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6.1.C. - Page 5 <br />• Established a Section 115 Pension Trust Account, with an initial deposit of $10.5 million, to pre - <br />fund the City's pension obligations over time <br />• Maximized fees charged to developers <br />• Developed and implemented a plan to pay down the City's unfunded actuarial liability <br />• Budgeted for additional direct payments to CalPERS above and beyond the required annual <br />pension contribution, in addition to budgeting annual payments towards the Section 115 <br />pension trust <br />• Changed service delivery methods and sought greater efficiencies through partnerships and <br />shared service models <br />The City's responses largely agree with the findings outlined in the Grand Jury report. In fact, there are <br />numerous instances in the report where the City's sound financial practices are cited as examples of <br />how other cities can proactively address rising pension costs. <br />The long-term fiscal sustainability of the City is based upon taking prudent, meaningful, and swift actions <br />to address the City's pension obligations. As discussed, the City has already taken many significant steps <br />towards this goal, and staff will work with the City Council's Finance and Audit Committee to consider <br />the recommendations contained in the Grand Jury report and take additional steps towards addressing <br />the City's pension costs. <br />Below are the City Council's specific responses to the findings and recommendations in the report. <br />FINDINGS <br />F1. Each City's CAFR for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017 <br />reported covered payroll for the City's pension plans in the amount set forth beside its name for <br />that year in Appendix A. <br />Response: The City agrees with this finding as pertaining to the City of Redwood City data. <br />F2. Each City's CAFR for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017 <br />reported contribution payments to CalPERS on the City's pension plans in the amount set forth <br />beside its name for that year in Appendix A. <br />Response: The City agrees with this finding as pertaining to the City of Redwood City data. <br />F3. Each City's CAFR for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2015, June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017 <br />reported Unfunded Liabilities (as defined in this report) for the City's pension plans in the amount <br />set forth beside its name for that year in Appendix A. Each City has been required to make large <br />Amortization Cost (as defined in this report) payments of principal and interest to CalPERS on <br />those Unfunded Liabilities. These payments have diverted money that could otherwise have been <br />used to provide public services or to add to reserves. <br />Response: The City agrees with this finding as pertaining to the City of Redwood City data. While it <br />is true that the City has been required to make amortization cost payments of principal and <br />interest on the unfunded pension liability, these are normal costs associated with a long-term <br />liability. In recent years, when revenue has exceeded expenditures at fiscal year-end, and the <br />City's reserve has been at or above the General Fund reserve level, the City has made additional <br />payments toward unfunded liabilities. <br />2 <br />