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HomeMy WebLinkAbout _ 4.1(a)--Adopt Resolutions for Audit Committee and Financial Advisory Committee GI �" Y C� F � � �- ' � ° � � i � CITY OF REDDING �� REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: February 3, 2026 FROM: Kari Kibler, Interim City ITEM NO. 4.1(a) Manager/Personnel Director ***APPROVED BY*** kkibler�a�cityofredding.gov � � � � � � �i� �le�, niu�im C ety\+[;�n.x�;ca'Wciacr �� }iae�tzta 1'23L2dP2�i kkibler@cityofredding.gov SUBJECT: 4.1(a)--Adopt Resol�utions for Audit Committee and Financial Advisory Committee Recommendation Authorize and approve the following: (1) Adopt Resolution establishing the City of Redding Audit Committee to provide structured oversight of internal and external audit activities; and (2) Adopt Resolution establishing the City of Redding Financial Advisory Committee to provide community-informed advisory input on budget development, financial priorities, and long- term sustainability. Fiscal Impact There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adoption of the attached resolutions. Committee members serve without compensation and meetings will be supported by existing staff resources within the City Manager's Office and Finance Department. AZteNnative Action Council could provide alternative direction regarding one or both of the associated resolutions. Background/Analysis On December 2, 2025, during item 9.1(e) Council directed staff to prepar� resolutions formalizing the Audit Committee and ensuring all activities are clearly defined and a new Financial Advisory Committee established. The goal of the committees was to strengthen the City's financial governance framework, improving transparency, and enhancing long-term fiscal planning and accountability. On January 20, 2026, during item 9.1(c) Council discussed draft resolutions and provided elari�ying language and feedbaek to staff regarding the committees, structure, eomposition, how Council and community members are appointed. The attached r�solutions reflect the discussion Report to Redding City Council January 29,2026 Re: 4.1(a)--Adopt Resolutions forAudit Committee and Financial Advisory Committee Page 2 and changes. Below is an overview of each committee from the prior staff report. Audit Committee Resolution The City has maintained an Audit Committee since 2015 as a Brown Act committee; prior to 2015, the committee did not operate under Brown Act requirements. Currently, the Audit Committee meets annually, at a minimum, to review and discuss the results of the City's annual external audit. In addition, Council Policy 425 delegates responsibility for internal audits to the City's Finance Department and requires that the results of those audits be presented to the Audit Committee. The proposed Audit Committee resolution formalizes a focused, Council led advisory body dedicated to audit and accountability functions. It provides a mechanism to initiate and review internal audits with a dedicated reporting mechanism. Key elements include: � Clear Authority and Role: The Audit Cormnittee serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council, providing structured oversight of internal audit activities, external audit services, and audit findings, without directing staff or assuming operational authority. • Council Leaders'p with Limited Membership: The Committee is composed of the Mayor and Vice Mayor as voting members, ensuring direct Council involvement and accountability. The resolution also allows for the optional inclusion of up to two nonvoting community members to provide additional expertise and continuity. • Continuity and Expertise: Staggered appointments and defined qualification criteria for community members are designed to preserve institutional knowledge and bring relevant audit, financial, or governance experience to the Committee's work. • Regular, Transparent Meetings: Publicly noticed and open to public comment,provide a predictable forum for reviewing internal audit priorities and findings, external audit findings and performance, external audit contract considerations, and opportunities for process improvement. � Alignment with Best Practices: The Audit Committee structure reflects best practices in municipal governance by separating audit oversight from operational management while enhancing transparency and accountability Financial Advisory Committee The proposed Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) resolution establishes a broader, community-facing advisory body focused on fiscal policy, budget priorities, and economic trends. Key elements include: • Advisory Role to Council: The FAC provides non-binding recommendations and perspectives to the City Council on budget development, financial priorities, and long- term sustainability, without decision-making authority or staff direction. • Balanced Composition: The Committee includes two Council Members appointed through the Mayor's committee assignment process and five community members appointed by Council vote. This strueture balances elected-official oversight with diverse community and industry perspectives. � Industry-Based Expertise and Community Insight: Community member criteria emphasizes representation from major employers, local industries, and professions that understand spending patterns, economic conditions, and the social and emotional pulse of the community. Restrictions on confliets of interest and Council relationships preserve independence and credibility. Report to Redding City Council January 29,2026 Re: 4.1(a)--Adopt Resolutions forAudit Committee and Financial Advisory Committee Page 3 • Term Alignment and Continuity: Four-year staggered terms aligned with Council 1Vlember terms ensure continuity while maintaining accountability and periodic renewal of inembership. • Flexible, Budget-Aligned Meeting Cadence: The FAC is designed to meet strategically, often a limited number of times, to review materials staff intends to present to the Council, evaluate priorities, and provide feedback during budget development. Meeting frequency may increase during biennial budget cycles, with the FAC authorized to recommend cadence adjustments annually. • Sunset and Evaluation: A two-year sunset review requires the Council to evaluate the FAC's effectiveness using data and outcomes, ensuring the FAC remains purposeful and aligned with Council priorities. Envir�onmental Review This is not a project defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no fiirther action is required. Council Priority/City Manager Goals • Budget and Financial Management — "Achieve balanced and stable 10-year Financial Plans for all funds." • Communication and Transparency — "Improve the quality of communication with the public and City employees to enhance knowledge and increase transparency to improve public trust." • Government of the 21st Century — `Be relevant and proactive to the opportunities and challenges of today's residents and workforce. Anticipate the future to make better decisions today." Attachments ^Resolution A�udit Committee ^Resolution Financial Advisory Committee RESOLUTION NO. 2026- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING ESTABLISI3ING AN AUDIT COMMITTEE WHEREAS, the City Council desires to strengthen financial oversight, transparency, accountability, and risk inanagelnent through the establishment of an Audit Committee; and WHEREAS, an Audit Coinmittee provides a forum to review internal and external audit activities, recommend improvements, and ensure appropriate follow-up on findings; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that an Audit Committee is hereby established with the following authority, purpose, composition, and operating provisions: 1. Authority The Audit Committee is established by and derives its authority from the City CounciL The Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council and has no independent decision-making authority unless expressly delegated by Council action. The Committee may request information,presentations, and reports from City management, internal audit staff, and external auditors as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. 2. Purpose The purposes of the Audit Committee are to (1) enhance the integrity, transparency, and effectiveness of the City's financial reporting, internal controls, and audit processes, (2) provide direction and guidance regarding internal audit function topic considerations, review findings, and when necessary review and discuss process improvements, (3)review external audit service contracts,including scope, vendor selection, performance, and results, (4) facilitate communication among the City Council, management, internal auditors, and external auditors; and (5) promote best practices in governance, risk management, and financial accountability. 3. Composition and Membership The Audit Committee shall consist of two (2)voting members, one alternate voting member, and up to two (2) non-voting members. The voting members shall be the Mayor and Vice, who shall serve ex o�cio. The alternate member shall be the mayor pro tempore, who shall also serve ex officio. In addition to the Mayor and Vice Mayor, up to two (2) advisory, non-voting members may be appointed to the committee by the Council. Non-voting members will be selected from the public and provide for continuity and institutional knowledge. The Mayor and Council will,to the extent practical, appoint members who poss�ss (1) experience or education in accounting, auditing, finance, public administration, risk management, or a related field, (2) an understanding of governmental or public- sector financial practices, (3) the ability to analyze complex financial and audit information, and(4) a commitment to ethical standards, objectivity, and the public interest. Non-voting members shall serve staggered two (2) year terms. All non-voting members must be nominated by the Mayor and appointed by vote of the Council, except that in 2026, one (1) of the two (2) non-voting members shall be nominated by the Vice Mayor to serve a one (1) year term, in order to allow for proper staggering. Non-voting members shall comply with applicable ethics laws, conflict-of-interest requirements, and disclosure obligations and may be required to complete ethics, audit, or governance-related training as determined by the City. In addition to complying with al1 applicable conflict of interest 1aws,members shall not have any financial or business relationship with the City that would iinpair independence. 4. Staffing The City Manager and Director of Finance, or their designees, shall attend Committee meetings and ensure staff availability to support Committee work to provide information regarding audit results and financial infonnation. The Committee, however, sha11 not have authority to direct staff, and any Committee requests that may require the use of City resources shall be referred to the City Council. 5. Reporting The Audit Committee shall report its observations,recommendations,and activities to the City Council on a regular basis,or as otherwise requested by the Council,and recommend to City Council acceptance of Annual Comprehensive Financial Report(ACFR) and external audit results. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 3rd day of February, 2026,by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIlY: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MIKE LITTAU,Mayor ATTEST: FORM APPROVED: SHAIZLENE TIPTON,City Clerk CHRTSTIAN lYI. CURTIS, City Attorney RESOLUTION NO. 2026- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING ESTABLISHING A FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHEREAS, The City Council desires to enhance fiscal transparency, community engagement, and long-term financial sustainability; and WHEREAS,a Financial Advisory Committee provides informed, community-based perspectives on economic trends, budget priorities, and financial policy considerations; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that a Financial Advisory Committee is hereby established with the following authority,purpose,composition,and operating provisions: 1. Authority The Financial Advisory Committee(FAC)is established by and derives its authority from the City Council. The FAC serves solely in an advisory capacity and sha11 provide recommendations and observations to the City Council. The FAC shall have no independent decision-making authority and sha11 not direct City staff. The City Manager and Finance Director sha11 support the Committee by providing relevant financial information, analysis, and staff presentations. 2. Purpose The purpose of the Financial Advisory Committee is to (1) provide advisory input to the City Council on budget development,�inancial priorities, and long-term fiscal sustainability, (2)review majar financial assumptions, economic conditions, and community trends that may impact City revenues and expenditures, (3) offer community-informed perspectives on spending priorities in relation to adopted Council goals and community needs, (4) review staff-prepared materials intended for City Council consideration and provide non-binding feedback, and (5) strengthen transparency and public trust in the City's financial decision-making process. 3. Composition and Membership The Financial Advisory Committee shall consist of seven (7) members, and all decisions shall be made by a vote of a majority of the filled positions. Two (2) members of the Committee shall be members of the Redding City Council, who shall be nominated by the 1Vlayor and appointed by vote of the Council. To provide for continuity,the Council Members on the Committee shall serve staggered two (2)year terms. The remaining five (5)members shall be appointed members of the public appointed by the Couneil. Following an open public application proeess, each Council Member shall suggest one person to the committee, and all appointments shall be made by vote of the full Council. To the extent practicable, members of the committee shall reflect a broad cross-section of the local economy and community perspective. In selecting members of the committee, the Council shall endeavor to prioritize candidates in roles providing insight into purchasing behavior, spending trends, and the social and economic pulse of the community, such as major employers or key local industries, such as healthcare, retail, hospitality, construction, insurance, or financial services. Candidates should also be considered for their fmancial background and expertise, such as CPAs, CFOs, CEOs, or senior financial professionals. Community members appointed to the committee must comply with applicable ethics laws, conflict-of-interest requirements, and disclosure obligations and shall not have any financial or business relationship with the City that would impair independence. All members must be able to evaluate financial matters objectively and in the public interest. Community members on the Committee shall serve four (4) year terms, staggered to align with Council Member terms for continuity and institutional knowledge. Terms of each appointed member will end one year after the end of the term of each Council Member. Nothing sha11 prohibit a community from being reappointed following expiration of their terms, if approved by Council. Should either of the two (2) Council Members appointed to the Committee vacate the office of City Council Member, they shall immediately and automatically vacate their seat on the Committee. Community Members on the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and may be removed by a vote thereof. 4. Staffing The City Manager and Director of Finance, or their designees, shall attend Committee meetings and ensure staff availability to support Committee work to provide information regarding audit results and financial information. The Committee,however,shall not have authority to direct staff, and any Committee requests that may require the use of City resources shall be referred to the City Council. 5. Meeting Schedule The Financial Advisory Committee shall adopt a regular meeting schedule sufficient to meet the purposes and functions for which it is formed. Meetings may include review of materials and presentations staff intends to bring forward to the City Council. The Committee shall review budget priorities, community conditions, and adopted Council goals to inform advisory recommendations regarding the budget. 1Vleeting sch�dule should account for increased frequency during biennial budget development years, ineluding additional meetings aligned with the budget preparation process. A11 meetings shall be publicly noticed, open to the public, and include an opportunity�or public comment in accordanee with applieable open meeting laws. 6. Sunset Clause The need for, structure, and functions of the Financial Advisory Coinmittee shall be reviewed by the City Council after two (2) years of operation. The review shall consider data, outcomes, and overall effectiveness in meeting the Committee's purpose. Following review, the City Council may continue, modify, or dissolve the Committee by Council action. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 3rd day of February, 2026,by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MIKE LITTAU,Mayor ATTEST: FORM APPROVED: SHARLENE TIPTON,City Clerk CHRISTIAN M. CURTIS,City Attorney