Peter Aldana

The committee reviewed and recommended approval for the issuance of the County of Riverside Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The discussion covered the background of the annual issuance to address cash-flow deficits, the evaluation of prepaying unfunded CalPERS pension liabilities, and the authorization of an aggregate issuance amount. The committee also examined financing details, including estimated costs, underwriter appointments, and sources of repayment for the proposed notes.

The committee reviewed monthly disclosure reports for the Treasurer's Pooled Investment Fund, noting market value balances and changes in portfolio yield following Federal Reserve interest rate adjustments. Investment reports for funds outside the county treasury were also examined, covering the County of Riverside Asset Leasing Corporation, Infrastructure Financing Authority, Land Secured Districts, Pension Obligation Bonds, and the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. Additionally, the committee reviewed the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Statement of Investment Policy.

The workshop provided a detailed overview of election integrity procedures in Riverside County. Topics included the maintenance of voter registration databases, the process for verifying voter eligibility, managing inactive and cancelled registrations, and the usage of data for address verification through third-party services. Additionally, the presentation covered legal requirements for election administration, the processing of mail-in ballots, and the history and implementation of federal voting standards and equipment certification.

The committee reviewed the second quarter performance report, which included market commentary on equities and fixed income, as well as an analysis of plan assets, fund lineup performance, and reduced administrative fees. Legal, regulatory, and fiduciary updates were provided, including discussions on new executive orders regarding private market investments, DOL guidance on cryptocurrency, SEC rule withdrawals, and potential litigation concerns following a Supreme Court decision. The committee also reviewed a draft fee and expense policy statement, an updated investment policy statement, and draft committee by-laws. Discussions also included strategies for driving plan participation and contribution rates.

The agenda for the meeting included approval of the previous meeting minutes from October 8, 2025. Key discussion items involved receiving and filing the Fourth Quarter 2025 Performance Report, legal and regulatory updates, a review of the Committee By-Laws, and plan reviews for Corebridge Financial, Nationwide, and Gallagher VEBA Plan. Under new business, the Committee discussed strategies to drive participation and contributions, requesting record-keepers provide relevant plan metrics at the subsequent meeting. The Federal Reserve's decision in December to lower interest rates and anticipate 1-2 cuts in 2026 was noted in the economic review. The performance report highlighted positive returns across major equity indices for Q4 2025, though international equities outperformed domestic equities for the calendar year. Legal updates covered executive orders related to private market investments in retirement plans and the DOL's stance on cryptocurrencies. A draft Fee and Expense Policy Statement indicated specific recordkeeping fees for Corebridge and Nationwide plans, and a draft Committee By-Laws requested consistency in naming conventions.