RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF DETROIT 500 WOODWARD AVE STE 3000 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-5493 PHONE 313 224 3362 TOLL FREE 800 339 8344 FAX 313 224 9194 MINUTES Meeting of the General Retirement System Investment Committee A meeting of the Investment Committee of the General Retirement System of the City of Detroit was held on Wednesday, at the Retirement System s office at One Detroit Center, 500 Woodward Suite 3000; Detroit, Michigan. Ken Whipple, Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. A quorum was present. ROLL CALL: Attendance was taken by the Recording Secretary with the following Committee Members present: Ken Whipple, (Chair), David Sowerby, (Vice Chair), Doris Ewing, (Secretary), Kerrie L. Vanden Bosch, Robert Rietz and Thomas Sheehan. Others Present: Cynthia A. Thomas (Executive Director), Deborah Wilkerson (Assistant Executive Director), Ryan Bigelow (Chief Investment Officer), Michael VanOverbeke (General Counsel VanOverbeke, Michaud and Timmony, P.C.). Kristin Finney-Cooke, Kevin Leonard and Kim Kaczor, (Investment Consultants - NEPC). Absent: June Nickleberry Visitors Present: Ronald L. Rose, Executive Director, State of Michigan Department of Treasury of the Financial Review Commission/City of Detroit. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion #15-05-01: David Sowerby moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Robert Rietz seconded. Motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion #15-05-02: David Sowerby moved to approve the Minutes of Meeting No. 004, held on Monday, April 20, 2015. Robert Rietz seconded. Motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Cedric Cook, retiree, appeared before the Investment Committee to raise the following issues: 1. Contracts: Mr. Cook claimed the Executive Staff was given authorization to issue or terminate personnel contracts without the Board s approval. 2. Concerns he had with the Executive Director s contract & salary. 3. Thomas Sheehan s use of the DRCEA (Detroit Retired City Employees Association) to campaign in the recent retiree election. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS/DISCUSSION Re: Media Relations The Chief Investment Officer, Ryan Bigelow, is in the process of putting together a working plan schedule and financial reporting to address the Media or others in reference to the Committee s portfolio that the Committee will have in advance. Re: Actionable Items The Seminole investment is up for review and action must be taken before June 30, 2015. SPECIAL MEETING Through the Chair: Moved to hold a Special Meeting to take action on the Seminole s investment on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Public Notice will be posted accordingly. PRESENTATION Re: Book Cadillac Attorney Donald Wagner and David Lawrence, Law Offices of Couzens, Lansky, P.C., special litigation counsel for the Retirement System, appeared before the Committee to discuss the status of the Book Cadillac litigation. Entering Into Closed Session Special Counsel recommended the Investment Committee give consideration to entering into closed session as allowed under the Open Meetings Act [Sub-sections (c) 2
and (h) of Section 8 (MCL 15.268(c) & (h))] for the purposes of consulting with legal counsel regarding Attorney/Client Privileged Communications and trial and/or settlement strategy regarding pending litigation. Motion #15-05-03: Thomas Sheehan moved to enter into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing the Book Cadillac litigation. Kerrie L. Vanden Bosch seconded. A Roll Call vote was taken as follows: Ewing Yes Sowerby - Yes Rietz Yes Vanden Bosch - Yes Sheehan - Yes Whipple Yes The Motion passed. The Committee entered into Closed Session at 1:30 p.m. Re: Open Session Motion #15-05-04: Thomas Sheehan moved to come out of Closed Session. Doris Ewing seconded. Motion passed. The Committee returned to Open Session at 2:25 p.m. Re: Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Co. Representative Judith Kermans and Ken Alberts, of Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Co., appeared before the Committee to discuss the GASB Report No. 67 Plan Reporting and Accounting Schedules, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and the General Retirement System Projects Task List Working Document. Motion #15-05-05: Robert Rietz moved to approve the GASB Report No. 67 Plan Reporting and Accounting Schedules for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. Thomas Sheehan seconded. Motion passed. RECESS The Committee recessed at 3:35 p.m. and reconvened at 3:45 p.m. 3
PRESENTATION (con t) NEPC Re: Investment Policy Statement Representative Kristin Finney-Cooke, Kevin Leonard and Kim Kaczor, of NEPC, appeared before the Committee to continue discussion on the Investment Policy Statement. The Manager Probation and Termination Guidelines, known as the Manager s Watch List was a proposed addition to the Investment Policy Statement for the Committee to review. Following discussion, a motion was made: Motion #15-05-06: Thomas Sheehan moved to approve the revised Investment Policy Statement incorporating the proposed addition of the Manager Probation and Termination Guidelines as submitted and recommended by the CIO and the Investment Consultant. David Sowerby seconded. Motion passed. Motion #15-05-07: Thomas Sheehan moved to approve the Minority and Women- Owned Inclusion Policy as an Addendum to the Investment Policy Statement as submitted and recommended by the CIO and the Investment Consultant. Doris Ewing seconded. Motion passed. Legal Report Re: Great Lakes Water Authority The Committee was provided a Memorandum prepared by General Counsel in response to the request of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department with respect to the accounting and actuarial treatment of pension liabilities, valuation assets and computed employer contributions within the General Retirement System of the City of Detroit for employees and retirees of the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Motion #15-05-08: Doris Ewing moved to acknowledge receipt of the Memorandum submitted by General Counsel to the Great Lakes Water Authority, dated May 13, 2015. David Sowerby seconded. Motion passed. 4
Re: General Retirement System Retiree Election The Committee was informed that Thomas Sheehan was re-elected as the Retiree elected Trustee for the General Retirement System for the term beginning July 1, 2015 ending June 30, 2017. Re: Mayfield Gentry Realty (Info) There was mentioned in a recent newspaper article stating that Mayfield Gentry was still doing business with the General Retirement System of the City of Detroit. The Committee inquired as to the current status of Mayfield Gentry s business relationship with the retirement system and was informed Mayfield Gentry s contract was previously terminated for misappropriating funds. Re: Town Hall Meeting There will be a Town Hall Meeting for the City of Detroit Retirees: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Held: Fellowship Chapel, 7707 W. Outer Drive; Detroit, MI Re: Background Information on Post Bankruptcy Issues Re: GRS Investment Committee Report - (Confidential) Correspondence was provided to the Committee for review from Lou Vogt dated May 12, 2015 regarding ICG Leaseback proposed settlement and a supplemental document regarding the Chapter 9 Implementation from Special Counsel Sean Gallagher in response to a request from Plante & Moran in connection with their preparation of FYE 2014 audited financial statements. ~Concludes Legal Report~ Chief Investment Officer s Report The Chief Investment Officer, Ryan Bigelow, provided a Memorandum to the Committee regarding RLJ Lodging Trust to review for approval. Motion #15-05-09: David Sowerby moved to approve the recommendation of the Chief Investment Officer and to authorize the CIO to sell the shares of RLJ Lodging Trust at a reasonable market bid. Kerrie Vanden Bosch seconded. Motion passed. ~Completes CIO s Report~ 5
Executive Director s Report Re: Chief Investment Officer s Employment Status Discussion was held regarding the employment status of the Retirement System s Chief Investment Officer, Ryan Bigelow, contractual vs. becoming a civil servant employee of the City of Detroit. This matter will be brought back for further discussion. Re: Employment Real Estate Assistant The Executive Director is asking approval from the Committee to post and hire a Real Estate Assistant for the Retirement Systems to assist the Chief Investment Officer. Motion #15-05-10: Kerrie Vanden Bosch moved to approve the posting of a Real Estate Assistant for the Retirement Systems. David Sowerby seconded. Motion passed. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Investment Committee, Chairman Whipple adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m. The Investment Committee s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. in the Retirement Systems Conference Room, 500 Woodward Avenue Suite 3000; Detroit, Michigan 48226. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, DEBORAH WILKERSON ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Recording Secretary: Rita Coats 6