2008-03-19 Police Fund Meeting• CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AND OKEECHOBEE UTILITY
AUTHORITY
PENSION BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 19, 2008 2:00 PM
CITY GENERAL/OUA, POLICE AND FIRE FUNDS
1. The meeting was held at City hall, 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200,
Okeechobee, Florida, and was called to order by Mr. Mullis at 2:00 p.m.
CITY GENERAL/OUA MEMBERS
Jamie Mullis, Chair - Present
Robin Brock - Present
POLICE OFFICERS MEMBERS
Denny Davis, Chair - Present
Bettye Taylor, Secretary-Present
Victoria Williams - Present
Louise Chandler - Present
Bill Bartlett- Present
FIREFIGHERS MEMBERS
Bill Douglas, Secretary-Present
Brook Conway-Present
• This meeting was called for presentations by three companies to replace Gabriel Roeder,
Smith and & Company. Each company presented the boards with a Proposal Book
showmg their companies structures and diagrams of how they conduct business.
First presentation was by Thistle Asset Consulting Inc. Boynton Beach Florida. Brandon
Vivrika did the presentation. He advised that they were not a new company but recently
reorganized. He advised that in September of 1995 they were merged with Gabriel,
Roeder Smith and Company. He advised on January 1, 2006, they ended their affiliation
with this company and became a separate entity. Their proposed price was for $8000.00
per year per board. He then advised during the meeting that due to the fact all three
boards meet at the same time they would reduce their price to $6000.00 per board. The
Thistle Proposal Book contained samples of ways they might help the Pension Boards
without using our Investment Plans in particular. Thistle Company advised they would
take full Fiduciary Responsibility. Thistles advised they would evaluate the performance
of the fund and then meet with the Boards to advise how this fund is doing in comparison
to other funds.
Second presentation was by the Bogdahn Group. They are based out of Winter Haven
Florida. Joe Bogdahn and Dave West did presentation. They have over 116 Police and
Fire Department Clients. They aggressively search for answers and solutions to low
investments. They have never been asked to leave or resign by any of their clients. They
offered a one year money back guarantee if the boards are not happy with their service.
Their price was $12,500 per board per year with three-year contract. They advised they
• are normally 15,000.00 but due to the fact the boards meet together they did give a break
on price. Bogdahn had included in their proposal book an actual proposal on items they
• could suggest for the Okeechobee Pension Plans. Bogdahn Group advised they would
take Full Fiduciary Responsibility. They are also listed as the largest independent Pension
consultant in the State of Florida. No professional turnover since their inception in 1992.
They advised they would include educational meetings, fee studies, and manager
comparisons in their fee. They advised they offer outline scenarios to reveal risk to plan
to eliminate uncertainty. They advised they would conduct in-house educational
seminars, assist in interpretation of the actuarial evaluation, review alternative custodial
services to lower cost to plan, provide contingency plans with all records and information
backed up in case of emergency. These services are all included under the fee charged.
Third Presentation was by the CapTrust Group. Matt Brown and Scott Lowke did the
Presentation. They advised they had a Tampa Office. They only had one other law
enforcement client but were trying to expand in this market. They had presented us with a
Proposal Book with their company structures and diagrams of how they do business. The
price quoted was General Fund and Police would be $12,000.00 and the Fire Department
$6000.00. When questioned about the difference they stated it was due to the difference
in the size of the Fire Fund compared to the Police and General Fund. CapTrust advised
they would take full Fiduciary Responsibility.
All three companies were thanked of their time and excused from the Meeting.
All three boards then entered into discussion of the pros and cons of the three companies.
• The general consensus of all three boards was that even through Bogdahn was more
money on the front they seemed to offer more services for the price, they appeared to be
more aggressive with their approach to helping the boards improve the Investment
Portfolio for the future. Attorney Scott Christiansen was questioned as to the issues and
approaches presented by Bogdahn versus the service we had received in the past from
Gabriel, Roeder Smith and Company. According to Attorney Christiansen the Bogdahn
Group is the Consulting Group for quite a few of his other clients and they have delivered
the services they presented to us in their presentation. He advised the Thistle Group is the
consulting group for a few of his clients. He advised that CapTrust is just breaking into
the Municipality Investment Groups but have a long track history with other types of
Pension Funds.
The individual boards then split up for a vote.
Victoria Williams made a motion that we hire the Bogdahn Group as the new consultant
for the Okeechobee City Police Department Pension Fund. Bill Bartlett seconded the
motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
Louise Chandler then made a motion to approve sending Gabriel, Roeder Smith and
Company a letter terminating their services effective immediately. Bill Bartlett seconded
the motion. The motion passed with all in favor.
� Victoria Williams made a motion that the board adjourns the meeting. Seconded by
Bettye Taylor. Motion passed.