For City Council Meeting [January 8, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Ahmad R. Ansari, Interim City Administrator
Sean Grayson, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Robb R. Steel, Assistant CA/Development Services Director
Title
Request City Council to Receive and File the Statement of Income and Expenses related to Airport Escrow Account for October and November 2018.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On September 25, 2012, the City Council approved the Second Amended and Restated Contract of Sale for Areas B, C and D (the “Airport Contract”) with Lewis-Hillwood Rialto LLC (LHR). A key provision of the Airport Contract required the City to deposit $30 million into escrow to fund pre-development obligations, including tenant relocation, demolition, remediation and infrastructure (the “Article VI Work” as defined in the Airport Contract).
On January 22, 2013, the City Council approved Joint Escrow Instructions by and among the City of Rialto, LHR, and First American Trust FSB for work related to redevelopment of the Rialto Municipal Airport. On March 14, 2013, the City wired the funds to First American Trust FSB. On April 9, 2013, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 6249 appropriating budget as follows:
On October 13, 2015, the City Council reallocated $3,000,000 from the Demolition budget to the Infrastructure Budget and $1,000,000 from the Remediation budget to the Infrastructure Budget. On February 23, 2016, the City Council reallocated $1,278,168 from the Remediation Budget to the Infrastructure Budget and $30,000 from the Relocation Budget to the new Miscellaneous Expense Budget. The Budget Reports below reflect the adjusted budget.
Since a third party trustee disburses these funds, the financial activities avoid the City’s normal financial reporting systems. Because of the substantial size of the expenditures, staff indicated that it would provide a monthly report to the City Council summarizing the income and expenditures related to the Airport Escrow Account.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Expenditures from Airport Escrow Account
During October/November 2018, the City incurred one nominal expenditure of $6.17 from the Airport Escrow Account for FedEx charges. A cumulative income and expense report for the month ending November 30, 2018, is included as Exhibit A.
The table below summarizes the Airport Escrow Account activity from inception through November 30, 2018:
The City is obligated to expend $30 million toward Article VI Work. To date, the City has expended/obligated $29,540,924.25 with remaining required expenditures of $459,075.75. The table below summarizes the budgeted versus actual expenditures by category - there may be some categorical adjustments once final documentation is processed.
Investment Returns
On November 30, 2018, the Net Asset Value of the investment portfolio was $463,092.49. The cumulative investment income of $266,957.59 offsets realized losses to the investment portfolio of ($79,201.24) and unrealized losses of ($934.17) producing net portfolio returns of $186,822.18. The City has completed four transfers of investment earnings to the City General Fund Reserve totaling $182,805.44 resulting in the $4,016.74 retained surplus.
The City Treasurer invests the portfolio in the CalTrust Short Term Fund at Cal Trust. The latest reported average annual total return for the Fund was approximately 1.80%. The latest monthly statements from Cal Trust and First Savings Bank are attached hereto as Exhibit B.
Land Sales Report
Through August 2017, the City sold nine properties totaling 296 acres as summarized in the table below, representing 68% of the Airport property.
The gross land sales proceeds from all transactions are $51,865,628.00. From the gross sales price, the City paid $9,032,321.00 to LHR as repayment of the LHR Note, and $7,760,442.00 to San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA) pursuant to the City/SBIAA Agreement. The City has realized net sales proceeds of $35,070,967.00. From the City’s net sales proceeds, the Escrow Agent retained the amount of $4,436,599.00 pursuant to the Protocol Agreement between the City and LHR. LHR matches the City’s Protocol Agreement investment and the Escrow Agent holds the combined funds in trust until certain conditions related to the Airport Closure are satisfied. The City received the net amount of $30,634,368.00 for deposit into the General Fund.
As part of the March 2017 closings, the City and SBIAA each received an early release of Contingent Purchase Price of $3,000,000. SBIAA has received total FAA Escrow distributions of $15,448,320 and the City has received total consideration of $38,070,967 (before Protocol Account allocations). After Protocol Account allocations, the City has netted $34,084,713.50.
Contingent Liability/Protocol Account
The latest monthly statements from Cal Trust and First Savings Bank related to the Protocol Agreement are attached hereto as Exhibit C (Sub Account A). The City Treasurer invests the funds with CalTrust. LHR established a similar account with FSB (Sub Account B) for an identical deposit. FSB will hold these funds until the City and LHR satisfy the conditions precedent to release.
The total protocol account balance is $4,067,118.63, consisting of deposits of $3,986,286.50, net portfolio returns of $95,865.13, and expenses of ($15,033.00). LHR’s account totals $4,042,746.48, including deposits of $3,965,854.00 and investment income of $76,892.48.
A cumulative income and expense report for both the City and LHR accounts during the month ending November 30, 2018, is included as Exhibit D.
Return on Investment
Through November 30, 2018, the City realized $54,865,628 in gross land sales proceeds and contingent purchase price allocations, while expending/obligating $46,333,687, producing a net positive return to the City General Fund of $8,531,941. At project completion, the City forecasts that it will net approximately $17,700,000 to the City General Fund (recovery of initial $30,000,000 investment plus an additional $17,700,000 for total return of/on investment of $47,700,000). Staff will adjust this forecast periodically as the project proceeds.
The former Redevelopment Agency invested $8.4 million for relocation expenses. The table above does not acknowledge these expenses, but they should be considered part of the total cost of relocation for the Airport Redevelopment Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act, a “Project’ means 
the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. A Project does not include the creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities, which do not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The proposed action is consistent with the following Guiding Principle of the General Plan:
“Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.”
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney reviewed and approved the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The report summarizes various financial transactions of the Airport Escrow Account.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Receive and File the Statement of Income and Expenditures related to the Airport Escrow Account for the month ending October/November 30, 2018.