire transfers. The Trustee shall
perform a telephonic verification to the Plan Administrator, Trust Administrator,
or Delegatee, or such other security procedure as selected by the party providing
wire transfer directions, prior to wiring funds or following facsimile directions as
Trustee may require. The Plan Administrator assumes the risk of delay of transfer
if Trustee is unable to reach the Plan Administrator, or in the event of delay as a
result of attempts to comply with any other security procedure selected by the
directing party.
5.7 Exclusive Benefit
The Assets of an Employer's Agency Account shall be held in trust for the
exclusive purpose of funding the Employer's OPEB Obligation or Pension
Obligation or both and defraying the reasonable expenses associated with the
same and shall not be used for or diverted to any other purpose. No party shall
have authority to use or divert the Assets of an Agency Account of an Employer
for the satisfaction of any other Employer's Pension Obligation or OPEB
Obligation or any other Employer's expenses.
5.8 Delegation of Duties
The Plan Administrator, Delegatee, or Trust Administrator, may at any time retain
the Trustee as its agent to perform any act, keep any records or accounts and make
any computations that are required of the Plan Administrator, Delegatee or Trust
Administrator by this Trust Agreement or by the Plan. The Trustee may be
compensated for such retention and such retention shall not be deemed to be
contrary to this Trust Agreement.
5.9 Distributions
(a) The Trustee shall, from time to time, upon the written direction of the Plan
Administrator or Delegatee, make distributions from the Assets of the Trust under
the OPEB Account to the insurers, third party administrators, service providers or
other entities providing benefits or services under the OPEB Plan, or to Eligible
Employees and Eligible Beneficiaries for reimbursement of OPEB Plan premiums
(or other payments for OPEB Plan benefits) paid by the Eligible Employee or
Eligible Beneficiary, or to the Employer for reimbursement of OPEB Plan
benefits and expenses paid by the Employer, in such manner in such form(s), in
such amounts and for such purposes as may be specified in such directions.
Page 17 of 25
(b) In addition, the Trustee shall, from time to time, upon the written direction
of the Plan Administrator or Delegatee, make distributions from the Assets of the
Trust under the Pension Account directly to (i) the Qualified Trust as employer
contributions, (ii) any insurers, third party administrators, service providers or
other entities providing services in connection with determining the Employer's
Pension Obligation, or (iii) the Employer as reimbursement for the Employer's
payment of amounts described in this Section 5.9(b)(i) and (ii).
(c) In no event shall the Trustee have any responsibility respecting the
application of distributions from the Assets of the Trust, or for determining or
inquiring into whether such distributions are in accordance with the Employer's
OPEB Plan, Pension Plan, policies, or applicable collective bargaining
agreements.
ARTICLE VI
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES
6.1 More Than One Fiduciary Capacity
Any one or more of the fiduciaries with respect to the Trust Agreement or the
Trust may, to the extent required thereby or as directed by the Plan Administrator
pursuant to this Trust Agreement, serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with
respect to the Trust Agreement and the Trust.
6.2 Fiduciary Discharge of Duties
Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, each fiduciary shall discharge
such fiduciary's duties with respect to the Trust Agreement and the Trust:
(a) solely in the interest of the Eligible Employees and for the exclusive
purpose of funding the Employer's OPEB Obligation or Pension Obligation or
both and defraying the reasonable expenses associated with the same; and
(b) with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then
prevailing that a prudent man acting in a like capacity and familiar with such
matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of like character and with like
aims.
6.3 Limitations on Fiduciary Responsibility
To the extent allowed by the laws of the state of each Employer:
No fiduciary shall be liable with respect to a breach of fiduciary duty by any other
fiduciary if such breach was committed before such party became a fiduciary or
after such party ceased to be a fiduciary.
Page 18 of 25
No fiduciary shall be liable for a breach by another fiduciary except as provided
by law.
No fiduciary shall be liable for carrying out a proper direction from another
fiduciary, including refraining from taking an action in the absence of a proper
direction from the other fiduciary possessing the authority and responsibility to
make such a direction, which direction the fiduciary in good faith believes to be
authorized and appropriate.
6.4 Indemnification of Trustee by Employer
The Trustee shall not be liable for, and Employer shall (to the extent allowed by
the laws of the state of each Employer) indemnify, defend (as set out in Section
6.8 of this Trust Agreement), and hold the Trustee (including its officers, agents,
employees and attorneys) and other Employers harmless from and against any
claims, demands, loss, costs, expense or liability imposed on the indemnified
party, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the indemnified
party, arising as a result of Employer's active or passive negligent act or omission
or willful misconduct in the execution or performance of its duties under this
Trust Agreement.
6.5 Indemnification of Employer by Trustee
The Employer shall not be liable for, and Trustee shall (to the extent allowed by
the laws of the state of each Employer) indemnify, defend (as set out in Section
6.8 of this Trust Agreement), and hold the Employer (including its officers,
agents, employees and attorneys) and other Employers harmless from and against
any claims, demands, loss, costs, expense or liability imposed on the indemnified
party, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the indemnified
party, arising as a result of Trustee's active or passive negligent act or omission or
willful misconduct in the execution or performance of its duties under this Trust
Agreement.
6.6 Indemnification of Trustee by Trust Administrator
The Trustee shall not be liable for, and Trust Administrator shall (to the extent
allowed by the laws of the state of each Employer) indemnify and hold the
Trustee (including its officers, agents, employees and attorneys) harmless from
and against any claims, demands, loss, costs, expense or liability imposed on the
indemnified party, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the
indemnified party, arising as a result of Trust Administrator's active or passive
negligent act or omission or willful misconduct in the execution or performance
of its duties under this Trust Agreement.
6.7 Indemnification of Trust Administrator by Trustee
The Trust Administrator shall not be liable for, and Trustee shall (to the extent
allowed by the laws of the state of each Employer) indemnify and hold the Trust
Page 19 of 25
Administrator (including its officers, agents, employees and attorneys) harmless
from and against any claims, demands, loss, costs, expense or liability imposed on
the indemnified party, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by
the indemnified party, arising as a result of Trustee's active or passive negligent
act or omission or willful misconduct in the execution or performance of its duties
under this Trust Agreement.
6.8 Indemnification Procedures
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice or receipt of a claim or
the commencement of any action for which indemnification may be sought, the
indemnified party will notify the indemnifying party in writing of the receipt or
commencement thereof. When the indemnifying party has agreed to provide a
defense as set out above that party shall assume the defense of such action
(including the employment of counsel, who shall be counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemniee) and the payment of expenses, insofar as such
action shall relate to any alleged liability in respect of which indemnity may be
sought against the indemnifying party. Any indemnified party shall have the right
to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall not be at the expense of
the indemnifying party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized by the indemnifying party or (ii) the named parties to any
such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them.
The indemnifying party shall not be liable to indemnify any person for any
settlement of any such action effected without the indemnifying party's consent.
The indemnification procedures of this Trust Agreement shall survive the
termination of the Trust, any Employer's participation in the Trust and/or this
Trust Agreement.
6.9 No Joint and Several Liability
This document is not intended to and does not create any joint powers agreement
or any joint and several liability. No Employer shall be responsible for any
contributions, costs or distributions of any other Employer.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND MERGER
7.1 No Contractual Obligation
An Employer's participation in the Trust does not create, and is not intended to
create, any contractual obligation to Eligible Employees. Therefore, no Employer
is contractually obligated to Eligible Employees solely due to its participation in
Page 20 of 25
the Trust to continue providing benefits under its Pension Plan or OPEB Plan or
to make contributions to the Trust.
7.2 Amendment of Trust
(a) The Trust Agreement may be amended only by the approval of two-thirds
(2/3) or more of the Employers then participating in the Trust. Any such
amendment by the Employers shall be set forth in an instrument in writing and
shall be delivered to the Trustee, the Trust Administrator and all Plan
Administrators not less than one hundred and eighty (180) days before the
effective date of such amendment; provided, however, that any party may waive
in writing such 180-day requirement with respect to any amendment (and such
waiver shall not constitute a waiver with respect to any other amendment); and
provided, further, that a waiver in writing of such 180-day requirement by two-
thirds (2/3) or more of the Plan Administrators of the Employers participating in
the Trust as of the date the amendment is adopted shall constitute a waiver of such
180-day requirement by all of the Employers then participating in the Trust. In
addition, the Trust Administrator or the Trustee shall have the right to amend this
Trust Agreement from time to time (without the requirement of a vote of
Employers) solely for the purpose of keeping the Trust Agreement in compliance
with the Code and applicable state law. Any such amendment by the Trust
Administrator or the Trustee shall be set forth in an instrument in writing and
shall be delivered to the Trustee, the Trust Administrator and all Plan
Administrators promptly as each is made.
(b) Any amendment of the Trust Agreement may be current, retroactive or
prospective, provided, however, that no amendment shall:
(1) Cause the Assets of any Agency Account to be used for or diverted
to purposes other than for the exclusive purpose of funding the
Employer's OPEB Obligation or Pension Obligation or both and defraying
the reasonable expenses associated with the same.
(2) Permit the Assets of any Agency Account to be used for the benefit
of any other Employer.
7.3 Termination of Employer's Obligation to Provide Pension Benefits or OPEB
A termination of the Employer's obligation to provide benefits under the
Employer's Pension Plan or OPEB Plan for which the Employer's Agency
Account was established shall not, in itself, effect a termination of the Agency
Account. Upon a termination of the Employer's obligation to provide benefits
under its Pension Plan or OPEB Plan, the Assets of the Employer's Pension
Account or OPEB Account, as applicable, will be distributed by the Trustee when
directed by the Plan Administrator in accordance with this Section 7.3. From and
after the date of such termination and until final distribution of all Assets under
the Employer's Agency Account, the Trustee shall continue to have all the powers
Page 21 of 25
provided herein as are necessary or expedient for the orderly liquidation and
distribution of such Assets, and the Agency Account shall continue until the
Assets have been completely distributed. Any Assets remaining in the Pension
Account or OPEB Account will be used first to satisfy any remaining Pension
Obligation or OPEB Obligation, respectively, pursuant to the Employer's Pension
Plan or OPEB Plan (to the extent that such distribution constitutes the exercise of
an "essential governmental function" within the meaning of Section 115 of the
Code) and to satisfy any of such Employer's obligations under this Trust
Agreement. Any Assets remaining in the Employer's Pension Account or OPEB
Account (as applicable) after giving effect to the preceding sentence will be paid
to the Employer to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the
requirements of Section 115 of the Code.
7.4 Fund Recovery Based on Mistake of Fact
Except as hereinafter provided or in accordance with Section 7.3, the Assets of
the Trust shall never inure to the benefit of the Employer. The Assets shall be
held for the exclusive purpose of funding the Employer's OPEB Obligation or
Pension Obligation or both and defraying the reasonable expenses associated with
the same. However, in the case of a contribution which is made by an Employer
because of a mistake of fact, that portion of the contribution relating to the
mistake of fact (exclusive of any earnings or losses attributable thereto) may be
returned to the Employer, provided such return occurs within two (2) years after
discovery by the Employer of the mistake. If any repayment is payable to the
Employer, then, as a condition to such repayment, and only if requested by
Trustee, the Employer shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trustee its
written undertaking, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, to indemnify, defend
and hold the Trustee harmless from all claims, actions, demands or liabilities
arising in connection with such repayment.
7.5 Termination of Trust
(a) The Trust and this Trust Agreement may be terminated by the unanimous
agreement of all Employers, which action must be in writing and delivered to the
Trustee and Trust Administrator. Upon termination of the Trust under this Section
7.5(a), the Assets of each Employer's Pension Account or OPEB Account, as
applicable, will be distributed by the Trustee when directed by the Plan
Administrator in accordance with this Section 7.5(a). From and after the date of
such termination and until final distribution of all Assets under each Employer's
Agency Account, the Trustee shall continue to have all the powers provided
herein as are necessary or expedient for the orderly liquidation and distribution of
such Assets, and the Agency Account shall continue until the Assets have been
completely distributed. Any Assets remaining in the Pension Account or OPEB
Account will be used first to satisfy any remaining Pension Obligation or OPEB
Obligation, respectively, pursuant to the Employer's Pension Plan and OPEB Plan
(to the extent that such distribution constitutes the exercise of an "essential
governmental function" within the meaning of Section 115 of the Code) and to
Page 22 of 25
satisfy any of such Employer's obligations under this Trust Agreement. Any
Assets remaining in the Employer's Pension Account or OPEB Account (as
applicable) after giving effect to the preceding sentence will be paid to the
Employer to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the requirements of
Section 115 of the Code.
(b) Contributions to the Trust are conditioned on initial qualification of the
Trust under Section 115 of the Code. If the Trust receives an adverse
determination with respect to its initial qualification, then the Trust and this Trust
Agreement will automatically terminate without any action by any Employer or
other parties. After such termination, the Assets of each Employer's Pension
Account or OPEB Account, as applicable, will be returned by the Trustee to the
Employer as directed by the Plan Administrator in accordance with this Section
7.5(b) to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the requirements of
Section 115 of the Code. This Section 7.5(b) will cease to apply upon the Trust's
receipt of a favorable determination with respect to its initial qualification.
(c) The Trust and this Trust Agreement may be terminated only as described
in this Section 7.5. In no case will the assets of the Trust be distributed on
termination to an entity that is not a state, a political subdivision of a state or an
entity the income of which is excluded from gross income under Section 115 of
the Code.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
8.1 Non alienation
Eligible Employees do not have an interest in the Trust. Accordingly, the Trust
shall not in any way be liable to attachment, garnishment, assignment or other
process, or be seized, taken, appropriated or applied by any legal or equitable
process, to pay any debt or liability of an Eligible Employee or any other party.
Trust Assets shall not be subject to the claims of any Employer or the claims of its
creditors.
8.2 Saving Clause
In the event any provision of this Trust Agreement is held illegal or invalid for
any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the
Trust Agreement, but this instrument shall be construed and enforced as if said
provision had never been included.
8.3 Applicable Law
This Trust Agreement and the Trust shall be construed, administered and
governed under the Code and the law of the State of California. To the extent any
Page 23 of 25
of the provisions of this Trust Agreement are inconsistent with the Code or
applicable state law, the provisions of the Code or state law shall control. In the
event, however, that any provision is susceptible to more than one interpretation,
such interpretation shall be given thereto as is consistent with the Trust
Agreement being a tax-exempt trust within the meaning of the Code.
8.4 Joinder of Parties
In any action or other judicial proceedings affecting this Trust Agreement, it shall
be necessary to join as parties only the Trustee, the Plan Administrator or
Delegatee. No participant or other persons having an interest in the Trust or any
Agency Account shall be entitled to any notice or service of process unless
otherwise required by law. Any judgment entered in such a proceeding or action
shall be binding on all persons claiming under this Trust Agreement; provided,
however, that nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed as to deprive a
participant of such participant's right to seek adjudication of such participant's
rights under applicable law.
8.5 Employment of Counsel
The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Trustee,
the Trust Administrator or any Employer) with respect to the interpretation of this
Agreement or the Trustee's duties hereunder or with respect to any legal
proceedings or any questions of law and shall be entitled to take action or not to
take action in good faith reliance on the advice of such counsel and charge the
Trust and, as applicable, one or more Agency Accounts.
8.6 Gender and Number
Words used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall each be deemed to
refer to the other whenever the context so requires; and words used in the singular
or plural number shall each be deemed to refer to the other whenever the context
so requires.
8.7 Headings
Headings used in this Trust Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference
only and any conflict between such headings and the text shall be resolved in
favor of the text.
8.8 Counterparts
This Trust Agreement may be executed in an original and any number of
counterparts by the Plan Administrator (executing an Adoption Agreement), the
Trust Administrator and the Trustee, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original of the one and the same instrument.
Page 24 of 25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Plan Administrator (by executing the Adoption
Agreement), the Trustee and the Trust Administrator have executed this Trust Agreement by
their duly authorized agents on the Effective Date.
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
"Trustee"
By: By:
Siggia re Signature
Susan M. Hughes Daniel Johnson
Typed or printed name
Typed or printed name
Its: Vice President & Relationship Manager Its: President
PUBLIC AGENCY
RETIREMENT SERVICES
"Trust Administrator"
Page 25 of 25
ADOPTION AGREEMENT
for the
POST -EMPLOYMENT SECTION 115 TRUST
A.1.1. Trust agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (the "Bank") (the "Trust Agreement"):
Post -Employment Section 115 Trust. Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits —Trust
Agreement, effective November 5, 2014
A.1.2. OPEB Plan: Public Agencies Post -Employment Health Care Plan
The plan document for the OPEB Plan is the Public Agencies Post -
Employment Health Care Plan —Master Plan Document, effective as of
November 5, 2014 (the "Plan Document").
A.1.3. Pension Plan: CalPERS Miscellaneous Plan
Ca1PERS Safety Plan
A.1.4. Pension Plans'
effective date: July 1, 1948
❑ (Check if applicable) Additional Pension Plans (and their respective
effective dates) are listed on an exhibit attached hereto.
A.2.1. Employer:
Name: City of National City
U.S. mail address: 1243 National City Boulevard, National City, CA 91950
Phone number: (619) 336-4240
EIN: 95-6000749
Fiscal year end: June 30
A.2.2. Plan Administrator:
Position at Employer: City Manager
Incumbent:
U.S. mail address:
Phone number:
Email address:
Leslie Deese
1243 National City Boulevard, National City, CA 91950
(619) 336-4240
cmoanationalcityca.gov
Page 1 of 4
EXHIBIT "A" TO PUBLIC AGENCIES POST -EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST AGREEMENT
A.3.1 Adoption. The Employer hereby:
A.3.1.1.Adopts the Trust Agreement as part of the (Check one or both of the following boxes.):
❑ OPEB Plan
® Pension Plan
(each such plan separately, the "Plan") and agrees to be bound by the Trust Agreement's terms, effective
as of the Employer's signature date below and subject to the investment approach selected below.
A.3.1.2.The following provisions apply if and only if the OPEB Plan box above is checked: (i)
Adopts the Plan Document and agrees to be bound by the Plan Document's terms, effective as of the
Employer's signature date below and (ii) acknowledges that the determination of Eligible Employees and
Eligible Beneficiaries is fmally and conclusively made by the Employer according to the Employer's
applicable policies and collective bargaining agreements and without reference to the Trust Agreement.
A.3.1.3.Ratifies, affirms, and approves Employer's appointment of Phase II Systems as Trust
Administrator and represents and warrants that attached hereto is a fully -executed original of Employer's
Agreement for Administrative Services with Phase II Systems, d/b/a Public Agency Retirement Services
(PARS).
A.3.1.4.Agrees that capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the same
meaning attributed to them as in the Trust Agreement or Plan Document, as the case may be.
A.4.1. The Employer hereby represents and warrants that:
A.4.1.1. Authorizing Law. Employer has reviewed with its legal counsel and has
determined that Employer is authorized to establish and maintain the Plan and to establish a financial -
institution trust (separate and apart from the state) for the Plan, including the authority to adopt the Trust
Agreement.
A.4.1.2. Authorizing Resolution. Attached hereto is a certified copy of a resolution of
the Employer's governing body authorizing the adoption of the Trust Agreement as part of the Plan and
authorizing the appointment of the Plan Administrator designated by position of employment at the
Employer to act on the Employer's behalf in all matters relating to the trust.
A.4.1.3. Tax Status. The Plan is a "governmental plan" as defined in Section 414(d) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; is a "Section 401(a)(24) governmental plan" as defined
in Revenue Ruling 2011-1; and is not subject to Federal income taxation. The Plan's governing
document expressly provides that it is irrevocably impossible for any part of the corpus or income of the
Plan to be used for, or diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the Plan participants
and their beneficiaries. The Pension Plan is a qualified plan under Code Section 401(a). (In addition, the
Employer hereby acknowledges that the Plan is prohibited from assigning any part of its equity or interest
in the trust.)
Page 2 of 4
EXHIBIT "A" TO PUBLIC AGENCIES POST -EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST AGREEMENT
A.4.2. Investment Approach.
4.2.1. The following provisions apply if and only if the OPEB Plan box above is checked:
OPEB Account. OPEB Account assets are invested in the discretion of (check one and only one of the
following boxes):
Discretionary investment approach:
o The Bank, subject to Exhibit A (Investment Strategy Selection and Disclosure Form)
hereto.
Directed investment approach:
o The Plan Administrator.
❑ The following registered investment adviser, bank (other than the Bank), or insurance
company (a "Third -Party Manager"):
. The Employer
hereby represents and warrants that attached hereto is an executed copy of the agreement
with the above appointed Third Party Manager.
4.2.2. The following provisions apply if and only if the Pension Plan box above is checked:
Pension Account. Pension Account assets are invested in the discretion of (check one and only one of
the following boxes):
Discretionary investment approach:
O The Bank, subject to Exhibit A (Investment Strategy Selection and Disclosure Form)
hereto.
Directed investment approach:
o The Plan Administrator.
❑ The following registered investment adviser, bank (other than the Bank), or insurance
company (a "Third -Party Manager"):
. The Employer
hereby represents and warrants that attached hereto is an executed copy of the agreement
with the above appointed Third Party Manager.
[signature page follows]
Page 3 of 4
EXHIBIT "A" TO PUBLIC AGENCIES POST -EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST AGREEMENT
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
By:
Leslie Deese
Its: City Manager
Date:
Accepted by: PHASE II SYSTEMS, DBA PUBLIC AGENCY
RETIREMENT SERVICES (PARS)
By:
Daniel Johnson
Its: President
Date:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:
Susan M. Hughes
Its: Vice President and Relationship Manager
Date:
Page 4 of 4
EXHIBIT "A" TO PUBLIC AGENCIES POST -EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST AGREEMENT
Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224
Index Number: 115.00-00
U.S. Bank National Association
c/o Susan Hughes, Vice President
3121 Michelson Drive (Suite 300)
Irvine, CA 92612
Legend
Trust
Third Party Communication: None
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Person To Contact:
Robin J. Ehrenberg, ID No. 1000219292
Telephone Number:
(202) 317-5800
Refer Reply To:
CC:TEGE:EOEG:EO3
PLR-146796-14
Date: June 5, 2015
= Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust
Trust Agreement = Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust
Agreement
Trustee
Dear Ms. Hughes:
= U.S. Bank National Association
This letter responds to a letter from your authorized representative dated December 22,
2014, requesting rulings that (1) the Trust's income is excludable from gross income
under section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and (2) the Trust is not required
to file annual federal income tax returns under IRC section 6012(a)(4). The Trust
represents the facts as follows:
FACTS
The Trust is a multiple employer trust established to enable public -agency employers to
fund post -retirement employee benefits. Each participating employer must be a public
agency that is a state, political subdivision of a state, or an entity the income of which is
excludable from gross income under IRC section 115. The employer's governing body
must authorize in writing the adoption of the Trust and the employer must execute the
adoption agreement, which approves the Trust's administrator and provides that the
agency adopts and agrees to be bound by the Trust Agreement. In the adoption
agreement, the employer elects to fund obligations to provide benefits under a post -
employment health care plan and contribute to a defined -benefit pension plan
maintained by the employer that is qualified under IRC section 401(a). The employer
may elect to fund either or both obligations.
PLR-146796-14 2
The Trust Agreement provides that assets are held by the Trust for the exclusive
purpose of funding participating employers' benefit obligations and defraying the
reasonable expenses of the Trust. The Trust's assets may not be used for any other
purpose. Each employer's contributions to the Trust, together with any allocable
investment earnings and losses, are held in a separate account for that employer.
Assets allocated to satisfy an employer's health and welfare benefit obligation or the
employer's pension obligation may only be used for purposes of satisfying that
particular obligation. The assets held in an employer's account are not available to pay
any obligations incurred by any other employer.
The employers appoint the Trustee and the Trust's administrator and may remove the
Trustee or the administrator by a two-thirds vote of all employers. The employers may
amend the Trust Agreement with the approval of two-thirds of all employers then
participating in the Trust. The employers may terminate the Trust by unanimous
agreement of all employers.
Upon termination of the Trust, any assets remaining in an employer's account, after
satisfaction of benefit and the Trust's obligations are returned to the employer to the
extent permitted by law and consistent with the requirements of IRC section 115.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Issue 1 - IRC section 115(1)
IRC section 115(1) provides that gross income does not include income derived from
any public utility or the exercise of any essential governmental function and accruing to
a state or any political subdivision thereof.
Rev. Rul. 77-261, 1977-2 C.B. 45, holds that income generated by an investment fund
that is established by a state to hold revenues in excess of the amounts needed to meet
current expenses is excludable from gross income under IRC section 115(1), because
such investment constitutes an essential governmental function. The ruling explains that
the statutory exclusion is intended to extend not to the income of a state or municipality
resulting from its own participation in activities, but rather to the income of an entity
engaged in the operation of a public utility or the performance of some governmental
function that accrues to either a state or political subdivision of a state. The ruling
points out that it may be assumed that Congress did not desire in any way to restrict a
state's participation in enterprises that might be useful in carrying out projects that are
desirable from the standpoint of a state government and that are within the ambit of a
sovereign to conduct.
PLR-146796-14 3
Rev. Rul. 90-74, 1990-2 C.B. 34, holds that the income of an organization formed,
funded, and operated by political subdivisions to pool various risks (e.g., casualty, public
liability, workers' compensation, and employees' health) is excludable from gross
income under IRC section 115(1), because the organization is performing an essential
governmental function. The revenue ruling states that the income of such an
organization is excludable from gross income so long as private interests do not
participate in the organization or benefit more than incidentally from the organization.
The benefit to the employees of the insurance coverage obtained by the member
political subdivisions was deemed incidental to the public benefit.
Through the Trust, participating public agency employers fund health and welfare and
pension obligations for retired employees. Each of the Trust's participating employers is
required to be a state, political subdivision of a state or an entity the income of which is
excludable from gross income under IRC section 115. Providing health, welfare and
pension benefits to current and former employees constitutes the performance of an
essential government function within the meaning of IRC section 115(1). See Rev. Rul.
90-74 and Rev. Rul. 77-261.
The Trust's income accrues to its participating employers, all of which are political
subdivisions of a state or entities the income of which is excludable from gross income
under IRC section 115. No private interests will participate in, or benefit from, the
operation of Trust, other than as providers of goods or services. The benefit to
employees is incidental to the public benefit. See Rev. Rul. 90-74.
In no event, including dissolution, will the Trust's assets be distributed or revert to any
entity that is not a state, a political subdivision of a state, or entity the income of which is
excludable from its gross income by application of IRC section 115(1).
Issue 2- IRC section 6012(a)(4)
Section 301.7701-1(b) of the Procedure and Administration Regulations (Regulations)
provides that the classification of organizations that are recognized as separate entities
is determined under sections 301.7701-2, 301.7701-3, and 301.7701-4, unless a
provision of the IRC provides for special treatment of that organization.
Section 301.7701-4(a) of the Regulations provides that, in general, an arrangement will
be treated as if it can be shown that the purpose of the arrangement is to vest in
trustees responsibility for the protection and conservation of property for beneficiaries
who cannot share in the discharge of this responsibility and, therefore, are not
associates in a joint enterprise for the conduct of business for profit.
The Trust enables public -agency employers to set aside funds to be used to satisfy
each employer's separate pension and health and welfare benefit obligations. The
PLR-146796-14 4
Trustee is charged with the responsibility of the protection and conservation of the Trust
property for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the Trust. The beneficiaries of the Trust
cannot share in the discharge of the Trustee's responsibility for the protection and
conservation of property and, therefore, are not associates in a joint enterprise for the
conduct of business for profit. IRC section 6012(a)(4) provides that every trust having
for the taxable year any taxable income or having gross income of $600 or more,
regardless of the amount of taxable income, shall make returns with respect to income
taxes under Subtitle A.
Based solely on the facts and representations submitted by the Trust, we conclude that:
1. Because the income of the Trust derives from the exercise of an essential
governmental function and will accrue to a state or a political subdivision
thereof, the Trust's income is excludable from gross income under IRC
section 115(1).
2. The Trust is classified as a trust within the meaning of IRC section 7701(a)
and section 301.7701-4(a) of the Regulations. Because Trust's income is
excludable from gross income under IRC section 115, the Trust is not
required by IRC section 6012(a)(4) to file an annual income tax return.
Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the
tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in
this letter. This ruling concerns only the federal tax treatment of the Trust's income and
may not be cited or relied upon by any taxpayer, including the Trust, employers
participating in the Trust, and any recipients of benefits paid under the terms of the
Trust, as to any matter relating to the taxation of accident or health contributions or
benefits.
This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer who requested it. IRC section 6110(k)(3)
provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.
In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is
being sent to your authorized representative.
A copy of this letter must be attached to any income tax return to which it is relevant.
Alternatively, taxpayers filing their returns electronically may satisfy this requirement by
attaching a statement to their return that provides the date and control number of the
letter ruling.
PLR-146796-14 5
The rulings contained in this letter are based upon information and representations
submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed
by an appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of the material submitted
in support of the request for rulings, it is subject to verification on examination.
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. ri in
Branch Chief, Exempt Organizations Branch 3
(Tax Exempt and Government Entities)
cc: Marcus Wu
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92130-4088
Paul Marmolejo
Director, Office of Federal, State and Local Governments
SE:T:GE:FSL
MrInvestment Strategy Selection and Disclosure Form
PARS Pension / OPEB Trust Program
• This document is entered into by client and U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"), as trustee.
• Employer:
•
■
0
t1
1-
CC
0
O.
0
W
t1
CC
W
0
Plan/Trust Name: Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust
To: HighMark Capital Management, Inc. and U.S. Bank:
U.S. Bank has been or is hereby appointed Investment Manager of the above -referenced Plan/Trust. Please invest the assets
of the above -referenced Plan/Trust for which you have been appointed Investment Manager in the (select one of the
strategies listed below for each Plan funded by the Trust):
❑
OPEB Account
❑
Pension Account
Primary Goal
Strategic
Range
❑
Liquidity Management (US Treasury)
❑
Liquidity Management (US Treasury)
Provide current income with liquidity
and stability of principal through
investments in short-term U.S.
Treasury obligations.
Money Market Fund
❑
Liquidity Management (Prime Obligation)
❑
Liquidity Management (Prime Obligation)
Generate current income with liquidity.
Money Market Fund
❑
❑
Conservative HighMark PLUS
Conservative Index PLUS
❑
❑
Conservative HighMark PLUS
Conservative Index PLUS
Provide a consistent level of inflation
protected income over the long-temm.
Equity: 5-20%
Fixed Income: 60-95%
Cash 0-20%
❑
❑
Moderately Conservative HighMark PLUS
Moderately Conservative Index PLUS
❑
❑
Moderately Conservative HighMark PLUS
Moderately Conservative Index PLUS
Provide current income with capital
appreciation as a secondary objective.
Equity: 20-40%
Fixed Income: 50 /o
Cash: 0-20 %
❑
❑
Moderate HighMark PLUS
Moderate Index PLUS
❑
❑
Moderate HighMark PLUS
Moderate Index PLUS
Provide current income and moderate
capital appreciation.
Equity: 40-60%
Fixed Income: 40-60%
Cash: 0-20%
❑
❑
Balanced HighMark PLUS
Balanced Index PLUS
I: I:1
Balanced HighMark PLUS
Balanced Index PLUS
Provide growth of principal and income.
Equity: 50-70%
Fixed Income: 30-50%
Cash: 0-20%
❑
❑
Capital Appreciation HighMark PLUS
Capital Appreciation Index PLUS
❑
❑
Capital Appreciation HighMark PLUS
Capital Appreciation Index PLUS
Primary goal is growth of principal.
Equity: 65�5°%
Fixed Income: 10-30 /°
Cash: 0-20%
❑
Custom
❑
Custom
Specify:
Note: HighMark PLUS portfolios are diversified portfolios of actively managed mutual funds. Index PLUS portfolios are diversified portfolios of Index -based mutual funds
or exchange -traded funds.
Acknowledged and Approved
Signature of Authorized Signer
Print Name of Authorized Signer
Title
Date
PENSION OPEB HM MANAGED
ISSDF 203 09.22.2016
embank.
Discretionary Trustee Fee Schedule
PARS Pension / OPEB Trust Program
This document is entered into by client and U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"), as trustee.
Discretionary Trustee Fees are based on the Investment Strategy you select. Following is a list of the Discretionary
Trustee Fees applicable to each Investment Strategy:
• Liquidity — First American U.S. Treasury Money Market — Fund level fees only (see prospectus)
• Liquidity — First American Prime Obligation Fund Class Z — Fund level fees only (see prospectus)
• Diversified Portfolios (Conservative, Moderately Conservative, Moderate, Balanced, Capital Appreciation)
Per Annum Charges*
.35% on the first $5,000,000
.25% on the next $5,000,000
.20% on the next $5,000,000
.15% on the next $35,000,000
10% on all over $50,000,000
*Waived for plan assets invested in First American and Nationwide/HighMark funds where HighMark Capital Management is the sub -adviser of the fund.
Other Fees
First American Mutual Funds (see prospectus)
• Market values used for fee calculations on fee invoices may differ slightly from market values on client statements
due to posting of accruals, late pricing of securities and/or other timing issues.
• Fees are calculated and charged to the account monthly. If account cannot be charged after 30 days, fees not paid
will be subject to a late charge of 1 % per month on the unpaid balance.
• Changes to this Fee Schedule may be made at any time by U.S. Bank upon a sixty (60) days notice.
Acknowledged and Approved
Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust
Name of Plan/Trust
Name of Authorized Signer for Employer
Name of Employer
Title
Signature of Authorized Signer for Employer Date
" `1. Bank and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Each clients tax and financial situation is unique. Clients should consult their tax and/or legal advisor for advice and
rmation conceming their particular situation.
PENSION OPEB HM MANAGED
FEESCH 103 07.25.2016
embank.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018 —
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF THE PUBLIC AGENCIES POST -EMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS TRUST ADMINISTERED BY PUBLIC AGENCY RETIREMENT
SERVICES (PARS) TO PREFUND THE CITY'S UNFUNDED PENSION
LIABILITIES; APPOINTING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE TRUST, AND AUTHORIZING THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY
TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE CITY'S TRUST ACCOUNT
WHEREAS, Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) has made available the
PARS Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust (the "Program") for the purpose of pre -
funding pension obligations and/or other post -employment benefits ("OPEB") obligations; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City is eligible to participate in the Program, a
tax-exempt trust performing an essential governmental function within the meaning of Section
115 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the Regulations issued thereunder, and is
a tax-exempt trust under the relevant statutory provisions of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the City's adoption and operation of the Program has no effect on
any current or former employee's entitlement to post -employment benefits; and
WHEREAS , the terms and conditions of post -employment benefit entitlement, if
any, are governed by contracts separate from and independent of the Program; and
WHEREAS, the City's funding of the Program does not, and is not intended to,
create any new vested right to any benefit nor strengthen any existing vested right; and
WHEREAS, the City reserves the right to make contributions, if any, to the
Program.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
National City hereby adopts the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust (the
"Program") administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS), effective March 20,
2018, to prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby appoints the City
Manager, or her successor or designee, as the Plan Administrator.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby authorizes the City's
Plan Administrator to execute the legal and administrative documents necessary to implement
the Plan.
[Signature Page to Follow]
Resolution No. 2018 —
Page Two
PASSED and ADOPTED this 20th day of March, 2018.
Ron Morrison, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michael R. Dalla, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Angil P. Morris -Jones
City Attorney
RESOLUTION NO. 2018 — 38
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF THE PUBLIC AGENCIES POST -EMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS TRUST ADMINISTERED BY PUBLIC AGENCY RETIREMENT
SERVICES (PARS) TO PREFUND THE CITY'S UNFUNDED PENSION
LIABILITIES; APPOINTING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE TRUST, AND AUTHORIZING THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY
TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE CITY'S TRUST ACCOUNT
WHEREAS, Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) has made available the
PARS Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust (the "Program") for the purpose of pre -
funding pension obligations and/or other post -employment benefits ("OPEB") obligations; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City is eligible to participate in the Program, a
tax-exempt trust performing an essential governmental function within the meaning of Section
115 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the Regulations issued thereunder, and is
a tax-exempt trust under the relevant statutory provisions of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the City's adoption and operation of the Program has no effect on
any current or former employee's entitlement to post -employment benefits; and
WHEREAS , the terms and conditions of post -employment benefit entitlement, if
any, are governed by contracts separate from and independent of the Program; and
WHEREAS, the City's funding of the Program does not, and is not intended to,
create any new vested right to any benefit nor strengthen any existing vested right; and
WHEREAS, the City reserves the right to make contributions, if any, to the
Program.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
National City hereby adopts the Public Agencies Post -Employment Benefits Trust (the
"Program") administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS), effective March 20,
2018, to prefund the City's unfunded pension liabilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby appoints the City
Manager, or her successor or designee, as the Plan Administrator.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby authorizes the City's
Plan Administrator to execute the legal and administrative documents necessary to implement
the Plan.
[Signature Page to Follow]
Resolution No. 2018 — 38
Page Two
PASSED and ADOPTED this 20th day of M018.
orrison, Mayor
ATTEST:
/i
ael R. Dalla
Mi , ity Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California, on
March 20, 2018 by the following vote, to -wit:
Ayes: Councilmembers Cano, Mendivil, Morrison, Sotelo-Solis.
Nays: None.
Absent: Rios.
Abstain: None.
AUTHENTICATED BY: RON MORRISON
Mayor of the City of National City, California
it,c2,01114/Cityrk of the City of National City, California
By:
Deputy
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-38 of the City of National City, California, passed and adopted
by the Council of said City on March 20, 2018.
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
By:
Deputy