11/20/17 City Council Agenda Packet

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Eugene, Oregon (Proposed Ballot Measure) Population is 167,000 City Budget is $676 million City Manager has executive authority Elected Auditor has about 3 performance audit staff and a $670,000 budget The group called City Accountability has proposed charter amendments to establish an Office of the Independent Auditor for the City of Eugene. The elected auditor will provide objective, timely and accurate information about city operations to promote improved decision-making, service delivery and cost savings, as well as improve transparency and accountability to the public for city operations. DUTIES OF AUDITOR By charter, the auditor conducts financial, compliance, performance, special studies or other audits of all aspects of the city's government operations. The auditor also oversees any audits contracted for and funded by the city. By charter, the auditor maintains a website with audits and reports and establishes a whistleblower hotline. INDEPENDENCE The auditor is non-partisan, serves a four-year term and is responsible to the voters. The auditor supervises all staff in the auditor office and can secure independent legal counsel or the help of other professionals. The auditor prepares a work plan and seeks review and comment, but not approval, from the public, the City Council and the City Manager. ACCESS TO INFORMATION By charter, the auditor has access to all records, personnel and contracts. All city contracts will include a "right to audit" clause. By charter, the auditor may subpoena records, if necessary. ACCOUNTABILITY To run for office, the auditor must be certified and have five years of recent experience. The auditor may be recalled. The auditor will follow Generally Accepted Government Accounting Standards. All reports and audits will be posted publicly. Nothing in the charter amendments prohibit an audit committee, but none is required and no protocol is set for the committee's selection. The auditor is not subject to the attendance requirements of the Mayor and Council. The auditor need not be a city resident before or during her tenure, unlike the Mayor, Councilors, and City Manager. FUNDING The auditor prepares a budget for the office that is not less than 0.1 % of Eugene's total annual budget. The proposed charter amendments also set the auditor's compensation (not less than 70% of the average of the salaries of the Eugene city manager, Salem city manager and EWEB general manager) and benefits. OTHER UNIQUE PROVISIONS The auditor will follow up to determine if corrective action by audited entities was taken. The proposal does not specifically state that EWEB is subject to the auditor's jurisdiction, but it implies so through language giving supremacy to the petition language over any other provision of the Charter. The auditor shall be provided time on City Council agenda whenever requested by auditor.