Title
Approving the City of Saint Paul Audit Committee’s next two studies concerning the Department of Safety and Inspections’ Business Licensing Operations and the Public Works Department’s Street Maintenance and Pothole Repair Operations, and authorizing Wilder Research to conduct the respective studies in 2026 and 2027.
Body
WHEREAS, the Audit Committee’s mission is to evaluate the financial and program performance of City departments to build public trust and ensure outstanding service delivery, transparency, and accountability; and
WHEREAS, as part of its effort to streamline and improve its study selection process, the Audit Committee revised its approach from identifying one study topic at a time to proactively identifying multiple studies in advance, allowing the Committee to plan and prepare for upcoming work based on areas of high interest and ensuring that work on the next study can commence promptly upon completion of the preceding study, thereby improving efficiency and continuity in the Committee’s study process; and
WHEREAS, the Audit Committee considered audit topics received from City Council committees, a resident survey, a staff survey, and community engagement with the City’s 17 district councils; and
WHEREAS, at its July 21, 2026 meeting, the Audit Committee reviewed five (5) study topics. Following discussion, Committee members and advisors expressed strong support for forwarding three (3) topics to the City Council for consideration: Department of Safety and Inspections - Business Licensing Operations; Planning and Economic Development - District Council Reform; and Public Works - Street Maintenance and Pothole Repair Operations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the three (3) topics forwarded by the Audit Committee members and advisors and determined that Business Licensing Operations and Street Maintenance and Pothole Repair Operations are consistent with the Audit Committee’s mission and should proceed as the Committee’s nex...
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