City of San Diego Retired Employees Association
October 8, 2019
Board Meeting Minutes
NOTE: All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by President Jim Baross at 9:30am.
Board Members Present: Nancy Acevedo, Jim Baross, Mike Bresnahan, Karen Butler, Shirley
Hall, Joan Hernandez, Brad Jacobsen, Joan McNamara, Ty Rogers, Mary Ann Stepnowsky, John
Tsiknas, Dave Twomey, Dick Wilken, and Janet Wood
Guests Present: None
AGENDA: There were no additions or changes to the agenda.
MINUTES: The minutes of the September 2019 Board meeting were approved.
COMMUNICATIONS: The Deneise Tefft reimbursement issue is awaiting resolution.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Karen reported that the 96 new members have now been
processed. Also, Byron Frohn made a $250 contribution.
M/S/C to accept the October Treasurer’s Report.
John reported that our investments suffered a loss but have earned back 50% of the loss.
M/S/C to accept the Investment Committee Report.
RETIREMENT BOARD REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
No report.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
- The Board Retreat will be December 13 at Mission Trails Park, from 9:30 until 2:00.
- General plans for the Holiday Party were discussed. Mary Ann will tweak the website to promote the event. Ed Smrt has volunteered to play Santa, but some Board members felt that would be a distraction from the social aspect of the event; Dave will ask Clay Bingham to work this out. Joan Hernandez will coordinate the Food Bank donations. Jim Baross will act surprised when he is announced as the honoree.
- Dave informed the Board of mayoral candidate interviews to be conducted by Carl Luna for airing on local stations and online; these are not debates, but one-on-one talks. Luna estimates that $6000-$7000 is needed for production costs. Dave is proposing that REA join as a co-sponsor in the amount of $2000; the Advocacy Committee has approved this proposal. REA would be recognized in all promotional as well as on air/online announcements. We will find out if the County Retirees and/or Retired Police & Fire wish to co-sponsor as well.
M/S/C to allocate up to $2000 to co-sponsor Carl Luna’s televised mayoral interviews.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
- Mike reported that the Advocacy Committee is moving forward on Dave’s proposal to increase REA’s positive presence in the community. Trudy Sopp gave some guidance at the September meeting, but feedback and additional planning was postponed from October to January because of Mike’s hip surgery. There will be some discussion of the budget for this project at the Board Retreat.
- After way too much discussion about minutiae, the design of the new name badges was decided. All name badges will be plastic and magnetic with the REA logo. Board members’ will include the person’s name and “Board Member” (this will allow for flexibility as board members change offices). Generic badges will simply say “Volunteer” with no name. Whew!
- The Marston House tour was another success. Upcoming tours may include a re-visit to the Airport; a tour of Brown Field was suggested.
- Risk Management sent letters to some retirees about misallocation of some SPSP funds in 457
accounts. Joan McNamara will look into this.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Advocacy: The next Advocacy Committee meeting will be January 23 at the Mission Valley Library.
Retiree Issues Task Force (RITF): No report.
Retirement Security Roundtable: The next stage of the Prop B saga is underway: using the quo warranto process to excise the language of Prop B from the City Charter without a vote of the people. The City is on board with this, but taxpayer groups are opposed.
Other Retired Public Employee Associations: No report.
Active Employee Associations: No report.
Membership: Membership is 1624.
Sunshine: No report.
Newsletter: Deadline for the next issue is September 20 or earlier.
Website: Mary Ann is now able to add pictures to the website.
General Membership Programs: The calendar is full for 2019.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Brad Jacobsen
Secretary