Audit Committee delays final topic selection, will invite departments and relaunch survey for 2025 work plan

The Saint Paul Audit Committee reviewed a draft meeting schedule for 2025 and agreed to shift the timeline for selecting its next audit topic to allow more department outreach and to gather survey and budget-related input.

Staff proposed meeting once a month on the third week, largely at a new 4 p.m. start time. The committee heard that three community advisers' terms expire in April 2025, that terms are three years and that there is no explicit language forbidding reappointment; the committee discussed whether to reappoint current advisers or begin a new application process.

Members said the proposed topic-selection timeline was compressed given holiday timing and the need for department engagement. Several committee members recommended inviting department directors to present problems they'd like the committee to study or sharing the audit committee’s risk matrix to help departments frame requests. The committee agreed to re-promote the always-open survey (staff to circulate the QR link) and to delay narrowing topics until March to allow time for department briefings, staff follow-up and survey results.

Staff summarized the plan: January will include Dr. Britt’s return and a parks and libraries implementation briefing; departments will be invited to present in January and February where scheduling allows; and March will be the target month to synthesize input and vote on the next topic. The committee will also consider follow-up checkpoints to track implementation of recommendations from completed audits.