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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA Introductory City of Palm Desert Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2018 Palm Desert, California COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT of the CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA For the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2018 Prepared by the Finance Department City Treasurer/Director of Finance Janet M. Moore Assistant Finance Director Jose Luis Espinoza, CPA Finance Staff (in alphabetical order by positions and last names) ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN II James Bounds ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN II Horacio Celaya ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN II Sharon Christiansen ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN II Diana Leal ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Niamh Ortega DEPUTY CITY TREASURER Thomas Metz MANAGEMENT ANALYST II Jenny Weill SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST Anthony Hernandez SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST Veronica Tapia THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK CITY OF PALM DESERT COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number INTRODUCTORY SECTION Letter of Transmittal ................................................................................................................................. i GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting ............................................... v List of Principal Officials ......................................................................................................................... vi Organizational Chart ............................................................................................................................. vii FINANCIAL SECTION INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT .................................................................................................. 1 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................ 5 BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of Net Position ............................................................................................................... 17 Statement of Activities .................................................................................................................... 18 Balance Sheet – Governmental Funds .......................................................................................... 22 Reconciliation of the Balance Sheet of Governmental Funds to the Statement of Net Position ................................................................................................. 25 Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances – Governmental Funds ....................................................................................... 26 Reconciliation of the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental Funds to the Statement of Activities ........................................................................................................... 28 Statement of Net Position – Proprietary Funds .............................................................................. 29 Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Fund Net Position – Proprietary Funds ................................................................................................ 30 Statement of Cash Flows – Proprietary Funds ............................................................................... 31 Statement of Fiduciary Net Position – Fiduciary Funds ................................................................. 32 Statement of Changes in Fiduciary Net Position – Fiduciary Funds .............................................. 33 Notes to Basic Financial Statements .............................................................................................. 35 CITY OF PALM DESERT COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Miscellaneous Plan – Agent Multiple-Employer Schedule of Changes in the Net Pension Liability and Related Ratios ....................................................................... 98 Miscellaneous Plan- Agent Multiple – Employer Schedule of Plan Contributions ......................... 99 Schedule of Changes in the Net OPEB Liability and Related Ratios ........................................... 100 Schedule of Contributions – OPEB .............................................................................................. 101 Budgetary Comparison Schedule by Department – General Fund .............................................. 102 Budgetary Comparison Schedule – Measure A ........................................................................... 104 Budgetary Comparison Schedule – Prop A Fire Tax ................................................................... 105 Budgetary Comparison Schedule –Housing Asset Fund ............................................................. 106 Budgetary Comparison Schedule – Housing Authority ................................................................ 107 Note to Required Supplementary Information .............................................................................. 108 SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULES Combining Balance Sheet – Other Governmental Funds ............................................................ 110 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances – Other Governmental Funds .............................................................................. 111 Combining Balance Sheet – Other Special Revenue Funds ....................................................... 116 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances – Other Special Revenue Funds ................................................................... 122 Budgetary Comparison Schedules – Special Revenue Funds: Traffic Safety .......................................................................................................................... 127 Gas Tax .................................................................................................................................. 128 Housing Mitigation Fees......................................................................................................... 129 Community Development Block Grant ................................................................................... 130 Child Care Program ............................................................................................................... 131 Public Safety Police Grants ................................................................................................... 132 New Construction Tax ............................................................................................................ 133 Planned Drainage .................................................................................................................. 134 Parks and Recreational Facilities ........................................................................................... 135 Traffic Signals ........................................................................................................................ 136 Fire Facilities Restoration ...................................................................................................... 137 Recycling ................................................................................................................................ 138 CITY OF PALM DESERT COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number Energy Independence Loan ................................................................................................... 139 Air Quality Management......................................................................................................... 140 Aquatic Center ....................................................................................................................... 141 Cannabis Compliance ............................................................................................................ 142 El Paseo Assessment District ................................................................................................ 143 Landscape and Lighting Districts No. 1-17 ............................................................................ 144 Former RDA Low Income Housing ........................................................................................ 145 Combining Balance Sheet – Other Capital Projects Funds ......................................................... 148 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances – Other Capital Projects Funds ..................................................................... 152 Budgetary Comparison Schedules – Capital Project Funds: Capital Properties ................................................................................................................... 156 Capital Projects Reserve........................................................................................................ 157 Drainage Facilities .................................................................................................................. 158 Economic Development ......................................................................................................... 159 Parks and Recreational Facilities ........................................................................................... 160 Art in Public Places ................................................................................................................ 161 Signalization ........................................................................................................................... 162 Capital Golf ............................................................................................................................ 163 Buildings ................................................................................................................................. 164 Balance Sheet – Other Debt Service Fund .................................................................................. 166 Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances – Other Debt Service Fund ........................................................................... 167 Budgetary Comparison Schedule – Debt Service Fund: City Highland Undergrounding ............................................................................................... 168 Combining Statement of Net Position – Internal Service Funds .................................................. 170 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes In Fund Net Position – Internal Service Funds ...................................................................... 171 Combining Statement of Cash Flows – Internal Service Funds ................................................... 172 Combining Statement of Assets and Liabilities – All Agency Funds ............................................ 175 Combining Statement of Changes in Assets and Liabilities – All Agency Funds ................................................................................................ 176 CITY OF PALM DESERT COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number STATISTICAL SECTION Description of Statistical Section ......................................................................................................... 179 Financial Trends: Net Position by Component .......................................................................................................... 181 Changes in Net Position ............................................................................................................... 182 Fund Balances of Governmental Funds ....................................................................................... 185 Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental Funds .................................................................... 186 Graphs – Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental Funds .................................................... 187 Supplemental Historical General Fund Revenues ....................................................................... 188 Supplemental Graph – Historical General Fund Revenues ......................................................... 189 Supplemental Historical General Fund Expenditures ................................................................... 190 Supplemental Graph – Historical General Fund Expenditures .................................................... 191 Supplemental Historical General Revenue and Expenditures Per Capita ................................... 193 Revenue Capacity: Assessed Value and Estimated Actual Value of Taxable Property .............................................. 194 Historical Net Assessed Taxable Values Citywide and Graph – Assessed Valuation Growth ........................................................................................ 195 Supplemental FY 2018 and 2017 Breakdown of Basic 1% Property Tax Rate Not In Redevelopment Project Area .......................................................................... 196 Property Tax Rates Direct and Overlapping Property Tax Rates ................................................ 197 Principal Property Taxpayers ....................................................................................................... 198 Property Tax Levies and Collections ............................................................................................ 199 Supplemental Top 25 Sales Tax Generators and Graph – Historical Sales Tax Trends ........................................................................................ 200 Supplemental Taxable Sales by Category ................................................................................... 201 Supplemental Principal Sales Tax Remitters ............................................................................... 202 Debt Capacity: Ratios of Outstanding Debt by Type............................................................................................. 203 Ratios of General Bonded Debt Outstanding ............................................................................... 204 Supplemental Special Assessment Information ........................................................................... 205 Direct and Overlapping Government Activities Debt .................................................................... 206 Legal Debt Margin Information ..................................................................................................... 207 Pledged-Revenue Coverage ........................................................................................................ 208 Demographic and Economic Information: Demographic and Economic Statistics ......................................................................................... 209 Principal Employers ...................................................................................................................... 210 Supplemental Miscellaneous Statistics ........................................................................................ 211 Operating Information: Full-Time Equivalent City Government Employees by Function/Program ................................... 212 Operating Indicators by Function/Program ................................................................................... 213 Capital Asset Statistics by Function/Program .............................................................................. 214 CITY OF PALM DESERT COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number SUPPLEMENTAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STATISTICAL SECTION Redevelopment Agency Project Areas Map ................................................................................. 216 Tax Allocation Bond Issue Information ......................................................................................... 217 Historical Tax Increment – Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund Summary ...................................................................................................... 218 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK I I I Y Of PRIM 73-5 I o FRED WARING DRIVE PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260-25 78 TEL:76o 346-o6ii info@cityofpalmdesert.org December 14, 2018 Residents of Palm Desert, Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council The Finance Department is pleased to present the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) of the City of Palm Desert for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). We believe the data, as presented, is accurate in all material respects and is presented in a manner that fairly represents the financial position and changes in financial position of the City as measured by the financial activity of each of its funds. We also believe that all disclosures necessary to enable the reader to fully understand the City's financial activities have been presented. Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information contained in this report rests with the City. The City of Palm Desert conducts an annual audit, which is performed by an independent certified public accountant. The independent audit of the City's financial statements for fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 was conducted by Lance Soll & Lunghard, LLP. The auditor's unmodified ("clean") opinion on the basic financial statements is included in the Financial Section of this report. This is the most favorable opinion. As part of the City's annual audit engagement, the auditors reviewed the City's internal control structure as well as compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because the cost of internal control should not exceed anticipated benefits, the objective is to provide reasonable, rather than absolute assurance, that the financial statements are free of any material misstatements. The results of the City's annual audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 provided no instances of material weaknesses in connection with the internal control structure or significant violations of applicable laws and regulations. As recipients of federal, state and county financial resources, the City may be required to undergo an annual single audit. However, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, the City is not required to have a single audit performed. Management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) immediately follows the independent auditor's report and provides a narrative introduction, overview, and analysis of the basic financial statements. MD&A complements this letter of transmittal and should be read in conjunction with it. elf PRIMER ON AECYCLER PAPER Residents of the Cite of Palm Desert, Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council December 14, 2018 PROFILE OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT Located in Riverside County in the geographical center of the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert was incorporated on November 26, 1973, as a General Law City. On November 4, 1997, voters overwhelmingly approved Measure LL adopting a city charter. Under the provisions of the charter, the City of Palm Desert has full authority over its own municipal affairs including: bidding and contracting procedures; regulation of parks, libraries, and other facilities; certain fees; imposition of taxes; municipal zoning; salaries of officials and employees; municipal utilities; and municipal election procedures. The City operates under a Council -Manager form of government. The City Council consists of five members elected by the residents of the City. Council terms are four years and elections occur in November during even - numbered years. Each December, the City Council selects the Mayor from among its members for a one-year term. The City Council appoints the City Manager and the City Attorney. The City operates as a "contract city," primarily utilizing agreements with other governmental entities, private firms, and individuals to provide many services. Contracted services include: police protection through the County of Riverside; fire protection through Cal -Fire; animal control; road maintenance and construction services; legal services; landscape maintenance; and recreation program services. The City is a member of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority that provides insurance coverage for the City. Waste and recycling services are provided under a franchise agreement with Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services. The City provides traditional municipal, public enterprise, and housing services as follows: Municipal Services Public improvements, infrastructure and maintenance Public art and community promotion Planning, zoning, building and engineering Housing and community development Code enforcement and inspections Economic development, business support and energy conservation Legislative, city clerk, visitor's services, public information, general administration, fiscal services, human resources, and risk management Building permitting, inspections and services Public Enterprise Services Golf course Office complex Internal service Blended & Discrete Component Units PD Housing Authority PD Financing Authority PD Recreational Facilities Corporation 11 Residents of the City of Palm Desert, Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council December 14, 2018 The City maintains budgetary controls to ensure compliance with legal provisions embodied in the annual appropriated budget approved by the City Council. Activities of the General, Special Revenue, Debt Service, and Capital Project Funds are included in the annual appropriated budget. Budgetary amounts for Debt Service, Capital Projects, and certain Special Revenue Funds are adopted annually; however, these budgets are considered to be long-term in nature. The City also maintains an encumbrance accounting system of purchase orders and contracts at the fund level as a means of accomplishing budgetary control. At each fiscal year end, open encumbrances are carried over to the new fiscal year. Purchase orders are reviewed to ensure that funds are available and that requests are properly authorized prior to being released to vendors. The adopted budget for fiscal year 2017-2018 was prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. As reflected in the statements and schedules included in the financial section of this report, the City continues to meet its responsibility for sound financial management. LOCAL ECONOMY The City comprises an area of approximately 26 square miles and, as of January 1, 2018, has a population of 52,769 according to data provided by the California Department of Finance. In addition to permanent residents, approximately 20,000 seasonal residents make Palm Desert their home for three to six months each year. The City has cultivated a sound foundation of general fund revenues including sales tax, transient occupancy tax, licenses and permits, property tax, and investment earnings. Tourism and sales tax are the City's main revenue sources. Due to the timing of Palm Desert's incorporation in 1973, the City receives less than 7 percent of the post -Proposition 13 property taxes; therefore, the City relies heavily on sales tax and transient occupancy tax. As a community where economic, environmental, social, and cultural development flourishes, Palm Desert is a much sought-after place to visit and reside. As the first city in Riverside County to create a public art program, Palm Desert is home to numerous cultural attractions including: the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts, a 1,127-seat theater that hosts a wide variety of A -list entertainers, touring theatrical productions, and arts -related educational programs; The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a 1,200-acre facility containing a wide array of plants and animals from desert regions around the world; and the Palm Desert Art in Public Places program, a museum without walls, featuring more than 150 works of art on permanent display throughout the city. Palm Desert's active, five-star accredited Chamber of Commerce has more than 1,125 members who work to promote, support, and enhance business prosperity, civic vitality, and the quality of life within their community. Noted for its extensive array of retail options, including the world-famous upscale shopping destination of El Paseo, Palm Desert is home to a variety of malls and retail centers including Westfield Palm Desert, Desert Crossing, The Gardens on El Paseo, and El Paseo Village. The internationally acclaimed Desert Willow Golf Resort, one of the nation's premier municipal courses, boasts 36 holes of championship golf and stunning scenery in close proximity to first-class hotel accommodations and fine dining. In addition to being the home of the Coachella Valley's only community college, College of the Desert, Palm Desert is the location of satellite campuses for both the University of California, Riverside, and California State ,i y eTity,11 131rpgiyo, the region's only public, four-year university. �, PgINi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v CITY OF PALM DESERT List of Principal Officials as of June 30, 2018 City Council - Manager Form of Government CITY COUNCIL SABBY JONATHAN Mayor SUSAN MARIE WEBER Mayor Pro-Tempore JAN C. HARNIK Council Member KATHLEEN KELLY Council Member GINA NESTANDE Council Member CITY ADMINISTRATION LAURI AYLAIAN City Manager City Attorney - Best, Best & Krieger, LLP Robert W. Hargreaves Director of Finance/City Treasurer Janet M. Moore SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY LAURI AYLAIAN Executive Director vi Re s i d e n t s o f t h e C i t y o f P a l m D e s e r t Ma y o r a n d C i t y C o u n c i l Ci t y A t t o r n e y Ci t y M a n a g e r Ad m i n i s t r a t i v e Se r v i c e s Ci t y C l e r k H u m a n R e s o u r c e s In f o r m a t i o n Sy s t e m s Ri s k M a n a g e m e n t Fi n a n c e / C i t y Tr e a s u r e r Ge n e r a l S e r v i c e s Ac c o u n t i n g Tr e a s u r y & C a s h Ma n a g e m e n t Af f o r d a b l e Ho u s i n g Pu b l i c W o r k s Ad m i n i s t r a t i o n En g i n e e r i n g St r e e t s & F a c i l i t y Ma i n t e n a n c e Fl e e t Ma i n t e n a n c e La n d s c a p e Se r v i c e s Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n / Tr a f f i c S i g n a l s Pa r k s & Re c r e a t i o n Co m m u n i t y De v e l o p m e n t Pl a n n i n g Co d e C o m p l i a n c e Ar t i n P u b l i c Pl a c e s Bu i l d i n g & S a f e t y Po l i c e & F i r e De p a r t m e n t s Po l i c e De p a r t m e n t / Tr a f f i c P a t r o l Fi r e D e p a r t m e n t / Fi r e M a r s h a l Ec o n o m i c De v e l o p m e n t Pr o m o t i o n s / Ad v e r t i s i n g Co m m u n i t y Se r v i c e s / S p e c i a l Ev e n t s To u r i s m Su c c e s s o r A g e n c y t o t h e P a l m De s e r t R e d e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y Co m m i s s i o n s a n d C o m m i t t e e s vii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK