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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 10-13 FCA• MEMORANDUM TO: Donn Escher, Financial Commission Chair Denis Kelly, Financial Commission Member Ned Storla, Financial Commission Member Gerald G. Splinter, City Manager Tim Johnson, Assistant Finance Director FROM: Charles Hansen, Finance Director C-0 DATE: October 13, 1994 SUBJECT: Audit Firm Interviews At its meeting on October 4, 1994, the Audit Committee narrowed the list of audit firms under consideration to three. I have been able to schedule interviews with these firms for Thursday, October 20, 1994 in the Council Chambers. The firm names and interview times are as follows: Audit Committee orientation 5:30 P.M. Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co., P.A. 6:00 P.M. Deloitte & Touche LLP 7:00 P.M. Tautges, Redpath & Co., LTD. 8:00 P.M. Each firm has been advised that they will be allowed half an hour to make their presentation, followed by fifteen minutes for the Audit Committee to ask follow up questions. I requested that they bring examples of written materials they have used in presentations of annual financial reports to city councils of other cities. Each Audit Committee member should consider ahead of time the questions they would like to ask in the interviews. We should meet at 5:30 P.M. to standardize these questions so they are asked in the same way to each firm. If we are able to conclude the interviews and agree on a recommendation on October 20th, it will then be possible to forward it to the City Council at their meeting on Monday, October 24, 1994. They may simply accept and act on the Audit Committee's recommendation, or they may wish to have their own interviews before deciding on an appointment. It will be important for at least one Audit Committee member to be present at the City Council meeting when the Audit Committee's recommendation is presented. • FINC"\MIN10194 MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINANCIAL COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER OCTOBER 13, 1994 BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM A CALL TO ORDER Chair Donn Escher called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the City Hall Conference Room A. ROLL CALL Present at roll call were Chair Donn Escher, Commissioners: Lee Anderson, Viola Kanatz, Ned Storla and Larry Peterson. Also present were City Manager Gerald Splinter and Finance Director Charlie Hansen. Audit Reauest for Proposal Process Charlie Hansen distributed a memo setting up interviews on Thursday October 20th with the three selected accounting firms. All Financial commission members are invited to attend the interviews. Discussion of 1995 Annual Budaet Donn Escher asked for an explanation of the memos which accompanied the proposed budget. Jerry Splinter explained that he had prepared a preliminary budget and tax levy which limited the General Fund to a 4% growth in expenditures. The City Council had been concerned about some of the items he cut and wanted to preserve their options to include these in a final budget. To accomplish this they added $100,000 to the managers preliminary budget and tax levy. They went on to direct the City Manager to prepare a list of other possible cuts which could be made to reduce the final budget and tax levy down to the level of the City Manager's original proposal. Several members expressed dismay with the City Council's lack of discussion of or consideration for the Financial Commission's recommendation of September 1, 1994. Donn Escher expressed and the Financial Commission concurred, some concern over the lack of attendance by the Council liaison at the Financial Commission meetings. Ned Storla stated that the Financial Commission understands that the City Council reacts politically to the public outcry for additional police officers, but that they should react with more analysis of fiscal and service level issues. Larry Peterson reminded the Financial Commission of the possible savings which could be achieved by joint police dispatching and the upcoming capital costs of replacing the dispatch center. Larry Peterson moved that the Financial Commission reaffirm its recommendation passed on September 1, 1994 that the City Manager's • preliminary tax levy is recommended to the City Council and state that the Financial Commission will work with the City Council and Staff to minimize any increase in the final tax levy. Commissioner Viola Kanatz seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor. Abnroval of Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Larry Peterson to approve the minutes of the September 1, 1994 meeting. Commissioner Lee Anderson seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor. Next Meetina No date was set for the next meeting. Chair Donn Escher will call a meeting when sufficient agenda items exist. ADJOURNMENT At 8:30 P.M. there was a motion by Commissioner Viola Kanatz and seconded by Commissioner Lee Anderson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. 0