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<br /> . . I . . .. <br /> is used in this case to purchase the property. The repayments, under the loan agreement <br /> ITom that entity to pay the bonds, are strictly ITom the amounts of revenues that are <br /> - generated by the project itself. This is a revenue-based project, and the repayment of the <br /> bonds is only ITom those particular revenues. Very specifically, this type of financing is <br /> used quite regularly in California to do multi-family housing. The actual documents <br /> themselves recite the fact that the bonds are only payable ITom the revenues generated <br /> from the project and are not repayable ITom any moneys of the City, nor is the City <br /> obligated to levy taxes or in any way is the full faith and credibility of the City involved in <br /> the transaction. The only amounts that are ever going to repay these bonds are the <br /> amounts that are generated by the project itself." <br /> In response to another question ITom Council Member Hartnett regarding the safeguards, <br /> Mr. Downey said, "Within the bond documents themselves, it is standard to include that <br /> the bonds cannot be sold to anyone purchaser unless they are in a denomination of at least <br /> $250,000. That particular standard is included in some FCC regulations that show the <br /> particular party, which buys in $250,000 denominations, has some degree of sophistication <br /> in purchasing. In this particular instance, also, this type of revenue bond is generally <br /> placed with institutions, and in fact the underwriter has told us that the market for this <br /> particular type of bond is only institutions. We have in the documents put in the $250,000 <br /> as an additional safeguard to make sure it is a sophisticated. In addition, in the disclosure <br /> document itself that we use to market the bonds, we have gone to great lengths to point out <br /> the fact that only these revenues from this project are available to pay the bonds. That <br /> does create a degree of risk people should be aware of because if anything happened to this <br /> - project, that is your only source of money to pay the bonds, and so you should be on notice <br /> from day one as far as the risk in this particular type of bond transaction." <br /> In response to a question ITOm Vice Mayor Ruskin regarding the City's credit rating in the <br /> event of a default, Mr. Downey said, "Because they are revenue bonds, the marketplace <br /> recognizes the fact that the entity or issuer is only acting as a conduit. That is to say, the <br /> Federal Govemment has allowed specific provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that <br /> allow govemmental entities to issue these types of bonds to create the benefits they can <br /> create for the public-at-large. The buyers of these types of bonds are aware of the fact that <br /> this particular issuer does not have any obligation, and it has been my experience that with <br /> respect to any obligations that are direct obligations of the entity itself, there is no impact <br /> on that entity at all. I think that Bill Euphrat can also deal with that because it does have to <br /> do with your credit rating." <br /> Vice Mayor Ruskin referred to the sentence in the report that stated that the City's <br /> reputation might be tarnished in the credit markets, if the bonds were to default. Advisor <br /> Euphrat said, "Anytime a bond transaction has a problem, investors that would buy <br /> Redwood City backed bonds are going to know the difference between multi-family <br /> revenue bonds secured solely by project revenues. . .I think that effect, if any, is one that is <br /> not lasting and does not have a rational basis. I do not think that should this project have <br /> problems, that the City's credit reception in the markets would be adversely impacted at <br /> - all. If it were, it would be the type of thing that people would say, 'Now Redwood City, <br /> REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 JANUARY 26,1998 <br /> MINUTES Page No. 187 PAGE 15 <br />