HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-06 F&A Committee PacketOTAY WATER DISTRICT
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE MEETING
and
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2554 SWEETWATER SPRINGS BOULEVARD
SPRING VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
BOARDROOM
WEDNESDAY
September 20, 2006
4:00P.M.
This is a District Committee meeting. This meeting is being posted as a special meeting
in order to comply with the Brown Act (Government Code Section §54954.2) in the event that
a quorum of the Board is present. Items will be deliberated, however, no formal board actions
will be taken at this meeting. The committee makes recommendations
to the full board for its consideration and formal action.
AGENDA
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION-OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER WITHIN THE
BOARD'S JURISDICTION BUT NOT AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA
DISCUSSION ITEMS
3. APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH HARRELL & COMPANY ADVISORS, LLC TO
SERVE AS THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR A DEBT ISSUANCE OF AP-
PROXIMATELY $30 MILLION IN CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION IN
SPRING 2007 (BEACHEM) [1 0 minutes]
4. FISCAL YEAR-END 2006 STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE STATUS REPORT
(STEVENS) [15 minutes]
5. ADJOURNMENT
1
All items appearing on this agenda, whether or not expressly listed for action, may be
deliberated and may be subject to action by the Board.
If you have any disability which would require accommodation in order to enable you to
participate in this meeting, please call the District Secretary at 670-2280 at least 24
hours prior to the meeting.
Certification of Posting
I certify that on September 18, 2006 I posted a copy of the foregoing agenda
near the regular meeting place of the Board of Directors of Otay Water District, said
time being at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting of the Board of Directors (Gov-
ernment Code Section §54954.2).
Executed at Spring Valley, California on September 18, 2006.
2
AGENDA ITEM 3
STAFF REPORT
TYPE MEETING: Regular Board Meeting
SUBMITTED BY: James 0. Cudlip, Finance
MEETING DATE:
W.O./G.F. NO:
APPROVED BY:
(Chief)
APPROVED BY:
(Asst. GM):
Manage~~~-~~~~~~~~
Jose B~c~ Chief Financial Officer
Ger~z, Assistant General Manager
October 4, 2006
DIV. NO. All
SUBJECT: Approve a Contract with Harrell and Company Advisors, LLC to
Assist with Debt Issuance
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION:
That the Board authorizes the General Manager to execute a
contract with Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC to serve as the
Financial Advisor for a debt issuance of approximately $30
million in Certificates of Participation (COPS) in spring 2007.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
See Attachment A.
PURPOSE:
To authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with
Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC to serve as the Financial
Advisor for a debt issuance of approximately $30 million in
Certificates of Participation in spring 2007.
BACKGROUND:
As a part of the FY 2007 budget process, staff completed an
update of the District's long-range Rate Model and six-year
Capital Improvement Program(CIP), which was reviewed and
approved by the Board on May 30, 2006 While the Rate Model
shows that two-thirds of the planned CIP is supported by
reserves and developer fees, the remaining funding is planned to
come from three separate debt issuances in 2007, 2009, and 2011 .
The first debt issue is currently planned to be a fixed rate
Certificates of Participation (COPS) with an aggregate amount of
between $28.5 -$30 million The exact amount of the issuance
will be determined as the issue date gets closer. The amount
will be based on the progress of, and expenditures on, the
District's CIP projects. The hiring of a Financial Advisor will
facilitate this process by providing the technical industry
expertise necessary to assist in requesting an upgrade of the
District's overall bond rating and completing all report filings
in accordance with California State and US Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations.
The role of a Financial Advisor in support of a debt issuance is
to assist the District's financial management staff in planning
and completing the following actions:
• Develop a financing plan and schedule.
• Assist in the selection and formation of a financing team,
including bond counsel, disclosure counsel, bond insurance
company, underwriter, trustee, and other professionals as
necessary.
• Prepare and coordinate the preparation of the Official
Statement and disclosure documents.
• Prepare credit profiles and presentations, with staff
participation, to bond insurance companies and/or rating
agencies.
• Assist in negotiations with bond insurers and/or letter of
credit providers.
• Manage a competitive or negotiated sale process.
ANALYSIS:
Staff has solicited pricing for the services of a Financial
Advisor. Requests for Proposal (RFP) were sent to eleven
Financial Advisors who expressed interest in working with the
District. The requests were mailed on August 10, 2006, with a
due date of September 1, 2006. Five proposals were received and
evaluated based on the criteria published in the request.
*
1. Estrada Hinojosa & Company, Inc.
2. Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates
3. Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC
4. Kelling, Northcross & Nobriga
5. Springsted Incorporated
$71,000
$61,000
$66,500
$70,000
$22,500 *
Staff determined that the RFP response was incomplete
compared to the other proposals received.
Staff believes that Harrell & Company Advisors is the best
choice and the most qualified respondent based on the following
additional factors: 1) overall knowledge and experience;
2) response to the requested services; 3) detailed familiarity
and prior consulting contract work experience with the District;
4) recent similar Financial Advisor work with the City of Chula
Vista; and 5) highly favorable responses to reference checks.
In 2004, the District contracted Harrell & Company to assist in
preparing a Financing Plan and to act as Financial Advisor for
the successful refinancing of the District's 1993 COPS The
Financing Plan focused on the District's debt fiQancings, both
existing and future. In order to evaluate the future financing
needs of the District, numerous factors were considered which
included • reserve levels, operating income, grants, bond
covenants, credit ratings, and the CIP Budget. This information
was used to develop a model identifying the debt requirements
for the next five years. Additionally, Harrell & Company has
had recent similar experience in securing utility financing for
Valley Sanitary District, Indio, CA; City of Signal Hill, CA;
City of Lakewood, CA; and the City of Chula Vista, CA.
Staff has negotiated a not-to-exceed price with Harrell &
Company and recommends that the Board supports staff's
recommendation to contract with Harrell & Company for a price
not to exceed $66,500, and authorize the General Manager to
enter into the necessary agreements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The debt issuance will generate approximately $30 million in
funds necessary to continue progress for the next two years on
the District's Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The not-to-
exceed cost of this advisor ($66,500) is less than 1% of the
total expected bond proceeds.
STRATEGIC GOAL:
To raise funds necessary to complete the District's projected
CIP projects over th~ next two years.
LEGAL IMPACT:
None.
General Manager
Attachment:
A: Committee Action Form
ATTACHMENT A
Approve a Contract with Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC to
SUBJECT/PROJECT: Assist with Debt Issuance
COMMITTEE ACTION:
The Finance and Administration Committee approved staff's
recommendation to the Board to authorize.the General Manager to
execute a contract with Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC to serve
as the Financial Advisor for a debt issuance of approximately
$30 million in Certificates of Participation (COPS) in spring
2007.
NOTE:
The "Committee Action" is written in anticipation of the
Committee moving the item forward for board approval. This
report will be sent to the Board as a committee approved item,
or modified to reflect any discussion or changes as directed
from the committee prior to presentation to the full board.
F:\DianeA\Staff Rpts 2006\CornmMtgFinAdv100406.doc
ITEM4
There is no staff report for Item 4.
A verbal update will be provided for this item.