First Public Meeting of City Task Force on Finance Will Meet Monday

The first public meeting of the City’s Task Force on Financial Administration and Internal Control will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 9 at Pasadena City Hall, officials announced today.

On Feb. 23, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard named seven people to the Task Force that is charged with making recommendations to the City Council and the City Manager in response to the announcement last year that a former City employee allegedly stole up to $6.4 million during an 11-year embezzlement scheme.

Following an investigation by the City, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced in December the arrest a former City employee and two other persons for their alleged involvement in the theft. Information about the incident and the City’s response can be found online at www.cityofpasadena.net/invoiceinvestigation.

Task Force members include C. Douglas Kranwinkle, Chair, Robert E. Carlson, Robert C. Davidson, Jr., James F. Dowling, Donald C. Nanney, Charlotte Reith and Raul F. Salinas.

“It is my intent to reflect in these appointments the priority for the Council, the City Manager and all of City Hall to demonstrate our commitment to fully examine this unfortunate experience and to take every reasonable step to avoid anything like it in the future,” Mayor Bogaard said.

Bogaard said about 30 people expressed interest in serving on the Task Force. Bogaard said the appointments were made based on the applicants’ expertise in accounting, forensic accounting, finance, municipal administration, law, fraud, investigations, public integrity and ethics.

The Task Force will call upon the expertise of its members to:

• Advise the Council and City Manager regarding the City’s actions to review its financial administration and reporting;

• Review the integrity and effectiveness of the City’s financial reporting and internal controls;

• Assess the City’s internal audit function, and the pros and cons of an ongoing citizen-based audit advisory committee; and

• Make such other conclusions and recommendations in a written report as the Task Force may determine will strengthen the City’s financial administration and internal controls and minimize risk.

The meeting will take place at 100 N. Garfield Ave., in the Council Conference Room adjacent to the Council Chamber, Second Floor.