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The City has established a minimum savings threshold goal of 3% of the refunded bond <br />debt service compared to the refunding bonds debt service unless there are other <br />compelling reasons for defeasance. The present value savings will be net of all costs related <br />to the refinancing. The decision to take savings on an upfront or deferred basis must be <br />explicitly approved by the City Council. <br />B. Restructuring <br />The City will refund debt when in its best interest to do so. Refunding will include <br />restructuring to meet unanticipated revenue expectations, achieve cost savings, mitigate <br />irregular debt service payments, release reserve funds or remove unduly restrictive bond <br />covenants. <br />C. Term of Refunding Issues <br />The City will refund bonds within the term of the originally issued debt. The City may also <br />consider shortening the term of the originally issued debt to realize greater savings. The <br />remaining useful life of the financed facility and the concept of inter generational equity <br />should guide this decision. <br />D. Escrow Structuring <br />The City shall utilize the least costly permitted securities available in structuring refunding <br />escrows. The City will examine the viability of an economic versus legal defeasance on a net <br />present value basis. Generally, the City should look to purchase State and Local Obligations <br />(SLGS) from the federal treasury when structuring refunding escrows. The City may review <br />the purchase of Open Market Securities to fund a refunding escrow. In such a case, a <br />certificate from a third -party agent, who is not a broker-dealer, is required stating that the <br />securities were procured through an arms -length, competitive bid process (in the case of <br />open market securities}, that such securities were more cost effective than State and Local <br />Government Obligations (SLGS), and that the price paid for the securities was reasonable <br />within Federal guidelines. Under no circumstances shall an underwriter, agent or financial <br />advisor sell escrow securities to the City from its own account. <br />E. Arbitrage <br />The City shall take all necessary steps to optimize refunding escrows and to avoid negative <br />arbitrage. Any resulting positive arbitrage, on funds other than advance refunding escrows <br />(which are not allowed to generate positive arbitrage earnings), will be rebated as necessary <br />according to Federal guidelines. <br />11. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />The City of Pleasanton strives to maintain 'investment grade' standings in the municipal <br />market. Below is an Investment Grade Table of the three (3) major rating agencies. <br />236 <br />