AgdaPkt 2017-12-18 Special Joint SA PFA

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City of Redwood City Notes to the Basic Financial Statements For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A. Reporting Entity The City of Redwood City was incorporated in 1867, became a Charter City in 1929, and operates under a council‐manager form of government. The City has defined its reporting entity in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America, which provide guidance for determining which governmental activities, organizations, and functions should be included in the reporting entity. In evaluating how to define the City for financial reporting purposes, management has considered all potential component units. The primary criteria for including a potential component unit within the reporting entity are the governing body’s financial accountability and a financial benefit or burden relationship and whether it is misleading to exclude. A primary government is financially accountable and shares a financial benefit or burden relationship if it appoints a voting majority of an organization’s governing body and it is able to impose its will on the organization, or if there is a potential for the organization to provide specific financial benefits to, or impose specific financial burdens on the primary government. A primary government may also be financially accountable if an organization is fiscally dependent on the primary government regardless of whether the organization has a separately elected governing board, a governing board appointed by a higher level of government, or a jointly appointed board, and there is a potential for the organization to provide specific financial benefits to, or impose specific financial burdens on the primary government. Based upon the application of these criteria, the following is a brief description of each component unit included within the City’s reporting entity. All such component units have been “blended” as though they are part of the primary government because the component unit’s governing body is substantially the same as the City’s primary government and there is a financial benefit or burden relationship between the City and the component unit, management of the City has operational responsibilities for the component unit, and/or the component units provide services entirely to the City or otherwise exclusively benefits the City, even though it does not provide services directly to it. Redwood City Facilities and Infrastructure Authority (RCFISA) was established in 1986 to finance the construction of certain public facilities such as the Main Fire Station, City Hall, and Main Library. After acquiring certain properties from the City, RCFISA leased them back to the City. The lease money provided the funds for the debt service for the certificates of participation issued by the RCFISA to acquire the properties from the City. The Public Financing Authority (PFA) was established in 1991 to finance construction of the new Police Facility, to finance the defeasance of outstanding certificates of participation issued by the RCFISA, and to issue tax increment bonds on behalf of the former Redevelopment Agency. The PFA has since issued various types of debt on behalf of the City and the former Redevelopment Agency. The Port of Redwood City was established under the City Charter as a department of the City and is managed by the Port Commission of Redwood City, whose members are appointed by the City Council. This commission is a semi‐autonomous body and has full authority to manage the Port. Its financial system is maintained separately from the City by the Port’s own financial staff. The Port’s treasurer and legal counsel are the City’s Finance Director and the City Attorney, respectively. The financial transactions of the Port are incorporated as an enterprise fund. Financial statements for the Port of Redwood City may be obtained from the Port at 675 Seaport Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94063. 35 6.1.E. - Page 58