HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2024 07.B. Financial Policy- Investment Policy(Revised) BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 7.B.
For Meeting of: May 7, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Financial Policy- Investment Policy(Revised)
SUBMITTED BY: Kimberly Domine, Financial Services Manager
Rosylen Oglesby,Assistant City Manager/Interim Director of
Finance & Budget
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Per section XVII of the City of Yakima Investment Policy, "the policy shall be reviewed annually by the
Director of Finance and Budget, and the City Council must approve any significant modifications"
Although there are no significant modifications, some minor changes are recommended to reflect
current practices and language updates. The City Council must approve the changes before
enactment.Also, it is best practice to have the policy recertified by the Washington Public Treasures
Association (WPTA), which takes place every five years.
The policy received certification at the annual business meeting on April 11, 2024.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt policy.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D Red lined policy 4/22/2024 Backup Material
D Revised Policy 4/22/2024 Backup Material
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Investment Policy
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City of Yakima
Adopted by City Council
March 5 2-0-1-9May 7, 2024
City of Yakima, Finance Department
129 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901
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CERTIFICATE of EXCELLENCE
Investment Policy
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
Table of Contents
I. Purpose 3 IX. Diversification 7
II. Policy 3 X. Maximum Maturities 8
III. Governing Authority Xl. Safekeeping and Custody 8
a. Enabling Legislation 3 XII. Collateralization 8
b. Delegation of Authority 3
IV. Scope and Applicability 4 XIII. Performance Standards 8
a. Downgraded Securities 8
V. Objectives XIV. Reporting and Disclosure
a. Safety 4 a. Monthly 9
b. Liquidity 4 b. Quarterly 9
c. Yield 5
VI. Prudence 5 XV. Investment Strategy
a. Ethics and Conflict of Interest 5 a. Buy and Hold 9
b. Segmented Portfolio 9
VII. Authorized Financial Dealers and XVI. Internal Controls 10
Institutions 6
VIII. Authorized Investments XVII. Review, Approval and Adoption.... 10
a. Washington State Treasurer Local
Government Investment Pool 6
b. Agencies, Federal government- Addenda:
sponsored enterprise obligations 6
c. Treasuries, Obligations of the U.S., XVIII. Glossary 11
agencies, wholly-owned XIX. Text of Washington Statutes
corporations, and supranationals ... 6 (RCWs) 15
d. Corporate notes 6
e. Washington State/local government XX. Text of City Municipal Code 20
bonds 7 XXI. Broker/Dealer Questionnaire 22
f. Other-State/local government bonds
7 XXII. Approved Broker/Dealer List 25
g. Same-county local government XXIII. Confirmation of Policy Receipt 26
registered warrants 7
h. Bankers' acceptances 7
i-h. Commercial paper 7
j-i_Non-negotiable CDs 7
kj_Prohibited investments 7
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
City of Yakima
Policy Number:
8003-700
ti=�f" ‘ .; Department: Finance Authorized by: City Council
rd
; „ Effective Date: 05/07/202403/05/2019 Supersedes: Policy Dated
03/05/2019, 09/06/2011
Policy: Investment Policy
I. Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is:
• To establish investment objectives and parameters necessary to safeguard public funds
entrusted to the City of Yakima,
• To articulate City CouncilCity Council's intent for the governance over city investments,
• To communicate clear policy and strategy guidelines for city investment administration
• To demonstrate to citizens, taxpayers and voters a transparent and accountable
stewardship plan.
A portion of the City's manageable cash may be invested in a laddered portfolio after assuring
sufficient liquidity and safety;, cyclical liquidity is kept in the Washington State Treasurer's Local
Government Investment Pool and operating cash is maintained in depository bank accounts.
II. Policy
It is the policy of the City of Yakima to invest public funds in a manner that, giving first regard to
safety, suitability and liquidity, will maximize long-term yield in conformance with State Statutes
and Federal Regulations, and City Charter.
III. Governing Authority
Enabling Legislation
All investments shall be managed in a manner responsive to the public trust, consistent with state
and local law, including the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the City Charter and Municipal
Code (RCW 39.59.020, MC 1.18.080). City Council retains governance-level fiduciary
responsibility for the city investment portfolio, through the executive control of the City Manager.
Delegation of Authority
The City Council authorizes an Investment Committee (MC § 1.73.010) comprised of the City
Manager or their designee, and Finance Director or their designee, to engage in investment-
related transactions without prior approval. This policy provides for accountability and
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transparency to nc-+lCity Councii. Management responsibility for the investment program
is delegated to the Finance Director, (MC §. 1.18.080), who shall establish procedures for the
operation of the investment program consistent with this investment policy.
Such procedures shall include explicit delegation of authority to persons responsible for
investment transactions to provide adequate redundancy by properly trained and informed staff.
No person may engage in an investment transaction except as provided under the terms of this
policy and the procedures established by the Finance Director. The Director shall be responsible
for all transactions undertaken and shall establish a system of controls to regulate the activities
of subordinate officials. All staff engaging in investment transactions shall attend public
investment training. Staff shall not engage in any policy-allowed investment transaction that they
cannot articulate a rationale for.
Contracted Management
Any external investment manager engaged to assist in the management of the city's investment
portfolio will be held to the prudent investor standard of care (RCW 11.100.020).
IV. Scope and Applicability
The investment policy applies to all financial assets of the City of Yakima. These are accounted
1 for in the city at Yakima's Comprehensive Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and include:
➢ General Fund
➢ Special Revenue Funds
➢ Capital Project Funds
➢ Enterprise Funds
➢ Internal Service Funds
➢ Trust and Agency Funds
➢ Any new fund created by Council, unless specifically exempted by Council.
Investments of City Funds may be made on a pooled basis across all funds, with principal and
interest apportioned for the benefit of the various participating funds or for the benefit of the
general fund. (RCW 35.39.034)
V. Objective
The prime objectives of this City's investment activities shall be the suitability of every investment
to the financial requirements of the city, considering, in priority order:
Safety: Safety of principal is the foremost objective of the investment program.
Investments of the City of Yakima shall be undertaken in a manner that seeks to
ensure the preservation of principal in the overall portfolio. Each investment
transaction shall be conducted in a manner to avoid principal loss arising from security
default, institution default, broker-dealer default, safekeeping fraud, or the avoidable
loss on the premature sale of an investment
Liquidity: The City's investment portfolio will be structured to meet all expected
obligations in a timely manner, to avoid premature sale of an investment at a loss of
principal. This is to be achieved by comparing investment maturities with forecasted
cash flows and maintaining sufficient liquidity for contingencies across all funds. A 3-
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to 5-year historical liquidity trend history, combining the city's main checking accounts,
LGIP, and the investment portfolio, will clearly indicate annual seasonal low cashflows.
Yield, or Return on investment: The City's investment portfolio shall be designed with
the objective of attaining as high a rate of return as prudently possible having first
satisfied the objectives of Safety and Liquidity.
VI. Prudence
The standard of prudence to be used by investment officials shall be the "prudent investor
standard," which, as enacted by State Statute (RCW 11.100.020), says:
1) A trustee shall invest and manage trust assets as a prudent investor would,
by considering the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other
circumstances of the trust. In satisfying this standard, the trustee shall exercise
reasonable care, skill, and caution.
2) A trustee's investment and management decisions respecting individual
assets must be evaluated not in isolation but in the context of the trust portfolio as
a whole and as a part of an overall investment strategy having risk and return
objectives reasonably suited to the trust."
Investment officers acting in accordance with the written procedures and exercising due diligence
shall be relieved of personal responsibility for individual security's credit risk or marketplace
changes, provided deviations from expectations are reported in a timely fashion and appropriate
action is taken to control adverse developments.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
Officers and employees involved in the investment process shall refrain from, or disclose,
personal business activity that could conflict with proper execution of the investment program, or
which could impair their ability to make impartial investment decisions. Employees and investment
officials shall disclose to the City Manager any material financial interests in the financial
institutions to conduct business with in this jurisdiction, and they shall further disclose any large
personal financial/investment positions that could be related to the performance of the City's
portfolio. Employees and officers shall subordinate their personal investment transaction to those
of the City of Yakima, particularly with regard to the time of purchases and sales.
The intent of "disclosure:" an employee is unlikely to personally own a controlling interest in a
security that becomes the best investment for the city such as a highly rated Microsoft or Coca-
Cola medium-term note and should not have to sell their personal position in order to serve the
city).
Employees and officers shall refrain from, or disclose, any personal investment transactions with
the same agents with whom business is conducted on behalf of the city and shall avoid, or
disclose, transactions that might impair public confidence.
Consistent with general City Policy, officers and employees involved in the investment process
may not accept any valuable gift, favor or gratuity which is made on the basis of his or her position
in the City's service.
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VII. Authorized Financial Dealers and Institutions
The Finance Director or his/her designee will maintain a list of broker/dealers, which are
authorized to provide investment services. To be eligible to do business with Yakima, a
broker/dealer must provide a Broker/Dealer Questionnaire that includes the following: audited
financial statements, current securities-related licensing; proof of registration and licenses held
with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); proof of registration with the State of
Washington Securities Division; provide current active municipal client references; and
certification of having read the City's current investment policy. An annual review of the financial
condition of qualified bidders will be conducted by the Finance Director, or his/her designee.
VIII. Authorized Investments
State statutes permit local governments in the state of Washington only the specific investments
permitted by state law, limited to the following:
A. The primary investment instruments expected to be utilized in the City of Yakima's
Investment Portfolio are:
"- State of Washington Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP), the public funds
investment account for investment and reinvestment by the state treasurer. RCW
43.250.040
Agencies. Federal home loan bank notes and bonds, federal land bank bonds and
federal national mortgage association notes, debentures and guaranteed certificates
of participation, or the obligations of any other government sponsored corporation
whose obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member
banks as determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system; RCW
39.59.040 (5)
Treasuries. Certificates, notes, or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of
the United States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the
government of the United States; or United States dollar denominated bonds, notes,
or other obligations that are issued or guaranteed by supranational institutions,
provided that, at the time of investment, the institution has the United States
government as its largest shareholder; RCW 39.59.040 (4).
Corporate notes purchased on the secondary market; with a minimum credit quality
rating of upper medium investment grade - at least A by Standard and Poor's, A2 by
Moody's, or A by Fitch - on the date of purchase. RCW 39.59.040 (8) and Washington
State Investment Board Policy No. 2.05.500.
B. The following secondary investment instruments are not expected to be routinely utilized in the
City of Yakima's Investment Portfolio but are also authorized by State Statute and should be
disclosed and explained on council quarterly reporting:
p- Bonds of the state of Washington and any local government in the state of
Washington;" RCW 39.59.040 (1)
General obligation bonds of a state other than the state of Washington and general
obligation bonds of a local government of a state other than the state of Washington,
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which bonds have at the time of investment one of the three highest credit ratings of a
nationally recognized rating agency RCW 39.59.040 (2)
Registered warrants of a local government in the same county as the government
making the investment;" RCW 39.59.040 (3)
Bankers' acceptances purchased on the secondary market. where the iesuing bank's
credit rating at the time of investment is not less than one of the three highest ratings
time of investment is not lees than P 1 as rated by Moody's and/or A 1 by Standard &
Poor's and/or F 1 by Fitch Rating Agency. RCW 39.59.040 (6)
*- Commercial paper purchased in the secondary market with maturities not exceeding
270 days, and with a short termshort-term credit rating at time of investment not less
than A-1 by Standard & Poor's Rating Services and/or P-1 by Moody's Investors
Service and/or F-1 by Fitch Rating Agency. Furthermore, the long-term credit ratings
of the issuer at the time of investment shall not be less than one of the three highest
ratings as rated by a nationally recognized rating agency. RCW 39.59.040 (7) and
Washington State Investment Board Policy No. 2.05.500
Non-Negotiable Certificates of deposit with financial institutions qualified by the
Washington Public Deposit Protection Commission. (RCW 39.58.130)
Prohibited Investments
Equities (stocks), Collateralized mortgage obligations, Money market mutual funds, Inverse
Floaters, Cryptocurrency. Negotiable Certificates of Deposit, Repurchase and Reverse
Repurchase Agreements and any investment type not expressly permitted by City Council in this
policy are not eligible investments for the City.
IX. Diversification
Investments in securities shall not exceed the following percentages of the portfolio at time of
purchase:
Washington State's Local Government Investment Pool 100%
Government Sponsored Agency Securities 100%, (40% per issuer)
Treasury Securities 100%
Corporate notes - 15%, (the lesser of 2% or $1 million per issuer)
Bankers Acceptances--45°%,
Commercial Paper 15%, (the lesser of 2% or $1 million per issuer)
Same-State/Local Securities 15%, (the lesser of 2% or $1 million per issuer)
Certificates of deposit 10%, (the lesser of 2% or $1 million per issuer)
Other-State/Local Securities 5%, (the lesser of 2% or $1 million per issuer)
Same-county local government issuer— only by city-seunsilCity Council resolution
Staggered maturities are to be a component of the diversified investment strategy, employed to
minimize reinvestment risk due to rate fluctuations building a reasonably laddered maturity
schedule.
X. Maximum Maturities
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y The average maturity of the portfolio will not exceed 2.5 years, including cash in
depository accounts and the state investment pool. (For the purposes of this
calculation, the maturity date of callable securities will be the final maturity date).
The expected and final maturity of any security will ordinarily not exceed 5-years;
however, up to 10 % of the portfolio may be invested in securities with maturities of up
to eight (8) years and the rationale will be disclosed on the next following quarterly
treasury report.
XI. Safekeeping and Custody
Security transactions entered into by the City of Yakima shall be conducted on a delivery-versus-
payment (DVP) basis.
Securities will be held by third party custodian designated by the Finance Director, or his/her
designee, and evidenced by safekeeping reports which will be reconciled monthly to the portfolio.
Third-party custodial reports shall be required monthly, to list, at a minimum, each individual
security, CUSIP, purchase date, cost, market value, par value, and maturity date.
XII. Collateralization
State statute (RCW 39.58) requires that all deposits of public funds be made with qualified public
depositaries, protected through the actions of the Public Deposit Protection Commission (PDPC),
comprised of the State Treasurer, Governor and Lieutenant Governor. State law requires that all
deposits of public funds over and above federally insured amounts (including Certificates Of
Deposit) be collateralized in accordance with regulations of the PDPC. All collateral is held by the
PDPC. The PDPC ensures public funds deposited in banks are protected should a financial
institution become insolvent. The names of authorized public depositaries may be found at:
https://tre.wa.gov/pdpc-banks/
XIII. Performance Standards
Benchmark.
The City's cash management portfolio shall be managed using a comparison object of the yield
of LGIP, the Washington State Treasurer-administered local governmental investment pool which
is typically the next investment choice for available cash if not invested for longer. The City
portfolio will have a longer average maturity than the 60- to 90-day average portfolio of the
benchmark so it will be less volatile. This means it can be expected that the city portfolio's
average yield will be trail the benchmark's yield in times of rising interest rates and lead the
benchmark's yield in times of falling interest rates.
Downgraded Securities.
The city may, from time to time, be invested in a security whose rating is downgraded. In the
event a rating drops below the minimum allowed by this policy, the Finance Director will review
and recommend an appropriate plan of action to the City Manager and City Council. If the city
utilizes an Investment Advisor, that Investment Advisor shall notify the city and recommend a plan
of action within one month. The city may continue to hold a downgraded investment to maturity
if a probable outcome is the eventual realization of full value, rather than a realized loss if divested
prior to maturity.
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XIV. Reporting
Monthly Reports
The Finance Director shall make a monthly report of all investment transactions to the
councilCity Council. (RCW 35.39.032)
Quarterly Reports.
The Finance Director shall prepare a quarterly investment report to City Manager and City Council
that provides a summary of the current investment portfolio and the individual transactions
executed to show holdings and activities during the reporting period conform to the investment
policy. The report should include the following:
An asset listing showing par value, cost and market value, type of investment, issuer, days
to maturity and interest rate of each security;
➢ Average days to maturity of the portfolio;
➢ Maturity distribution of the portfolio and distribution by type of investment.
➢ Credit quality of portfolio holdings; and,
➢ Average weighted yield to maturity of portfolio on investments
➢ Performance comparison to benchmark
XV. INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Buy and Hold.
As a strategy, the City of Yakima's investments will not be actively traded, meaning that no attempt
to "buy low and sell high" or "time the market" will be made. Investments purchased with the
intent of providing investment income shall be intended to be held to maturity, relying on following
a prudent course of action for income rather than predicting market direction. Securities may be
sold before they mature if market conditions present an opportunity for the City to capture a benefit
or to avoid a risk but the strategy will be primarily buy-and-hold.
Portfolio Segmenting.
In keeping with the priorities of Safety, Liquidity then Yield, the first considerations of investing
will be the immediate operational needs and scheduled disbursements of capital expenditures
and debt service payments.
• The Safety Segment of the Portfolio is held primarily in the State LGIP. This will allow for
seasonal fluctuations, primarily the April/October inflows of Property Tax and outflows of
capital projects.
• The Liquidity Segment of the portfolio is held primarily in the City's depository bank, and
will be maintained at adequate levels to ensure availability.
This Yield Segment of the portfolio is the portion of the city's cash reserves which, based
on historical analysis, long-term budgetary planning or council-approved reserve policy,
will not be subject to seasonal spending and can be invested comfortably long-term. This
segment is invested in a laddered portfolio comprised of Agencies, Treasuries and other
authorized investments.
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XVI. Internal Controls
The Director of Finance and Budget is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal
controls over assets of the City. The internal control structure shall be designed to provide
reasonable assurances that these assets are protected from loss, theft, or misuse.
The Office of the State Auditor requires that in accordance with Revised Code of Washington
43.09.260, the City of Yakima must undergo annual financial examinations performed by State
Examiners. Investment management is to be included as part of the annual independent audit to
assure compliance with this investment policy.
XVII. Investment Policy Review, Approval and Adoption
The City of Yakima investment policy shall be adopted by resolution of the City Council. The policy
shall be reviewed annually by the Finance Director and any significant modifications must be
approved by the City Council. At a minimum the policy should be re-adopted by resolution of the
Yakima City Council.
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Addendum: Glossary
Accrued Interest— Interest earned but not yet received.
Active Investment Management — the active trading of securities, selling prior to maturity and
purchasing secondary issues, in an effort to earn higher portfolio yield by the continual monitoring
of financial markets, spreads and pricing opportunities of individual securities. Requires
substantially more staff time than passive investing. (see also Passive Investment Management)
Agencies — (See Government Sponsored Entities) Entities chartered by Congress, such as:
Fannie Mae (FNMA) Freddie Mac (FHLMC), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Federal Farm
Credit Bank (FFCB). These entities carry an implicit guaranty of the federal government.
Amortization — a mathematical calculation that pays off a balance evenly while at the same time
adding interest for every period.
Asked—The price at which securities are offered.
s, or exchange accepted by a bank or trust
Bid—The price offered for securities.
Broker—A broker brings buyers and Sellers together for a commission paid by the initiator of the
transaction or by both sides; he does not hold a position. In the money market, brokers are active
in markets in which banks and institutional investors buy and sell bills, notes or bonds and in
interdealer markets.
Bullet(Non-callable Bond) —a bond issue in which all of its outstanding principal amount may not
be redeemed before maturity by the issuer, therefore assuring interest earnings through to the
end maturity date.
Callable Bond — a bond issue in which all or part of its outstanding principal amount may be
redeemed before maturity by the issuer
Certificate of Deposit(CD) —a deposit of funds for a specified period of time that earns interest at
a specific interest rate.
Collateral — Securities, evidenced by a deposit or other property which a borrower pledges to
secure repayment of a loan. Also refers to securities pledged by a bank to secure deposits of
public moneys.
Comprehensive Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (AC/4FR) —The independently-audited
annual report for the City of Yakima. It includes entity-wide financial statements as well as financial
statements for major funds and fund types, notes to the financial statements and required
schedules.
Certificates of Deposit(CD) —A time deposit with specific maturity and interest rate evidenced by
a certificate.
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Commercial Paper— Unsecured short-term corporate obligations with maturities less than 270
days.
Coupon — (a) The annual rate of interest that a bond's issuer promises to pay the bondholder as
a percentage of the bond's face value.
Custody— (Safekeeping) A service to customers rendered by banks for a fee whereby securities
are held by an independent third party for protection from fraud or theft.
Dealer — A dealer, as opposed to a broker, acts as a principal in all transactions, buying and
selling for their own account.
Delivery versus Payment (DVP) —Delivery of securities with a simultaneous exchange of money
for the securities used in conjunction with a third-party custodian to assure integrity of the
exchange and to prevent fraud or misdirection, similar to an escrow process in real estate.
(Delivery versus receipt is a delivery of securities with an exchange of a signed receipt for the
securities.)
Discount — The difference between the cost price of a security and its value at maturity when
quoted at lower than its face value. A security selling below original offering price shortly after
sale is also considered to be at a discount. This can be the normal mathematically equalizing of
the stated rate of an investment with prevailing market rates.
Discount Securities — Non-interest bearing money market instruments that are issued at a
discount and redeemed at maturity for full face value, i.e., U.S. Treasury and Agency bill.
Diversification — Dividing investment funds among a variety of securities offering independent
returns and credit quality.
Federal Credit Agencies — Agencies of the Federal government and guaranteed by the full faith
and credit of the US Government set up to supply credit to various classes of institutions and
individuals, e.g., Ginnie Mae, Sallie Mae, Tennessee Valley Authority.
Fannie Mae — The trade name for the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), a U.S.
GSE (government-sponsored entity).
Farmer Mac—The trade name for the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (FAMC), a GSE
(government-sponsored entity).
Federal Funds Rate — The target rate of interest at which Fed funds are traded. This rate is
currently pegged by the Federal Open Market Committee.
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) — Consists of seven members of the Federal Reserve
Board and five of the twelve Federal Reserve Bank Presidents. The President of the New York
Federal Reserve Bank is a permanent member while the other presidents serve on a rotating
basis. The Committee periodically meets to set Federal Reserve funds target rate and guidelines
regarding purchases and sales of Governments Securities in an open market as a means of the
influencing the volume of bank credit and money supply in the economy.
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Federal Reserve System — The central bank of the United States created by Congress and
consisting of a seven member Board of Governors in Washington, DC. There are 12 Region
Banks and about 5700 commercial banks that are members of the system.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — A Federal Agency that insures bank deposits,
currently capped at $250,000 dollars per deposit.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) - a private corporation that acts as a self-
regulatory organization (SRO). FINRA is the successor to the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (NASD) and the member regulation, enforcement and arbitration operations of the
New York Stock Exchange.
Freddie Mac — The trade name for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), a
GSE (government-sponsored entity).
Ginnie Mae—the trade name for the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), a GSE
(government-sponsored entity).
Government Sponsored Entities (GSEs) — ("Agencies") Entities chartered by Congress, such as:
Fannie Mae (FNMA) Freddie Mac (FHLMC), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Federal Farm
Credit Bank (FFCB). These entities carry an implicit guaranty of the federal government.
Interest Rate Risk — the risk associated with declines or rises in interest rate that cause an
investment in a fixed-income security to increase or decrease in market value.
Investment Committee—Comprised of the City Manager and Finance Director or their designees.
The committee is authorized to make investments of city funds, as authorized by law, and, at any
time, to liquidate investments, and to engage in all such transactions without prior consent of
ceuncilCity Council, but subject to investment policy reporting requirements.
Leverage - Increasing the output compared to the input. In investments, a negative application
would be multiplying the yield on investable funds by investing using borrowed funds in addition
to cash on hand; the risk is that when a loss is experienced, the borrowed funds must be repaid
in full, multiplying the loss to the investor.
Liquidity—A liquid asset is one that can be converted easily and rapidly into cash
Liquidity Risk — the risk that an entity (i.e. the city) may be unable to meet short term financial
demands due to the inability to convert investments to cash without a loss of principal and/or
interest income.
Market Risk — the risk that the value of a security will rise or decline as a result of changes in
market conditions, typically interest rates.
Market Value — The price at which a security is trading and could presumably be purchased or
sold.
Maturity—the date upon which the principal of an investment is due and paid.
New Issue — An investment available at the time of issuance, and therefore not subject to the
secondary market that would involve competitive bidding or price uncertainty.
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Non-callable Bond(Bullet)—a bond issue in which all of its outstanding principal amount may not
be redeemed before maturity by the issuer, therefore assuring interest earnings through to the
end maturity date.
Par Value — (face value) the amount of principal that must be paid at maturity.
Passive Investment Management- investing methodically, managing primarily diversification and
maturities, with the intention of holding to maturity rather than seeking to make gains through
market price fluctuations.
Principal- the original sum of money put into an investment at time of purchase.
Reinvestment Risk - the risk that the proceeds from the payment of principal and interest would
have to be reinvested at a lower rate than the original investment. This is a risk of all investments
regardless of maturity date or call feature because of the uncertainty of future interest rates. Call
features increase reinvestment risk because of the added uncertainty; issuers typically call their
bonds in a declining interest rate environment.
Safekeeping — A service to customers rendered by banks for a fee whereby securities and
valuables of mall types and descriptions are held in the bank's vaults for protection-.-_
Secondary Market—A market made for the purchase and sale of outstanding issues following the
initial distribution.
SEC Rule 15C3-1 — See uniform net capital rule.
Securities and Exchange Commission — Agency created by Congress to protect investors in
securities transactions by administering securities legislation.
Treasury Bills — A non-interest bearing discount security issued by the U.S. Treasury to finance
the National Debt. The above most bills are issued to mature in three months, six months, or one
year.
Treasury Bond — Long-term U.S. Treasury securities having initial maturities of more than 10
years.
Treasury Notes — Intermediate term coupon bearing U.S. Treasury securities having initial
maturities of from one to ten years.
Yield— the rate of annual income return on investment, expressed as a percentage. (A) income
yield is obtained by dividing the current dollar income by the face value of the security. (B) net
yield or yield to maturity is the current income yield minus any premium above par or plus any
discount from par in purchase price, with the adjustment spread over the period from the date of
purchase to the date of maturity of the bond.
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Addendum —Text of Washington Statutes (RCW)
Governing Investments of Public Funds by Local Governments
(Intended only for easy reference for the reader— current statutes should be confirmed)
RCW 11.100.020
Management of trust assets by fiduciary.
1) A trustee shall invest and manage trust assets as a prudent investor would, by considering
the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other circumstances of the trust. In
satisfying this standard, the trustee shall exercise reasonable care, skill, and caution.
2) A trustee's investment and management decisions respecting individual assets must be
evaluated not in isolation but in the context of the trust portfolio as a whole and as a part of
an overall investment strategy having risk and return objectives reasonably suited to the trust.
3) Among the circumstances that a trustee shall consider in investing and managing trust assets
are such of the following as are relevant to the trust or its beneficiaries:
a) General economic conditions;
b) The possible effect of inflation or deflation;
c) The expected tax consequences of investment decisions or strategies;
d) The role that each investment or course of action plays within the overall portfolio, which
may include financial assets, interests in closely held enterprises, tangible and intangible
personal property, and real property;
e) The expected total return from income and the appreciation of capital;
f) Other resources of the beneficiaries;
g) Needs for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation or appreciation of capital; and
h) An asset's special relationship or special value, if any, to the purposes of the trust or to
one or more of the beneficiaries.
4) A trustee shall make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment and
management of trust assets.
5) A trustee may invest in any kind of property or type of investment consistent with the standards
of this section.
6) A trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is named trustee in reliance upon the trustee's
representation that the trustee has special skills or expertise, has a duty to use those special
skills or expertise.
RCW 35.39.030
Excess or inactive funds—Investment.
Every city and town may invest any portion of the moneys in its inactive funds or in other
funds in excess of current needs in:
(1) United States bonds;
(2) United States certificates of indebtedness;
(3) Bonds or warrants of this state;
(4) General obligation or utility revenue bonds or warrants of its own or of any other city
or town in the state;
(5) Its own bonds or warrants of a local improvement district which are within the protection
of the local improvement guaranty fund law; and
(6) In any other investments authorized by law for any other taxing districts.
RCW 35.39.032
Approval of legislative authority—Delegation of authority—Reports.
No investment shall be made without the approval of the legislative authority of the city or
town expressed by ordinance: PROVIDED, That except as otherwise provided by law, the
legislative authority may by ordinance authorize a city official or a committee composed
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City of Yakima
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of several city officials to determine the amount of money available in each fund for
investment purposes and make the investments authorized as indicated in RCW
35.39.030 as now or hereafter amended and the provisions of RCW 35.39.034, without
the consent of the legislative authority for each investment. The responsible official or
committee shall make a monthly report of all investment transactions to the city legislative
authority. The legislative authority of a city or town or city official or committee authorized
to invest city or town funds may at any time convert any of its investment securities, or any
part thereof, into cash.
RCW 35.39.034
Investment by individual fund or commingling of funds—Investment in United States securities—
Validation.
Moneys thus determined available for this purpose may be invested on an individual fund
basis or may, unless otherwise restricted by law be commingled within one common
investment portfolio for investment. All income derived from such investment shall be
apportioned and used for the benefit of the various participating funds or for the benefit of
the general or current expense fund as the governing body of the city of [or] town shall
determine by ordinance or resolution: PROVIDED, That funds derived from the sale of
general obligation bonds or revenue bonds or similar instruments of indebtedness shall
be invested, or used in such manner as the initiating ordinances, resolutions, or bond
covenants may lawfully prescribe.
Any excess or inactive funds on hand in the city treasury not otherwise invested, or
required to be invested by this section, as now or hereafter amended, may be invested by
the city treasurer in United States government bonds, notes, bills, certificates of
indebtedness, or interim financing warrants of a local improvement district which is within
the protection of the local improvement guaranty fund law for the benefit of the general or
current expense fund.
All previous or outstanding investments of city or town funds for the benefit of the city's or
town's general or current expense fund which have been or could be made in accordance
with the provisions of this section, as now or hereafter amended, are declared valid.
RCW 39.58.020
Public funds—Protection against loss.
All public funds deposited in public depositaries, including investment deposits and
accrued interest thereon, shall be protected against loss, as provided in this chapter.
RCW 39.58.030
Public deposit protection commission—State finance committee constitutes—Proceedings.
The Washington public deposit protection commission shall be the state finance
committee. The record of the proceedings of the public deposit protection commission
shall be kept in the office of the commission and a duly certified copy thereof, or any part
thereof, shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceedings in any court of this
state.
RCW 39.58.050
Collateral for deposits—Segregation—Eligible securities.
(1) Every public depositary shall complete a depositary pledge agreement with the
commission and a trustee, and shall at all times maintain, segregated from its other assets,
eligible collateral having a value at least equal to its maximum liability and as otherwise
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prescribed in this chapter. Eligible securities used as collateral shall be segregated by
deposit with the depositary's trustee and shall be clearly designated as security for the
benefit of public depositors under this chapter.
(2) Securities eligible as collateral shall be valued at market value, and the total market
value of securities pledged in accordance with this chapter shall not be reduced by
withdrawal or substitution of securities except by prior authorization, in writing, by the
commission.
(3) The public depositary shall have the right to make substitutions of an equal or greater
amount of eligible securities at any time.
(4) The income from the securities which have been segregated as collateral shall belong
to the public depositary without restriction.
(5) Each of the following enumerated classes of securities, providing there has been no
default in the payment of principal or interest thereon, shall be eligible to qualify as
collateral:
(a) Certificates, notes or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of the United
States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the government of the United
States;
(b) State, county, municipal, or school district bonds or warrants of taxing districts of the
state of Washington or any other state of the United States, provided that such bonds and
warrants shall be only those found to be within the limit of indebtedness prescribed by law
for the taxing district issuing them and to be general obligations;
(c) The obligations of any United States government-sponsored corporation whose
obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as
determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system;
(d) Bonds, notes, or other securities or evidence of indebtedness constituting the direct
and general obligation of a federal home loan bank or federal reserve bank;
(e) Revenue bonds of this state or any authority, board, commission, committee, or similar
agency thereof, and any municipality or taxing district of this state;
(f) Direct and general obligation bonds and warrants of any city, town, county, school
district, port district, or other political subdivision of any state, having the power to levy
general taxes, which are payable from general ad valorem taxes;
(g) Bonds issued by public utility districts as authorized under the provisions of Title 54
RCW, as now or hereafter amended;
(h) Bonds of any city of the state of Washington for the payment of which the entire
revenues of the city's water system, power and light system, or both, less maintenance
and operating costs, are irrevocably pledged, even though such bonds are not general
obligations of such city.
(6) In addition to the securities enumerated in this section, the commission may also
accept as collateral a letter of credit from a federal home loan bank or a federal reserve
bank on behalf of a public depositary, naming the commission as beneficiary. Such letters
are not subject to a completed depositary pledge agreement. As such, the commission
must act as the safekeeping agent for letters of credit.
(7) A public depositary may also segregate such bonds, securities, and other obligations
as are designated to be authorized security for public deposits under the laws of this state.
(8) The commission may determine by rule or resolution whether any security, whether or
not enumerated in this section, is or shall remain eligible as collateral when in the
commission's judgment it is desirable or necessary to do so.
RCW 39.58.135
Limitations on deposits.
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Notwithstanding RCW 39.58.130, (1) aggregate deposits received by a public depositary
from all treasurers and the state treasurer shall not exceed at any time one hundred fifty
percent of the value of the depositary's net worth, nor (2) shall the aggregate deposits
received by any public depositary exceed thirty percent of the total aggregate deposits of
all public treasurers in all depositaries as determined by the commission. However, a
public depositary may receive deposits in excess of the limits provided in this section if
eligible collateral, as prescribed in RCW 39.58.050, are pledged in an amount equal to
one hundred percent of the value of deposits received in excess of the limitations
prescribed in this section.
RCW 39.59.010
Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Bond" means any agreement which may or may not be represented by a physical
instrument, including but not limited to bonds, notes, warrants, or certificates of
indebtedness, that evidences an obligation under which the issuer agrees to pay a
specified amount of money, with or without interest, at a designated time or times either
to registered owners or bearers.
(2) "Local government" means any county, city, town, special purpose district, political
subdivision, municipal corporation, or quasi-municipal corporation, including any public
corporation, authority, or other instrumentality created by such an entity.
(3) "State" includes any state in the United States, other than the state of Washington.
RCW 39.59.020
Authorized investments—Local government authority.
(1) Local governments in the state of Washington are authorized to invest their funds and
money in their custody or possession, eligible for investment, in investments authorized
by this chapter.
(2) Nothing in this section is intended to limit or otherwise restrict a local government from
investing in additional authorized investments if that local government has specific
authority to do so.
RCW 39.59.040
Authorized investments—Bonds, warrants, certificates, and other investments.
Any local government in the state of Washington may invest in:
(1) Bonds of the state of Washington and any local government in the state of Washington;
(2) General obligation bonds of a state and general obligation bonds of a local government
of a state, which bonds have at the time of investment one of the three highest credit
ratings of a nationally recognized rating agency;
(3) Subject to compliance with RCW 39.56.030, registered warrants of a local government
in the same county as the government making the investment;
(4) Certificates, notes, or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of the United
States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the government of the United
States; or United States dollar denominated bonds, notes, or other obligations that are
issued or guaranteed by supranational institutions, provided that, at the time of investment,
the institution has the United States government as its largest shareholder;
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(5) Federal home loan bank notes and bonds, federal land bank bonds and federal
national mortgage association notes, debentures and guaranteed certificates of
participation, or the obligations of any other government sponsored corporation whose
obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as
determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system;
(6) Bankers' acceptances purchased on the secondary market;
(7) Commercial paper purchased in the secondary market, provided that any local
government of the state of Washington that invests in such commercial paper must adhere
to the investment policies and procedures adopted by the state investment board; and
(8) Corporate notes purchased on the secondary market, provided that any local
government of the state of Washington that invests in such notes must adhere to the
investment policies and procedures adopted by the state investment board.
RCW 43.250.040
Authority of official to place funds in the public funds investment account--Investment
of funds by state treasurer--Degree of judgment and care required.
If authorized by statute, local ordinance, resolution, or other appropriate official action, the
state treasurer, a government finance official or financial officer or his or her designee, or
authorized tribal official, may place funds into the public funds investment account for
investment and reinvestment by the state treasurer in those securities and investments
set forth in RCW 43.84.080 and chapter 39.58 RCW. The state treasurer shall invest the
funds in such manner as to effectively maximize the yield to the investment pool. In
investing and reinvesting moneys in the public funds investment account and in acquiring,
retaining, managing, and disposing of investments of the investment pool, there shall be
exercised the judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing which persons
of prudence, discretion, and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs,
not in regard to speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition of the funds
considering the probable income as well as the probable safety of the capital.
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Addendum —Text of City Municipal Code
(Intended only for easy reference for the reader— current codes should be confirmed)
1.73.010 Investment committee created—Authority.
There is created an investment committee composed of the city manager and the city's director
of finance and his/her designees as may be assigned by the city manager and/or the director of
finance from time to time. The committee is authorized to make investments of city funds, as
authorized by law, and, at any time, to convert investments, or any part thereof, into cash, and to
engage in all such transactions without the consent of the City Council being first
obtained for each such transaction.
1.73.020 Officers of investment committee.
The city manager is appointed as chairman of the investment committee to preside at all meetings
thereof; provided, that the city manager shall designate some other member of the investment
committee as chairman thereof to preside at any meeting from which the city manager may be
absent.
The finance director, or her designee, is appointed as secretary of the investment committee, and
shall maintain a record of the minutes of each meeting of the investment committee, together with
a record of all strategy decisions.
1.73.030 Meetings of investment committee.
The investment committee shall meet at least semi-annually, at a time designated by the city
manager. Additional meetings may be called by the city manager, from time to time, as he deems
necessary or desirable for the best interests of the city; provided, the function of the investment
committee is deemed to be continual so that the city manager may direct that any two members
of the committee may perform functions of the investment committee at any time without a special
meeting being called for that purpose.
1.73.040 Report to . ly--c +nc ICity Council.
The finance director shall submit to the City Council a quarterly report of all investment
transactions of the city of Yakima during the quarter. The report shall be in writing, and shall be
submitted to the city councilCity Council at a regular city councilCity Council meeting.
1.18.080 Department of finance and budget.
The department of finance and budget, under the general direction of the director of finance and
budget, shall perform the responsibilities and duties generally described as follows:
1) Financial Services. Under the supervision of the financial services manager, this office shall:
a) Compile estimates for the annual budget;
b) Maintain a general accounting system for the city government and exercise budgetary
control over all expenditures by offices and departments;
c) Perform internal audits of all city financial affairs;
d) Prepare a monthly report of the fiscal activities of all funds for the preceding month and
such other reports as may be required by the city manager;
e) Determine the structure and operational characteristics of all accounting systems used in
the city government;
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
f) Maintain control and a running inventory of all fixed assets of the city;
g) Maintain a uniform utility accounting system for the water and sewer utilities as required
by state law;
h) Be responsible for the receipt, custody and disbursement of all city funds, all local
improvement district funds, and other trust funds, keeping accurate accounts of all
collections and disbursements for each fund;
i) Be the custodian of all city investments and bank collateral, investing idle funds as may
be prudent and lawful;
j) Prepare and submit all financial statements and reports required by law;
k) Prescribe the times at and manner in which monies received by the several offices and
departments of the city shall be paid into the treasury or deposited in a bank;
I) Make deposits of city funds in banks in the manner prescribed by law;
m) Purchase and sell bonds for the benefit of local improvement district funds and the local
improvement district guaranty fund;
n) Maintain and supervise a risk management program covering city buildings, equipment
and personnel;
o) Maintain an office for the purpose of receiving all money paid as bail for nonmoving traffic
violation citations;
p) Perform such other services as may be required by law or by the director of finance and
budget.
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Addendum — Broker/Dealer Questionnaire
The Central Washington city of Yakima, incorporated in 1886, provides a full range of municipal
services, including general government, public safety (police and fire), streets, community
development, planning and zoning, code enforcement, airport, cemetery, parks and recreation,
and municipal services such as water treatment, wastewater, refuse and public transit. Roughly
800 employees serve about 93,000 residents covering about 70 square miles with an annual
operating budget of around $250 million. The City's manageable cash ranges from $70 to $85
million of which about $55 is invested principally in GSE medium term notes with remaining
liquidity maintained in the Washington State Treasurer's Local Governmental Investment Pool
LGIP. The City has adopted a written Investment Policy that regulates the standards and
procedures used in its cash management activities. The most current policy is publicly available
on the city website and should be reviewed prior to completing this form.
Firm Name:
Year Founded:
Corporate office address:
Telephone #s:
Principal, Managing Director or Partner:
Name
Title
Direct phone
E-mail address
Is your firm a broker (does not own securities being offered
Is your firm a dealer (does own securities being offered)?
Local office address:
Please attach a bio or resume of the primary and secondary representatives covering this
account, including securities-related employment history, licensing, certificates, complaints,
disciplinary action, arbitration, litigation:
Primary Representative:
Name
Title
Direct phone
E-mail address
Secondary Representative:
Name
Title
Direct phone
E-mail address
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
Provide proof of registration with State of Washington ❑ attached NA
Provide proof of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ❑ attached ❑ NA
Provide documentation that your firm is qualified under SEC rule 15C3-1
(Uniform Net Capital Rule) ❑ attached -� NA
Provide most recent audited financials ❑ attached NA
Is your firm is examined by and subject to rules and regulations of:
FDIC ❑ Yes ❑ No
SEC ❑ Yes ❑ No
NYSE ❑ Yes ❑ No
Comptroller of Currency ❑ Yes ❑ No
Federal Reserve System ❑ Yes ❑ No
List three current, active, comparable, municipal client references:
Entity Name
Contact
Address
Phone / E-mail
Entity Name
Contact
Address
Phone / E-mail
Entity Name
Contact
Address
Phone / E-mail
What market sectors are you and your firm currently involved? (Please feel free to provide
additional information regarding specialization in any of the following market sectors).
Firm Involvement Broker Involvement
US Treasuries
US Agency Bonds
Washington State Bonds
Municipal Bonds
Corporate Bonds
CDARS
Commercial Paper
Other
Please provide your normal custody and delivery process, including specific banking
relationships.
What was your firm's total volume in US Government and agency securities trading last year?
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
Has this firm, or the representatives assigned to this account, been subject to a regulatory
agency, state or federal investigation for alleged improper, disreputable, unfair or fraudulent
activities related to the sale of securities or money market instruments that resulted in a
suspension or censure? Yes (attached) No
Is there outstanding litigation which would materially affect your financial stability?
❑ Yes (attached) ❑ No
Do you provide any fixed income research and economic commentary?
❑ Yes (attached) ❑ No
Describe the precautions taken by your firm to protect the interests of the public when
dealing with a local public entity. Attached ❑ NA
Has any client sustained a loss on a securities transaction engendered from a misunderstanding
or misrepresentation of the risk characteristic of a financial instrument by your firm?
Yes (attached) ❑ No
Please confirm that you are:
(1) familiar with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Sections 39.59.010 et al.
(2) have read, understand and agree to comply with the provisions of City of Yakima's current
investment policy
by signing below.
Name: Signature:
Title: Date:
Name: Signature:
Title: Date:
Name: Signature:
Title: Date:
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City of Yakima
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Approved Broker/Dealer List
The following brokers have completed BDQs and investment policy acknowledgements on file
with the City:
i Great Pacific Securities Wedbush Securities
151 Kalmus Dr. 1000 Wilshire Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Los Angeles, CA 90017
Chris Vinck, Principal Gary Wedbush, Principal
(714) 619-3000 (213) 688-8000
Michel Swan, Primary Contact Don Collins, Primary Contact
(714) 619-3000 (949) 719-3237
Time Value Investments Hilltop Securities
2801 Hwy 2805 S 717 N. Harwood Street
Birmingham, AL 35223 Dallas, TX 75201
Paul Jarvis, Principal AJ Maggio, Principal
(205) 268-3099 (214) 859-9433
Aaron Bonck, Primary Contact Kevin Barry, Primary Contact
(206) 365-3000 (216) 716-5515
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
Addendum —Acknowledgement of Receipt/Adherence to Current Policy
City of Yakima requires an annual certification from authorized Financial Dealers and Institutions
of having read the current investment policy. It is the intent of the City of Yakima to pro-actively
contact current existing financial institutions annually, or at any change in the city's investment
policy, and to maintain the current investment policy on the city's public website.
This is to acknowledge receipt of the City of Yakima's current Investment Policy adopted by City
Council on 03/05/20195/07/2024.
Entity name:
Name: Title:
Signature: Date:
Please sign and submit via mail or email to:
City of Yakima
129 North 2nd Street, Finance Department
Yakima, WA 98901
Current staff contact information is available on the City Website:
https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/finance/
p. 26 of 26
28
.,
1
„ :
•
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!�� k�'ORATEV)
Investment Policy
of the
City of Y akima
Adopted by City Council
May 7, 2024
City of Yakima, Finance Department
129 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901
'.WPTA `;
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
Investment Policy
Awarded to 'is '
CITY OF Y kKIMik '"
2024 j
The investment policy submitted for review meets the standard•established l,,the X-
Washington Public Treasurers'.Assoetation
Ste 2oonn
29
City of Yakima
Investment Policy
Table of Contents
I. Purpose 3 IX. Diversification 7
II. Policy 3 X. Maximum Maturities 8
III. Governing Authority Xl. Safekeeping and Custody 8
a. Enabling Legislation 3 XII. Collateralization 8
b. Delegation of Authority 3
IV. Scope and Applicability 4 XIII. Performance Standards 8
a. Downgraded Securities 8
V. Objectives XIV. Reporting and Disclosure
a. Safety 4 a. Monthly 9
b. Liquidity 4 b. Quarterly 9
c. Yield 5
VI. Prudence 5 XV. Investment Strategy
a. Ethics and Conflict of Interest 5 a. Buy and Hold 9
b. Segmented Portfolio 9
VII. Authorized Financial Dealers and XVI. Internal Controls 10
Institutions 6
VIII. Authorized Investments XVII. Review, Approval and Adoption....10
a. Washington State Treasurer Local
Government Investment Pool 6
b. Agencies, Federal government- Addenda:
sponsored enterprise obligations 6
c. Treasuries, Obligations of the U.S., XVIII. Glossary 11
agencies, wholly-owned XIX. Text of Washington Statutes
corporations, and supranationals....6 (RCWs) 15
d. Corporate notes 6
e. Washington State/local government XX. Text of City Municipal Code 20
bonds 7 XXI. Broker/Dealer Questionnaire 22
f. Other-State/local government
bonds 7 XXII. Approved Broker/Dealer List 25
g. Same-county local government XXIII. Confirmation of Policy Receipt 26
registered warrants 7
h. Commercial paper 7
i. Non-negotiable CDs 7
j. Prohibited investments 7
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
City of Yakima
Policy Number: 3-700
r4 �'..;1 Department: Finance Authorized by: City Council
yam• 'y1
Effective Date: 05/07/2024 Supersedes: Policy Dated 03/05/2019,
09/06/2011
Policy: Investment Policy
I. Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is:
• To establish investment objectives and parameters necessary to safeguard public funds
entrusted to the City of Yakima,
• To articulate City Council's intent for the governance over city investments,
• To communicate clear policy and strategy guidelines for city investment administration,
• To demonstrate to citizens, taxpayers and voters a transparent and accountable
stewardship plan.
A portion of the City's manageable cash may be invested in a laddered portfolio after assuring
sufficient liquidity and safety; cyclical liquidity is kept in the Washington State Treasurer's Local
Government Investment Pool and operating cash is maintained in depository bank accounts.
II. Policy
It is the policy of the City of Yakima to invest public funds in a manner that, giving first regard to
safety, suitability and liquidity, will maximize long-term yield in conformance with State Statutes
and Federal Regulations, and City Charter.
Ill. Governing Authority
Enabling Legislation
All investments shall be managed in a manner responsive to the public trust, consistent with state
and local law, including the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the City Charter and Municipal
Code (RCW 39.59.020, MC 1.18.080). City Council retains governance-level fiduciary
responsibility for the city investment portfolio, through the executive control of the City Manager.
Delegation of Authority
The City Council authorizes an Investment Committee (MC § 1.73.010) comprised of the City
Manager or their designee, and Finance Director or their designee, to engage in investment-
related transactions without prior approval. This policy provides for accountability and
transparency to City Council. Management responsibility for the investment program is delegated
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
to the Finance Director, (MC §. 1.18.080), who shall establish procedures for the operation of the
investment program consistent with this investment policy.
Such procedures shall include explicit delegation of authority to persons responsible for
investment transactions to provide adequate redundancy by properly trained and informed staff.
No person may engage in an investment transaction except as provided under the terms of this
policy and the procedures established by the Finance Director. The Director shall be responsible
for all transactions undertaken and shall establish a system of controls to regulate the activities
of subordinate officials. All staff engaging in investment transactions shall attend public
investment training. Staff shall not engage in any policy-allowed investment transaction that they
cannot articulate a rationale for.
Contracted Management
Any external investment manager engaged to assist in the management of the city's investment
portfolio will be held to the prudent investor standard of care (RCW 11.100.020).
IV. Scope and Applicability
The investment policy applies to all financial assets of the City of Yakima. These are accounted
for in the city at Yakima's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and include:
➢ General Fund
➢ Special Revenue Funds
➢ Capital Project Funds
➢ Enterprise Funds
➢ Internal Service Funds
➢ Trust and Agency Funds
➢ Any new fund created by Council, unless specifically exempted by Council.
Investments of City Funds may be made on a pooled basis across all funds, with principal and
interest apportioned for the benefit of the various participating funds or for the benefit of the
general fund. (RCW 35.39.034)
V. Objective
The prime objectives of this City's investment activities shall be the suitability of every investment
to the financial requirements of the city, considering, in priority order:
➢ Safety: Safety of principal is the foremost objective of the investment program.
Investments of the City of Yakima shall be undertaken in a manner that seeks to
ensure the preservation of principal in the overall portfolio. Each investment
transaction shall be conducted in a manner to avoid principal loss arising from security
default, institution default, broker-dealer default, safekeeping fraud, or the avoidable
loss on the premature sale of an investment
➢ Liquidity: The City's investment portfolio will be structured to meet all expected
obligations in a timely manner, to avoid premature sale of an investment at a loss of
principal. This is to be achieved by comparing investment maturities with forecasted
cash flows and maintaining sufficient liquidity for contingencies across all funds. A 3-
to 5-year historical liquidity trend history, combining the city's main checking accounts,
LGI P, and the investment portfolio, will clearly indicate annual seasonal low cashflows.
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
➢ Yield, or Return on investment: The City's investment portfolio shall be designed with
the objective of attaining as high a rate of return as prudently possible having first
satisfied the objectives of Safety and Liquidity.
VI. Prudence
The standard of prudence to be used by investment officials shall be the "prudent investor
standard," which, as enacted by State Statute (RCW 11.100.020), says:
1) A trustee shall invest and manage trust assets as a prudent investor would,
by considering the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other
circumstances of the trust. In satisfying this standard, the trustee shall exercise
reasonable care, skill, and caution.
2) A trustee's investment and management decisions respecting individual
assets must be evaluated not in isolation but in the context of the trust portfolio as
a whole and as a part of an overall investment strategy having risk and return
objectives reasonably suited to the trust."
Investment officers acting in accordance with the written procedures and exercising due diligence
shall be relieved of personal responsibility for individual security's credit risk or marketplace
changes, provided deviations from expectations are reported in a timely fashion and appropriate
action is taken to control adverse developments.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
Officers and employees involved in the investment process shall refrain from, or disclose,
personal business activity that could conflict with proper execution of the investment program, or
which could impair their ability to make impartial investment decisions. Employees and investment
officials shall disclose to the City Manager any material financial interests in the financial
institutions to conduct business with in this jurisdiction, and they shall further disclose any large
personal financial/investment positions that could be related to the performance of the City's
portfolio. Employees and officers shall subordinate their personal investment transaction to those
of the City of Yakima, particularly with regard to the time of purchases and sales.
The intent of "disclosure:" an employee is unlikely to personally own a controlling interest in a
security that becomes the best investment for the city such as a highly rated Microsoft or Coca-
Cola medium-term note and should not have to sell their personal position in order to serve the
city).
Employees and officers shall refrain from, or disclose, any personal investment transactions with
the same agents with whom business is conducted on behalf of the city and shall avoid, or
disclose, transactions that might impair public confidence.
Consistent with general City Policy, officers and employees involved in the investment process
may not accept any valuable gift, favor or gratuity which is made on the basis of his or her position
in the City's service.
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VII. Authorized Financial Dealers and Institutions
The Finance Director or his/her designee will maintain a list of broker/dealers, which are
authorized to provide investment services. To be eligible to do business with Yakima, a
broker/dealer must provide a Broker/Dealer Questionnaire that includes the following: audited
financial statements, current securities-related licensing; proof of registration and licenses held
with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); proof of registration with the State of
Washington Securities Division; provide current active municipal client references; and
certification of having read the City's current investment policy. An annual review of the financial
condition of qualified bidders will be conducted by the Finance Director, or his/her designee.
VIII. Authorized Investments
State statutes permit local governments in the state of Washington only the specific investments
permitted by state law, limited to the following:
A. The primary investment instruments expected to be utilized in the City of Yakima's
Investment Portfolio are:
➢ State of Washington Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP), the public funds
investment account for investment and reinvestment by the state treasurer. RCW
43.250.040
3- Agencies. Federal home loan bank notes and bonds, federal land bank bonds and
federal national mortgage association notes, debentures and guaranteed certificates
of participation, or the obligations of any other government sponsored corporation
whose obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member
banks as determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system; RCW
39.59.040 (5)
• Treasuries. Certificates, notes, or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of
the United States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the
government of the United States; or United States dollar denominated bonds, notes,
or other obligations that are issued or guaranteed by supranational institutions,
provided that, at the time of investment, the institution has the United States
government as its largest shareholder; RCW 39.59.040 (4).
• Corporate notes purchased on the secondary market; with a minimum credit quality
rating of upper medium investment grade - at least A by Standard and Poor's, A2 by
Moody's, or A by Fitch - on the date of purchase. RCW 39.59.040 (8) and Washington
State Investment Board Policy No. 2.05.500.
B. The following secondary investment instruments are not expected to be routinely utilized in the
City of Yakima's Investment Portfolio but are also authorized by State Statute and should be
disclosed and explained on council quarterly reporting:
3- Bonds of the state of Washington and any local government in the state of
Washington;" RCW 39.59.040 (1)
➢ General obligation bonds of a state other than the state of Washington and general
obligation bonds of a local government of a state other than the state of Washington,
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which bonds have at the time of investment one of the three highest credit ratings of a
nationally recognized rating agency RCW 39.59.040 (2)
➢ Registered warrants of a local government in the same county as the government
making the investment;" RCW 39.59.040 (3)
3- Commercial paper purchased in the secondary market with maturities not exceeding
270 days, and with a short-term credit rating at time of investment not less than A-1
by Standard & Poor's Rating Services and/or P-1 by Moody's Investors Service and/or
F-1 by Fitch Rating Agency. Furthermore, the long-term credit ratings of the issuer at
the time of investment shall not be less than one of the three highest ratings as rated
by a nationally recognized rating agency. RCW 39.59.040 (7) and Washington State
Investment Board Policy No. 2.05.500
➢ Non-Negotiable Certificates of deposit with financial institutions qualified by the
Washington Public Deposit Protection Commission. (RCW 39.58.130)
Prohibited Investments
Equities (stocks), Collateralized mortgage obligations, Money market mutual funds, Inverse
Floaters, Cryptocurrency, Negotiable Certificates of Deposit, Repurchase and Reverse
Repurchase Agreements and any investment type not expressly permitted by City Council in this
policy are not eligible investments for the City.
IX. Diversification
Investments in securities shall not exceed the following percentages of the portfolio at time of
purchase:
Washington State's Local Government Investment Pool 100%
Government Sponsored Agency Securities 100%, (40% per issuer)
Treasury Securities 100%
Corporate notes - 15%, (the lesser of 2% or$1 million per issuer)
Commercial Paper 15%, (the lesser of 2% or$1 million per issuer)
Same-State/Local Securities 15%, (the lesser of 2% or $1 million per issuer)
Certificates of deposit 10%, (the lesser of 2% or$1 million per issuer)
Other-State/Local Securities 5%, (the lesser of 2% or$1 million per issuer)
Same-county local government issuer— only by City Council resolution
Staggered maturities are to be a component of the diversified investment strategy, employed to
minimize reinvestment risk due to rate fluctuations building a reasonably laddered maturity
schedule.
X. Maximum Maturities
➢ The average maturity of the portfolio will not exceed 2.5 years, including cash in
depository accounts and the state investment pool. (For the purposes of this
calculation, the maturity date of callable securities will be the final maturity date).
➢ The expected and final maturity of any security will ordinarily not exceed 5-years;
however, up to 10 % of the portfolio may be invested in securities with maturities of up
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to eight (8) years and the rationale will be disclosed on the next following quarterly
treasury report.
XI. Safekeeping and Custody
Security transactions entered into by the City of Yakima shall be conducted on a delivery-versus-
payment (DVP) basis.
Securities will be held by third party custodian designated by the Finance Director, or his/her
designee, and evidenced by safekeeping reports which will be reconciled monthly to the portfolio.
Third-party custodial reports shall be required monthly, to list, at a minimum, each individual
security, CUSIP, purchase date, cost, market value, par value, and maturity date.
XII. Collateralization
State statute (RCW 39.58) requires that all deposits of public funds be made with qualified public
depositaries, protected through the actions of the Public Deposit Protection Commission (PDPC),
comprised of the State Treasurer, Governor and Lieutenant Governor. State law requires that all
deposits of public funds over and above federally insured amounts (including Certificates Of
Deposit) be collateralized in accordance with regulations of the PDPC. All collateral is held by the
PDPC. The PDPC ensures public funds deposited in banks are protected should a financial
institution become insolvent. The names of authorized public depositaries may be found at:
https://tre.wa.gov/pdpc-banks/
XIII. Performance Standards
Benchmark.
The City's cash management portfolio shall be managed using a comparison object of the yield
of LGIP, the Washington State Treasurer-administered local governmental investment pool which
is typically the next investment choice for available cash if not invested for longer. The City
portfolio will have a longer average maturity than the 60- to 90-day average portfolio of the
benchmark so it will be less volatile. This means it can be expected that the city portfolio's
average yield will be trail the benchmark's yield in times of rising interest rates and lead the
benchmark's yield in times of falling interest rates.
Downgraded Securities.
The city may, from time to time, be invested in a security whose rating is downgraded. In the
event a rating drops below the minimum allowed by this policy, the Finance Director will review
and recommend an appropriate plan of action to the City Manager and City Council. If the city
utilizes an Investment Advisor, that Investment Advisor shall notify the city and recommend a plan
of action within one month. The city may continue to hold a downgraded investment to maturity
if a probable outcome is the eventual realization of full value, rather than a realized loss if divested
prior to maturity.
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XIV. Reporting
Monthly Reports
The Finance Director shall make a monthly report of all investment transactions to the City
Council. (RCW 35.39.032)
Quarterly Reports.
The Finance Director shall prepare a quarterly investment report to City Manager and City Council
that provides a summary of the current investment portfolio and the individual transactions
executed to show holdings and activities during the reporting period conform to the investment
policy. The report should include the following:
➢ An asset listing showing par value, cost and market value, type of investment, issuer, days
to maturity and interest rate of each security;
➢ Average days to maturity of the portfolio;
➢ Maturity distribution of the portfolio and distribution by type of investment.
➢ Credit quality of portfolio holdings; and,
➢ Average weighted yield to maturity of portfolio on investments
➢ Performance comparison to benchmark
XV. INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Buy and Hold.
As a strategy, the City of Yakima's investments will not be actively traded, meaning that no attempt
to "buy low and sell high" or "time the market" will be made. Investments purchased with the
intent of providing investment income shall be intended to be held to maturity, relying on following
a prudent course of action for income rather than predicting market direction. Securities may be
sold before they mature if market conditions present an opportunity for the City to capture a benefit
or to avoid a risk but the strategy will be primarily buy-and-hold.
Portfolio Segmenting.
In keeping with the priorities of Safety, Liquidity then Yield, the first considerations of investing
will be the immediate operational needs and scheduled disbursements of capital expenditures
and debt service payments.
➢ The Safety Segment of the Portfolio is held primarily in the State LGIP. This will allow for
seasonal fluctuations, primarily the April/October inflows of Property Tax and outflows of
capital projects.
➢ The Liquidity Segment of the portfolio is held primarily in the City's depository bank, and
will be maintained at adequate levels to ensure availability.
This Yield Segment of the portfolio is the portion of the city's cash reserves which, based on
historical analysis, long-term budgetary planning or council-approved reserve policy, will not be
subject to seasonal spending and can be invested comfortably long-term. This segment is
invested in a laddered portfolio comprised of Agencies, Treasuries and other authorized
investments. XVI. Internal Controls
The Director of Finance and Budget is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal
controls over assets of the City. The internal control structure shall be designed to provide
reasonable assurances that these assets are protected from loss, theft, or misuse.
The Office of the State Auditor requires that in accordance with Revised Code of Washington
43.09.260, the City of Yakima must undergo annual financial examinations performed by State
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Examiners. Investment management is to be included as part of the annual independent audit to
assure compliance with this investment policy.
XVII. Investment Policy Review, Approval and Adoption
The City of Yakima investment policy shall be adopted by resolution of the City Council. The policy
shall be reviewed annually by the Finance Director and any significant modifications must be
approved by the City Council. At a minimum the policy should be re-adopted by resolution of the
Yakima City Council.
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Addendum: Glossary
Accrued Interest— Interest earned but not yet received.
Active Investment Management — the active trading of securities, selling prior to maturity and
purchasing secondary issues, in an effort to earn higher portfolio yield by the continual monitoring
of financial markets, spreads and pricing opportunities of individual securities. Requires
substantially more staff time than passive investing. (see also Passive Investment Management)
Agencies — (See Government Sponsored Entities) Entities chartered by Congress, such as:
Fannie Mae (FNMA) Freddie Mac (FHLMC), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Federal Farm
Credit Bank (FFCB). These entities carry an implicit guaranty of the federal government.
Amortization — a mathematical calculation that pays off a balance evenly while at the same time
adding interest for every period.
Asked—The price at which securities are offered.
Bid—The price offered for securities.
Broker—A broker brings buyers and Sellers together for a commission paid by the initiator of the
transaction or by both sides; he does not hold a position. In the money market, brokers are active
in markets in which banks and institutional investors buy and sell bills, notes or bonds and in
interdealer markets.
Bullet(Non-callable Bond) —a bond issue in which all of its outstanding principal amount may not
be redeemed before maturity by the issuer, therefore assuring interest earnings through to the
end maturity date.
Callable Bond — a bond issue in which all or part of its outstanding principal amount may be
redeemed before maturity by the issuer
Certificate of Deposit(CD) —a deposit of funds for a specified period of time that earns interest at
a specific interest rate.
Collateral — Securities, evidenced by a deposit or other property which a borrower pledges to
secure repayment of a loan. Also refers to securities pledged by a bank to secure deposits of
public moneys.
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) — The independently-audited annual report for
the City of Yakima. It includes entity-wide financial statements as well as financial statements for
major funds and fund types, notes to the financial statements and required schedules.
Certificates of Deposit(CD) —A time deposit with specific maturity and interest rate evidenced by
a certificate.
Commercial Paper— Unsecured short-term corporate obligations with maturities less than 270
days.
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Coupon— (a) The annual rate of interest that a bond's issuer promises to pay the bondholder as
a percentage of the bond's face value.
Custody— (Safekeeping) A service to customers rendered by banks for a fee whereby securities
are held by an independent third party for protection from fraud or theft.
Dealer— A dealer, as opposed to a broker, acts as a principal in all transactions, buying and
selling for their own account.
Delivery versus Payment (DVP) —Delivery of securities with a simultaneous exchange of money
for the securities used in conjunction with a third-party custodian to assure integrity of the
exchange and to prevent fraud or misdirection, similar to an escrow process in real estate.
(Delivery versus receipt is a delivery of securities with an exchange of a signed receipt for the
securities.)
Discount — The difference between the cost price of a security and its value at maturity when
quoted at lower than its face value. A security selling below original offering price shortly after
sale is also considered to be at a discount. This can be the normal mathematically equalizing of
the stated rate of an investment with prevailing market rates.
Discount Securities — Non-interest bearing money market instruments that are issued at a
discount and redeemed at maturity for full face value, i.e., U.S. Treasury and Agency bills.
Diversification — Dividing investment funds among a variety of securities offering independent
returns and credit quality.
Federal Credit Agencies— Agencies of the Federal government and guaranteed by the full faith
and credit of the US Government set up to supply credit to various classes of institutions and
individuals, e.g., Ginnie Mae, Sallie Mae, Tennessee Valley Authority.
Fannie Mae — The trade name for the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), a U.S.
GSE (government-sponsored entity).
Farmer Mac—The trade name for the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (FAMC), a GSE
(government-sponsored entity).
Federal Funds Rate — The target rate of interest at which Fed funds are traded. This rate is
currently pegged by the Federal Open Market Committee.
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) — Consists of seven members of the Federal Reserve
Board and five of the twelve Federal Reserve Bank Presidents. The President of the New York
Federal Reserve Bank is a permanent member while the other presidents serve on a rotating
basis. The Committee periodically meets to set Federal Reserve funds target rate and guidelines
regarding purchases and sales of Governments Securities in an open market as a means of the
influencing the volume of bank credit and money supply in the economy.
Federal Reserve System — The central bank of the United States created by Congress and
consisting of a seven member Board of Governors in Washington, DC. There are 12 Region
Banks and about 5700 commercial banks that are members of the system.
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — A Federal Agency that insures bank deposits,
currently capped at$250,000 dollars per deposit.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) - a private corporation that acts as a self-
regulatory organization (SRO). FINRA is the successor to the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (NASD) and the member regulation, enforcement and arbitration operations of the
New York Stock Exchange.
Freddie Mac — The trade name for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), a
GSE (government-sponsored entity).
Ginnie Mae—the trade name for the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), a GSE
(government-sponsored entity).
Government Sponsored Entities (GSEs) — ("Agencies") Entities chartered by Congress, such as:
Fannie Mae (FNMA) Freddie Mac (FHLMC), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Federal Farm
Credit Bank (FFCB). These entities carry an implicit guaranty of the federal government.
Interest Rate Risk — the risk associated with declines or rises in interest rate that cause an
investment in a fixed-income security to increase or decrease in market value.
Investment Committee—Comprised of the City Manager and Finance Director or their designees.
The committee is authorized to make investments of city funds, as authorized by law, and, at any
time, to liquidate investments, and to engage in all such transactions without prior consent of City
Council, but subject to investment policy reporting requirements.
Leverage - Increasing the output compared to the input. In investments, a negative application
would be multiplying the yield on investable funds by investing using borrowed funds in addition
to cash on hand; the risk is that when a loss is experienced, the borrowed funds must be repaid
in full, multiplying the loss to the investor.
Liquidity—A liquid asset is one that can be converted easily and rapidly into cash
Liquidity Risk— the risk that an entity (i.e. the city) may be unable to meet short term financial
demands due to the inability to convert investments to cash without a loss of principal and/or
interest income.
Market Risk — the risk that the value of a security will rise or decline as a result of changes in
market conditions, typically interest rates.
Market Value — The price at which a security is trading and could presumably be purchased or
sold.
Maturity—the date upon which the principal of an investment is due and paid.
New Issue — An investment available at the time of issuance, and therefore not subject to the
secondary market that would involve competitive bidding or price uncertainty.
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Non-callable Bond(Bullet) —a bond issue in which all of its outstanding principal amount may not
be redeemed before maturity by the issuer, therefore assuring interest earnings through to the
end maturity date.
Par Value— (face value) the amount of principal that must be paid at maturity.
Passive Investment Management- investing methodically, managing primarily diversification and
maturities, with the intention of holding to maturity rather than seeking to make gains through
market price fluctuations.
Principal-the original sum of money put into an investment at time of purchase.
Reinvestment Risk - the risk that the proceeds from the payment of principal and interest would
have to be reinvested at a lower rate than the original investment. This is a risk of all investments
regardless of maturity date or call feature because of the uncertainty of future interest rates. Call
features increase reinvestment risk because of the added uncertainty; issuers typically call their
bonds in a declining interest rate environment.
Safekeeping — A service to customers rendered by banks for a fee whereby securities and
valuables of all types and descriptions are held in the bank's vaults for protection.
Secondary Market—A market made for the purchase and sale of outstanding issues following the
initial distribution.
SEC Rule 15C3-1 —See uniform net capital rule.
Securities and Exchange Commission — Agency created by Congress to protect investors in
securities transactions by administering securities legislation.
Treasury Bills —A non-interest bearing discount security issued by the U.S. Treasury to finance
the National Debt. The above most bills are issued to mature in three months, six months, or one
year.
Treasury Bond — Long-term U.S. Treasury securities having initial maturities of more than 10
years.
Treasury Notes — Intermediate term coupon bearing U.S. Treasury securities having initial
maturities of from one to ten years.
Yield— the rate of annual income return on investment, expressed as a percentage. (A) income
yield is obtained by dividing the current dollar income by the face value of the security. (B) net
yield or yield to maturity is the current income yield minus any premium above par or plus any
discount from par in purchase price, with the adjustment spread over the period from the date of
purchase to the date of maturity of the bond.
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Addendum — Text of Washington Statutes (RCW)
Governing Investments of Public Funds by Local Governments
(Intended only for easy reference for the reader—current statutes should be confirmed)
RCW 11.100.020
Management of trust assets by fiduciary.
1) A trustee shall invest and manage trust assets as a prudent investor would, by considering
the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other circumstances of the trust. In
satisfying this standard, the trustee shall exercise reasonable care, skill, and caution.
2) A trustee's investment and management decisions respecting individual assets must be
evaluated not in isolation but in the context of the trust portfolio as a whole and as a part of
an overall investment strategy having risk and return objectives reasonably suited to the trust.
3) Among the circumstances that a trustee shall consider in investing and managing trust assets
are such of the following as are relevant to the trust or its beneficiaries:
a) General economic conditions;
b) The possible effect of inflation or deflation;
c) The expected tax consequences of investment decisions or strategies;
d) The role that each investment or course of action plays within the overall portfolio, which
may include financial assets, interests in closely held enterprises, tangible and intangible
personal property, and real property;
e) The expected total return from income and the appreciation of capital;
f) Other resources of the beneficiaries;
g) Needs for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation or appreciation of capital; and
h) An asset's special relationship or special value, if any, to the purposes of the trust or to
one or more of the beneficiaries.
4) A trustee shall make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment and
management of trust assets.
5) A trustee may invest in any kind of property or type of investment consistent with the standards
of this section.
6) A trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is named trustee in reliance upon the trustee's
representation that the trustee has special skills or expertise, has a duty to use those special
skills or expertise.
RCW 35.39.030
Excess or inactive funds—Investment.
Every city and town may invest any portion of the moneys in its inactive funds or in other
funds in excess of current needs in:
(1) United States bonds;
(2) United States certificates of indebtedness;
(3) Bonds or warrants of this state;
(4) General obligation or utility revenue bonds or warrants of its own or of any other city
or town in the state;
(5) Its own bonds or warrants of a local improvement district which are within the protection
of the local improvement guaranty fund law; and
(6) In any other investments authorized by law for any other taxing districts.
RCW 35.39.032
Approval of legislative authority—Delegation of authority—Reports.
No investment shall be made without the approval of the legislative authority of the city or
town expressed by ordinance: PROVIDED, That except as otherwise provided by law, the
legislative authority may by ordinance authorize a city official or a committee composed
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of several city officials to determine the amount of money available in each fund for
investment purposes and make the investments authorized as indicated in RCW
35.39.030 as now or hereafter amended and the provisions of RCW 35.39.034, without
the consent of the legislative authority for each investment. The responsible official or
committee shall make a monthly report of all investment transactions to the city legislative
authority. The legislative authority of a city or town or city official or committee authorized
to invest city or town funds may at any time convert any of its investment securities, or any
part thereof, into cash.
RCW 35.39.034
Investment by individual fund or commingling of funds—Investment in United States securities—
Validation.
Moneys thus determined available for this purpose may be invested on an individual fund
basis or may, unless otherwise restricted by law be commingled within one common
investment portfolio for investment. All income derived from such investment shall be
apportioned and used for the benefit of the various participating funds or for the benefit of
the general or current expense fund as the governing body of the city of [or] town shall
determine by ordinance or resolution: PROVIDED, That funds derived from the sale of
general obligation bonds or revenue bonds or similar instruments of indebtedness shall
be invested, or used in such manner as the initiating ordinances, resolutions, or bond
covenants may lawfully prescribe.
Any excess or inactive funds on hand in the city treasury not otherwise invested, or
required to be invested by this section, as now or hereafter amended, may be invested by
the city treasurer in United States government bonds, notes, bills, certificates of
indebtedness, or interim financing warrants of a local improvement district which is within
the protection of the local improvement guaranty fund law for the benefit of the general or
current expense fund.
All previous or outstanding investments of city or town funds for the benefit of the city's or
town's general or current expense fund which have been or could be made in accordance
with the provisions of this section, as now or hereafter amended, are declared valid.
RCW 39.58.020
Public funds—Protection against loss.
All public funds deposited in public depositaries, including investment deposits and
accrued interest thereon, shall be protected against loss, as provided in this chapter.
RCW 39.58.030
Public deposit protection commission—State finance committee constitutes—Proceedings.
The Washington public deposit protection commission shall be the state finance
committee. The record of the proceedings of the public deposit protection commission
shall be kept in the office of the commission and a duly certified copy thereof, or any part
thereof, shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceedings in any court of this
state.
RCW 39.58.050
Collateral for deposits—Segregation—Eligible securities.
(1) Every public depositary shall complete a depositary pledge agreement with the
commission and a trustee, and shall at all times maintain, segregated from its other assets,
eligible collateral having a value at least equal to its maximum liability and as otherwise
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prescribed in this chapter. Eligible securities used as collateral shall be segregated by
deposit with the depositary's trustee and shall be clearly designated as security for the
benefit of public depositors under this chapter.
(2) Securities eligible as collateral shall be valued at market value, and the total market
value of securities pledged in accordance with this chapter shall not be reduced by
withdrawal or substitution of securities except by prior authorization, in writing, by the
commission.
(3) The public depositary shall have the right to make substitutions of an equal or greater
amount of eligible securities at any time.
(4) The income from the securities which have been segregated as collateral shall belong
to the public depositary without restriction.
(5) Each of the following enumerated classes of securities, providing there has been no
default in the payment of principal or interest thereon, shall be eligible to qualify as
collateral:
(a) Certificates, notes or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of the United
States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the government of the United
States;
(b) State, county, municipal, or school district bonds or warrants of taxing districts of the
state of Washington or any other state of the United States, provided that such bonds and
warrants shall be only those found to be within the limit of indebtedness prescribed by law
for the taxing district issuing them and to be general obligations;
(c) The obligations of any United States government-sponsored corporation whose
obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as
determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system;
(d) Bonds, notes, or other securities or evidence of indebtedness constituting the direct
and general obligation of a federal home loan bank or federal reserve bank;
(e) Revenue bonds of this state or any authority, board, commission, committee, or similar
agency thereof, and any municipality or taxing district of this state;
(f) Direct and general obligation bonds and warrants of any city, town, county, school
district, port district, or other political subdivision of any state, having the power to levy
general taxes, which are payable from general ad valorem taxes;
(g) Bonds issued by public utility districts as authorized under the provisions of Title 54
RCW, as now or hereafter amended;
(h) Bonds of any city of the state of Washington for the payment of which the entire
revenues of the city's water system, power and light system, or both, less maintenance
and operating costs, are irrevocably pledged, even though such bonds are not general
obligations of such city.
(6) In addition to the securities enumerated in this section, the commission may also
accept as collateral a letter of credit from a federal home loan bank or a federal reserve
bank on behalf of a public depositary, naming the commission as beneficiary. Such letters
are not subject to a completed depositary pledge agreement. As such, the commission
must act as the safekeeping agent for letters of credit.
(7) A public depositary may also segregate such bonds, securities, and other obligations
as are designated to be authorized security for public deposits under the laws of this state.
(8) The commission may determine by rule or resolution whether any security, whether or
not enumerated in this section, is or shall remain eligible as collateral when in the
commission's judgment it is desirable or necessary to do so.
RCW 39.58.135
Limitations on deposits.
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Notwithstanding RCW 39.58.130, (1) aggregate deposits received by a public depositary
from all treasurers and the state treasurer shall not exceed at any time one hundred fifty
percent of the value of the depositary's net worth, nor (2) shall the aggregate deposits
received by any public depositary exceed thirty percent of the total aggregate deposits of
all public treasurers in all depositaries as determined by the commission. However, a
public depositary may receive deposits in excess of the limits provided in this section if
eligible collateral, as prescribed in RCW 39.58.050, are pledged in an amount equal to
one hundred percent of the value of deposits received in excess of the limitations
prescribed in this section.
RCW 39.59.010
Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Bond" means any agreement which may or may not be represented by a physical
instrument, including but not limited to bonds, notes, warrants, or certificates of
indebtedness, that evidences an obligation under which the issuer agrees to pay a
specified amount of money, with or without interest, at a designated time or times either
to registered owners or bearers.
(2) "Local government" means any county, city, town, special purpose district, political
subdivision, municipal corporation, or quasi-municipal corporation, including any public
corporation, authority, or other instrumentality created by such an entity.
(3) "State" includes any state in the United States, other than the state of Washington.
RCW 39.59.020
Authorized investments—Local government authority.
(1) Local governments in the state of Washington are authorized to invest their funds and
money in their custody or possession, eligible for investment, in investments authorized
by this chapter.
(2) Nothing in this section is intended to limit or otherwise restrict a local government from
investing in additional authorized investments if that local government has specific
authority to do so.
RCW 39.59.040
Authorized investments—Bonds, warrants, certificates, and other investments.
Any local government in the state of Washington may invest in:
(1) Bonds of the state of Washington and any local government in the state of Washington;
(2) General obligation bonds of a state and general obligation bonds of a local government
of a state, which bonds have at the time of investment one of the three highest credit
ratings of a nationally recognized rating agency;
(3) Subject to compliance with RCW 39.56.030, registered warrants of a local government
in the same county as the government making the investment;
(4) Certificates, notes, or bonds of the United States, or other obligations of the United
States or its agencies, or of any corporation wholly owned by the government of the United
States; or United States dollar denominated bonds, notes, or other obligations that are
issued or guaranteed by supranational institutions, provided that, at the time of investment,
the institution has the United States government as its largest shareholder;
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(5) Federal home loan bank notes and bonds, federal land bank bonds and federal
national mortgage association notes, debentures and guaranteed certificates of
participation, or the obligations of any other government sponsored corporation whose
obligations are or may become eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as
determined by the board of governors of the federal reserve system;
(6) Bankers' acceptances purchased on the secondary market;
(7) Commercial paper purchased in the secondary market, provided that any local
government of the state of Washington that invests in such commercial paper must adhere
to the investment policies and procedures adopted by the state investment board; and
(8) Corporate notes purchased on the secondary market, provided that any local
government of the state of Washington that invests in such notes must adhere to the
investment policies and procedures adopted by the state investment board.
RCW 43.250.040
Authority of official to place funds in the public funds investment account--Investment
of funds by state treasurer--Degree of judgment and care required.
If authorized by statute, local ordinance, resolution, or other appropriate official action, the
state treasurer, a government finance official or financial officer or his or her designee, or
authorized tribal official, may place funds into the public funds investment account for
investment and reinvestment by the state treasurer in those securities and investments
set forth in RCW 43.84.080 and chapter 39.58 RCW. The state treasurer shall invest the
funds in such manner as to effectively maximize the yield to the investment pool. In
investing and reinvesting moneys in the public funds investment account and in acquiring,
retaining, managing, and disposing of investments of the investment pool, there shall be
exercised the judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing which persons
of prudence, discretion, and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs,
not in regard to speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition of the funds
considering the probable income as well as the probable safety of the capital.
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Addendum —Text of City Municipal Code
(Intended only for easy reference for the reader—current codes should be confirmed)
1.73.010 Investment committee created—Authority.
There is created an investment committee composed of the city manager and the city's director
of finance and his/her designees as may be assigned by the city manager and/or the director of
finance from time to time. The committee is authorized to make investments of city funds, as
authorized by law, and, at any time, to convert investments, or any part thereof, into cash, and to
engage in all such transactions without the consent of the City Council being first obtained for
each such transaction.
1.73.020 Officers of investment committee.
The city manager is appointed as chairman of the investment committee to preside at all meetings
thereof; provided, that the city manager shall designate some other member of the investment
committee as chairman thereof to preside at any meeting from which the city manager may be
absent.
The finance director, or her designee, is appointed as secretary of the investment committee, and
shall maintain a record of the minutes of each meeting of the investment committee, together with
a record of all strategy decisions.
1.73.030 Meetings of investment committee.
The investment committee shall meet at least semi-annually, at a time designated by the city
manager. Additional meetings may be called by the city manager, from time to time, as he deems
necessary or desirable for the best interests of the city; provided, the function of the investment
committee is deemed to be continual so that the city manager may direct that any two members
of the committee may perform functions of the investment committee at any time without a special
meeting being called for that purpose.
1.73.040 Report to City Council.
The finance director shall submit to the City Council a quarterly report of all investment
transactions of the city of Yakima during the quarter. The report shall be in writing, and shall be
submitted to the City Council at a regular City Council meeting.
1.18.080 Department of finance and budget.
The department of finance and budget, under the general direction of the director of finance and
budget, shall perform the responsibilities and duties generally described as follows:
1) Financial Services. Under the supervision of the financial services manager, this office shall:
a) Compile estimates for the annual budget;
b) Maintain a general accounting system for the city government and exercise budgetary
control over all expenditures by offices and departments;
c) Perform internal audits of all city financial affairs;
d) Prepare a monthly report of the fiscal activities of all funds for the preceding month and
such other reports as may be required by the city manager;
e) Determine the structure and operational characteristics of all accounting systems used in
the city government;
f) Maintain control and a running inventory of all fixed assets of the city;
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g) Maintain a uniform utility accounting system for the water and sewer utilities as required
by state law;
h) Be responsible for the receipt, custody and disbursement of all city funds, all local
improvement district funds, and other trust funds, keeping accurate accounts of all
collections and disbursements for each fund;
i) Be the custodian of all city investments and bank collateral, investing idle funds as may
be prudent and lawful;
j) Prepare and submit all financial statements and reports required by law;
k) Prescribe the times at and manner in which monies received by the several offices and
departments of the city shall be paid into the treasury or deposited in a bank;
I) Make deposits of city funds in banks in the manner prescribed by law;
m) Purchase and sell bonds for the benefit of local improvement district funds and the local
improvement district guaranty fund;
n) Maintain and supervise a risk management program covering city buildings, equipment
and personnel;
o) Maintain an office for the purpose of receiving all money paid as bail for nonmoving traffic
violation citations;
p) Perform such other services as may be required by law or by the director of finance and
budget.
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City of Yakima
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Addendum — Broker/Dealer Questionnaire
The Central Washington city of Yakima, incorporated in 1886, provides a full range of municipal
services, including general government, public safety (police and fire), streets, community
development, planning and zoning, code enforcement, airport, cemetery, parks and recreation,
and municipal services such as water treatment, wastewater, refuse and public transit. Roughly
800 employees serve about 93,000 residents covering about 70 square miles with an annual
operating budget of around $250 million. The City's manageable cash ranges from $70 to $85
million of which about $55 is invested principally in GSE medium term notes with remaining
liquidity maintained in the Washington State Treasurer's Local Governmental Investment Pool
LGIP. The City has adopted a written Investment Policy that regulates the standards and
procedures used in its cash management activities. The most current policy is publicly available
on the city website and should be reviewed prior to completing this form.
Firm Name:
Year Founded:
Corporate office address:
Telephone#s:
Principal, Managing Director or Partner:
Name
Title
Direct phone
E-mail address
Is your firm a broker (does not own securities being offered
Is your firm a dealer (does own securities being offered)?
Local office address:
Please attach a bio or resume of the primary and secondary representatives covering this
account, including securities-related employment history, licensing, certificates, complaints,
disciplinary action, arbitration, litigation:
Primary Representative:
Name
Title
Direct phone
E-mail address
Secondary Representative:
Name
Title
Direct phone
E-mail address
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City of Yakima
Investment Policy
Provide proof of registration with State of Washington ❑ attached ❑ NA
Provide proof of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ❑ attached ❑ NA
Provide documentation that your firm is qualified under SEC rule 15C3-1
(Uniform Net Capital Rule) ❑ attached ❑ NA
Provide most recent audited financials ❑ attached ❑ NA
Is your firm is examined by and subject to rules and regulations of:
FDIC ❑ Yes ❑ No
SEC ❑ Yes ❑ No
NYSE ❑ Yes ❑ No
Comptroller of Currency ❑ Yes ❑ No
Federal Reserve System ❑ Yes ❑ No
List three current, active, comparable, municipal client references:
Entity Name
Contact
Address
Phone / E-mail
Entity Name
Contact
Address
Phone / E-mail
Entity Name
Contact
Address
Phone / E-mail
What market sectors are you and your firm currently involved? (Please feel free to provide
additional information regarding specialization in any of the following market sectors).
Firm Involvement Broker Involvement
US Treasuries
US Agency Bonds
Washington State Bonds
Municipal Bonds
Corporate Bonds
CDARS
Commercial Paper
Other
Please provide your normal custody and delivery process, including specific banking
relationships.
What was your firm's total volume in US Government and agency securities trading last year?
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Has this firm, or the representatives assigned to this account, been subject to a regulatory
agency, state or federal investigation for alleged improper, disreputable, unfair or fraudulent
activities related to the sale of securities or money market instruments that resulted in a
suspension or censure? ❑ Yes (attached) ❑ No
Is there outstanding litigation which would materially affect your financial stability?
❑ Yes (attached) ❑ No
Do you provide any fixed income research and economic commentary?
❑ Yes (attached) ❑ No
Describe the precautions taken by your firm to protect the interests of the public when
dealing with a local public entity. ❑ Attached ❑ NA
Has any client sustained a loss on a securities transaction engendered from a misunderstanding
or misrepresentation of the risk characteristic of a financial instrument by your firm?
❑ Yes (attached) ❑ No
Please confirm that you are:
(1) familiar with the Revised Code of Washington (RCVV) Sections 39.59.010 et al.
(2) have read, understand and agree to comply with the provisions of City of Yakima's current
investment policy
by signing below.
Name: Signature:
Title: Date:
Name: Signature:
Title: Date:
Name: Signature:
Title: Date:
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City of Yakima
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Approved Broker/Dealer List
The following brokers have completed BDQs and investment policy acknowledgements on file
with the City:
Great Pacific Securities Wedbush Securities
151 Kalmus Dr. 1000 Wilshire Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Los Angeles, CA 90017
Chris Vinck, Principal Gary Wedbush, Principal
(714) 619-3000 (213) 688-8000
Michel Swan, Primary Contact Don Collins, Primary Contact
(714) 619-3000 (949) 719-3237
Time Value Investments Hilltop Securities
2801 Hwy 2805 S 717 N. Harwood Street
Birmingham, AL 35223 Dallas, TX 75201
Paul Jarvis, Principal AJ Maggio, Principal
(205) 268-3099 (214) 859-9433
Aaron Bonck, Primary Contact Kevin Barry, Primary Contact
(206) 365-3000 (216) 716-5515
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City of Yakima
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Addendum —Acknowledgement of Receipt/Adherence to Current Policy
City of Yakima requires an annual certification from authorized Financial Dealers and Institutions
of having read the current investment policy. It is the intent of the City of Yakima to pro-actively
contact current existing financial institutions annually, or at any change in the city's investment
policy, and to maintain the current investment policy on the city's public website.
This is to acknowledge receipt of the City of Yakima's current Investment Policy adopted by City
Council on5/07/2024.
Entity name:
Name: Title:
Signature: Date:
Please sign and submit via mail or email to:
City of Yakima
129 North 2nd Street, Finance Department
Yakima, WA 98901
Current staff contact information is available on the City Website:
https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/finance/
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