MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 3, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
President John Jacobsen called the Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association to order at 9:45 a.m.
ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- John Jacobsen, President
- Juan Albarran, Vice President
- Andrew Kuljis, Secretary
- Trustee James Coburn
- Trustee Chris Stine
- Trustee Doak Smith
- Trustee Francisco Hernandez
- Trustee Robert Steinbacher
- Trustee Mark Akahoshi
- Trustee Steven Domanski
- Trustee Steve Tufts
- Trustee Jeff Cawdrey
- Trustee Craig White
- Trustee Kurt Stabel
- Trustee Barry Hedberg – Pension
- Trustee David Lowe – Pension
- David Ned Smith – Executive Director
- Controller – Todd Layfer
MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Trustee Michael Overholser (Excused)
- Trustee Rick Godinez (Excused)
- Trustee Gene Bednarchik (Excused)
- Trustee Chris Hart (Excused)
- Trustee David Peters (Excused)
- Trustee David Ortiz (Excused)
- Trustee Tim Larson – Pension (Excused)
GUESTS:
- Dennis Mendenhall, Retired
- David Wagner, Grapevine Editor
- Robert Olsen, L.A. Retired Fire & Police
INVOCATION & Flag Salute
Andy Kuljis led the invocation. David Lowe led the flag salute.
RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
John Jacobsen entertained a motion to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting held March 6, 2013. Craig White so moved. David Lowe seconded. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to ratify and dispense with the reading of the minutes of the Board of Trustees held March 6, 2013.
PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Jacobsen referred to the Pensions Board’s selection of a new General Manager and indicated that there has been some inconsistency. The Mayor has vetoed the Board’s candidate selection twice. He indicated that the Pensions Board is currently deliberating the amount of the non-Medicare healthcare subsidy increase. He stated that Pension staff had put together a recommendation that they follow the Ad Code by approving 7% or the medical trend rate. He indicated that no decision has been made and stated that they sent the Pension staff to get recommendations from the CAO’s office. He indicated that this presents a delay for members knowing how much of a subsidy increase they will get as well as knowing what their out of pocket will be for healthcare starting July 1, 2013.
2) Jacobsen referred to the Medicare population and mentioned that they have experienced several routine discrepancies with lack of payments and/or changes in eligibility. He indicated that they have begun using a Capario report which takes information from CMS and compares it to the data in FRITS. He stated that it notifies us of discrepancies which enables them to be resolved.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
1) Juan Albarran referred to the LAFRA Reunion and stated that they have information placed on the website and Grapevine. He mentioned that they will have a meet and greet on Wednesday, Thursday will be golf with a potluck in the afternoon, and Friday will have a wine tour with potluck and social hour. He mentioned that there will be the community’s Balloon and Wine Festival on Saturday as well as a buffet at the Casino on Saturday. He mentioned that they will have eight reps scheduled to attend the event including: Express-scripts, Pensions, Unum, L.A. Retired Fire & Police, the Credit Union and others.
BY-LAW COMMITTEE REPORT
David Lowe stated that they were in the process of reviewing the by-laws for any desired changes. He asked that Trustees review the by-laws and let him know if they have changes.
INVESTMENT REPORT
Robert Steinbacher stated that they have spoken with Garth Flint and indicated that he will give them a date to come to the office to discuss asset allocations.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1) David Smith reported that they had their first employee safety training meeting and indicated that hopefully it will have a positive result with employee accidents and working to reduce the workers comp experience modifier. He mentioned that they also have a second training meeting scheduled for April 15.
2) David Smith referred to the Credit Union lease option and stated that their broker indicated that they agreed to keep their offer open. He stated that he also told the broker that their offer was not aggressive and asked him to make a better offer.
3) David Smith referred to the purchase and sales agreement for the potential building purchase and stated that they are waiting to hear back from the seller today. He indicated that they have come up with a project plan of all the tasks needed to be completed in order to close escrow. He stated that they have spoken with several different building inspectors for the due diligence period.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Robert Steinbacher presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $916,390.33. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the usual and customary bills in the amount of $916,390.33.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay the professional fees in the amount of $99,534.41. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the professional fees in the amount of $99,534.41.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve expenditures of $20K for due diligence for the purchase of a building.
Motion carried to approve expenditures of $20K for due diligence for the purchase of a building.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the revisions to the Vehicle Policy. There was no further discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the revisions to the Vehicle Policy.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve up to $700 to purchase a foursome of golf and tee sign for the LAFD Sertoma Club Golf Tournament.
Motion carried to approve up to $700 to purchase a foursome of golf and tee sign for the LAFD Sertoma Club Golf Tournament.
MEDICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Barry Hedberg presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the applications to the Medical Plan. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to accept all applications to the Medical Plan.
RELIEF COMMITTEE REPORT
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to pay:
The Sick & Injury benefits in the amount of $31,297.23
The Estate Planning benefit in the amount of $6,600,
The Life & Accident withdrawals in the amount of $11,828
The Life & Accident Death benefits in the amount of $24,000
The Relief Death Benefits in the amount of $22,500.
There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to pay the above Relief benefits.
James Coburn read the names of members who recently passed and asked for a moment of silence from the Board.
MEMORIALS
Clarence W. Bonesteel
Warren J. McAndrews
Douglas B. Evans
Williams B. Kearns
Neil E. Bullock
ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
James Coburn presented the following motions.
The committee recommends and I so move to accept the donations in the amount of $228,787.21 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to accept the donations in the amount of $228,787.21 to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the financial assistance applications for surviving spouses, active and retired members. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the financial assistance applications for surviving spouses, active and retired members.
EMERGENCY ADVANCEMENTS
James Coburn presented the following motion.
The committee recommends and I so move to approve the emergency advancement applications for active and retired members. There was no discussion or objections.
Motion carried to approve the emergency advancement applications for active and retired members.
GRAPEVINE/WESBITE REPORT
David Smith reported on the LAFRA.org site and indicated that they have received ten sample designs and indicated that they will receive three new ones this week. He stated that once they choose the design, the site should be up in about 45 days.
David Wagner stated that they are lacking in the Battalion News section for the Grapevine. He asked the Trustees to spread the word asking for members to write stories and submit them.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Doak Smith indicated that they have a meeting on April 16th with the Audit Committee and stated that they will come up with a working draft for the committee on how to review and format a policy on audits for the policy manual.
SETTING OF DATES
1) Corbin Bowl – April 28th
2) LAFRA Reunion – May 29th through June 2nd
3) Hope for Firefighters – June 6th
RETIREMENT DINNERS
1) John P. Miller – April 12th The Odyssey Restaurant
2) Dean Stivason – April 13th San Pedro Elks Lodge #996
3) John Wolfenstein – April 20th Antelope Valley Country Club
4) Roger Camunas – April 26th Quiet Cannon
5) Kenny Myers & Ernie Navarro – May 11th Newport Beach Vineyards
6) Richard Martinez – May 31st The Castaway Restaurant
7) James F. Cairns – June 15th Mountain Gate Country Club
8) William E. Thost Jr. – June 28th Quiet Cannon
9) Bobby Mihlhauser – July 19th Marriott Warner Center
ADJOURNMENT
John Jacobsen entertained a motion to adjourn. Craig White so moved. Chris Stine seconded. There was no discussion and no objections.
Motion carried to adjourn.
The Board of Trustees meeting adjourned at 10:25 am.
John Jacobsen, President
