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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCSD 98-36 (REPEALED) (AMENDED)RESOLUTION NO.OCSD 98-36 REAFFIRMING RESOLUTIONS NOS.94-39, 95-80,98-07,AND 98-20.OF THE DISTRICT’S PREDECESSOR DISTRICTS.AND ESTABLISHING THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT REAFFIRMING RESOLUTIONS NOS.94-39,95-80,98-07 AND 98-20 OF ITS PREDECESSOR DISTRICTS NOS.1,2,3,5,6,7,11,13 AND 14 OF ORANGE COUNTY,CALIFORNIA,AND ESTABLISHING THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT WHEREAS,the Orange County Board of Supervisors,by approval on April 14, 1998 of County Resolution No.98-1 40,has ordered the Consolidation of County Sanitation Districts Nos.1,2,3,5,6,7,11,13 and 14 of Orange County,California (the “Predecessor Districts”)into a single new District,to be known as the Orange County Sanitation District (“District”);and WHEREAS,pursuant to Government Code Section 57500,the District succeeds to all of the powers,rights,duties,obligations,functions,and properties of the Predecessor Districts;and WHEREAS,the Predecessor Districts,by Resolution No.94-39,adopted by the Boards of Directors on April 13,1994,approved and adopted the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County,California Deferred Compensation Plan as Amended 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”);by Resolution No.95-80,adopted by the Boards of Directors on July 26 1995,the Districts approved and adopted the First Amendment to the Plan;by Resolution No.98-07,adopted by the Boards of Directors on March 25, 1998,the Districts approved and adopted the Second Amendment to the Plan;and by Resolution No.98-20,adopted by the Boards of Directors on June 24,1998,the Districts approved and adopted the Third Amendment to the Plan;and, WHEREAS,the District,as the consolidated successor,desires to acknowledge and reaffirm the Plan. NOW,THEREFORE,the Board of Directors of Orange County Sanitation District, 2090-300 646451 1 REPEALED by 03-10 Amended by 02-12 DOES HEREBY RESOLVE,DETERMINE AND ORDER: Section 1 The District accepts and reaffirms the findings,-certifications, adoptions,and approvals of Resolutions Nos.94-39,95-80,98-07,and 98-20, adopting,approving,and amending the Plan. Section 2 The Plan,as so adopted,approved and amended,is hereby adopted by the District as and shall hereafter be referred to as the “Orange County Sanitation District Deferred Compensation Plan”,a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”and incorporated herein by reference.The District shall continue to carry out the adopted,approved and amended Plan in accordance with its terms. Section 3 This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a Special Meeting held July 1,1998. -~-- Chair ATTE T:>A.~ Board Sec~tary 2090-300 646451 2 EXHIBIT “A” ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN SECTION 1:BackQround The Orange County Board of Supervisors,by approval on April 14,1998 of County Resolution No.98-1 40,ordered the consolidation of County Sanitation Districts Nos.1,2,3,5,6,7,11,13 and 14 of Orange County,California (the “Predecessor Districts”)into a single new sanitation district,known as the Orange County Sanitation District (“Employer”).By Resolution No.94-39 adopted by the Boards of Directors of the Predecessor Districts,on April 13,1994,the Predecessor Districts approved and adopted the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County,California Deferred Compensation Plan as Amended 1994.By Resolutions Nos.95-80,98-07,and 98-20,adopted by the Boards of Directors of the Predecessor Districts,on July 26,1995, March 25,1998,and June 24,1998,respectively,the Predecessor Districts approved and adopted amendments to the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County,California Deferred Compensation Plan as Amended 1994 (the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County,California Deferred Compensation Plan as Amended 1994 and first, second and third amendments thereto shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as the “Predecessor Districts’Plan”).By Resolution No.OCSD 98-36 adopted by the Board of Directors of the Employer,on July 1,1998,the Employer adopted the Predecessor Districts’Plan,as set forth herein.The name of this deferred compensation plan is the Orange County Sanitation District Deferred Compensation Plan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”). SECTION 2:Purpose The primary purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain personnel by permitting them to enter into Plan Participation Agreements which will provide future payments in lieu of current income upon death,disability,retirement,or other termination of employment with the Employer.Neither the Plan,nor any provision of the Plan,shall be construed as either an employment agreement,or a right to be retained by the Employer.The Employer intends that the Plan satisfy the Internal Revenue Code section 457 requirements for an “eligible deferred compensation plan.”However, the Employer does not guarantee any tax benefits due to participation in the Plan,and each Participant should consult his or her own tax representative for information and advice on the tax ramifications of participation in the Plan. SECTION 3:Definitions For the purposes of this Plan,certain words or phrases used herein will have the following meanings: 3.1 “Category A Beneficiary”shall mean any individual designated as the beneficiary by the Participant,either pursuant to the Participation Agreement or pursuant to a later written election filed with the Employer before the death of the Participant.A trust may also be designated as a beneficiary 2092—700 64752 1 1 under the Plan,under certain circumstances more specifically described in Subsection 10.6.2 below,but in that case the trust beneficiaries who may receive trust distributions on account of payments from the Plan shall be deemed to be the Category A Beneficiaries under the Plan.No other legal entity,such as a charitable foundation or the estate of the Participant,may be a Category A Beneficiary for the purposes of the Plan. 3.2 “Category B Beneficiary”shall mean a beneficiary who is designated by the Participant in either the Participation Agreement or a later written election filed with the Employer before the Participant’s death,and who is not a “Category A Beneficiary”within the meaning of Section 3.1 above. (Example:a legal entity other than a trust,such as a charitable foundation or the estate of the Participant.) 3.3 “Deferred Compensation”shall mean the amount of compensation not yet earned,which the Participant and the Employer mutually agree shall be deferred in accordance with the provisions of this Plan. 3.4 “Deferred Compensation Investment Fund”shall mean the fund to which all Deferred Compensation is credited,as described in Section 6.2. 3.5 “Employee”shall mean any employee who is a director or officer,or who is a permanent,full-time employee of the Orange County Sanitation District. 3.6 “Employer”shall mean the Orange County Sanitation District. 3.7 “Includible Compensation”(a term defined in Internal Revenue Code section 457(e)(5)and Treasury Regulation section 1 .457-2(e)(2))shall mean compensation for services performed for the Employer which is currently includible in gross income.Accordingly,a Participant’s includible compensation for a taxable year does not include any amount payable by the Employer that is excludable from the Participant’s gross income under Internal Revenue Code section 457(a)and Treasury Regulation section 1.457-1 (including but not limited to this Plan),Internal Revenue Code section 403(b),or other applicable federal income tax laws.The amount of Includible Compensation shall be determined without regard to any community property laws. 3.8 “Investment Account”shall mean a book account for the individual Participant,as more fully described in Section 6.3. 3.9 “Late Retirement”shall mean a termination of service with the Employer which becomes effective after the date on which the Participant has met the 2 requirements to effect a Normal Retirement. 3.10 “Normal Retirement”shall mean a termination of service with the Employer which becomes effective on the first day of the calendar month after the Participant meets the minimum age and/or service requirements,for voluntary retirement,specified in the Retirement Plan. 3.11 “Normal Retirement Age”shall mean the age at which the Participant has met the requirements for Normal Retirement;provided,however,that a Participant who continues to work for the Employer after attaining Normal Retirement Age may elect,for the purposes of Section 4.3 below,an alternate Normal Retirement Age,which may be an age greater than age 701/2,but which shall be a date or age not later than either (a)any mandatory retirement age specified by the Employer,or (b)the date or age at which the Participant actually separates from service with the Employer.The Participant shall make any such election by delivering to the Employer,prior to separation from service with the Employer,written notice specifying the chosen alternate Normal Retirement Age.Nothing in this Section 3.11 shall be construed to mean that the Employer has imposed a mandatory retirement age or that the Participant has agreed to retire at a designated age. 3.12 “Participant”shall mean an Employee who has elected to participate in the Plan. 3.13 “Participation Agreement”shall mean the agreement which is executed by the Employee and filed with the Employer in accordance with Section 4,and pursuant to which the Employee elects to become a Participant in the Plan and defers a portion of his income. 3.14 “Plan”shall mean the Orange County Sanitation District Deferred Compensation Plan as established hereunder. 3.15 “Plan Year”shall mean the calendar year. 3.16 “Required Beginning Date”shall mean the latest date that distributions are permitted to commence under Section 10.3. 3.17 “Retirement Plan”shall mean the retirement plan of the Orange County Employees’Retirement System,which is governed by the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (California Government Code section 31450 et seq. and is made available to the employees of the Employer pursuant to contract. 3 3.18 “Salary”shall mean the full,regular,basic salary which would be paid by the Employer to or for the benefit of the Employee (if he were not a Participant in the Plan)for actual services for the period that he is a Participant. 3.19 ‘Termination of Service”shall mean the severance,prior to retirement and other than by death,of the Participant’s employment with the Employer. 3.20 “Unforeseeable Emergency”shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent (as defined in Internal Revenue Code section 152(a))of the Participant,loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.The circumstances that will constitute an Unforeseeable Emergency will depend upon the facts of each case.Examples of what are not considered to be Unforeseeable Emergencies include the need to send a Participant’s child to college or the desire to purchase a home. SECTION 4:ParticiDation in the Plan 4.1 Any Employee designated by the Employer to be eligible may elect to become a Participant in the Plan by executing and filing a Participation Agreement with the Employer.An election to participate in the Plan and to defer compensation under the Plan shall become effective with respect to compensation earned by the Participant during the period commencing with the beginning date of the first pay period in the month following the month in which the Employer consents to and approves of the Participation Agreement.Such election to defer compensation shall continue thereafter in full force and effect unless and until terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 4.4,Section 10.4 or Section 11. 4.2 Each Participation Agreement shall specify the amount of compensation, either by dollar amount or by percentage of Salary,which is to be deferred pursuant to the Plan and to be withheld out of the Salary otherwise payable to the Participant for each pay period.The amount deferred each year may not exceed the lesser of: (a)Seventy-Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00),or such greater amount as the Secretary of the Treasury may establish from time to time under Internal Revenue Code section 457 (e)(1 5)due to cost-of-living increases,reduced (i)by any amount excludable from the Participant’s gross income for the taxable year under Internal Revenue Code section 403(b)on account of contributions made by 4 the Employer,or (ii)as otherwise provided in Internal Revenue Code section 457(c)(2);or (b)Thirty-Three and One-Third Percent (33-1/3%)of the Participant’s Includible Compensation,reduced (I)by any amount excludable from the Participant’s gross income for the taxable year under Internal Revenue Code section 403(b)on account of contributions made by the Employer,or (ii)as otherwise provided in Internal Revenue Code section 457(c)(2), or be less than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00)each year.This three hundred dollar ($300.00)limitation shall not be applied to any Participant who is paid less than $1,200.00 per year for services rendered to the Employer. (For practical application,note that 33-1/3%of Includible Compensation is generally the equivalent of 25%of gross compensation, and that for Participants with an annual salary of less than $30,000,the subparagraph (b)deferral limit usually applies.) 4.3 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.2 herein,during any or all of the last three (3)taxable years ending before a Participant attains Normal Retirement Age (or the alternate Normal Retirement Age chosen pursuant to Section 3.11 above),the maximum amount which may be deferred annually shall be the lesser of: (a)Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00),reduced (i)by any amount excludable from the Participant’s gross income for the taxable year under Internal Revenue Code section 403(b)on account of contributions made by the Employer,or (ii)as otherwise provided in Internal Revenue Code section 457(c)(2);or (b)The sum of: (i)The maximum deferral amount established for the purposes of Section 4.2 for the taxable year (determined without regard to this Section 4.3),pIus (ii)The maximum deferral amount established in Section 4.2 for any prior taxable year or years,less the amount of compensation deferred under the Plan,for such prior taxable year or years,pursuant to either Section 4.2 or this Section 4.3. 5 A prior taxable year shall be taken into account under subdivision (ii) only if:(a)it begins after December 31,1978;(b)the Participant was eligible to participate in the Plan during all or any portion of the taxable year;and (C)compensation deferred (if any)under the Plan during the taxable year was subject to the maximum deferral amount under Section 4.2 herein.A Participant will be considered to have been eligible to participate in the Plan for a taxable year if the Participant was an Employee for any part of that taxable year.A prior taxable year includes a taxable year in which the Participant was eligible to participate in an Internal Revenue Code section 457 eligible deferred compensation plan sponsored by an entity other than the Employer,provided that such other entity is located in the State of California. 4.4 A Participant may terminate his election to defer compensation under the Plan by executing and filing with the Employer a written notice at least thirty (30)days prior to the effective date of termination.In the event a Participant ceases to qualify under Section 3 hereof as a Participant,his election to defer compensation shall automatically terminate on the same date as he becomes ineligible.A Participant (including a former Participant who is again eligible to participate)may not resume the deferral of compensation during the calendar month in which termination occurred;however,he may elect to resume the deferral of compensation in subsequent calendar months after a lapse of not less than three (3)months.No amounts shall be payable to an Employee upon the termination of deferral of compensation,unless otherwise provided for in either Section 10 or Section 11. 4.5 A Participant may change the amount of compensation to be deferred in a subsequent calendar month by executing and filing notice with the Employer at least thirty (30)days prior to the beginning of such month;provided, however,that such change may be made not more than four (4)times in a calendar year. 4.6 In applying the provisions of this Section 4,amounts deferred shall be taken into account at present value in the Plan Year in which deferred. SECTION 5:Deferral of Compensation During the period of participation,the Employer shall not pay the Participant his full Salary,but shall defer payment of such part of his Salary as is specified by the Participant in the Participation Agreement,which has been executed and filed with the Employer. 6 SECTION 6:Administration of the Plan 6.1 The Employer shall have full authority and power to adopt the rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan,and to interpret,amend,alter and revoke any rules and regulations so adopted.The actions of the Employer,with respect to the Plan and the administration of the Plan,shall be presumed to be fair,reasonable,and impartial,and the Employer shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care,diligence and prudence, unless the contrary is proven by affirmative evidence. 6.2 The Employer shall establish a Deferred Compensation Investment Fund to which all Deferred Compensation shall be credited at such times as the amounts deferred would have been payable to the individual Employee if he were not a Participant in the Plan. 6.3 The Employer shall maintain a book account (the “Investment Account”)for each Participant,to which shall be credited the Deferred Compensation of the individual Participant.The Participant’s Investment Account shall be credited with the earnings thereof,if any,and shall be credited or debited, as the case may be,with the net amount of any gains or losses which may result from the investment of all or any portion of the amount in the Participant’s Investment Account.The Employer,its directors,officers and employees,shall not be liable for any losses on any investment credited to any Investment Account.On a quarterly basis,the Employer shall credit the earnings and/or gains and debit the losses on each Investment Account. Such credits and debits shall be made,and the final quarterly balance of the Investment Account shall be posted,as of the last day of each quarter. SECTION 7:Asset OwnershiD Except as otherwise provided in Section 8 below, all Deferred Compensation credited to the Deferred Compensation Investment Fund,all property and rights purchased with amounts credited to the Deferred Compensation Investment Fund,and all income attributable to such amounts,property,or rights shall be and remain (until made available to the Participant or other beneficiary)solely the property and rights of the Employer (without being restricted to the provision of benefits under the Plan),subject only to the claims of the Employer’s general creditors.Without such Employer ownership,the Plan would not qualify as an “eligible deferred compensation plan”within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 457,so as to make tax benefits available to the Participants. SECTION 8:Declaration of Trust 8.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7,all Deferred Compensation credited to the Deferred Compensation Investment Fund,all property and 7 rights purchased with amounts credited to the Deferred Compensation Investment Fund,and all income attributable to such amounts,property,or rights (collectively,the “Trust Estate”)shall be held,by the Employer as trustee,in trust for the exclusive benefit of the Participants and their beneficiaries,per the terms and conditions of Section 8.2 below.No portion of the Trust Estate shall revert to the Employer or be used or diverted to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the Participants and their beneficiaries. 8.2 The Employer,as trustee,and in accordance with applicable law: (a)shall have the power to invest and reinvest the Trust Estate in all assets permitted under Government Code section 53609; (b)shall have the power to retain in cash,without obligation for interest, such portion of the Trust Estate as it may deem (i)advisable to meet Plan obligations,or (ii)to be in the best interests of the Plan; (c)shall have the power to retain,manage,operate,administer and otherwise deal with the Trust Estate in such manner as it deems appropriate; (d)shall have the power to transfer,sell,exchange,redeem and dispose of the assets of the Trust Estate,in any manner and at any time,by private or public sale or otherwise; (e)shall have the power,with respect to the assets of the Trust Estate, to exercise all the rights of an individual owner,including,but not limited to,the power to give proxies,to participate in any voting trusts, mergers,consolidations or liquidations,and to exercise or sell stock subscriptions or conversion rights; (f)shall have the power to hold,authorize the holding of,and register any assets of the Trust Estate in any manner permitted by law; (g)shall have the power,in its discretion,to compromise,contest (whether through legal proceedings or otherwise),arbitrate,or abandon claims and demands on behalf of the Trust Estate and/or the Plan,and to commence,maintain or defend the Trust Estate and/or the Plan in suits or legal proceedings; (h)shall have the power to employ consultants,accountants, depositories,agents and legal counsel on behalf of the Trust Estate 8 and/or the Plan; (i)shall have the power to open,maintain and close any bank account(s),in any federally insured financial institution permitted by law,in the name of the Plan,the Employer or,to the extent permitted by law,any nominee or agent of the Plan or the Employer; (j)shall have the power to charge to,and pay from,the Trust Estate:(I) any taxes levied or assessed upon or in respect to the assets of the Trust Estate,(ii)any commissions and similar expenses with respect to the assets of the Trust Estate,(iii)the reasonable compensation of any third-party manager or administrator utilized by the Employer in the management or administration of the Trust Estate and/or the Plan, and (iv)the reasonable expenses of such third-party manager or administrator or the Employer incurred in connection with Trust Estate and/or Plan management or administration (including,but not limited to,legal,accounting,investment and custodial services); (k)shall pay benefits to Plan Participants and their beneficiaries,in cash or in kind or partly in each,in accordance with the terms hereof; (I)shall have the power:(i)to retain any funds or property subject to any dispute,without liability to pay interest,(ii)to decline to make payment or delivery of the funds or property until final adjudication of the dispute is made by a court of competent jurisdiction,and (iii)to charge an Investment Account with the Employer’s legal expenses and costs incurred due to a dispute concerning that Investment Account; (m)shall have the power to make Participant loans,as described in Section 15; (n)shall administer the Plan and the Trust Estate as described in Sections 6,15 and this Section 8; (0)shall have the discretion:(i)to make limited investment options available to the Participant and to change those investment options from time to time,(ii)to eliminate an investment option,even if all or a portion of a Participant’s Investment Account is already invested therein,with the result that such amount must be reinvested in another,permitted,investment),and (iii)to invest the amounts in a Participant’s Investment Account either as requested by the Participant,or as otherwise determined by the Employer; 9 (p)shall not be required to invest the amounts in the Trust Estate; however,it is the Employer’s intent to invest and reinvest such amounts in a manner intended to increase the same,and the net interest,accumulation and increments thereon shall be credited to, and held in,the Trust Estate for the exclusive benefit of the Participants and their beneficiaries;the Employer shall not be responsible for any loss due to the investment or failure of investment of such assets;nor shall the Employer be required to replace any loss whatsoever which may result from said investments;and (q)shall have the power to make,execute,acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments necessary or proper for the accomplishment of, and to do any and all other acts that it may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out,the foregoing powers. SECTION 9:Plan Benefits Deferred Compensation benefits are payable on the happening of any of the following events: (a)Normal Retirement of a Participant; (b)Late Retirement of a Participant; (c)Termination of Service of a Participant;or (d)Death of a Participant who dies either before or after Deferred Compensation payments commence,and before the entire amount of his Investment Account is paid. SECTION 10:Distribution of Benefits 10.1 Termination of Employment by Retirement The Participant is eligible to receive distributions of benefits,with respect to retirement,after the Participant has met the requirements for Normal Retirement and has retired from service with the Employer.The Participant may submit to the Employer an application for distribution of benefits under the Plan as early as the date he notifies the Employer of his intended retirement and as late as thirty (30) days following the actual date of termination of employment due to retirement.Pursuant to such application,the Participant shall elect one of the benefits described below,expressed in terms of both payment option and commencement date option.Except as otherwise provided in Subsection 10.1.3,the commencement date portion of such election shall become irrevocable upon the lapse of the thirtieth (30th)day following termination of 10 employment with the Employer due to retirement. 10.1.1 Options Following the Participant’s termination of employment due to retirement and the receipt of such application,the Employer shall pay to the Participant one of the following benefits (expressed in terms of both payment option and commencement date option)as elected by the Participant: A.PAYMENTOPTION (1)Options: (a)Consecutive equal monthly payments over a period of 36 months to 180 months,as determined by the Participant;provided,however,that any such period may not extend beyond the life expectancy of the Participant or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and the Participant’s Category A Beneficiary. (b)Consecutive equal monthly payments for the life of the Participant or for the lives of the Participant and his Category A Beneficiary. (C)Annuity payments pursuant to an annuity that is offered by a Plan provider providing services to the Employer and that is structured so as to comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code,the Treasury Regulations and all other applicable laws. (d)A single payment equal to the balance of the Participant’s Investment Account. (e)A single lump-sum payment in an amount to be determined by the Participant,with the remainder of the Participant’s Investment Account to be paid under payment option (a),payment option (b),or payment option (c)above. (2)Modified or Delayed Election: The Participant may modify his payment option election at any 11 time until the date whiôh is thirty (30)days before the commencement date as finally determined pursuant to Subsection 10.1.1,10.1.2,or 10.1.3,as-applicable (the “Final Commencement Date”).Or,the Participant may choose to defer making a payment option election altogether,until a date as late as thirty (30)days before the Final Commencement Date.Thirty (30)days before the Final Commencement Date, the most recent payment option election on file with the Employer shall become irrevocable.If there is no payment option election on file with the Employer at that time,the Employer shall pay the sum in the Participant’s Investment Account to the Participant according to payment option (d) above,on the Final Commencement Date. B.COMMENCEMENT DATE OPTION - (a)The first day of the third calendar month following the month in which termination of employment occurs,or (b)The first day of a later month as designated by the Participant. In the case of payment option (e)above,the lump sum must be paid on the same date that the first payment over time is paid. C.LIMITATIONS - The foregoing options are limited by,and these payments shall be made subject to,the provisions of Sections 10.3,10.5,10.6 and 10.7 hereof. The total amount of any benefits paid pursuant to payment options (a) through (e)above shall not exceed the sum of the amounts deferred by the Participant,as adjusted for any earnings or losses thereon. 10.1.2 Default Election Should the Participant fail to elect one of the benefits hereunder by way of an application for retirement benefits filed with the Employer within thirty (30) days after retirement,the Employer shall pay the sum in the Participant’s Investment Account according to the “Benefit A”election previously made pursuant to either the Participation Agreement or a modification thereof. However,if there is no such previous election,then the Employer shall pay the sum in the Participant’s Investment Account according to payment option 12 (d)above on the Required Beginning Date. 10.1.3 One-Time Change in Commencement Date Election Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.1,the Participant may,at any time after the first day of the third calendar month following the month in which termination of employment occurs,and at least thirty (30) days before the scheduled commencement date,pursuant to either Subsection 10.1.1 or the Benefit’~A”election on file with the Employer as of. the date of retirement,elect to further defer the commencement date,to a date later than that previously elected (but not later than the Required Beginning Date).The Participant may exercise his or her right,under this Subsection 10.1.3,to file a changed commencement date election only once. 10.2 Termination of Employment Prior to Retirement Following the Termination of Service of a Participant,the Employer shall pay to the Participant the benefit elected by the Participant pursuant to either (a)“Benefit B”of the Participation Agreement submitted by the Participant at the time of election to participate in the Plan or (b)a later written election delivered to the Employer within thirty (30)days following Termination of Service.Except as otherwise provided in Subsection 10.2.3 below,the commencement date portion of the latest such election filed with the Employer shall become irrevocable upon the lapse of the thirtieth (30th)day following Termination of Service. 10.2.1 Options A.PAYMENT OPTION (1)Options: (a)Consecutive equal monthly payments over a period of 36 months to 180 months,as determined by the Participant;provided,however,that any such period may not extend beyond the life expectancy of the Participant or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and the Participant’s Category A Beneficiary. (b)Consecutive equal monthly payments for the life of the Participant or for the lives of the Participant and his Category A Beneficiary. 13 (c)Annuity payments pursuant to an annuity that is offered by a Plan provider providing services to the Employer and that is structured so as to comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code,the Treasury Regulations and all other applicable laws. (d)A single payment equal to the balance of the Participant’s Investment Account. (e)A single lump-sum payment in an amount to be determined by the Participant,with the remainder of the Participant’s Investment Account to be paid under payment option (a),payment option (b),or payment option (c)above. (2)Modified or Delayed Election: The Participant may modify his payment option election at any time until the date which is thirty (30)days before the commencement date as finally determined pursuant to Subsection 10.2.1,10.2.2,or 10.2.3,as applicable (the “Final Commencement Date”).Or,the Participant may choose to defer making a payment option election altogether,until a date as late as thirty (30)days before the Final Commencement Date.Thirty (30)days before the Final Commencement Date, the most recent payment option election on file with the Employer shall become irrevocable.If there is no payment option election on file with the Employer at that time,the Employer shall pay the sum in the Participant’s Investment Account to the Participant according to payment option (d) above,on the Final Commencement Date. B.COMMENCEMENT DATE OPTION - (a)The first day of the third calendar month following the month in which termination of employment occurs,or (b)The first day of a later month as designated by the Participant. In the case of payment option (e)above,the lump sum must be paid on the same date that the first payment over time is paid. 14 C.LIMITATIONS - The foregoing options are limited by,and these payments shall be made subject to,the provisions of Sections 10.3,10.5,10.6 and 10.7 hereof. The total amount of any benefits paid pursuant to payment options (a) through (e)above shall not exceed the sum of the amounts deferred by the Participant,as adjusted for any earnings or losses thereon. 10.2.2 Default Election Should the Participant fail to elect one of the benefits hereunder either pursuant to the “Benefit B”provisions of the Participation Agreement or pursuant to a subsequent written election delivered to the Employer within thirty (30)days after Termination of Service,then the Employer shall pay the total amount in the Participant’s Investment Account to the Participant in a single lump sum on the first day of the third calendar month following the month in which Termination of Service occurs.In no event,however,shall such payment occur later than the Required Beginning Date. 10.2.3 One-Time Change in Commencement Date Election Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.2,the Participant may,at any time after the first day of the third calendar month following the month in which Termination of Service occurs,~at least thirty (30)days before the scheduled commencement date,pursuant to either Subsection 10.2.1 or the Benefit UBfl election on file with the Employer as of the date of Termination of Service,elect to further defer the commencement date,to a date later than that previously elected (but not later than the Required Beginning Date).The Participant may exercise his or her right,under this Subsection 10.2.3,to file a changed commencement date election only once. 10.3 Required Beginning Date of Distributions Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan,payments under Sections 10.1 and 10.2 shall begin no later than the later of: (a)April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Employee attains age 701/2;or (b)April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Employee retires. 15 10.4 Acceleration of Payment of Small Investment Accounts Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 10.1 and 10.2 above,a Participant may elect to receive the full balance of his or her Investment Account at any time,but only on the following conditions: (a)the balance of the Investment Account does not exceed the maximum amount permitted under Internal Revenue Code section 457(e)(9)(or a successor provision)at the time of the withdrawal; (b)no amount has been deferred under the Plan with respect to the Participant during the two-year period ending on the date of the distribution;and (c)there has been no prior distribution to the Participant under this Section 10.4 (i.e.,the acceleration right can be exercised only once). Any distribution under this Section 10.4 shall be deemed a termination of participation in the Plan.The (former)Participant may re-elect to participate in the Plan,pursuant to Section 4.1,after a lapse of at least three (3)months after the date of distribution under this Section 10.4. 10.5 Lifetime Distribution Requirements The distributions under this Plan must be made primarily for the benefit of the Participant and the schedule elected by the Participant for payment of benefits under Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of the Plan must be such that benefits payable to a beneficiary are not more than incidental,according to the applicable Treasury Regulations.Payments under those sections shall be distributed over the life of the Participant or over the lives of the Participant and a Category A Beneficiary (or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Participant or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and a Category A Beneficiary),in accordance with the Treasury Regulations under Internal Revenue Code section 401 (a)(9). In addition,as required by Internal Revenue Code section 401 (a)(9)(G),and except as otherwise provided in Section 10.7 below,all distributions shall be made in accordance with the incidental death benefit requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 401(a).As more fully described in the applicable Treasury Regulations,as promulgated pursuant to the authority of Internal Revenue Code section 401 (a)(9),this means that distributions must be made in accordance with a certain formula designed to ensure that the entire Investment Account of the Participant is distributed over a period of time not to exceed the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and a Category A Beneficiary who is not more than ten years 16 younger than the Participant. 10.6 Death of Participant In the event of the death of the Participant,either before or after termination of employment (by retirement or otherwise),and before the entire amount of his Investment Account has been distributed,the Employer shall distribute the amount then remaining in the Participant’s Investment Account pursuant to Subsections 10.6.1 through 10.6.3 below. 10.6.1 When Participant Dies on or after the Required Beginning Date and after Distributions Have Begun If distributions have already begun during a Participant’s lifetime,and the Participant dies on or after the Required Beginning Date and before the entire amount of his Investment Account has been distributed,then the remaining portion of the Participant’s Investment Account shall be distributed,as elected by the Participant,pursuant to either the “Benefit C” provisions of the Participation Agreement or a later written election delivered to the Employer before the death of the Participant,unless the Participant’s election would permit distributions to be made less rapidly after death than under the method of distribution being used as of the date of death.In order to comply with Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(9),distributions (under this Subsection 10.6.1) after death must be made at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of death. 10.6.2 When Participant Dies either before the Required Beginning Date or before Distributions Have Begun If a Participant dies either before the Required Beginning Date or before distribution of his Investment Account has begun,and,if any portion of the Investment Account is payable to (or for the benefit of)a Category A or B Beneficiary,then the Employer shall pay such portion as follows - A.CATEGORY A BENEFICIARIES - (1)Cateaorv A Beneficiary Other than Surviving Spouse If the Category A Beneficiary is other than the surviving spouse,the portion of the Investment Account payable to such beneficiary shall be distributed according to one of the following options,expressed in terms of both payment option and commencement date option: 17 PAYMENT OPTION: (a)consecutive equal monthly payments over a period of 36 months to 60 months (but not exceeding the life expectancy of the Category A Beneficiary); (b)annuity payments pursuant to an annuity that is offered by a Plan provider providing services to the Employer and that is structured so as to comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code,the Treasury Regulations and all other applicable laws; (c)a single lump-sum payment;or (d)a single lump-sum payment,with the remainder of the portion of the Investment Account payable to such beneficiary to be paid under either payment option (a)or payment option (b)above. COMMENCEMENT DATE OPTION: Such distributions shall begin on the date designated by either the Participant or,if permitted by the Participant,the Category A Beneficiary,but in no event later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant dies.If the Category A Beneficiary submits a permitted benefits election,the election must be filed with the Employer within ninety (90)days after the Participant’s death,and the earliest commencement date shall be the first day of the fifth calendar month following the month in which the death of the Participant occurred. (2)SurvivinQ SDouse If the Category A Beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the Participant,the portion of the Investment Account payable to the surviving spouse shall be distributed according to one of the following options,expressed in terms of both payment option and commencement date option: 18 PAYMENT OPTION: (a)consecutive equal monthly payments over a period not to extend beyond the life expectancy of the surviving spouse; (b)annuity payments pursuant to an annuity that is offered by a Plan provider providing services to the Employer and that is structured so as to comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code,the Treasury Regulations and all other applicable laws; (c)a single lump-sum payment;or (d)a single lump-sum payment,with the remainder of the portion of the Investment Account payable to the surviving spouse to be paid under either payment option (a)or payment option (b)above. COMMENCEMENT DATE OPTION: Such distributions shall begin on the date designated by either the Participant or,if permitted by the Participant,the surviving spouse,but in no event later than the later of (i)December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant dies,and (ii)December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would have attained age 701A.Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,if as of the date of the Participant’s death,both the surviving spouse and another are Category A Beneficiaries,then distributions shall begin on or before December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant dies.If the surviving spouse submits a permitted benefits election,the election must be filed with the Employer within ninety (90)days after the Participant’s death,and the earliest commencement date shall be the first day of the fifth calendar month following the month in which the death of the Participant occurred. 19 (3)Elections PARTICIPANT’S ELECTION: All elections (as to both payment option and commencement date)to be made under this Subsection 10.6.2 shall be made by the Participant pursuant to either the “Benefit C”provisions of the Participation Agreement or a later written election delivered to the Employer before the death of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,the Participant,in the Participation Agreement or such later written election,may specify that,following the death of the Participant,the Category A Beneficiary may elect, subject to the foregoing limitations,the form of payments and the commencement date of distributions. BENEFICIARY’S ELECTION: Any permitted beneficiary election ‘must be in the form of a written election filed with the Employer no later than ninety (90)days following the date of death of the Participant.In the absence of any such timely election, the portion of the Investment Account payable to such Category A Beneficiary shall be distributed to him in a lump sum on the first day of the fifth calendar month following the month in which the death of the Participant occurs.The commencement date portion of the Beneficiary’s election shall become irrevocable on the date ninety (90)days after the Participant’s death. However,the Beneficiary may modify his payment option election up to thirty (30)days before the previously elected commencement date. (4)Death of a CateQorv A Beneficiary If a Category A Beneficiary dies within six months of the date of the Participant’s death and before the entire portion of the Investment Account allocated to him has been paid pursuant to this Subsection 10.6.2,then the remainder of such portion shall be paid to the contingent beneficiary,if any,designated by the Participant in either the Participation Agreement or a 20 later written election delivered to the Employer before the Participant’s death,If there is no such contingent beneficiary, or if the Category A Beneficiary dies more than six months after the date of the Participant’s death and before the entire portion of the Investment Account allocated to him has been paid pursuant to this.Subsection 10.6.2,then the remainder of such portion shall be paid to the estate of the deceased Category A Beneficiary.Any payment under this paragraph shall be made in a lump sum on the first day of the third calendar month following the month in which the death of the Category A Beneficiary occurs. B.CATEGORY B BENEFICIARIES - If the beneficiary is a Category B Beneficiary,which is a validly existing legal entity (such as a charitable foundation or the estate of the Participant),the portion of the Investment Account payable to such beneficiary shall be distributed as a lump sum on the first day of the third calendar month following the month in which the death of the Participant occurs. C.TRUST AS BENEFICIARY- The Participant may designate a trust as his beneficiary under the Plan.However,in that case,any beneficiary of the trust,who is eligible to receive trust distributions on account of payments from the Plan,shall be deemed to be a Category A Beneficiary under the Plan. (For example,if the Participant designates as his beneficiary a trust of which his surviving spouse is the life beneficiary,and elects lifetime payments,then for the purpose of this Subsection 10.6.2,the surviving spouse shall be deemed to be the Category A Beneficiary, and the terms of this subsection shall be applied by basing distributions on the life expectancy of the surviving spouse.) Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,a trust may only be designated as a beneficiary (and the beneficiary of the trust will only be deemed to be a Category A Beneficiary)if,as of the later of the date that the Participant submits to the Employer the election in which the trust is named as a beneficiary or the Required Beginning Date, andas of all subsequent periods during which the trust is named as a beneficiary of the Plan,all of the following conditions are met:(1) the trust is a valid trust under state law,(2)the trust is irrevocable,(3) the beneficiaries of the trust can be identified from the trust instrument,and (4)a copy of the trust instrument has been provided 21 to the Employer. 10.6.3 Default Provision If,upon the death of the Participant,there exists neither a Category A Beneficiary nor a Category B Beneficiary to receive any portion of the Participant’s Investment Account,then the Employer shall,on the first day of the third calendar month following the month in which the death of the Participant occurs,pay that portion in a lump sum to the estate of the Participant. 10.7 General Distribution Requirements and Provisions Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary,all distributions under this Plan shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.7 and,to the extent of any inconsistency,the provisions of this Section 10.7 shall control. 10.7.1 Calculation of Life Expectancy For the purpose of ascertaining the relevant distribution periods and amounts hereunder,life expectancy, where applicable,shall not be recalculated annually.Rather,once life expectancy has been initially calculated,it shall thereafter be reduced by one year for each year that passes.Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,with respect to permitted annuity distributions, life expectancy may be calculated in any manner permitted by the Internal Revenue Code,the Treasury Regulations,and all other applicable tax laws. 10.7.2 Additional Distribution Requirements Any payments payable over a period of more than one year shall only be made in substantially non- increasing amounts,paid not less frequently than annually. 10.7.3 Employer Discretion to Accelerate Distributions The Employer,in its sole and absolute discretion,shall have the right,at any time when subparagraphs (a)-(c)of Section 10.4 are satisfied,to distribute the entire balance of the Participant’s Investment Account to the Participant.In addition,after distributions have begun under Sections 10.1,10.2 or 10.6,if the balance of the Participant’s Investment Account,or any portion thereof payable to a beneficiary,should be less than or equal to the amount provided in Internal Revenue Code section 457(e)(9)(or a successor provision),the Employer,in its sole and absolute discretion and for administrative ease,may distribute such balance or such portion in a lump sum on the date of the first regularly scheduled payment of the next calendar year.Moreover,at any time after distributions have begun under Sections 10.1,10.2 or 10.6,if the Employer determines that the payment schedule as 22 elected by the Participant,or by the Category A Beneficiary,if applicable,is such that monthly payments would be in an amount less than $200.00,then the Employer,in its sole and absolute discretion, may make distributions in the amount of $200.00 per month,until exhaustion of the Investment Account or portion thereof in question, irrespective of the fact that this would have the effect of shortening the distribution period originally elected by the Participant,or the Category A Beneficiary,if applicable. 10.7.4 Statutory Compliance All distributions under this Plan shall be made in accordance with the Treasury Regulations under Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(9),including both the minimum distribution requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.401 (a)(9)-1,and,(in accordance with Internal Revenue Code section 401 (a)(9)(G))the minimum distribution incidental benefit requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.401 (a)(9)-2.To the extent that any distribution option hereunder is inconsistent with Internal Revenue Code section 401 (a)(9),the provisions of Internal Revenue Code section 401 (a)(9) shall control and the Plan shall be administered so as to conform with section 401 (a)(9).Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,if, pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 457(d)(2)(B)(i)(l), Treasury Regulations (the “Superseding Regulations”)should be issued which require more rapid distributions than those required by Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(9)(G)and the Treasury Regulations under section 401 (a)(9)(G),then the distributions under this Plan shall be made pursuant to such Superseding Regulations, to the extent inconsistent with section 401 (a)(9)and the Treasury Regulations under that section. 10.7.5 Cost-of-Living Adiustment of Periodic Payments The Participant or a Category A Beneficiary,at the time of submitting a distribution option election permitted under Section 10.1,Section 10.2,or Section 10.6 of the Plan,may elect that any distributions made pursuant to a periodic payment option may be made not in equal amounts,but rather in increasing amounts,based on increases in the cost-of-living. The formula for determining cost-of-living increases shall be established by the Employer from time to time. SECTION 11:Emergency Withdrawals In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency,to be determined by the Employer in its sole discretion,the Employer may pay to the Participant all or any portion of the amount in such Participant’s Investment Account, as of the month end following the date when such determination is made.Payment may not be made to the extent that the hardship resulting from the Unforeseeable Emergency 23 is or may be relieved (a)through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise,(b)by liquidation of the ParticipanVs assets,to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship,or (C)by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.The amount that may be paid out is limited to the amount reasonably necessary to alleviate the Unforeseeable Emergency need and,in most cases,will be paid only in a single lump sum.In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency which causes the initial lump sum payment to be inadequate to meet the Unforeseeable Emergency need, the Participant (or former Participant)may apply for the payment of subsequent lump-sum amounts,up to the entire amount in the Participant’s (or former Participant’s)Investment Account. Any distribution under this section shall be deemed a termination of the election to defer compensation under Section 4.4 above,and no further deferral of compensation shall be made unless the Participant subsequently re-elects to defer compensation under the Plan,as provided in Section 4.4.Moreover,any distribution of 100%of the Participant’s Investment Account under this section shall be deemed a revocation of the Participant’s agreement to participate in the Plan.The (former)Participant may re-elect to participate in the Plan,pursuant to Section 4.1,after a lapse of not less than three (3) months. SECTION 12:Assignments and Transfers 12.1.Consistent with Section 7 above,no one,including the Participant,his beneficiary or designee,or any other person,shall have any right to commute,sell,assign,transfer,or otherwise convey the right to receive any payments hereunder,which payments and right thereto are expressly declared to be non-assignable and non-transferable.The Employer shall have no liability to either the Participant or a purported assignee or transferee,on account of any attempted assignment or transfer.In addition, except to the extent otherwise provided by law,no interest of the Participant in the Plan shall be subject to attachment,garnishment or execution,or be transferrable by operation of law,whether due to bankruptcy,insolvency, liquidation for the benefit of creditors,or any other cause. 12.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,the amounts deferred by a former Participant may be transferred to another Internal Revenue Code section 457 eligible deferred compensation plan of which the former Participant has become a participant,if the following conditions are met: (1)the plan to which the former Participant wishes to transfer amounts deferred is located within the State of California; 24 (2)the plan receiving such amounts provides for the acceptance of such amounts; (3)the employer accepting the transfer funds gives written notice of its agreement to accept such transfer and assumes liability therefor;and (4)the Participant provides a written release to the Employer releasing the Employer from any claim or liability under the Plan after the date such transfer of funds occurs. If a Participant separates from service in order to accept employment with another entity which permits the Participant to participate in a section 457 eligible deferred compensation plan,and if the four conditions enumerated above are met,payout of benefits will not commence upon separation from service,notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan,and amounts previously deferred will automatically be transferred to that other entity’s section 457 eligible deferred compensation plan,to be credited to the Participant’s account. 12.3 A Participant,who was formerly employed by another public agency located within the State of California,may transfer,to the Plan,funds from an Internal Revenue Code section 457 eligible deferred compensation plan maintained by that former employer,if that eligible deferred compensation plan permits transfers to other section 457 eligible deferred compensation plans and if the Participant complies with all applicable terms and conditions of both the transferring plan and this Plan in effectuating the transfer.As a condition to transfer to this Plan,the Employer may require that assets transferred from another plan be in the form of cash or cash equivalents. SECTION 13:Notice Any notice or other communication required or permitted under the Plan shall be in writing,and,if directed to the Employer (ATTN:Director of Human Resources),shall be sent to the Employer at its principal office,and,if directed to a Participant or a beneficiary,shall be sent to such Participant or beneficiary at his last- known address as it appears on the Employer’s records.Such notice shall be deemed given when mailed,unless notice is given in person,in which case such notice shall be deemed given upon receipt. SECTION 14:Amendment or Termination of Plan The Employer may,at any time, terminate this Plan for all Participants.Upon such termination,the Participants in the Plan shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Plan as of the date of such termination;each Participant’s full Salary on a non-deferred basis will be thereupon restored;and the Employer agrees to pay each Participant the amount of money determined as if the 25 Participant had terminated his employment,said payment to be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.2. The Employer may also amend the provisions of this Plan at any time;provided, however,that no amendment shall affect the rights of the Participants or their beneficiaries to the receipt of payment of benefits,to the extent of any compensation already deferred at the time of the amendment,as adjusted for investment experience prior to and subsequent to the amendment. SECTION 15:Participant Loans The Employer may establish a Participant loan program on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 15,and any additional terms and conditions as the Employer may prescribe from time to time.If the Employer establishes such a loan program,the Participants may apply to the Employer for loans,to be secured by their respective Investment Accounts.In addition to such other terms and conditions as the Employer may prescribe,the following terms and conditions shall apply to the Participant loans. 15.1 Maximum Loan Amount The outstanding aggregate balance of all loans made to the Participant under the Plan shall not exceed the lesser of: (a)fifty thousand dollars ($50,000),reduced by the excess (if any) of - (i)the highest outstanding balance of loans from the Plan during the one-year period ending on the day before the date on which such loan was made,over (ii)the outstanding balance of loans from the Plan on the date on which such loan was made,or (b)one-half of the present value of the nonforfeitable accrued benefit of the Participant under the Plan. (For the purpose of determining the maximum loan amount under this Section 15.1, all deferred compensation plans of the Employer shall be treated as one plan.) 15.2 Maximum Loan Term Except as otherwise provided in this Section 15,each loan shall be repaid in full within five (5)years.However,the five-year limitation shall not apply if the purpose of the loan is to enable the Participant to acquire a dwelling unit which,within a reasonable period of time (to be determined by the Employer at the time the loan is made),is to be used as the Participant’s principal residence. 15.3 Promissory Note The loan shall be evidenced by an interest-bearing promissory note,payable to the Employer.The promissory note shall be fully 26 amortized,with payments to be made at such intervals as provided therein,which shall be no less frequently than quarterly.The promissory note shall contain terms and conditions as are required by this Section 15,and such additional terms and conditions as are established by the Employer from time to time. 15.4 Collateral/Security The loan shall be secured by the Participant’s assignment,to the Employer,of the Participant’s right,title and interest in and to his or her Investment Account,or such portion thereof as the Employer,in its sole and absolute discretion,determines to be adequate security under the circumstances. 15.5.Distributions No distribution of any portion of a Participant’s Investment Account shall be made to any Participant,or to any beneficiary of the Participant, until such time as all Participant loans and accrued interest thereon are repaid in full.Notwithstanding the foregoing,however,the Employer,in its sole discretion, may permit an emergency withdrawal,under the terms and conditions described in Section 11 above,provided such emergency withdrawal shall not cause the then outstanding balance of the Participant’s loan to exceed the maximum loan amount described in Section 15.1 above. 15.6 Repayment Loan repayments shall be made by payroll deduction,or when repayment cannot be made by payroll deduction,then by check. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 15.2 to the contrary,the outstanding balance of all loans to a Participant shall immediately become due and payable in full on Termination of Service for any reason.If the loan is not paid in full within thirty (30)days of Termination of Service,the unpaid balance shall be deducted from any Plan benefit payable to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary.In addition,in the event of default in repayment of a loan,the Employer,in its sole and absolute discretion,may deem the loan to be immediately due and payable in full, in which case the Employer may pursue any and all remedies available at law or in equity,and may liquidate the security and apply it to satisfy the then outstanding balance under the loan,treat the then outstanding balance as a distribution to the Participant,and reduce the amount of the Participant’s Investment Account by such amount. 15.7 Participant Loan Account Notwithstanding any provision of Section 6.3 to the contrary,upon delivery,to the Employer,of the executed promissory note and assignment of interest in the Participant’s Investment Account,the Employer shall establish a loan account for the Participant (the “Participant’s Loan Account”),and transfer from the Participant’s Investment Account to the Participant’s Loan Account an amount equal to the amount of the Participant’s loan.The assets of the Participant’s Loan Account may be invested and reinvested only in promissory notes payable to the Employer by the Participant,or in cash.The Employer shall not be liable for any loss resulting from the Participant’s breach of his payment 27 obligations under such promissory note(s).Uninvested cash balances in a Participant’s Loan Account shall not bear interest.Repayments of principal and interest shall be transferred to the Participant’s Investment Account and invested as provided in Sections 6 and 8.The amount of the Participant’s Loan Account shall be reduced by the amount of each such transfer. 15.8 Application Procedures.Loan Requirements.Terms and Conditions,and Accounting Procedures From time to time,the Employer shall establish loan application procedures,loan requirements,loan terms and conditions,and loan accounting procedures.The application procedures,loan requirements,terms and conditions,and accounting procedures shall be uniform and non-discriminatory. From time to time,the Employer shall set an interest rate for new loans,based on prevailing rates.Loans made at different times may be subject to different interest rates,due to the difference in prevailing rates at the time. The Employer hereby establishes,on the terms and conditions set forth above,the Orange County Sanitation District Deferred Compensation Plan. 28