Loading...
CC - Item 4G - Contract with Mayer Hoffman McCanni 4 ~.NJ--` ~v'2 i } ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT T0: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: ANDREW C. LAZZARETTO, CITY MANAGE DATE: MAY 8, 2007 SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF CONTRACT WITH MAYER HOFFMAN MCCANN, P.C. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 SUMMARY The California Government Code requires that an independent audit of the City of Rosemead's records, books, and inventories be conducted and a report issued thereon. The services provided by the independent auditor are to support the City's reporting function as well as to provide ongoing technical support when necessary. The current contract with McGladrey & Pullen ended after audit services for fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 were completed. The City spent $89,100 for audit services performed by McGladrey & Pullen for fiscal year 2006. On April 24, 2007 the City Council authorized the City Manager to seek proposals to contract with a new public accounting firm to perform the annual audits of the financial statements of the City of Rosemead, the Rosemead Community Development Commission, and the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation. In addition, the accounting firm will also perform the audit to satisfy the requirement imposed by the Single Audit Act and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB Circular A-133). City staff requested proposals from five well established, full service independent accounting firms with municipality specialization including McGladrey & Pullen. Each firm was evaluated based on the competitive selection process, in which the evaluation of proposals was not limited to price alone. Audit service proposal pricing ranged from $44,610 to $73,300, with only $390 separating the two lowest bids. Each firm demonstrated strong technical experience auditing similar entities, performing the types of work outlined, and the ability to provide ongoing technical support when necessary. However, a critical factor in the overall rating was the firms' commitment to the internal control review process and ongoing consultative support. The proposal of $45,000 from Mayer Hoffman McCann, not only addressed their reporting of internal control matters of significant deficiency or material weakness by letter to the City Council, but also included the preparation of a letter to City management with other recommendations from their review of internal control procedures. City staff views this APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: l 0 0 City Council Meeting May 8, 2007 Page 2 of 5 benefit as significant due to numerous staff and operational changes throughout the City which may have a direct impact on internal controls. The proposal also included a provision for additional client training at their annual client training conference. Further, the proposal reiterated that the firm's policy is to provide unlimited telephone consultations to their municipal clients regarding accounting and other technical matters. The selection of Mayer Hoffman McCann will result in a $28,300 cost savings in audit service fees. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to execute a contract with the public accounting firm of Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. to perform the annual audits of the financial statements of the City of Rosemead, the Rosemead Community Development Commission, and the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation for the amount of $45,000. ANALYSIS Four well established, full service independent accounting firms with California municipality specialization were contacted to solicit bid proposals. In addition, the current audit firm of McGladrey & Pullen was contacted for a proposal for fiscal year 2007. Copies of the proposals received by the City are included as attachments A through E. An arrangement letter was submitted by McGladrey & Pullen due to the firm's history of auditing the City of Rosemead for over 20 years. Evaluation Criteria Each firm was evaluated based on the competitive selection process, in which the evaluation of proposals was not limited to price alone. Technical merit, consultative support and firm capability were also given significant consideration in the selection process. The competitive selection evaluation criteria were as follows: A. Firm Qualifications Technical experience of the firm as documented by experience in auditing similar entities and performing the type of work outlined; size and structure of the firm; ability to provide ongoing technical and consultative support when necessary. Specific firm qualifications considered included: Documented experience in auditing similar government agencies. 2. Adherence to the strict quality control measures and high • • City Council Meeting May 8, 2007 Page 3of5 professional standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California State Board of Accountancy. 3. Enrollment in continuous professional education classes with a focus on governmental accounting and auditing topics. 4. Ability to react quickly to changes in the auditing profession including early implementation of new audit requirements. 5. Technical knowledge and resources to meet the City's audit report deadlines and special request needs. B. Personnel Qualifications Qualifications of Partners and staff at various levels. The City expects the field senior in-charge to be a CPA candidate with at least three years experience in auditing municipalities or other governmental entities. C. Methodoloay Responsiveness of the proposal in clearly stating an understanding of the audit services to be performed, including appropriateness and adequacy of proposed procedures, reasonableness of time estimates and timeliness of expected completion. D. Dollar Cost Bid Cost of contracted services. Discussion of Criteria Evaluation Firm Qualifications All five firms have been servicing local governments for over 40 years. Each firm demonstrated strong technical experience auditing similar entities, performing the types of work outlined, and the ability to provide ongoing technical support when necessary. However, a critical factor in the overall rating was the firms' commitment to the internal control review process and ongoing consultative support. The proposal from Mayer Hoffman McCann, not only addressed their reporting of internal control matters of significant deficiency or material weakness by letter to the City Council, but also included the preparation of a letter to City management with other recommendations from their review of internal control procedures. City staff views this benefit as significant due to numerous staff and operational changes throughout the City which may have a direct impact on internal controls. Mayer Hoffman McCann's proposal included the provision to keep City staff abreast of new developments affecting local government finance. The proposal also included a 0 • City Council Meeting May 8, 2007 Page 4 of 5 provision for additional client training with respect to new GASB pronouncements at their annual client training conference. Further, the proposal reiterated that the firm's policy is to provide unlimited telephone consultations to their municipal clients regarding accounting and other technical matters. Advice can be solicited regarding the application of generally accepted accounting principles, establishment and segregation of funds, advice regarding debt issuance, financial statement preparation and content and other matters relating to the City. Personnel Qualifications The engagement partner, technical review partner and engagement manager for each firm were each well experienced and comparable, and therefore did not provide a major point to distinguish between the firms. Methodology McGladrey & Pullen, being the only firm who has audited the City of Rosemead, clearly understands the scope of the work, and the time necessary to complete the audit. The other four firms were, however, able to clearly demonstrate their understanding of the audit services to be performed, including the appropriateness and adequacy of proposed procedures, reasonableness of time estimates and timeliness of expected completion. Dollar Cost Bid The hours and price for each firm are listed below: McGladrey & Pullen Mayer Hoffman McCann Diehl, Evans & Co. Lance Soll & Lunghard Vasquez & Company Price for audit Hours for services $73,300 Not Provided $45,000 430 hours $44,610 430 hours $59,510' Not Provided $64,500 550 hours * The dollar cost bid from Lance Soil & Lunghard was for a period of three years through fiscal 2009. The bid for fiscal 2008 and 2009 was $61,306 and $63,145, respectively. FINANCIAL REVIEW The cost of the fiscal year 2007 audit, under the terms of the contract is $45,000. Funds for the fiscal year 2007 audit have been included in the fiscal year 2008 recommended operating budget. The City will realize a cost saving of $28,300 in fees. City Council Meeting May 8, 2007 Paae 3 of 3 PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Submitted by: L ISA TC- Lisa Pedote Chief Financial Officer • McGladrey& Pul en Certified Public Accountants April 6, 2007 To the Honorable City Council City of Rosemead, California Attention: Mr. Andrew Lazzaretto, City Manager 14 f/-Ck c, J-) r- - 6---) - ,q McGladrey & Pullen, LLP 18401 Von Karman Ave, 5th Floor Irvine California 92612$531 0 949 255 6600 F 949 255 5091 This letter is to explain our understanding of the arrangements for the services we are to perform for the City of Rosemead, California (the City) for the year ending June 30, 2007. We ask that you either confirm or amend this understanding. We will perform an audit of the City's governmental activities, each major fund and the aggregate remaining fund information as of and for the year ending June 30, 2007, which collectively comprise the basic financial statements. We understand that these financial statements will be prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, The objective of an audit of financial statements is to express an opinion on those statements. We will also perform an audit of the basic financial statements of the Rosemead Community Development Commission (the Commission) and the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation (the Corporation) to be issued by the City as of and for the year ended June 30, 2007. We understand that these financial statements will be prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We will also perform the audit of the City as of June 30, 2007 so as to satisfy the audit requirements imposed by the Single Audit Act and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB Circular No. A-133). We will conduct the audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and the provisions of the Single Audit Act, OMB Circular A-133 and OMB's Compliance Supplement. Those standards, circulars or supplements require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable rather than absolute, assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether caused by error, fraudulent financial reporting or misappropriation of assets. Accordingly, a material misstatement, whether caused by error, fraudulent financial reporting or misappropriation of assets, may remain undetected. An audit includes examining, on a test basis evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. As a result, an audit is not designed to detect errors or fraud that are immaterial to the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit will provide a reasonable basis for our reports. In addition to our reports on the above-mentioned financial statements, we will also issue the following reports or types of reports: • A report on the fairness of the presentation of the City's schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the year ended June 30, 2007. • Reports on internal control related to the financial statements and major programs. These reports will describe the scope of testing of internal control and the results of our tests of internal controls. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP is a member firm of RSM International, an affiliation of separate and independent legal entities. • City of Rosemead April 6, 2007 Page 2 F_ I L • Reports on compliance with laws, regulations, and the provision of contracts or grant agreements. We will report on any noncompliance which could have a material effect on the financial statements and any noncompliance which could have a direct and material effect on each major program. • A schedule of findings and questioned costs. • A summary schedule of prior audit findings. • Completion of the Data Collection Form for Reporting on Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non- Profit Organizations as required by OMB Circular A-133. • Agreed-upon procedures sufficient to provide an Independent Accountant's Report on Agreed-Upon Procedures Applied to Appropriations Limit Worksheets for the City. • A management report of recommendations to improve managerial or operational effectiveness and efficiency, including certain matters that are not considered to be reportable conditions. • An Audit Committee or equivalent letter as promulgated by the reporting standards of the Government Auditing Standards. The funds that you have told us are maintained by the City and that are to be included as part of our audit are those identified in your budget for the year ended June 30, 2007. The federal financial assistance programs that you have told us the City participates in and that are to be included as part of the single audit going forward are as follows: • Community Development Block Grant CFDA #14.218 • HOME Investment Partnership Program CFDA #14.239 • Community-oriented Policing Services CFDA #16.580 • Local Law Enforcement Block Grant CFDA #16.592 • Narcotics Forfeiture and Seizure CFDA #16.xxx The component units whose financial statements you have told us are to be included as part of the City's basic financial statements are as follows: the Rosemead Community Development Commission and the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation. Our reports on internal control will include any reportable conditions and material weaknesses in the system of which we become aware as a result of obtaining an understanding of internal control and performing tests of internal control consistent with requirements of the standards and circular identified above, Our reports on compliance will address material errors and fraud; violations of compliance requirements, and other responsibilities imposed by state and federal statutes and regulations and assumed by contracts; and any state or federal grant, entitlement or loan program questioned costs of which we become aware, consistent with requirements of the standards and circulars identified above. If circumstances arise related to the condition of your records; the availability of sufficient, competent evidential matter; or indications of a significant risk of material misstatement of the financial statements because of error, fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets or noncompliance, which in our professional judgment prevent us from completing the audit or forming an opinion, we retain the unilateral right to take any course of action permitted by professional standards, including declining to express an opinion or issue a report, or withdrawal from the engagement. City of Rosemead April 6, 2007 Page 3 As you know, management is responsible for (1) preparing the City's financial statements and scheduling Federal awards; (2) establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and safeguarding assets and internal control over compliance, including monitoring ongoing activities, and informing us of all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of such controls of which it has knowledge; (3) properly recording transactions in the records; (4) identifying and ensuring that the City complies with the laws and regulations applicable to its activities, and for informing us about all known material violations of such laws or regulations; (5) designing and implementing programs and controls to prevent and detect fraud, and informing us about all known or suspected fraud affecting the entity involving management, employees who have significant roles in internal control and others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial statements; (6) informing us of its knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity received in communications from employees, regulators or others; (7) making all financial records and related information available to us; (8) adjusting the financial statements to correct material misstatements; (9) following up and taking corrective action on audit findings, including the preparation of a summary schedule of prior audit findings, and a corrective action plan; and (10) report distribution including submitting the reporting package. At the conclusion of our audit, we will request certain written representations from management about the financial statements and matters related thereto. We will also require that you affirm to us that the effects of any uncorrected misstatements aggregated by us during the current engagement and pertaining to the latest period presented are immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate, to the financial statements taken as a whole. The City Council is responsible for informing us of its views about the risks of fraud within the entity, and its knowledge of any fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity. We will also determine that certain matters related to the conduct of the audit are communicated to the Council, including (1) fraud involving senior management and fraud (whether caused by senior management or other employees) that causes a material misstatement of the financial statements, (2) illegal acts that come to our attention (unless they are clearly inconsequential), (3) disagreements with management and other serious difficulties encountered in performing the audit, and (4) various matters related to the entity's accounting policies and financial statements. The City of Rosemead, California, hereby indemnifies McGladrey & Pullen, LLP and its partners, principals and employees and holds them harmless from all claims, liabilities, losses and costs arising in circumstances where there has been a known misrepresentation by a member of City of Rosemead, California's management, regardless of whether such person was acting in the City's interest. This indemnification will survive termination of this letter. You have informed us that you intend to prepare a comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) and submit it for evaluation by the Government Finance Officers Association's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program. Our participation in the preparation of the CAFR is to consist of providing the City with a reader's proof copy of the City's financial statements (i.e., Section II minus the Management Discussion & Analysis). We will need to at least read the material included in the Introductory and Statistical Sections. The preparation of the material included in the Introductory and Statistical Sections can be quite time-consuming. We request that we be given at least one week to review the City's version of these sections prior to publishing the final document. The working papers for this engagement are the property of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. However, you acknowledge and grant your assent that representatives of the cognizant or oversight agency or their designee, other government audit staffs and the U.S. General Accounting Office shall have access to the audit working papers upon their request, and that we shall maintain the working papers for a period of at least seven years after the date of the report, or for a longer period if we are requested to do so by the cognizant or oversight agency. Access to requested workpapers will be provided under the supervision of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP audit personnel and at a location designated by our Firm. We will assist the City in the preparation of its CAFR and in the preparation of the financial reports for the Commission and Corporation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. • • City of Rosemead April 6, 2007 Page 4 The two overarching principles of the independence standards of Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States provide that management is responsible for the substantive outcomes of the works and, therefore, has a responsibility and is able to make any informed judgment on the results of the services described above. Accordingly, the City agrees to the following: 1. Mr. Andrew Lazzaretto, City Manager, and Ms. Lisa Pedote, Finance Director, will be accountable and responsible for overseeing the preparation of the financial statements and related footnotes for the Commission and Corporation. 2. The City will establish and monitor the performance of the preparation of the financial statements and related footnotes for the Commission and Corporation to ensure that they meet management's objectives. 3. The City will make any decisions that involve management functions related to the preparation of the financial statements and related footnotes for the Commission and Corporation and accepts full responsibility for such decisions. 4. The City will evaluate the adequacy of services performed and any findings that result. During the course of our engagement, we may accumulate records containing data, which should be reflected in your books and records. You will determine that all such data, if necessary, will be so reflected. Accordingly, you will not expect us to maintain copies of such records in our possession. From time to time and depending upon the circumstances, we may use third-party service providers to assist us in providing professional services to you. In such circumstances, it may be necessary for us to disclose confidential client information to them. We enter into confidentiality agreements with all third-party service providers and we are satisfied that they have appropriate procedures in place to prevent the unauthorized release of your confidential information to others. The assistance to be supplied by organization personnel, including the preparation of schedules and analyses of accounts, will be discussed and coordinated with Ms. Lisa Pedote, Finance Director. The timely and accurate completion of this work is an essential condition to our completion of the audit and issuance of our audit report. Our fees are based on the time required by the individuals assigned to the engagement, plus direct expenses. Interim billings will be submitted as work progresses and as expenses are incurred. Billings are due upon submission. Our fees for the services described in this letter for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 are shown below: Preparation of the City's June 30, 2007 audited basic financials statements, including $2,650 for Proposition A Fund $ 27,000 Preparation of the City's audited financial statements to satisfy the audit requirements imposed by the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular No. A-133 6,800 Preparation of the Commission's June 30, 2007 audited component unit financial statements 16,300 Preparation of the Corporation's June 30, 2007 audited component unit financial statements 9,000 Preparation of the June 30, 2007 limited procedures review on the Appropriations Limit Calculation in accordance with Article XI I I B of the California Constitution 2,200 Assistance in the preparation of the City's Commission's and Corporation's annual audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2007 12.000 • 0 City of Rosemead April 6, 2007 Page 5 These fees were based on the fees charged for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006 adjusted for increases being experienced in the public accounting profession. This fee structure is dependent on the accurate and timely completion of the schedules we will communicate through the client participation schedule and on the premise that there are no more than two major federal financial assistance programs and the City is designated as a low risk auditee as that term is defined in circular OMB A-133. Should events modify the scope of our engagement, including the scope of the engagement has changed, the assistance which the City has agreed to furnish is not provided, or unexpected conditions are encountered, our fee arrangement with the City will require written modification. Our professional standards require that we perform certain additional procedures, on current and previous years' engagements whenever a partner or professional employee leaves the firm and is subsequently employed by or associated with a client. Accordingly, the City agrees it will compensate McGladrey & Pullen, LLP for any additional costs incurred as a result of the employment of a partner or professional employee of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. In the event we are requested or authorized by the City or are required by government regulation, subpoena or other legal process to produce our documents or our personnel as witnesses with respect to our engagements for the City, the City will, so long as we are not a party to the proceeding in which the information is sought, reimburse us for our professional time and expenses, as well as the fees and expenses of our counsel, incurred in responding to such requests. Professional standards and our Firm policies require that we perform certain additional procedures whenever our reports are included, or we are named as accountants, auditors or "experts," in a document used in a public offering of debt securities. Our report on the financial statements is not to be included in an official statement or other document involved with the sale of debt instruments without our prior consent. Additionally, if you intend to publish or otherwise reproduce the financial statements and/or make reference to us or our audit, you agree to provide us with printer's proofs or master for our review and consent before reproduction and/or release occurs. You also agree to provide us with a copy of the final reproduced material for our consent before it is distributed or released. Our fees for any additional services that may be required under our quality assurance system as a result of the above will be established with you at the time such services are determined to be necessary. It is agreed by City and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP or any successors in interest that no claim arising out of services rendered pursuant to this agreement by or on behalf of City shall be asserted more than two years after the date of the last audit report issued by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, a copy of our most recent peer review report has been provided to you, for your information. City of Rosemead April 6, 2007 Page 6 If this letter defines the arrangements, as you understand them, please sign and date the enclosed copy and return it to us. We appreciate your business. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP Jeffrey M. Altshuler, Partner Confirmed on behalf of the addressee: Signature Date 40 9 CITY OF ROSEMEAD CALIFORNIA Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. An Independent CPA Firm Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. Conrad Government Services Division 9 9 PROPOSAL OF INDEPENDENT AUDIT SERVICES TO THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA Submitted by: MAYER HOFFMAN McCANN P.C. CONRAD GOVERNMENT SERVICES DIVISION 2301 DUPONT DR., SUITE 200 IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612 April 2, 2007 CONTACT PERSON - JENNIFER CHRISTIAN, SHAREHOLDER PHONE NO: (949) 474-2020, EXT. 272 FACSIMILE NO: (949) 263-5520 EMAIL: jcluistian c cbiz.com WEBSITE: w% w.mhm-pc.com MAYER HOFFMAN McCANN P.C. CALIFORNIA LICENSE NO. CORP 5091 MAYER HOFFMAN McCANNT P.C. FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION NO. 43-1947695 • • PROPOSAL OF AUDIT SERVICES TO THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD TABLE OF CONTENTS Section MAYER HOFFMAN McCANN P.C A About Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. Page B Our Prior Experience Auditing Cities, Redevelopment Agencies, Housing Authorities and Other Local Government 3 C Capabilities in General Consulting and Compliance Auditing 7 ENGAGEMENT TEAM PROFILE D Qualifications and Related Experience of the Personnel who will Service the City of Rosemead 9 SCOPE OF WORK AND APPROACH E Approach, Timing and Work Program of Our Engagement Team 10 F Our Finn's Understanding of the Objectives and Scope of the Engagement 17 REFERENCES G References of Local Government Clients 19 FEESTRUCTURE H Our Hourly Rates and Maximum Fee to Perform this Engagement 20 BIOGRAPHIES Resumes of Audit engagement Team CONCLUDING COMMENTS Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. Peer Review Report • • Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. An Independent CPA Firm Conrad Government Services Division 2301 Dupont Drive. Suite 200 Irvine, California 92612 949.474-2020 ph 949-263-5520 fx www.mhm-pc.com April 2, 2007 City of Rosemead Lisa Pedote, Chief Financial Officer 8838 E Valley Boulevard Rosemead, California 91770 The Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is pleased to respond to your request to serve as the independent auditors for the City of Rosemead for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007 with optional extensions through 2011. Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (MHM) would be your best selection for the following reasons which are set forth in greater detail in our proposal: • The Conrad Government Services Division of MHM currently serves approximately 85 California municipal clients, including serving as independent auditors for 46 California cities. We also serve the redevelopment agencies of those cities. • Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is a national CPA Firm. In California, Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. has offices in Los Angeles, Oxnard, Bakerfield, Irvine, San Diego and San Jose. More than 400 accounting and audit professionals serve clients from the California offices. As a national firm, MHM reacts quickly to changes in the auditing profession including early implementing many of the new audit requirements contained in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 103 through 112. • The audit of the City of Rosemead would be serviced out of the Irvine Conrad Government Services office, formally known as Conrad and Associates, LLP. Of the 90 professionals in the Irvine office, over 60 of them attend our annual Local Government Audit Training. Because of the large number of professionals with specialized training, we have the knowledge and resources to meet your audit report deadlines and perform a quality audit for the City. • The Conrad Government Services Division of MHM.'s audit team of Jennifer Christian, Engagement Shareholder, Ken Al-Imam, Technical Review Shareholder, Will Kakolokula, Engagement Manager and Lara Banut, In-Charge have a proven track record in serving California cities, redevelopment agencies, special districts and authorities. • We currently serve as independent auditors for major cities and special districts in Southern California including the following Los Angeles County cities: the cities of Burbank, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Torrance. • City of Rosemead Page Two • • In addition to providing extensive local government and other audit and information technology training for our staff, the Conrad Government Services Division provides an annual Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Technical Update each spring for our clients. • We understand the scope of work to be performed and we can and will deliver the services desired by the City of Rosemead. • Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. adheres to the strict quality control measures and high professional standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and California State Board of Accountancy. MUM is a member of the AICPA's Center for Public Company Audit Firms, Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, Governmental Audit Quality Center and the AICPA's Private Company Practice Section (PCPS). • We believe that our fee estimate and structure will assure the City of Rosemead of a fair and reasonable cost (based upon the experience of our audit team) to perform the annual audit examination for the City. • Ms. Jennifer Christian, Shareholder and Mr. Ken AI-Imam, Shareholder, are authorized shareholders of the Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman and are authorized to bind our Firm in contractual matters with the City of Rosemead. Ms. Christian and Mr. Al-Imam are also authorized to make representations for the Firm to the City of Rosemead. • Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. and all key personnel are licensed and in good standing with the California State Board of Accountancy to practice as independent certified public accountants. Additionally, Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is independent with respect to the City of Rosemead within the Government Auditing Standards. Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing outstanding service to the City and in meeting the requested time deadlines. We will maintain our working papers for a period of seven years. Our Firm has currently in force all insurance coverages as required by the City of Rosemead. The Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. thanks the City of Rosemead for the opportunity to present our proposal qualifications and for the opportunity to be appointed as your independent auditors. Our proposal remains a firm and irrevocable offer for 90 days. I look forward to you contacting me so that I may answer further any questions which you may have. You may contact me at (949) 474-2020, Ext. 272. Very truly yours, MAYER HOFFMAN McCANN P.C. CONRAD GOVERNMENT SERVICES DIVISION Jennifer Christian. C.P.A. Shareholder Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. 1 0 • • • SECTION A ABOUT MAYER HOFFMAN McCANN P.C. Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is a National CPA Firm. The firm is independently owned and operated through its 193 shareholders. The firm began in Kansas City, Missouri in 1954. After years of steady growth the Firm expanded into a National Practice. Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. currently operates from 29 offices throughout the United States and is licensed in 48 States. Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is closely aligned with CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ). The 193 shareholders in 29 Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. offices direct the resources of approximately 1800 Accounting and Audit professionals who services the attest clients of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. 'rhe Western Region Office of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. work closely together in servicing clients and sharing professional resources among offices. Those offices locations are as follows: • Irvine California (Conrad Government Services Division) • Irvine, California (SEC services office) • Los Angeles, California • Bakersfield, California • Oxnard, California • San Diego, California • Salt Lake City, Utah • Phoenix, Arizona • Tucson, Arizona The Western Region offices have more than 425 professional accounting and audit personnel available to the 56 shareholders of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. in the ten Western Region offices. The Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. commenced on January 1, 2006. This Division is the former CPA practice of Conrad and Associates, L.L.P., a 35 year old CPA firm which has been nationally and locally recognized for its expertise in Governmental Accounting and Auditing. The Conrad Government Services Division is the technical and practice unit designated within Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. for technical expertise and training for Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. on a national level. National and Local Government Expertise in the Conrad Government Services Division is directed through the following shareholders of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. who devote their time to servicing governmental clients: • Ronald L. Conrad, Shareholder • Michael A. Harrison, Shareholder • Ken Al-Imam, Shareholder • Jennifer Christian, Shareholder • Marcus Davis, Shareholder • Rene Jorgeson, Principal • Ronald Rolwes, Shareholder Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is a National CPA Firm and ranked among the top 10 Accounting Service Providers in the country. MHM adheres to the strict quality control measures and high professional standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the • 9 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the California State Board of Accountancy (as well as other states when applicable). Our Firm is a member of the AICPA's Center for Public Company's Audit firms, Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center, Governmental Audit Quality Center and the AICPA's Private Company Practice Section (POPS). As a member of the Private Companies Practice Section and PCAOB our audit procedures and working papers are regularly examined by another CPA firm in the firm-on-firm peer review program. In addition, all aspects of the firm's quality control practices have been reviewed, including the firm's commitment to extensive training programs. In every member firm, each member of the professional staff must enroll in continuous professional education courses. Each is required to take at least, 120 hours of classes over a three-year period. Courses cover a wide spectrum of professional and technical subjects, and include Fraud Auditing, Professional Ethics and Governmental Accounting and Auditing topics to help the practitioner maintain his/her professional expertise. A copy of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.'s Quality Control Review report for the year ended June 30, 2005 is included at the end of our technical proposal. In all instances of Peer Review both Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. and the Conrad Government Services Division have never had a record of substandard audit Nvork. Additionally, the results of field audits and desk reviews by Government Agencies and other Regulatory Agencies of Govenunental audits conducted by our Firm have always indicated that our audit work met the requirements of documentation. No disciplinary actions have been taken or are pending against our Firm during the past three years. • SECTION B 0 The Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is vastly experienced in the audits of local government units (all funds audit examinations of cities including single audits performed under OMB Circular A-133, financial and compliance audits of California Redevelopment Agencies, audit examinations of public housing authorities, joint powers authorities and special districts). Among the local government entities which the Conrad Goverrunent Services Division has served during the past fiscal year are the following; All Funds Examinations of California Cities Los Angeles County City of Bell City of Burbank City of Carson City of Hawaiian Gardens City of La Verne City of Lomita City of Pasadena City of San Gabriel City of Santa Monica City of South Gate City of Temple City City of Torrance City of West Covina Orange County City of Aliso Viejo City of Costa Mesa City of Laguna Beach City of Laguna Niguel City of Laguna Woods City of La Palma City of Newport Beach City of Orange City of Placentia City of Rancho Santa Margarita City of Villa Park • SECTION B, (CONTINUED) Riverside County City of Hemet City of Indio City of Rosemead City of Palm Springs City of Rancho Mirage Citv of Riverside San Bernardino County City of Highland City of Redlands City of Upland City of Yucaipa City of Yucca Valley City of Victorville San Diego County City of El Cajon City of Escondido City of National City City of Santee City of San Marcos City of Solana Beach Other Counties City of Gilroy City of Goleta 0 Experience with Redevelopment A-.encies The Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. currently or has previously performed financial and compliance audits of the following redevelopment agencies: Pasadena Redevelopment Agency Indio Redevelopment Agency Brea Redevelopment Agency Santa Ana Redevelopment Agency Buena Park Redevelopment Agency Rancho Mirage Redevelopment Agency Stanton Redevelopment Agency Rialto Redevelopment Agency San Marcos Redevelopment Agency Azusa Redevelopment Agency Vista Redevelopment Agency L J SECTION B, (CONTINUED) • Experience with Redevelopment Agencies, (Continued) South Gate Redevelopment Agency La Palma Redevelopment Agency Downey Redevelopment Agency Temple City Redevelopment Agency San Jacinto Redevelopment Agency Westminster Redevelopment Agency Norwalk Redevelopment Agency Palm Springs Redevelopment Agency Carlsbad Redevelopment Agency Cathedral City Redevelopment Agency Desert Hot Springs Redevelopment Agency Escondido Redevelopment Agency Banning Redevelopment Agency Redlands Redevelopment Agency La Verne Redevelopment Agency Gilroy Redevelopment Agency Hemet Redevelopment Agency Highland Redevelopment Agency Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency Delano Redevelopment Agency Rosemead Redevelopment Agency Whittier Redevelopment Agency San Carlos Redevelopment Agency Bell Redevelopment Agency Pomona Redevelopment Agency Hesperia Redevelopment Agency Orange Redevelopment Agency San Clemente Redevelopment Agency La Puente Redevelopment Agency Placentia Redevelopment Agency Victorville Redevelopment Agency Arcadia Redevelopment Agency Santa Monica Redevelopment Ag ency Torrance Redevelopment Agency Goleta Redevelopment Agency Yucaipa Redevelopment Agency Our experience with redevelopment agencies is extensive and includes the following: • Assistance in the accounting for developer disposition agreements (DDA's) and owner participation agreements • Computations of obligations under pass-through agreements • Assistance in the use of tax-sharing agreements as an economic incentive • Consultations regarding the financial benefit to the City resulting from redevelopment activities • Tax increment financing of projects • Consultations regarding low-moderate income housing requirements • SECTION B (CONTINUED) • • The establishment, merging, and adding of project areas • The use of rehab loans in redevelopment agencies • Assistance in issuance (and refundings) of Tax Allocation Bonds • The establishment of redevelopment fund structure • Use of City loans and advances Exnerience in Auditing Public Housine Authorities and PrOLramS Name of Housing, Authority Type of Audit Dates Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles A-133 Single Audit 12/04-12/06 Santa Monica Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 06/03-06/06 Pomona Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/95-6/98 Hawaiian Gardens Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/94-6/06 Nonvalk Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/86-6/00 Carlsbad Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/93-6/01 County of Riverside Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/98 Santa Ana Housing Authority A-102/A-128 Single Audits 6/83-6/88-6/05 South Gate Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/97-6/06 San Bernardino Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 9/95-9/05 Ventura Area Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/00-6/06 Oxnard Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/00-6/06 Imperial Valley Housing Authority A-133 Single Audit 6/02-6/06 6 i u SECTION C CAPABILITIES IN GENERAL CONSULTING AND COMPLIANCE AUDITING In addition to our annual auditing services, we have assisted our clients by performing both attest services and various management advisory and other accounting services, including: • Investment Portfolio reviews and policy on derivative use • Reviews of water billing systems • Special fraud audits • Special hotel-motel bed tax audits • Other gross receipts audits (cable television franchise fees, excavation tax, etc.) • Contractual agreement compliance audits • Review of central purchasing systems • Review of warehouse controls and inventory systems • Review of operations in City Treasurers' Office • Reviews of cash controls in parks and recreation departments • Review of investment policies and modifications thereto • Special EDP reviews • Review of permitting process within city building departments • Analysis of investment yields • Assistance in presentations to city councils • Assistance in setting up special accounting systems for redevelopment agencies • Assistance to Bond underwriters in providing "comfort letters" on debt issues of municipalities • Consultations regarding the maximizing of tax increment revenue for redevelopment agencies • Organizational review of finance departments • Tax advice regarding deferred compensation, employee benefits, use of city vehicles, etc. • Review of financial forecasts • Assistance in cash reconciliation problems 7 0 , SECTION C, (CONTINUED) • Determination of the cost of excess sewer capacity for a developer/city contractual arrangement • Assistance in the selection of qualified finance personnel for employment by the City • Assistance in computation of Proposition I 1 I Gann Limitations • Management reviews of finance and City Treasurer's office • Assistance in establishing accounting for development projects and fees to comply with AB 1600 • Special Reviews of the Validity of Changes in Tax Increment Revenue from year to year within Redevelopment Agencies • Assistance in Section 8 Housing program portability issues • Assistance in the acquisition of private water companies and the accounting issues related thereto Engagement Team Profile f do& C7 SECTION D • QUALIFICATIONS AND RELATED EXPERIENCE OF THE PERSONNEL WHO WILL SERVICE THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD The successful outcome of any audit requires personnel with the managerial and technical skills to perform the work required. The engagement team who will serve the City of Rosemead have served together as a team of professionals on numerous financial audit examinations of local goverunent entities, including complex governmental agencies. We believe that efficient administrative management and supervision of the audits is an extremely critical factor in achieving the desired results for the City Council of the City of Rosemead. In that regard, we propose to establish the following procedures. Ms. Jennifer Christian, CPA, Engagement Shareholder, who has extensive local goverrunent auditing experience, will be responsible for the coordination of the audit of the City of Rosemead and fulfillment of the requirements of the City Council of the City. Ms. Christian, as the Engagement Shareholder, will be in the field to plan and coordinate the management of the audit examination of the City of Rosemead. She will work closely with the Finance Director and Finance Department staff and be responsible to the City Council of the City. She serves as a reviewer for the CSMFO award program for CAFR's, has been a speaker on new GASB pronouncements, and created the examples for the CCMA White Paper on the new Statistical Section. Ms. Christian is also in charge of Technology and Recruiting in the Irvine office. Mr. Ken Al-Imam will serve as Technical Review Shareholder. In this capacity, Mr. Al- Imam will act as a Technical and Consulting Shareholder to Ms. Christian and the Director of Finance. As a second shareholder reviewer, he will perform quality control reviews of audit reports issued by our firm. Mr. A]-Imam is past Chairman of the state-wide "Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee" for the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and served from 1996-2001 as Chairman of the Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee for the Long Beach-Orange County Chapter of the California Society of CPA's. He is also an active member and past president of CCMA (California Committee on Municipal Accounting). He has made presentations in public hearings before the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and has been part of the committee contributing to the past two GAS13 #34 implementation guides. Mr. Will Kakolokula, CPA, will serve as Engagement Manager of the audit of the City of Rosemead. He will work closely with Ms. Christian, Ms. Lisa Pedote, Finance Director, and Finance Department personnel. He will plan and review the audit work and work closely with Ms. Banut, Senior Auditor. Mr. Kakolokula has extensive local government auditing experience, including performing as Engagement Manager on numerous city, redevelopment agency, special district and authority audits. Mr. Kakolokula is also a presenter at the firm-wide training for the Conrad Government Services Division of MHM in the area of local govermnental accounting and auditing. Ms. Lara Banut, CPA, will serve as the In-Charge Auditor. She will work closely with Ms. Lisa Pedote, Finance Director and Mr. Kakolokula, Engagement Manager. Ms. Banut will supervise and review all work of accountants in the field with her. Ms. Banut has been with the firm for several years and is currently the In-Charge Auditor on a number of local government audits. Scope of Work & Approach • • SECTION E APPROACH, TIMING AND WORK PROGRAM OF OUR ENGAGEMENT TEAM The audit approach of the Conrad Government Services Division of MHM is unique with regard to the following: • Our firm is sensitive to the priorities and work requirements of our clients. We work around the schedules of our clients when scheduling segments of the audit or requesting documentation in order to minimize disruption in the Finance Department. • Whenever possible, we use accounting support already prepared by the Finance Department in order to avoid duplication or unnecessary requests for audit supporting schedules. • Because of our firm's expertise in local governmental auditing, our staff are trained and familiar with local government accounting. You will spend no time in training our personnel. • When formulating internal control recommendations, we obtain a thorough understanding of the specific circumstances at your City in order to provide a tailored, practical recommendation. • Throughout the year we are a resource to our clients in providing accounting advice, researching technical questions, dealing with tax problems, and helping with other problems as they arise. The AICPA recently released Statement on Auditing Standards No. 103 through 112. These standards relate to audit documentation, audit risk, materiality, planning, understanding the entity's environment, and evaluating audit evidence. The new standards are required to be implemented over a two year period beginning with audits with fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. has taken the progressive approach of early implementing many of the new standards. Many of these new requirements are included in the following audit approach. AUDIT PLANNING PROCEDURES Following our appointment as auditors of the City, Ms. Christian, Engagement Shareholder, Mr. Kakolokula, Engagement Manager, and Ms, Banut, In-Charge will meet with Ms. Lisa Pedote, Finance Director and other key Finance Department staff for the purpose of planning the audit of the City. In addition to establishing an effective and efficient communication link with City personnel, the following will be accomplished: Dates for audit field work of the various audit examinations will be finalized. - Arrangements will be made with City personnel for the typing of confirmation requests. We will determine a materiality level for the financial statements taken as a whole for the purpose of- 10 a) Determining the extent and nature of risk assessment procedures b) Identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement c) Determining the nature, timing, and extent of further audit procedures; and d) Evaluating whether the financial statements are presented fairly in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles We will perform a risk assessment of the City of Rosemead including: a) Inquiries of management and others within the City b) Analytical procedures c) Observation and inspection In accordance with SAS 99, we will assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud. We will identify for the City of Rosemead those areas (account balances, transaction classes, funds, activities, etc.) for which there is a heightened risk of fraud or misstatement. We will also obtain from management their thoughts concerning audit and fraud risk. We will then tailor our audit testing and transaction testing for the year to be specifically skewed to these areas of significant risk. - Analytical procedures will be utilized in planning the audit which will focus on: a) Enhancing our understanding of the City of Rosemead and the transactions and events that have occurred since its last audit; and b) Identifying areas that may represent specific risks relevant to the audit. - Critical audit areas will be identified and the universe of transactions will be identified for purposes of sampling of transactions and other audit tests in conjunction with determining whether reliance can be placed upon the system of internal accounting controls. We will identify areas of potential concern to City management. - We will interview key personnel to obtain an understanding of the City's internal controls. Our interviews will focus on the five key internal components: control environment, risk assessment, information and communication systems, control activities, and monitoring. We will initially focus on the following accounting cycles of the City: • Cash Reeeipting; • Treasury Management, • Infrastructure and Capitalization of Assets; • Purchasing/Accounts Payable and Cash Disbursements Cycle; and • Payroll Cycle/Human Resources. 0 i Comments and recommendations relating to the accounting system will be discussed with appropriate City persomnel and where appropriate be included in our management letter which will be issued at the conclusion of the - Based upon our planning procedures we will develop and tailor our audit program of the city. In conjunction with our planning of the engagement, we will perform our interim audit work which will be conducted in June 2007. Additional procedures that will be accomplished during our interim audit procedures include the following- Testing of audit areas where reliance can be placed upon internal control structure for audit purposes. Reviewing of minutes of the Board of Directors. Following up on unusual items noted from analytical procedures. (We will perform significant comparison and inquiry regarding fluctuations of revenues and expenditures by fund budgets versus actual). 4. Performing tests of investment compliance. Reviewing of important contracts, debt issues, leases and joint power agreements. 6. Performing required compliance and internal control testing relating to the federal grant programs of the City, if any. Providing the City with suggestions regarding the close of the City's books after year end. Our assistance and communication in the closing of the City's books is expected to minimize the number of audit adjustments required after the close of City's books. YEAR-END SUBSTANTIVE PROCEDURES On October 15, 2007 (after the final closing of the books and preparation of final trial balances by City personnel for the year ended June 30), we will commence performing our year- end substantive audit. Our final examination will include tests which we deem necessary, including: 1. Confirmation of cash and investment balances. 2. Testing of bank reconciliations. 3. Testing of allocations of interest income to the various funds. 4. Examination of support and subsequent receipt (if any) of significant receivable balances. 5. Testing of interfund loans and transfers. 6. Performing a search for unrecorded liabilities. 6. Testing of long term debt balances and debt convenants. 12 • E 7. Consideration of support and proper valuation of the liabilities for compensated absences and claims and judgments. 8. Testing of support for other significant assets and liabilities of the City. 9. Testing for the proper establishment of reserves and designations. 10. Review of significant events after year end (through the completion of our audit). 11. Review of attorney letters for significant legal matters affecting the City's financial position. 12. Testing of revenues and expenditures and lesser significant asset and liability balances through analytical procedures and other substantive procedures as necessary. The aforementioned tests are only a few of the tests performed during the examination and by no means is it meant to be all inclusive. At the completion of the audits each year, Ms. Christian, Mr. Kakolokula and Ms. Banut will meet with Ms. Pedote to review our audit findings and any adjusting journal entries. Based upon the City's records being closed and ready for audit, we plan to comply with the audit timeline set forth in the RFP for finalization of all audit reports. The following are tasks which will be accomplished for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2007 and subsequent years related to GASB #34: • Review of the City's Determination of major funds; • Review of the City's classification of revenues (CCMA White Paper); • Review of the City's reconciliation spreadsheet to convert governmental funds from the modified accrual to full accrual basis of accounting; • Review of entity wide financial statements; • Review of expanded disclosures for capital assets; • Review of expanded disclosures for long-term debt; • Review of City's disclosures explaining how numbers change from modified accrual basis of accounting to full accrual basis of accounting; • Review of City's budget-actual schedules for general and major funds; • Auditing of infrastructure data; • Review of City developed Management Discussion and Analysis; and • Testing of Management Discussion and Analysis information. As a part of our Single Audit for the years in which the City expends greater than $500,000 in federal funding, we would supplement our approach with the following procedures in performing the single audit. (This would be accomplished as a part of our planning and interim audit work.) Re-review all pertinent federal and AICPA publications including: The Single .4udit Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104-156) signed into law on July 5, 1996 and effective for the fiscal years ending on or after June 30, 1997. This law amends the Single Audit Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-502) previously applicable to local governments 13 • OMB Circular A-133 entitled Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non- Profit Organizations • GAO Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), 2003 revision • AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide Audits of State and Local Government Units (1994 revision) and Statement of Position 98-3, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Not-for-Profit Organizations Receiving Federal Awards • SAS No. 74, Compliance Auditing Considerations in Audits of Governmental Entities and Other Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance • Revised Compliance Supplement for Single Audits of State and Local Governments • Catalog of Domestic Assistance Programs • OMB Circular A-87 • OMB Circular A-102 2. Identify the federal programs administered by the City of Rosemead and the amounts expended during the audit period. 3. Apply the risk-based auditing approach mandated by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104-156) and OMB Circular A-133 entitled Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profits Organizations for the determination of major programs to be selected under the single audit process. As prescribed by the directives of' the new single audit requirements, this will involve a consideration of the complexity of the program, prior audit findings, changes in personnel, the competency of personnel, the extent to which sub-recipients are used, the extent of overview and monitoring by granting agencies, the extent of recent changes in program requirements, the newness of the program, the size of the program, and the inherent risk of the program. 4. Identify the oversight audit agency. 5. Identify and list the major compliance supplements and subrecipients of the City, if any. 6. Review the administrative control systems to ensure compliance. 7. Execute the sampling plan. 8. Perform audit procedures for the selected transactions. 9. Test compliance with other material compliance requirements. 10. Test matching requirements, if any. 11. Test indirect costs, if any. 14 12. Review reports and claims for advances and reimbursements to the federal government. 13. Review processing of audit reports for state and local government subrecipients. 14. Prepare the independent auditors' reports required by OMB Circular A-133. 15. Prepare the data collection form required to be filed with the Single Audit Central Clearinghouse. Utilization of Computers on Governmental Audits Each audit team in our firm is assigned and utilizes a portable personal computer at the job site. We extensively use the computer in the conduct of our audit and in the preparation of the financial statements. Additionally, each of our audit Seniors are knowledgeable of controls surrounding the EDP environment and assessing the effectiveness of those controls within the audit of the local government. In January 2007, Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. implemented the use of CaseWare, a paperless auditing software that organizes audit documentation. We have the ability to accept audit documentation in either electronic or hard copy format. Audit Sampling In accordance with SAS No. 111, Audit Sampling, we will consider the tolerable misstatement and the expected misstatement, the audit risk, the characteristics of the population, the assessed risk of material misstatement, and the assessed risk for other substantive procedures when determining the number of items to be selected in a sample. Analvtical Procedures to Improve Understanding of Client Analytical procedures are used by our firm in general planning to improve the auditor's understanding of the governmental unit's operations and to identify audit areas for increased attention. SAS No. 56 requires the use of analytical procedures in the planning and overall review stages of all audits. SAS No. 56 states that "analytical procedures should be applied to some extent... for all audits of financial statements made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards" for the following purpose among others: To assist the auditor in planning the nature, timing and extent of other auditing procedures. Analytical procedures may be used in both general planning and audit program planning. SAS No. 56 describes the two broad uses of analytical procedures in audit planning as follows: Enhancing the auditor's understanding of the client's business and the transactions and events that have occurred since the last audit date; and Identifying areas that may represent specific risks relevant to the audit. 15 • • Comparisons of account balances between accounting periods and ratio and trend analysis usually improve the auditor's understanding of the client and its operations and may identify critical audit areas, e.g., comparing general and special revenue fund expenditures by functions and revenue by source for the past two years provides an understanding of the governmental unit's operations and may identify a revenue source that requires increased attention in the current audit. SAS No. 56 requires use of analytical procedures in audit planning, but does not specify particular procedures that are always necessary. Our firm believes that in a governmental engagement, the auditor's preliminary analytical procedures should include, as a minimum, a comparison of current account balances in the working trial balance to similar amounts in the prior annual period's financial statements and the current period's budget. However, a thoughtful consideration of expected relationships among account balances and periods by an experienced auditor is far more important than a mechanical comparison. The auditor should think about these relationships and bring to bear other knowledge about the governmental unit and government operations. Consideration of Laws and Regulations Our audit approach recognizes the importance of laws and regulations in planning the audit of a local governmental entity. As a part of the audit, our firm obtains an understanding of those laws and regulations that have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. We then design the audit to provide reasonable assurance of detecting material instances of noncompliance that will have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. Assistance from City Staff Maximum cooperation and assistance from City staff is expected by the auditors including typing of confirmation requests, and normal year-end schedule preparation (i.e., lead schedules, bank reconciliations and other support for significant asset and liability balances of the City). We would also expect reasonable assistance from City staff in providing required documentation during the audit examination. Segmentation of the Audit The following is our estimate of the hours by professional staff classification required for the audit and single audit: Professional Hours and Segmentation of Audit Interim Final Total Percentage Partner 8 22 30 7% Manager 15 45 60 14% Senior Auditor 60 120 180 42% Staff Auditor 50 110 160 37% Total 133 297 430 100% 16 • SECTION F u OUR FIRM'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE ENGAGEMENT Our understanding of the objectives and scope of the work to be performed is based upon your request for proposal. Based upon the foregoing we understand the objectives and scope of work to be as follows: We will perform an audit examination of the financial statements of the City of Rosemead for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 with optional extensions through 2011. Our examination will be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, State Controller audit guidelines, the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, Audits of State and Local Government Units, and the Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Mayer Hoffman McCann, PC will prepare the financial statements. The City will prepare management discussion and analysis, the introductory section and the statistical section of the report. We will ensure that the CAFR is prepared in conformity with the 2005 edition of the GAAFR, the GAAFR Update, and subsequent GASB pronouncements. We will apply to the management discussion and analysis those procedures required by the auditing standards to be applied to required supplementary information (understanding the method of preparation, the source and basis for the information presented, comparing for consistency to the audited data pertaining to the City, and ascertaining that the management's discussion and analysis contains all of the information required by GASB Statement No. 34 and does not contain information prohibited to be presented in the management's discussion and analysis). We will copy and bind the final report. 2. We will perform a financial and compliance audit of the governmental activities, each major fund and the aggregate remaining fund information of the Rosemead Community Development Commission for the year ended June 30, 2007 with optional extensions through 2011. Our audit will be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, Government Auditing Standards and the Guidelines far Compliance Audits of California Redevelopment Agencies. We will draft and word process the CDC Component Unit GASB #34 financial statements. 3. We will perform a financial audit of the governmental activities, each major fund and the aggregate remaining fund information of the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation for the year ended June 30, 2007 with optional extensions through 2011. Our audit will be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, Government Auditing Standards and the Guidelines for Compliance Audits of California Redevelopment Agencies. We will draft and word process the Housing Development Component Unit GASB #34 financial statements. 4. We will perform a "Single Audit" of the City of Rosemead in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments vf'1996 (Public Law 104-156) and OMB Circular A-133 entitled Audits of States, Local Governments, and Alon-Profits Organizations. Our single audit will cover all federal grants received by the City and its component units either as a primary or secondary recipient for fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 with optional extensions through 2011. The City will provide to the Auditors the Schedule of Federal Financial Assistance encompassing all direct and pass-through federal funds received by 17 the City and component units. We will render our reports on the single audit in accordance with the single audit requirements. 5. We will prepare a letter to the City Council reporting matters dealing with internal control that meet the threshold of being a significant deficiency or material weukness, as defined by SAS No. 112. We will immediately report any irregularities or illegal acts that come to our attention to the City Council. 6. We will also prepare a letter to City management that will provide other recommendations to the City ensuing from our review of the City's internal control procedures. This letter will address nonreportable conditions (those constructive comments not required to be included in the letter of reportable conditions to City Council. We will discuss those comments with Ms. Lisa Pedote, Director of Finance prior to its finalization. 7. We desire to keep its local government clients abreast of new developments affecting local government finance. We will also advise City staff of new accounting developments during the interim/planning stage of each year's audit. We plan on providing additional client training to our clients in our May 30, 2007 client training conference with respect to new GASB pronouncements. 8. Finally, we perceive the scope of our work as being advisors to the City of Rosemead regarding generally accepted accounting principles. Our firm's policy is to provide unlimited telephone consultations to our municipal clients regarding accounting and other technical matters. Throughout the year, Ms. Lisa Pedote, Finance Director and other finance personnel of the City, will have access to Ms. Christian, Engagement Partner, Mr. Kakolokula, Engagement Manager, and Ms. Banut, Engagement In-Charge, to seek advice in the application of generally accepted accounting principles, the establishment and segregation of funds, advise regarding debt issuance, financial statement preparation and content and other matters relating to the City. With respect to the City of Rosemead, Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. meets the independence requirements of generally accepted accounting standards and the Government Auditing Standards (2003 revision) published by the U.S. General Accounting Office. Our firm has never had a record of substandard audit work. The Conrad Government Services Division of MI-IM does not intend to use subcontractors for this engagement. We are independent with respect to the City of Rosemead. No conflicts of interest exist relative to our firm performing the audit. 18 • 0 References 9 0 SECTION G REFERENCES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIENTS For your convenience, we have listed below references with regard to audit work currently being performed by the Conrad Government Services Division of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. for several local governments in Southern California. For each of the references, we currently serve as independent auditors for the year ended June 30, 2006 and have served these cities for a number of years. All of the Cities noted below received the GFOA award during the last year submitted. Name of City/Contact Person City of Burbank Bob Torrez. Financial Services Director (818) 238-5500 2. City of Costa Mesa Marc Puckett, Director (714) 754-5243 3. City of Santee Tim McDurmott Director of Finance (619) 258-4100 Engagement Team Members Approx Hours Al-Imam/Christian 900 Al-Imam 700 Christian/Banut 400 19 • Fee Structure • a SECTION H OUR HOURLY RATES AND MAXIMUM FEE TO PERFORM THIS ENGAGEMENT The following is a summary or our fixed fee (including out-of-pocket expense) for performing the audit engagement for the City of Rosemead: Estimated Fiscal Year Description Hours Ended June 30, 2007 Audit of City, CAFR preparation, Single audit, Gann letter, Management letter Audit of CDC Audit of Housing Corporation Total 290 $30,300 100 10,500 40 4.200 430 $45,000 For the years ended June 30, 2008 through 2011, a nominal 3% increase will be added to the prior year audit fee. The following discounted hourly rates by professional staff were used to determine the cost noted above: Standard Discounted Classification Hourly Rate Discount Hourly Rate Shareholder $325 $125 $200 Manager 180 55 125 Senior Auditor 125 25 100 Associate Auditor 95 10 85 Tlie above maximum fees contemplate that the books will be closed and ready for audit, that substantially all adjusting entries will be made by City staff prior to the start of final fieldwork, that City staff will provide supporting schedules and reconciliations for all significant asset and liability balances. The fee for the single audit contemplates one major program (one grant with federal expenditures in excess of $300,000). Additional major programs can be tested at an additional fee of $1,500 per program. If additional time is needed for us to assist the City in the resolution or investigation of accounting errors, discrepancies, or reconciliation issues, assistance in the preparation of year end schedules, or to reflect in our workpapers entries made after the start of the audit, we will perform such additional work at our standard hourly rates indicated above. 20 0 Page I of 2 Lisa Pedote From: Jennifer Christian (CBIZ Orange County) [JChristian@CBIZ.com] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 6:23 PM To: Lisa Pedote Subject: RE: Audit Proposal Hi Lisa, Attached is a pdf of the proposal. You will receive 3 original bound proposals on Wednesday. Hopefully the $20,000 discount from your prior audit firm will entice City Council to make a change Regarding the Stat Schedules, we will have a separate engagement letter under our consulting name, CBIZ. The engagement will be based on actual hours incurred and will not exceed $4,500. Please send me an e-mail back confirming that you received this. Sometimes big files don't make it through span filters. Jennifer Christian, C.P.A. Shareholder Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. -----Original Message----- From: Lisa Pedote [mailto:lpedote@cityofrosemead.org] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:32 PM To: Jennifer Christian (CBIZ Orange County) Subject: RE: Audit Proposal really hope so. Give me a call if you can. I have a few things to share with you. I'll be in my office until a meeting at 3 pm. Lisa Pe dote, CPA Chief Financial Officer City of Rosemead (626) 569-2121 - phone (626) 569-2303 - fox LPedote@cityofrosemead.org From: Jennifer Christian (CBIZ Orange County) [mailto:]Christian@CBIZ.com] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:30 PM To: Lisa Pedote Subject: RE: Audit Proposal That is WAY too high. I think you will be happy with our fee. Jennifer -----Original Message----- From: Lisa Pedote [mailto:lpedote@cityofrosemead.org] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:29 PM To: Jennifer Christian (CBIZ Orange County) 4/3/2007 0 Page 2 of 2 Subject: RE: Audit Proposal The original proposal was written for $65k. L45a Pedote, CPA Chief Financial Officer City of Rosemead (626) 569-2121- phone (626) 569-2303 - fax LPedote@cityofrosemead.org From: Jennifer Christian (CBIZ Orange County) [mailto:JChristian@CBIZ.com] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 2:28 PM To: Lisa Pedote Subject: Audit Proposal Hi Lisa, What were you paying McGladrey for the audit last year? I am sure we can save you some money. Jennifer Christian, C.P.A. Shareholder Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. 2301 Dupont Drive, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92612 Ph. (949) 474-2020 x.272 Fx. (949) 263-5520 4/3/2007 /Qc.h m ere C CITY OF ROSEMEAD AUDIT PROPOSAL FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2007 • TITLE PAGE • RFP Subject: Certified Audits on the City of Rosemead For the Year Ending June 30, 2007 Name of Proposer: Diehl. Evans & Company, LLP Certified Public Accountants and Consultants Local Address: 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92606-4906 Telephone: (949) 399-0600 Fax: (949) 399-0610 Website: ww-w.diehlevans.com Email: nitinp@diehlevans.com Contact Persons: Nitin P. Patel, CPA Engagement Partner Robert J. Callanan, CPA Concurring Review Partner Date: April 5, 2007 • CITY OF ROSEMEAD TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter of Transmittal April 5, 2007 Firm Profile and Qualifications: Licensing and Independence Size and Location of Firm Range of Activities Participation in "Quality Review" Programs Education Programs Participation in Professional Organizations GFOA and CSMFO Award Programs Computer Auditing Capabilities ' Firm Experience with Governmental Entities Nonprofit Corporations and Joint Power Authorities City Client References Redevelopment Agency and Enterprise Fund Experience ' Single Audit Experience Water Districts and Other Special Districts 1 1 Partner, Supenisory and Staff Qualifications and Experience: Audit Team Commitment Related To Personnel Nondiscrimination Policy Resumes of Audit Team Personnel • Scope of Work, Timing and Audit Approach: Entities to Be Included In Audit Reports To Be Issued and Due Dates Audit Timing Commitment to Deliver Reports on a Timely Basis Audits To Be In Accordance With GAAS and Other Requirements Audit Approach Single Audit Approach Determining Laves and Regulations Subject to Audit Method of Sampling Analytical Procedures Management Letters Retention Of and Access to Audit Workpapers Other Professional Services Segmentation of the Audit Hours, By Partner and Staff Level Page Number 1-2 3 3 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 11 12 - 15 16 16 17 17 17 18 - 19 19-20 20 21 21 21 21 21 22 • CITY OF ROSEMEAD • TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) April 5, 2007 Page Number Discussion of Relevant Accounting Issues: GASB Statement No. 45 GASB Statement No. 47 GASB Statement No. 48 GASB Statement No. 49 Work Required by City Staff Fees and Hourly Rates: Maximum Fees Composition of Current Audit Fee Hourly Rates For Special Services Consulting Services Department: Overview of Services Provided Attachment I - Results of Outside Quality Review 23 23 23 23 24 25 25 26 27 n 0 DIEHL, EVANS & COMPANY, LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS & CONSULTANTS MICHAEL R LUDIN. CPA A PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING ACCOUNTANCY CORPORATIONS CRAIG W. SPRAKER. CPA NRTN P. PATEL CPA ROBERT J. CALLA-NAN, CPA 2121 ALTON PARKWAY, SUITE 100 'PHILIP H. HOLTKAMP. CPA 'THOMAS M. PEKLOWSKI, CPA IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 926064956 'HARVEYJ SCHROEDER. CPA (949) 399-0600 • FAX (949) 399-0610 KENNETH R. AMES. CPA W W W.dichieyans.COni 'A PRO"MIONAL CORPORATION April 5, 2007 Ms. Lisa Pedote Chief Financial Officer City of Rosemead 8838 East Valley Boulevard Rosemead, CA 91770 Dear Ms. Pedote: We are pleased to present our proposal to serve as independent auditors for the City of Rosemead. We have prepared this information in accordance with the guidelines set forth in your request for proposal. Why We Are The Best Qualified Firm 1 We consider ourselves to be the best qualified firm to perform auditing and accounting services for the City of Rosemead. Please consider these qualifications: Diehl, Evans and Company, LLP has been providing auditing services to governmental agencies since 1950. A significant part of our practice is devoted to providing professional services to your specialized industry and over the past year, our firm audited twenty-six cities, twenty-five redevelopment agencies and many other governmental agencies. Our firm has devoted a substantial amount of time and resources in order to provide governmental agencies with quality audits. Our knowledge of the industry is best demonstrated by the fact that our clients who apply for the "Outstanding Award in Financial Reporting" issued by the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) and the "Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting" issued by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) consistently receive these awards. A list of these clients is presented on page 6 of this proposal. We understand that we provide a service to the City. Our audit approach is tailored to meet all technical requirements while maintaining professional skepticism without forgetting that we provide a service. We are able to achieve this by partner involvement in all phases of the audit and assigning experienced governmental audit staff to the engagement. Partner involvement will result in decisions being made on a timely basis and experienced staff will minimize disruption to your staff. OTHER OFFICES AT: 1 2965 ROOSEVELT STREET CARLSBAD. CALIFORNIA 92009.2389 (760) 729-2343 • FAX (760) 729-2234 613 W. VALLEY PARKWAY. SUITE 330 ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA 92025-2598 (760) 741-3141 • FAX (760) 741.9890 ' The scope of our services the year ending June 30. 2007 would a as follows: ' . A financial audit of the basic financial statements of the City of Rosemead in accordance with Governmental Auditing Standards to be included in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). ' • A financial and compliance audit of the Rosemead Community Development Commission. ' A financial and compliance audit of the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation. ' • A Single Audit of Federal Grants to be performed to meet the requirements of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133. • An agreed-upon procedures review of the calculation of the City's GANN Appropriations Limit (GANN), as required by Section 1.5 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. ' • A management letter containing any comments or recommendations resulting from our review of the systems of internal controls in connection with the financial and compliance audits. We make a commitment to deliver all necessary reports based on the timetable presented herein on page 16. Also, a more detailed discussion of our understanding of the work to be performed is set ' forth on pages 16 through 21. Our goal is to provide the City with the highest quality of service, including a CAFR which meets all ' required reporting standards and a comprehensive management letter which is practical and helpful to management in improving operations. We are confident that our service and experience will be of benefit to the City and will provide added value over and above the performance of the audit itself. ' Throughout the year, you should feel comfortable in calling us for advice, as we are never too busy to meet the needs of our clients. We encourage you to verify our level of service, as well as the availability of Ms. Daphnie Fuertez, CPA, the audit manager, and myself by contacting the references ' provided in this proposal. 11 We thank the City for the opportunity to present our proposal. Please feel free to contact me, or Mr. Robert J. Callanan, at (949) 399-0600 if you have any questions. This proposal constitutes a firm and irrevocable offer for 60 days from the date of this letter. Mr. Callanan and I are authorized to represent our firm, and bind the firm to a contract. By: Very truly yours, DIEHL, EVANS R COMPANY, LLP Nitin P. Patel, CPA Engagement Partner FIRM PROFILE AND QUALIFICAONS LICENSING AND INDEPENDENCE ' Our firm, and all of our certified personnel, are properly licensed to practice public accounting in California. ' Also, we meet the independence requirements of "Governmental Auditing Standards" (2007 Edition), as published by the U.S. General Accounting Office. We will provide written notice to the City of any professional relationships entered into during our term as auditors for the City. We have not provided t auditing or any other services to the City during the past five years. SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE FIRM Diehl, Evans & Company. LLP is a Southern California accounting firm with offices in Irvine, Carlsbad and Escondido. We are one of the oldest CPA firms in Southern California, with over 75 years of public practice experience. ' Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP has extensive experience in providing auditing, accounting and consulting services in the governmental sector. Over twenty thousand hours per year are devoted to ' this area of our practice for nearly 100 governmental units including cities, redevelopment agencies, water districts, special districts, nonprofit corporations and joint power authorities. Our firm has 45 employees which includes 40 professional staff members. Your City would be served from our Irvine office, which has 20 professional staff members. RANGE OF ACTIVITIES Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP is a full service CPA firm. We offer a broad range of services, including: Certified Audits Tax Planning Compilations and Reviews Agreed-Upon Procedure Reviews Financial Services Income Tax Preparation Consulting Services Our specific services available to governmental agencies are more fully set forth in this proposal. In 1986, our firm began an annual internal quality review program, whereby all three offices are reviewed for compliance with all current accounting and auditing requirements. Formal reports of these reviews are presented to the partners, and adjustments in our auditing and reporting procedures are made as necessary. In January 2006, our firm underwent a quality review by an independent CPA firm, under provisions of the AICPA Quality Review Program. These reviews are required every three years and covered our audits of governmental agencies. We received a final report dated January 13, 2006 with an unqualified opinion on our systems and procedures. A copy of the independent CPA firm's report is included herein at Attachment II. Accordingly, we are confident that our current auditing standards and techniques meet all existing requirements. No regulatory action has ever been taken against any office of our firm due to substandard work. We had no significant deficiencies noted in any federal or state desk reviews over the past three years. EDUCATION PROGRAMS Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP has a formal continuing education program. All firm auditors are required to obtain 80 hours of continuing education every two years in the accounting and auditing area as required by Government Auditing Standards, and at least 24 hours of government related continuing education courses. Our staff is continually expanding their knowledge of the governmental industry through our in-house training programs, programs offered by the AICPA, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and other professional organizations, and through on-the-job training. We also publish an Auditing Manual For Governmental Entities for internal use by our staff. The manual is updated at least annually. Noted below is a description of certain in-house education courses taken by our partners and staff to ' meet the governmental continuing education requirements. All personnel involved with governmental auditing are required to attend these courses. • Implementation of GASB Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements - and Management's Discussion and Analysis - for State and Local Governments • Understanding, and Auditing, Deposits and Investments of California Governmental Units • Reviews of Internal Controls in Accordance With Statements on Auditing Standards 55 and 78 • Assessing Audit Risk and Materiality in Conducting An Audit • Understanding Statement on Auditing Standards No. 99 - Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit • Redevelopment Agency Compliance Audits - Interpreting the Health and Safety Code • Computer Auditing in the Governmental Environment • The Single Audit - New Provisions under OMB Circular A-133 • Laws and Regulations in the Government Sector 1 -4- 1 Our partners and staff are actively involved in professional organizations in the governmental accounting field. Noted below is a summary of our participation in various national and California governmental organizations. AICPA Our firm is a member of the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center. The Center is a firm-based voluntary membership Center whose primary purpose is to promote the importance of quality governmental audits to purchasers of governmental audit services. The Center provides members with an online forum tool for sharing best practices, as well as discussions on audit, accounting, and regulatory issues. As a member of the Center, the firm receives updates on changes in auditing and accounting standards that effect governmental audits. The quality control partner is required to attend an annual web cast to discuss auditing and reporting issues effecting governmental audits. Our firm uses the resources of the Center to maintain the quality of our governmental audits. GFOA, GASB and FASB 1 Our firm is an associate member of the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). Also, we have web based access to the latest pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB), including Interpretations, Technical Pronouncements and Newsletters. We regularly analyze these pronouncements and advise our governmental clients of changes in accounting rules. ' CSMFO and CRA Three of our Irvine office partners (.Mr. Michael Ludin, Mr. Nitin Patel and Mr. Robert Callanan) and ' our Director of Consulting Services (Mr. William S. Morgan) are associate members of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO). Our personnel regularly attend local CSMFO chapter meetings throughout Southern California, and the annual statewide conference. We often ' provide public speakers for these meetings. Our firm is also an active member in the California Redevelopment Association (CRA). We receive monthly newsletters from CRA to keep us up to date on legal developments affecting redevelopment agencies. Mr. Morgan periodically serves as a public speaker for seminars and workshops sponsored by CRA. CSCPA All partners, Mr. Morgan and several of our managers are all members of the Governmental Accounting and Auditing (GAA) Committee of the Orange County Chapter, California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA). Mr. Patel, Mr. Ludin and Mr. Morgan have each served as chairman of this committee. Mr. Ludin and Mr. Morgan have been involved over the years in preparing position papers issued on governmental accounting matters. Mr. Patel is a member of the State Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee. -5- fl *GFOA AND CSMFO AWARD PROGO kS The partner and manager will be involved in all phases of report preparation or review, including the drafting of footnotes. Reporting checklists will be used to assure compliance with all reporting requirements. Based on the high quality of our review process, we have been able to assist various cities in obtaining the GFOA "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting" and the "Outstanding Award" for financial reporting from CSMFO. During the past five years, the following clients received awards: Alhambra Fullerton Lake Elsinore San Juan Capistrano Cerritos Garden Grove Lakewood Santa Clarita Chino Healdsburg Mission Viejo Signal Hill Commerce Hesperia Montebello Simi Valley Coronado Huntington Beach Norwalk Temecula Del Mar Indian Wells Palm Desert Thousand Oaks Diamond Bar Irvine Pico Rivera Tustin Westminster 1 11 COMPUTER AUDITING CAPABILITIES Each of our audit staff members is equipped with laptop computers with engagement software that are used for workpaper preparation and preparation of financial statements. Utilizing Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet programs, we will transfer the trial balance data through direct input or through downloading from the client's accounting system. This will allow us to perform analytical reviews of accounts and preparation of financial statements. This process will reduce the time included in preparation of lead schedules and the financial statements. -6- FIRM EXPERIENCE WITH GOVERNMEN0L ENTITIES One means of judging the high quality of our auditing and accounting serices would be contact with some of our existing clients. We are including the names and phone numbers of our city clients over the past year. We encourage you to contact any of these individuals. City of Alhambra Mr. Dean Johnson Financial Services Manager (626) 570-5017 Citv of Fullerton Mr. Glenn Steinbrink Director of Administrative Services (714) 738-6523 City of Norwalk Ms. Jana Stuard Controller/Deputy City Treasurer (562) 929-5748 Citv of Avalon Ms. Betty Jo Garcia ' Finance Director (310) 510-0220 City of Buena Park ' Mr. Sung Hyun Director of Finance (714) 562-3713 City of Cerritos ' Ms. Becky Lingad Finance Manager (562) 860-0311 City of Chino Mr. David D. Cain Director of Finance (909) 627-7577 ' City of Coronado Mr. Jack Van Sambeek Director of Administrative Services (619) 522-7300 City of Diamond Bar Ms. Linda Magnuson Finance Director (909) 839-7051 ' City of Downey Mr. John Michicoff ' Finance Director (562) 904-7262 ' Citv of Encinitas Ms. Jennifer Smith Finance Director (760) 633-2600 City of Healdsburg Ms. Tamera Haas Finance Director (707) 431-3311 City of Hesperia Mr. A.B. Brand Interim Finance Director (760) 947-1442 City of Indian Wells Mr. Kevin McCarty Director of Finance (760) 346-2489 Citv of Irvine Mr. Paul Boyer Finance Administrator (949) 724-6031 Citv of Lake Elsinore Mr. Matt Pressey Director of Administrative Services (951) 674-3124 City of Lakewood Mr. Larry Schroeder Director of Finance (562) 866-9771 City of Mission Viejo Mr. Bob Barry Accounting Manager (949) 470-3004 City of Montebello Mr. Chickwan Michael Tam Director of Finance (323) 887-1419 -7- City of Pico Rivera Mr. Robert S. Ridley Director of Finance (562) 801-4395 Citv of San Juan Capistrano Ms. Cindy Russell Director of Administrative Services (949) 443-6301 Citv of Santa Clarita Mr. Darren Hernandez Director of Administrative Services (661) 255-4920 Citv of Sienal Hill Mr. Dennis MacArthur Director of Finance (562) 989-7319 Citv of Temecula Mr. Jason Simpson Assistant Director of Finance (951) 694-6430 Citv of Thousand Oaks Ms. Candis L. Hong Director of Administrative Services (805) 449-2200 City of Westminster Ms. Sherry Johnson Accounting Manager (714) 898-3311 • REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY EXPERANCE Over the past year we audited twenty-five redevelopment agencies. Alhambra Redevelopment Agency Avalon Redevelopment Agency Buena Park Redevelopment Agency Cerritos Redevelopment Agency Chino Redevelopment Agency Coronado Redevelopment Agency Downey Redevelopment Agency Fullerton Redevelopment Agency Healdsburg Redevelopment Agency Hesperia Redevelopment Agency Indian Wells Redevelopment Agency Irvine Redevelopment Agency Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency Lakewood Redevelopment Agency Marin County Redevelopment Agency Mission Viejo Redevelopment Agency Montebello Redevelopment Agency Norwalk Redevelopment Agency Pico Rivera Redevelopment Agency San Juan Capistrano Redevelopment Agency Santa Clarita Redevelopment Agency Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency Temecula Redevelopment Agency Thousand Oaks Redevelopment Agency Westminster Redevelopment Agency ENTERPRISE FUND EXPERIENCE Most cities audited by our firm have a water utility enterprise fund. Noted below is a partial listing of water utility and other enterprise funds audited by our firm over the past five years: City Enterprise Alhambra Water, Sewer, Storm Drain, Sanitation, Golf Course Avalon Harbor, Sewer, Saltwater, Solidwaste, Hospital Buena Park Water Cerritos Chino ' Coronado Del Mar Downey Encinitas ' Fullerton Garden Grove Healdsburg ' Lakewood Mission Viejo Montebello ' Norwalk Palm Desert ' Pico Rivera San Juan Capistrano Santa Clarita ' Signal Hill Simi Valley Thousand Oaks ' Tustin Westminster 1 Reclaimed Water Water, Sewer, Sanitation System Golf Course, Sewer Sewer Golf Course, Transit System Water, Sanitation Water, Refuse Water, Sanitation, Mobile Home Parks Electric, Water, Sewer, Transit Water Animal Services, Television Water, Golf, Transit Transit Golf, Building Water Water, Sewer Transit Water Water, Sanitation, Transit Water, Sewer, Golf Water Water - 8 - 1 1 1 • SINGLE AUDIT EXPERIENCE We perform single audit services for most of our cities that receive federal funds as required by OMB Circular A-1 33. Ovenbe past year, Single Audits were performed for the following cities. City of Alhambra City of Lakewood City of Buena Park City of Mission Viejo City of Cerritos City of Montebello City of Chino City of Norwalk City of Coronado City of Pico Rivera City, of Downey City of San Juan Capistrano City of Encinitas. City of Santa Clarita City of Fullerton City of Signal Hill City of Hesperia City of Temecula City of Indian Wells City of Thousand Oaks City of Irvine City of Westminster WATER DISTRICTS AND OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS Noted below is a listing of water and special districts audited by our firm over the past year. Water Districts Borrego Water District Jurupa Community Services District La Habra Heights County Water District La Puente Valley County Water District Laguna Beach County Water District Orange County Water District Pomona-Walnut-Rowland Joirit Water Line Commission Puente Basin Water Agency Rancho California Water District San Dieguito Water District Santa Fe Irrigation District Walnut Valley Water District Other Special Districts Coachella Valley Association Downey Cemetery District of Governments Sunset Beach Sanitary District Costa Mesa Sanitary, District Valley Wide Recreation and Park District -9- 1 Noted below is a partial listing of nonprofit corporations and joint power authorities audited by our firm over the past year. A substantial number of these entities are "component units" which are h ' t combined, into the basic financial statements of governmental organizations which exercise oversig responsibility. Buena Park Foundation Healdsburg Public Improvement Corporation ' Cal State L.A. Metrolink Authority Lake Elsinore Financing Authority Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency Lake Elsinore Recreation Authority ' Coronado Financing Authority Norwalk Financing Authority Coronado Improvement Corporation Pico Rivera Water Authority Cove Community Public Safety Commission Public Cable Television Authority ' th it ' i A Del Mar Public Facilities Corporation u or y ng Redwood Empire Financ ' Downey Civic Center Corporation San Juan Capistrano Housing Corporation Downey Recreational Area Authority Santa Clarita Watershed Recreation' and Conservation Authority 1 Downey Water Facilities Corporation South County Senior Services ' El Toro Reuse Planning Authority Southeast Area Animal Control Authority ' Encinitas Ranch Golf Authority Walnut Valley Building Corporation 1 1 -10- ' • PARTNER, SUPERVISORY AND STAFF QUALIFICATIMS AND EXPERIENCE ' AUDIT TEAM The audit team assembled consists of individuals who have extensive experience auditing governmental agencies and are familiar with municipal accounting. In addition, each team member's skill and experience developed working in other industries our firm serves can be applied to the individual requirements of the City of Rosemead. ' The personnel assigned to the engagement team are as follows: The engagement partner will be Mr. Nitin P. Patel, CPA. He will be the primary contact for all matters involving the City audit and will be responsible for assuring that all work for the City is performed in a complete and timely manner. Mr. Robert J. Callanan, CPA, will be the Concurring Review Partner and will perform a quality review of all reports issued in connection with the audit. He will also consult in the accounting treatment of unusual transactions or audit issues. ' Ms. Daphnie Fuertez, CPA, will serve as the audit manager. She will schedule the fieldwork, supervise the staff accountants, review the wcrkpapers and assist in the audit of any complex or unusual audit ' areas. The audit senior will be Ms. Sarah H. Ro, CPA. She will be onsite performing the fieldwork including performing tests of internal controls, substantive tests of balances, analytical tests and prepare financial statements. ' Resumes for the above partners and personnel are included at pages 12 - 15. ' COMMITMENT RELATED TO PERSONNEL We make a commitment to retain the same personnel on the City from year to year, except where such personnel leave the firm, or where the change is approved by the City. If a staff member is replaced, we make a commitment to replace that person with staff of at least equal experience. NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY ' Our firm has a policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color. age. sex, religion, national origin or handicap. • NIT1N P. PATEL, CPA Position Engagement Partner Education University of California at Irvine Bachelor of Arts in Economics California State University at Long Beach Masters of Accounting Program • Licensing Certified Public Accountant in California since 1988 ' Professional Oraanizahons American Institute of Certified Public Accountants California Society of Certified Public Accountants California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) ' - Associate Member CSMFO Professional and Technical Standards Review Committee ' - Report Reviewer for Award Program Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee of Orange ' County - Committee Chairman (2001-2002) 1 California Accounting and Auditing Committee Member Ranee of Experience Has been with Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP since 1986 with emphasis in ' governmental accounting and financial reporting. Responsible for firm's in-house governmental accounting and auditing training programs. Experience includes supervision of over one hundred audits of governmental ' agencies including cities, redevelopment agencies, non-profit corporations; joint powers authorities and special districts. ' Other experience includes providing consulting services for governmental agencies including special internal control reviews, cost allocation plans, cable ' television rate reviews, reviews of City Treasurer operations and transient occupancy tax reviews of city hotels/motels. ' Continuing Professional Education For the period of January 1. 2004 through December 31, 2006: Total Government Hours: 103.00 -12- 1 CPA N , ROBERT J. CALLANA Position Concurring Review Partner ' Education Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, 1988 Bachelor of Science, Accounting, 1988 Licensing Certified Public Accountant in California since 1993 l f i ona Pro ess Organizations American Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Member California Society of Certified Public Accountants - Member California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) - Associate Member ' CSMFO Professional and Technical Standards Committee - Report Reviewer for Award Program Range of Experience Seventeen years of experience as Certified Public Accountant with Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP di ng Two years of experience as Chief Financial Officer of a mortgage len corporation Overall Experience includes: • Extensive supervision of audits of governmental agencies including cities, redevelopment agencies, water districts, other special districts, non-profit corporations and joint power authorities. • Numerous presentations of accounting, auditing, tax and personnel topics at in-house training programs • Conversion of an accounting system • Review and development of accounting control procedures, chart of accounts and internal accounting reports ' • Several operational reviews of internal control systems, such as cash management, business licensing and grant accounting ' Continuing Professional ' Education For the period of January 1, ?004 through December 31, 2006: Total Government Hours: 119.00 1 -1~- Position Education ' Licensing 1 1 fl 1 Rance of Experience Prior Experience Continuing Professional Education • DAPI I N IE FUERTEZ, CPA Audit Manager De La Salle University, Philippines Bachelor of Science in Accounting, 1995 Certified Public Accountant in California since 2001 Has been with Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP since September 1998. She has audited and prepared financial reports on cities, redevelopment agencies and nonprofit corporations. Experience includes auditing for the following clients: Cities and Other Entities: City of Alhambra City of Diamond Bar City of Downey City of Indian Wells City of Lake Elsinore City of Mission Viejo City of Montebello City of Palm Desert City of Rancho Palos Verdes City of San Juan Capistrano City of Santa Clarita City of Thousand Oaks City of Tustin City of Westminster Southeast Area Animal Control Authority United Cerebral Palsy Association Water Districts: Castaic Lake Water Agency El Toro Water District Laguna Beach County Water District Rancho California Water District Santa Clarita Water Company Trabuco Canyon Water District Special Districts: Coachella Valley Association of Governments Downey Cemetery District Prior to working for Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP, she worked for Union Incorporated in Irvine, CA for two years as a staff accountant. Her routine duties as staff accountant included verifying daily cash receipts, sales reports and processing weekly payroll. Other duties included preparing month-end journal entries, assisting in the annual closing process and account reconciliation reports. For the period of January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006: Total Government Hours 100.00 -14- SARAH H. RO. CPA Position Audit Senior Education University of California, Los Angeles ' Bachelor of Science in Economics, 1996 ' Licensing Certified Public Accountant in California since 2004 Rance of Experience Joined Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP in July 2003, concentrating on audits and the preparation of financial reports for governmental agencies. Other experience ' includes audits of nonprofit organizations and 401(k) Plans. Prior to coming to Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP, Ms. Ro provided business process outsourcing services to private corporations at Arthur Andersen, LLP, located in Irvine, California. Prior audit engagements with Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP include: ' Cities: Special Districts: City of Chino Beach Cities Health District City of Commerce Coachella Valley Association City of Indian Wells of Governments City of Thousand Oaks Cucamonga Valley Water District City of Westminster Walnut Valley Water District 1 ' Continuing Professional Education For the period of January 1, 1004 through December 31, 2006: Total Government Hours 100.00 1 -15- I i A PROACH SCOPE OF WORK, TIMING AND AUDIT P ENTITIES TO BE INCLUDED IN AUDIT ' City of Rosemead Rosemead Community Development Commission Rosemead Housing Development Corporation REPORTS TO BE ISSUED AND DUE DATES Due Dates ' l City of Rosemead - Comprehensive Annua Financial Report December 3 ' Rosemead Community Development Commission - Annual Report, Including Report on Compliance December 3 ' Rosemead Housing Development Corporation - Annual Report, Including Report on Compliance December 10 Management Letter December 10 Report on Compliance with Article XIIIB Appropriation Limit December 3 Single Audit Reports: December 17 • Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters Based on Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance With Government Auditing Standards • Independent Auditors' Report on Compliance with Requirements Applicable to Each Major Program and Internal Control Over Compliance in Accordance with OMB Circular A-133 and Supplementary Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. 1 -16- AUDIT TIMING ' Assuming that the City's books are closed and ready for examination and that all necessary schedules and documents are available for our use by October 15th each year, the suggested time schedule for the various phases of the audit would be approximately as follows: Entrance conference with key City staff. Discussion of any Week of May 21 prior audit concerns and the performance of interim work. y Interim audit fieldwork and management review Week of June 4 ' Final audit fieldwork and management review October 15 - November 2 Exit conference to summarize the results of the fieldwork and October 29 to review significant findings ' Deliver Final Reports See page 16 COMMITMENT TO DELIVER REPORTS ON A TIMELY BASIS If all books and records, schedules and documents are made available to us by October 15th, we make a commitment to have audit team members available and to provide all reports by the due dates specified above. AUDITS TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAAS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS We will audit the financial statements of the City and the component units noted on the preceding page. The financial statements of all entities where the City exercises oversight will be combined with the City's financial statements, in accordance with GASB Statement 14. Our audit will be in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America as set forth by the AICPA, and will include such auditing procedures as we consider necessary under the circumstances. We will apply certain limited procedures, which consist principally of inquiries of management regarding methods of measurement and presentation of required supplementary information. However, we do not audit such information and do not express an opinion on it. Any supplemental financial statements will be subjected to auditing procedures as we consider necessary in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. The scope of our audit will not include any statistical information, and we will not express an opinion concerning it. Our audits will conform with the guidelines set forth in the AICPA's Industry Audit Guide, Audits of State and Local Governmental Units. Also, each examination will comply with the standards for financial and compliance audits contained in the Government Auditing Standards (2007 Edition), issued by the U.S. General Accounting Office, and the requirements of OMB Circular A-133. Our audit of the Redevelopment Agency will include an audit on compliance in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 33080.1 and Sections I through V of the "Guidelines for Compliance Audits of California Redevelopment Agencies" issued by the State Controller's Office. Also, we will perform a limited Computation as required by Section will be performed in conformance Guidelines". procedures review of the City's Gann Spending Limitation n 1.5 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. Our review with the provision of the "League of California Cities Uniform -17- 1 1 1 AUDIT APPROACH Our firm uses a standardized governmental audit program which we will modify to the City of Rosemead's operations. The audit programs are modified to accommodate specific client circumstances such as providing services directly or through contracts, specific statutes and other unique characteristics. Our audit programs are organized using a combination of review and testing of internal controls, substantive tests of the balance sheet and analytical review of revenues and expenditures. The phases of the audit are as follows: 1. Planning and Initial Work: In the preaudit conference, an important objective will be to establish a process of communication between our audit team and City staff to minimize disruption to City staff. At this meeting we will discuss the scope and timing of the audits, documents needed for our permanent files and the list of schedules that the City normally prepares in conjunction with the year end closing. We will schedule about one week of interim audit work during June each year. During our initial audit, we will prepare narratives or other documentation of the major internal accounting control systems, such as revenue and cash receipts, cash disbursements, purchasing and accounts payable, payroll, inventory, property and equipment, grant administration and the budget process. These are used to evaluate the systems of internal control and to revise our standard audit programs as needed. As part of our planning and interim work, we will also gather information necessary to identify risks of material misstatements due to fraud by (a) inquiring of management and others within the City about the risks of fraud, (b) considering the results of analytical procedures, (c) considering fraud risk factors and (d) other information. During the audit work in subsequent years, we will note changes in the systems, if any. Each year we will select a random sample of transactions from throughout the year to determine that the systems are functioning as described to us. We will identify the strengths of the systems upon which we can rely in planning our substantive tests and in setting materiality limits. Our internal control review will meet all the requirements of AICPA Statements on Auditing Standards. 2. Final Audit Work: During the final audit work, we will concentrate on auditing the final amounts that appear in the City's CAFR. Our work may include: • Confirmation of cash and investments balances and testing of bank reconciliations. • Confirm significant receivable balances or review subsequent cash receipts to verify receivable balance. • Search for unrecorded liabilities. 1 • Test capital asset additions and depreciation expense. 18- s I AUDIT APPROACH (CONTIN) 2. Final Audit Work (Continued): 0 Confirm long-term debt balances and review the accounting treatment of debt issued or refunded. ' • Test support for other significant assets or liabilities. • Analytical procedures on balance sheet and revenue and expenditure accounts, to evaluate and explain unusual fluctuations from prior year balances or current year budgeted amounts. • Review of attorney letters for significant legal matters affecting the City's financial position. ' The audit workpapers will be reviewed by our management team in the field so that at the conclusion of the fieldwork we are able to report any adjustments or findings. An exit conference will be held to review any significant adjustments or findings. SINGLE AUDIT APPROACH The single audit will be performed in accordance with all the requirements of the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, OMB Circular A-133, Government Auditing Standards issued by the GOA (the "Yellow Book") and A1CPA Statement on Auditing Standards No. 68, "Compliance Auditing Applicable to Governmental Entities and Other Recipients of Governmental Financial Assistance". Our audit will include tests of transactions related to major federal award programs for compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements. Because an ' audit is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute assurance and because we will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is a risk that material misstatements or noncompliance may exist and not be detected by use. In addition, an audit is not designed to detect immaterial misstatements or violations of laws or governmental regulations that do not have a direct and material effect on the financial statements or major programs. However, we will inform you of any material errors and any fraudulent financial reporting or misappropriation of assets that comes to our attention. We will also inform you of any violations of laws or governmental regulations that come to our attention, unless clearly inconsequential. We will include such matters in the reports required for a Single Audit. We will perform tests of controls to evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of controls that we consider relevant to preventing or detecting material noncompliance with compliance requirements applicable to each major federal award program. However, our tests will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion on those controls and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control issued pursuant to OMB Circular A-133 I -19- 1 1 1 1 SINGLE AUDIT APPROACH (CONTIPED) We will plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the auditee has complied with applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements applicable to major programs. Our procedures will consist of the applicable procedures described in the OMB Circular A-133 "Compliance Supplement" for the types of compliance requirements that could have a direct and material effect on each of the City's major programs. The purpose of those procedures will be to express an opinion on the City's compliance with requirements applicable to major programs in our report on compliance issued pursuant to OMB Circular A-133. When we begin the single audit, we will identify the Major and Nonmajor Federal Financial Assistance Programs of the City. Each Major and Nonmajor program will be identified as either a low risk or high risk program. Programs to be tested will be selected based on our assessment of risk for each program. We will identify the types of activities that are either specifically allowed or prohibited by the laws, regulations, and contract or grant agreements pertaining to the programs and document an understanding of the internal controls the City has to provide reasonable assurance that federal awards are expensed only for allowable activities or costs. We will select a sufficient number of transactions to support a low level of assessed control risk. If no exceptions in the function of key controls are noted, we will conclude that a low level of control risk was achieved. If weaknesses in the internal controls are noted, we will modify our audit program as needed. As part of our single audit, we will request that the City assist in completing the Data Collection Form. The form will assist us in identifying the federal programs which will be required to be tested. DETERMINING LAWS AND REGULATIONS SUBJECT TO AUDIT Under provisions of AICPA Statement on Auditing Procedures No. 74, Management of the City is responsible for identifying to its outside auditors any laws and regulations which would have a significant effect on the audit. This would include federal laws (such as federal grant regulations), State laws (such as permitted investments under the California Government Code) and local laws (such as restrictions on special revenues levied by the City). After our selection as auditors, we will consult with City officials regarding these matters, to determine what laws and regulations need to be evaluated in connection with our audit. If a City is not able to identify specific laws and regulations that effect it, we have references (California Government Code and Health and Safety Code) to the more common laws, rules and regulations in our standard audit programs for the usual activities of a California City or Redevelopment Agency which will assist us in identifying laws and regulations to review in the audit. -20- 0 -0 METHOD OF SAMPLING Our approach is to utilize random sampling based in our testing of the internal control systems related to cash receipts, cash disbursements, payroll and utility billings. Based on a statistical conclusion used by the firm our sample sizes can range from 25 to 60 transactions. A random sample selection allows each item in the population of an equal chance of being selected. In addition, for disbursements, we may select a stratified sample of all transactions over a specified dollar amount for review. ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES Analytical procedures are used in the planning and final stages of the audit. In the planning phase, we use analytical procedures to identify unusual financial transactions and comparing relationships to expected results. We compare current year information to the prior years for balance sheet items, revenues and expenditures. In addition, revenues and expenditures are compared to budgets to identify unexpected results. In the final stages of the audit, the financial statements are reviewed to identify expected relationships such as comparing debt paid to expenditures recorded on governmental funds, transfers between funds, depreciation expense, etc. For all significant relationships identified, explanations are obtained as to why the situation occurred and additional audit procedures are applied to resolve any concerns. MANAGEMENT LETTERS In connection with each audit, a complete review of internal controls will be made of all significant accounting procedures. Our firm uses an internal control questionnaire and a computer systems questionnaire to develop information for the management letter. Upon the completion of each audit and discussion with appropriate City staff, our firm will submit a management letter which shall identify weaknesses observed during these reviews and throughout the audit, assess their effects on financial management and recommend steps toward eliminating the weaknesses. RETENTION OF AND ACCESS TO AUDIT WORKPAPERS In accordance with provisions of OMB Circular A-133, GAO requirements, and the California Board of Accountancy, our audit workpapers will be maintained for at least seven years after the date of the report. These workpapers will be made available as necessary to your cognizant audit agency (or its designee), to GAO representatives, or to any other federal or state agency needing access to the workpapers. Also, our firm will respond to any reasonable inquiries of successor auditors and we will allow any successor auditors to review our work-papers. OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES We will be available for any other professional assistance you require to research and answer accounting and reporting problems raised by the City; regardless of the time of year. Such assistance may include, but is not limited to, tax questions, the review of bond documents, cost allocation programs and employee benefit programs. We also will keep the City informed of new developments affecting municipal finance and reporting, changes in grant rules and regulations, etc. We will be available for training sessions on any accounting matters, and we will be available to attend City Council meetings as needed. 21- 0 City Audit, including Gann Appropriations Limit Community Development Commission Housing Development Corporation Single Audit of Federal Grants TOTAL, HOURS Supervisory Partner Manager Staff Staff Clerical Total 16 20 120 120 20 296 4 12 20 20 4 60 2 - 16 12 2 32 2 6 20 12 2 42 24 38 176 164 28 430 DIS• SION OF RELEVANT ACCOUN*G ISSUES GASB STATEMENT NO. 45 GASB Statement No. 45 on Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions is effective based on a government's total annual revenues in the first fiscal year ending after June 15, 1999. For governments with total annual revenues of $100 million or more, the Statement is effective for periods beginning after December 16, 2006. This Statement improves the relevance and usefulness of financial reporting by (a) requiring systematic, accrual-basis measurement and recognition of OPEB cost (expense) over a period of time that approximates employees' years of service and (b) providing information about accrued liabilities associated with OPEB and whether and to what extent progress is being made in funding the plan. GASB STATEMENT NO. 47 GASB Statement No. 47 on Accounting for Termination Benefits is effective in two parts. For termination benefits provided through an existing defined benefit OPEB plan, the provisions should be implemented simultaneously with the requirements of GASB Statement No. 45. For all other termination benefits, the Statement is effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005. This Statement improves financial reporting by adopting uniform recognition requirements for all voluntary termination benefits, establishing guidance for accrual basis accounting and reporting of termination benefits in the period in which the employer becomes obligated to provide benefits to terminated employees, and elaborating on measurement issues associated with all forms of termination benefits. GASB STATEMENT NO. 48 GASB Statement No. 48 on Sales and Pledges of Receivables and Future Revenues and Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets and Future Revenue is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after December 15, 2006. This statement improve financial reporting by establishing criteria that governments will use to ascertain whether proceeds received in a lump sum for future revenues should be reported as revenue or a liability. It also requires that specific relevant disclosures be made to inform financial statement users about the unavailability of future revenues that have been pledged or sold. GASB STATEMENT NO. 49 GASB Statement No. 49 on Accounting and Reporting for Pollution Remediation Obligations is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2007. This statement will enhance the comparability of financial statements among governments to account for pollution remediation obligations that previously may not have been reported. This statement requires more timely and complete reporting of pollution remediation obligations as their components become more reasonably estimable. 23 - 1 t • WORK REQUIRED BY CITY STW Our fixed annual fees contemplate that conditions satisfactory to the normal progress and completion of the examination will be encountered and that City accounting personnel will furnish the agreed-upon assistance in connection with the audit. However, if unusual circumstances are encountered which make it necessary for us to do additional work; we shall report such conditions to the responsible City officials and provide the City with an estimate of the additional accounting fees involved. Noted below is a listing of work required by City staff to assist in the audit. 1. Technical assistance in familiarizing our staff with: • The flow of information through the various departments and accounting systems. • Reports generated by your accounting system. • The system of internal controls. • Controls established to monitor compliance with federal grants. 2. Preparation of trial balances for all funds, after posting of all year end journal entries. 3. Preparation of schedules supporting all major balance sheet accounts, and selected revenue and expenditure accounts. 4. Typing of all confirmation requests. 5. Pulling and refiling of all supporting documents required for audit verification. 6. Assistance with the preparation of the CAFR and footnotes, including: a. Determination of major funds. b. Determination of general and program revenues and allocation of program revenues to: 1. charges for services, 2. operating grants and contributions, and 3. capital grants and contributions. c. Determining components of net assets into capital assets net of related debt, restricted and unrestricted assets. d. Assistance in determining the amounts to be reported (1) in the Reconciliation of the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental Funds to the Statement of Activities and (2) the Reconciliation of the Balance Sheet of Governmental Funds to the Statement of Net Assets. 7. Preparation of the management's discussion and analysis, and transmittal letter for the CAFR. -24- 9 FEES AND HOURLY RATE MAXIMUM FEES Our maximum fees for the year ending June 30, 2007 will be as follows: 2007 City Audit, including Gann Appropriations Limit and preparation of statistical section $ 30,340 Community Development Commission 6,480 Housing Development Corporation 3,270 Single Audit of Federal Grants 4,520 TOTALS $ 44.610 COMPOSITION OF CURRENT AUDIT FEE Our proposed fee for the year ending June 30, 2007 is computed as follows: Quoted Hours Rates Partners 24.00 x $ 165.00 = $ 3,960.00 Managers 38.00 x 135.00 = 5,130.00 Supervisory Staff 176.00 x 110.00 = 19,360.00 Staff 164.00 x 90.00' = 14,760.00 Clerical 28.00 x 50.00 = 1,400.00 430.00 $ 44.610.00 -25- i HOURLY RATES FOR SPECIAL SERWES If the City wishes us to perform consulting or other services outside the scope of the services described herein, a separate written request from the City will be required. Our hourly rates for these services during each year under the basic contract will be as follows: 2007 Engagement Partner S 165 Concurring Review Partner 165 Director of Consulting Services 165 Managers 135 Supervisory Staff 110 Staff 90 Clerical 50 -26- fl CONSULTING SERVICES DEPAROENT OVERVIEW OF SERVICES PROVIDED Diehl, Evans & Company, LLP offers a wide range of consulting services to governmental agencies. This section of our proposal summarizes the primary types of services provided by the firm. The firm's Director of Consulting Services is Mr. William S. Morgan, CPA. Mr. Morgan has over thirty years of experience in providing accounting, auditing and consulting services to California cities, counties, redevelopment agencies, water districts, special districts, joint power authorities and nonprofit corporations. Many of the firm's consulting projects are planned, supervised and reviewed by Mr. Morgan. Our firm provides the following types of services: • Governmental Tax Consulting • Performance and Operational Studies • Redevelopment Consulting Services • Reviews of City Treasurer Operations • Cable Television and Broadband Consulting Services • Reviews of Solid Waste Haulers and Assistance With Trash Rate Negotiations • Litigation Support and Dispute Resolution Services • Fraud Investigations • Hotel/Motel Transient Occupancy Tax Reviews • Business License Operation Reviews With regard to these engagements, we intend to perform limited procedures reviews in connection with each assignment, in accordance with the AICPA's attestation standards. Under the provisions of the attestation standards, the City will designate what specific procedures it wishes to have performed. We will then perform those procedures and report on our findings. This type of engagement will not constitute a certified audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Such special services are not part of our standard fee arrangements and would be subject to a separate fee quotation. -27- 1 1 ATTACHMENT I RESULTS OF OUTSIDE QUALITY REVIEW ' H@PENREICH & HEIDE ETCH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOU ANTS 12020 S. Warner-Elliot Loop #121 15545 Bear Valley Rd. #B Phoenix, AZ 85044-2700 Hesperia, CA 92345 (480)704-6301 fax 785-4619 (760) 948-2899 tax 948-7712 sheidenreich@att.net ' January 13, 2006 ry ' To the Owners Diehl, Evans and Company, LLP t We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Diehl, Evans and Company, LLP (the firm) in effect for the year ended September 30, 2005. A system of quality control encompasses the firm's organizational structure, the policies adopted and procedures established to provide it with reasonable assurance of conforming with professional ' standards. The elements of quality control are described in the Statements on Quality Control Standards issued by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). The firm is responsible for designing a system of quality control and complying with it to provide the firm reasonable ' assurance of conforming with professional standards in all material respects. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of the system of quality control and the firm's compliance with its system of quality control based on our review. ' Our review was conducted in accordance with standards established by the Peer Review Board of the AICPA. During our review, we read required representations from the firm, interviewed firm personnel and obtained an understanding of the nature of the firm's accounting and auditing practice, and the design of the firm's system of quality control sufficient to assess the risks implicit ' in its practice. Based on our assessments, we selected engagements and administrative files to test for conformity with professional standards and compliance with the firm's system of quality control. The engagements selected represented a reasonable cross-section of the firm's ' accounting and auditing practice with emphasis on higher-risk engagements. The engagements selected included among others, audits of Employee Benefit Plans and engagements performed under Government Auditing Standards. Prior to concluding the review, we reassessed the adequacy of the scope of the peer review procedures and met with firm management to discuss ' the results of our review. We believe that the procedures we performed provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In performing our review, we obtained an understanding of the system of quality control for the firm's accounting and auditing practice. In addition, we tested compliance with the firm's quality control policies and procedures to the extent we considered appropriate. These tests covered the application of the firm's policies and procedures on selected engagements. Our review was based on selected tests therefore it would not necessarily detect all weaknesses in the system of quality control or all instances of noncompliance with it. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of quality control and therefore noncompliance with the system of quality control may occur and not be detected. Projection of any evaluation of a system of quality control to future periods is subject to the risk that the system of quality control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or because the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Diehl, Evans and Company, LLP in effect for the year ended September 30, 2005, has been designed to meet the requirements of the quality control standards for an accounting and auditing practice established by the AICPA and was complied with during the year then ended to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of conforming with professional standards. As is customary in a system review, we have issued a letter under this date that sets forth comments that were not considered to be of sufficient significance to affect the opinion expressed in this report. Heidenreich & Heidenreich Certified Public Accountants ' HFWENREICH & HEIDEN ICH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOU NTS ' 12020 S. Warner-Elliot Loop #121 15545 Bear Valley Rd. #B Phoenix, AZ 85044-2700 Hesperia, CA 92345 (480)704-6301 fax 785-4619 (760) 948-2899 fax 948-7712 sheidenreich@att.net 1 January 13, 2006 ' To the Owners Diehl, Evans and Company, LLP We have reviewed the accounting and auditing practice of Diehl, Evans and Company, LLP for the year ended September 30, 2005, and have issued our report thereon dated January 13, 2006. That report should be read in conjunction with the comment in this letter, which was considered in ' determining our opinion. The matter described below was not considered to be of sufficient significance to affect the opinion expressed in that report. ' Comment - The firm has established policies for audit documentation, but has not developed specific guidance to ensure that certain procedures are documented in full as required by professional standards. As a result, we noted that the firm's documentation was incomplete with respect to the general audit program on one audit and the program for benefit ' payments/participant accounts on the audit of an Employee Benefit Plan. The workpapers did contain sufficient documentation to support the audit opinion. ' Recommendation - The firm should revise its policies and procedures relating to performing audits to include specific guidance for the documentation required by professional standards. Heidenreich & Heidenreich Certified Public Accountants 1 0 0 1 i 0 l & LL ce LIS ghard Do aldc.sIater L L P Richard K. Kikuchi Certified Public Accountants Retired March 26, 2007 Ms. Lisa Pedote, Chief Financial Officer City of Rosemead 8838 E. Valley Boulevard P.O. Box 399 Rosemead, CA 91770 Dear Ms. Pedote: Robert C. Lance 1914.1994 Richard C. Soil Fred J. Lunghard, Jr. 192&1999 Lance, Soll & Lunghard, LLP is pleased to respond to your request for a proposal for professional auditing services. As a leader in the field of governmental accounting and auditing, we appreciate the opportunity to present our professional qualifications. Because of our extensive municipal experience, dedication to excellence and determination to retain the brightest and most talented professionals, we are certain that Lance, Soll & Lunghard, LLP is the most qualified accounting firm to provide professional auditing services and report preparation to the City of Rosemead. The annual services that would be provided to the City of Rosemead, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 through June 30, 2009 would be as follows: Perform a financial audit of the Basic Financial Statements of the City of Rosemead. We understand that we will be responsible for preparing this report. These financial statements could be included within a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) which may be submitted under both the California and National awards programs. Our audit would express an opinion as to whether the financial statements and associated notes conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 2. Perform a financial audit of the Component Unit Financial Statements of the Rosemead Community Development Commission. Again, we understand that we will prepare these financial statements and accompanying notes thereto. Our opinion would indicate adherence to generally accepted accounting principles. A separate compliance audit would be performed and an opinion issued as required by Section 33080.1 of the Health and Safety Code. This audit would be done in accordance with Guidelines for Compliance Audits of California Redevelopment Agencies of the State Controller's Office as interpreted in Suggested Auditing Procedures for Accomplishing Compliance Audits of California Redevelopment Agencies, issued by the Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, we would prepare the State Controller's Report i FEARS "Vi'"'i►•, r ' V2 192004 01 FXWQUIl'8 203 N. Brea Blvd., Suite 203 • Brea, CA 92821-4056 • (714) 672-0022 e Fax (714) 672-0331 9 www.IsIcl2as.com • L Soll & Lnghard LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS City of Rosemead Proposal to Provide Auditing Services March 26, 2007 Page 2 0 for the Commission and a Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Forms Analysis computation which provides the amounts for completing the financial sections of the HCD Reporting Forms (either paper or on the automated reporting system). 3. Perform a Single Audit, if necessary, of all federal grants received by the City of Rosemead utilizing auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. This audit would be performed according to the requirements of OMB Circular A-133, Government Auditing Standards issued by the GAO and the AICPA Industry Audit Guide. 4. Review and issue a report on the calculation of the City's Appropriations Limit (GANN), as required by Article XIIIB Section 1.5 of the California Constitution. 5. Perform a financial audit of the Component Unit Financial Statements of the Rosemead Housing Development Corporation. Again, we understand that we will prepare these financial statements and accompanying notes thereto. Our opinion would indicate adherence to generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, if the Corporation is required to file a tax return, we would prepare a Non-Profit income tax return (Forms 990 and 199) along with the Department of Charities Registration Form. Perform a review and make recommendations on the internal control structure, which consists of the Control Environment, Accounting System and Control Procedures. Also, we shall make an immediate and written report of any irregularities and illegal acts or indication of illegal acts coming to our attention. Provide the City with services not strictly within the purview of the audit, including but not limited to rendering assistance in ensuring that appropriate financial controls and procedures are in place and maintained, updating City staff with the latest development in governmental accounting/reporting issues and assisting the City in implementing new requirements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). To accomplish the engagements listed above, we are proposing the following fees for a three year period. These proposed fees are based upon a review of the previous fiscal year financial reports of the various entities comprising the City of Rosemead. Should operations of the entities change significantly, from those present at June 30, 2006, then the fees shown herein would be subject to further negotiation. Additionally, the fees proposed are based upon the assumption that accounting functions would be performed and minimal adjustments would be required. To the extent that this is not the case, the fees shown would also be subject to further negotiation. The fees we propose would be as follows. u L[SLLuarnc l sghard LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS City of Rosemead Proposal to Provide Auditing Services March 26, 2007 Page 3 11 Proposed Fees Engagements 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Totals City of Rosemead $ 41,270.00 $ 42,510.00 $ 43,790.00 $ 127,570.00 Community Development Commission 7,860.00 * 8,100.00 * 8340.00 * 24,300.00 Single Audit 2,870.00 2,960.00 3,050.00 8,880.00 GANN Review 1,090.00 1,120.00 1,150.00 3,360.00 Rosemead Housing Authority 3,210.00 3,310.00 3,410.00 9,930.00 City Controller's Report 3,210.00 3,306.00 3,405.00 9,921.00 Totals $ 59,510.00 $ 61,306.00 $ 63,145.00 $ 183,961.00 * Includes preparation of the State Controller's Report and providing HCD Form information. Includes preparation of the Non-Profit tax return(s). This proposal is a firm and irrevocable offer for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2007 through June 30, 2009 for 60 days. For purposes of this proposal, Donald L. Parker, CPA, Partner is authorized to make representations for our firm. Additionally, in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have attached a copy of our firms' most recent peer review opinion letter. If you should have any questions, please fee free to contact me at the address and telephone number listed above or by email at donald.parkeralslcpas.com. Very truly yours, DONALD L. PARKER, CPA, PARTNER LANCE, SOLL & LUNGHARD, LLP 0 R.H. JOHNSTON ACCOUNTANCY INC. A Professional Corporation 21031 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 210 Woodland Hills, California 91364 (818) 346-9800 Fax (818) 346-0609 September 16, 2004 To the Partners, Lance Soll & Lunghard LLP We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Lance Soll & Lunghard LLP (the firm) in effect for the year ended May 31, 2004. A system of quality control encompasses the firm's organizational structure and the policies adopted and procedures established to provide it with reasonable assurance of conforming with professional standards. The elements of quality control are described in the Statements on Quality Control Standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The design of the system and compliance with it are the responsibility of the firm. Our responsibility is express an opinion on the design of the system, and the firm's compliance with the system based on our review. Our. review was conducted in accordance with standards established by the Peer Review Board of the AICPA. In performing our review, we obtained an understanding of the system of quality control for the firm's accounting and auditing practice. In addition, we tested compliance with the firm's quality control policies and procedures to the extent we considered appropriate. These tests covered the application of the firm's policies and procedures on selected engagements. Because our review was based on selective tests, it would not necessarily disclose all weaknesses in the system of quality control or all instances of lack of compliance with it. Because there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of quality control, departures from the system may occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of a system of quality control to future periods is subject to the risk that the system of quality control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or because the degree of compliance with the polices or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Lance Soll & Lunghard LLP in effect for the year ended May 31, 2004, has been designed to meet the requirements of the quality control standards for an accounting and auditing practice established by the AICPA and was complied with during the year then ended to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of conforming with professional standards. A?,Z.l ?Mz-ez~- 4e--- ~ r-~ PROPOSAL FOR AUDITING SERVICES TO Submitted by LIMVASQ.UEz & COMPANY LLP CITY OF ROSEMEAD An Independent t."ember of the 8U0 Seidman Alliance ALLIANCE Members AICPA Division of Firms • Center for Public Company Audit Firms ♦ Registered with the PCACIB 801 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017-4646 (213) 629-9094 • Fax (213) 996-4242 ♦ www.vasquezcpa.com Contact: Mr. Gilbert Vasquez, CPA • May 1, 2007 • • PROPOSAL FOR AUDITING SERVICES TO CITY OF ROSEMEAD Submitted by NOVASQUEz WX & COMPANY LLP I_I R i if [D PWRL!I. ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS QUO SEIDMAN An Independent Member of the BDO Seidman Alliance ALLIANCE Members AICPA Division of Firms ♦ Center for Public Company Audit Firms ♦ Registered with the PCAOB 801 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017-4646 (213) 629-9094 ♦ Fax (213) 996-4242 ♦ www.vasquezcoa.com Contact: Mr. Gilbert Vasquez, CPA • May 1, 2007 • 0 A T/ C?C)-) vn -"7L • • PROPOSAL FOR AUDITING SERVICES TO Submitted by IN VASQU EZ !TA COMPANY LLP URTW ED PIJN II ACCOUWANTS ANO 1415ANISS CONSULTAN IS CITY OF ROSEMEAD An Independent Member of the BDO Seidman Alliance ALLIANCE Members AICPA Division of Firms • Center for Public Company Audit Firms ♦ Registered with the PCAOB 801 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017-4646 • (213) 629-9094 • Fax (213) 996-4242 • www.vasauezcpa.com Contact: Mr. Gilbert Vasquez, CPA • May 1, 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS TRANSMITTAL LETTER 4 FIRM OVERVIEW 5 INDEPENDENCE 6 LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA 7 FIRM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE S PARTNER, SUPERVISORY AND STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE ...............................12 SIMILAR ENGAGEMENTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES .................................................17 SPECIFIC AUDIT APPROACH .........................................................................................................19 IDENTIFICATION OF ANTICIPATED POTENTIAL AUDIT PROBLEMS 26 PRICE PROPOSAL 27 i■ IN • • ►M®VASQUEZ WA & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS is VASQU • & COMPANY LLP IC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS I of 01 South Grand Avenue. Suite 400 • Los Angeles. CA 90017-4646 • Ph. (21 3) o29-9094 • Fax (213) 996-4242 May 1, 2007 Ms. Lisa Pedote Chief Financial Officer City of Rosemead 8838 Valley Blvd. Rosemead, CA 91770 RE: Request for Proposal for Professional Auditing Services Dear Ms. Pedote: www.vasquezcpa.com Vasquez & Company LLP (Firm) is please to submit our proposal to the City of Rosemead (City) to conduct the audit of its financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. Management can be assured that the audits will be performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards as set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the standards for financial audits set forth in the U.S. General Accounting Office's Government Auditing Standards, the provisions of the Federal Single Audit Act of 1996, the provisions of the U. S. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133, Audits of State, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, and the provision contained in this Request for Proposal. This proposal is an irrevocable offer for 90 days from the date of this proposal. Our FIRM has performed over 5,000 financial and compliance audits in its 40-year untarnished history - a statement that cannot be made by many other firms. We have worked extensively with governmental entities and have the expertise to conduct quality audits in this area. Our FIRM is uniquely qualified to provide services to the CITY because of our size, resources, the level of professional expertise of our personnel and experience with similar engagements. We are well qualified to review and work with the CITY to ensure that the CITY's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is consistent with the audited financial statements; the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) certificate of achievement program checklist; the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) requirements and that the report is completed and submitted within the specified timeframe. Our knowledge of the GFOA and CSMFO requirements is demonstrated by the fact that our staff has worked hand-in-hand with the following clients in achieving their certificate awards: City of San Fernando, City of Gardena and the City of Baldwin Park and the Central Basin Municipal Water District. In addition, we commit to perform the work under this proposal within the required timetable. We thank you for this opportunity to present our FIRM and its professional qualifications to the CITY. We trust that you will find Vasquez & Company LLP uniquely qualified to provide the CITY with professional auditing services. Gilbert Vasquez, our managing partner is authorized to represent and negotiate on behalf of our FIRM. Should you have any questions or desire further assistance, please call Mr. Gilbert R. Vasquez, Managing Partner, at (213) 629-9094 extension 200. Sincerely, VASQUEZ & COMPANY LLP / W Gilbert R. s Managing a ner = Registered with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Member of Private Companies Practice Section & Center for Public Company Audit Firms IN • • VASQU EZ COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS ■ ■ ■ i ■ ■ i ~ FIRM OVERVIEW Vasquez & Company LLP is a full service Certified Public Accounting firm comprised of 50 individuals. Founded in 1967, the Firm has 40 years experience in performing financial and compliance audits for all types of, not-tor-profit organization, for-profit organizations, public agencies and publicly traded companies. As a local firm, we are able to offer timely, personalized attention. Our professionals deliver innovative yet practical solutions that help clients gain competitive advantage. RANGE OF SERVICES Our Firm provides audit, consulting, tax, financial advisory, review and compilation. Our audit services include financial statement audits of companies in private and public sectors, audits of federal grants under OMB A-133, compliance examination audits, overhead rate audits under FAR Part 31 for private companies or OMB A-122 for not-for-profit organizations. In addition, we provide internal audit services to augment the staffing needs of internal audit departments. Our Firm offers accounting services such as: detailed accounting transactions, handling receipts and bank deposits, personal bill paying, accounts receivables, business consulting and payroll preparation and reporting. Our financial advisory services include: management advisory services, pension plan design, business management and estate planning. Our tax services encompass tax return preparation for not-for-profit organizations, individuals, corporations and partnerships, sales and use tax review, business tax planning and consulting. The Firm provides complete technology assurance services for your information technology infrastructure. Our consultants can augment or provide your internal audit function for technology related matters; implement security strategies that enable your business; offer sound and practical advice that includes process control enhancements; or provide your organization with an appropriate technology control strategy. The Firm provides cost segregation services for commercial real estate owners. Our cost segregation services provide an independent third-party analysis of project costs that can provide a federal and in some cases, state tax advantage. In addition, we provide fraud examinations, IRS collections and procedures consulting and human resources consulting. BDO SEIDMAN ALLIANCE ALUANCE The Firm is an Independent Member of the BDO Seidman Alliance TM. As part of the BDO Seidman Alliance we are able to access this nationwide association of 200 independently owned local and regional accounting, consulting, business and technology firms who share our dedication to exemplary client service, thus providing enhanced resources that the Firm could utilize in service to the CITY. BDO Seidman is the seventh largest national accounting firm. IN 0 ►i®VASQUEZ WA & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS ■ in INDEPENDENCE The Firm meets the independence requirements of the Government Auditing Standards, 2003 revision, published by the United States General Accounting Office ("Yellow Book") as it relates to the City. It is our profession's nature to be objective and unbiased. People depend on the opinions of Certified Public Accountants and look upon their reports as fair and accurate representations. The nature of our work is detailed and analytical, yet highly cognizant of the overall perspective. It is also one of our professional tenets to be independent and impartial in expressing our opinions. We have often been placed in the position of being the bearer of unpleasant news in situations of non-compliance. It is our strict policy to be straightforward and impartial whether the news is favorable or unfavorable. PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY The Firm has not had in the past five years any professional relationships involving the CITY. In addition, the Firm will give the CITY written notice of any professional relationships entered into during the period we are engaged as the CITY's auditors that involves the CITY. The Firm covenants that it presently has no interest, and shall not acquire any interest direct or indirect or otherwise, which would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of the work required hereunder. We further covenant that, in the performance of this work, no subcontractor persons having such an interest shall be employed. We certify that no one who has or will have any financial interest in performing this work is an officer or employee of the CITY. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA 0 UTH V ASQUEZ A & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS • • LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA Our Firm is properly licensed to conduct public accounting in California. Furthermore, the Firm holds valid business permits and other documents as required by the City, County, State, and other governmental and/or regulatory body to legally engage in and perform the services requested under this RFP. The Firm further assures that key engagement team members will be properly licensed Certified Public Accountants in California. The Firm certifies that upon notification, it will inform the CITY of any suspension, termination, lapse, non-renewals, or restrictions of its licenses, certificates, or other required documents. 7 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FIRM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE UTH VASQU EZ A & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS FIRM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The Firm has performed over 5,000 financial and compliance audits for all types of state and local governments, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations and publicly traded companies in its 40- year untarnished history. The Firm is acknowledged for excellent client service and community accomplishments. As a local firm, we are able to offer personalized attention. Our professionals deliver innovative yet practical solutions that help clients gain competitive advantage. We warrant that we possess the necessary skills, expertise, and qualified personnel to deliver the services called for in this engagement. RECORD OF QUALTY CONTROL The Firm has not been subjected to any federal or state desk reviews or field reviews of its audit work for at least the past five years. We have maintained an unblemished record of quality professional service during our 40-year history. The Firm is proud to state that it: ❑ has never been sued, ❑ has never had any complaints filed against it with the California State Board of Accountancy for substandard work or for any other reason, ❑ has never settled any potential law suit, ❑ has never been requested to resign from any engagement and, ❑ has never received a negative desk or field review from any of our clients' cognizant agencies regarding any of our audits. Vasquez & Company LLP is not currently involved in litigation with a current or former client nor is it aware of any pending or threatened claims or assessments. PERSONNEL RESOURCES The Firm consists of approximately 50 individuals as follows: Partners 3 Principals 8 Managers 3 Supervisors 4 Seniors 15 Staff 7 No. of Professionals 40 Administrative 10 Total so Our people are our most important resource. They have developed their skills and have accumulated their experience through the successful performance of work for numerous clients and through our comprehensive and formal professional staff training programs. 8 10 01 GOVERNMENT AUDIT TEAM Our Government Audit team consisting of Mr. Gilbert Vasquez, Managing Partner, Mr. Lee Waddle, Quality Control Partner, Mr. Vedeo Tinana, Government Practice Principal, and Ms. Linda Narciso, Manager, supported by six senior auditors with an average of six years experience in conducting audits of cities, government agencies, and special districts, have assisted several of our clients in achieving their GFOA certificates of excellence in financial reporting. PHYSICAL RESOURCES The Firm occupies an 11,000 square foot office space at 801 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017. We have a computer network with approximately twenty (20) workstations. All the auditors have laptop computers, which connect to the network via the Internet. Printers are also available for auditors to bring to the clients' offices, as needed. EXTERNAL QUALITY CONTROL REVIEW The Firm is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") Division of Firms and received a clean opinion from the AICPA on its peer review, dated March 4, 2005. This review covered several government engagements, including a city comparable in size and audit scope to the CITY. A copy of the peer review opinion follows. r~ Center for Public Company ® Audit ti C mnft Aucft ouaft Amako hftft d CvdW PUbk AcwwWft • Msbonide R mndd Cm w 201 Plea Tine • JWW CRY. NJ 07311-3881 201938.3030 - 868.817.3277 • hx 201.5215136 • www.41".GWC"1 March 4, 2005 Gilbert R Vasquez, CPA Vasquez & Company, LLP 510 W Sixth St Ste 400 Los Angeles, CA 90014 Dear Mr. Vasquez: It is my pleasure to notify you that on February 23, 2005 the Center Peer Review Committee accepted the report on the most recent peer review of your firm, the related letter of comments, and your firm's response thereto. Those documents will now be placed in the public files of the Center for Public Company Audit Firms. The exit conference on your next review must occur by June 30, 2007. As you know, the reviewer's opinion waa unmodified. The Committee asked me to convey its congratulations to the firm. Sincerely, David Brumbeloe, CPA Chair CPCAF Peer Review Committee CC: Daniel Richard Matter, CPA Firm Number: 10138115 Review Number: 212351 10 9 MEM 99 sA OF AICFA DANIEL MATTER & CO. CERTIPIWO PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Otani ON FOR CPAFttMt 1102 (AST TNOUS,INp OAKS dOULfvwko TVLrPNONE !9051 495.&p .05 sQCPs•ACPs T14OUSMO OARS, CALIFORNIA 9I592 FACSIMILE (805) 795-703; 495-7786 September 9, 2004 To the Partners Vasquez & Company LLP and the Center for Public Company Audit Firms Peer Review Committee We have reviewed the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice of Vasquez & Company LLP (the firm) applicable to non-SB C Issuers in effect for the year ended December 31, 2003. The firm's; accounting and auditing practice applicable to SEC issuers was not reviewed by us since the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) is responsible for inspecting that portion of the firm's accounting and auditing practice in accordance with PCAOB requirements. A system of quality control encompasses the firm's organizational structure and the policies adopted and procedures established to provide it with reasonable assurance of complying with professional standards. The elements of quality control are described in the Statements on Quality Control Standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (the AICPA). The design of the system, and compliance with it, are the responsibilities of the firm. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the design of the system, and the firm's compliance with that system based on our review. Our review was conducted in accordance with standards established by the Peer Review Committee of the Center for Public Company Audit Firms and included procedures to plan and perform the review that are summarized in the attached description of the peer review process. Our review would not necessarily disclose all weaknesses in the system of quality control or all instances of lack of compliance with it since it was based on selective tests. Because there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of quality control, departures from the system may occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of a system of quality control to future periods is subject to the risk that the system of quality control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, the system of quality control for the accounting and auditing practice applicable to the non-SEC issuers of Vasquez & Company LLP in effect for the year ended December 31, 2003 has been designed to meat the requirements of the quality control standards for an accounting and auditing practice established by the AICPA, and wan complied with during the year then ended to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of complying with applicable professional standards. An is customary in a peer review, we have issued a letter under this date that sets forth comments relating to certain policies and procedures or compliance with them. The matters described in the letter were not considered to be of sufficient significance to affect the opinion expressed in this report. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PARTNER, SUPERVIORY AND STAFF ■ QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 0 UTOVASQUEZ A & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS L71 PARTNER, SUPERVISORY AND STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE General The Firm is able to assemble and manage multi-disciplinary teams of highly qualified and experienced professionals, drawing upon audit staff resources and the complementary capabilities of technical advisory groups. Based on our many years of experience, we are able to integrate the roles and functions of professional, administrative, and supporting staff into a common effort. In our practice, we employ a team approach. Over time, we have found that our team concept is the most effective way in which to serve a client's diverse needs. Each member of our proposed team possesses a level of experience that is directly related to the tasks that he/she will perform. Our audit administration structure provides for a depth of experience and technical skills from our management personnel. This ensures that the CITY personnel will have continuous access to an appropriate, knowledgeable representative of the engagement team. Engagement Team The success of any audit engagement depends on the people selected to actually conduct the audit. We consider it imperative that the selected engagement team: ❖ Possess and demonstrate the necessary technical skills to perform their assigned tasks in an efficient manner, ❖ Establish a "track record" of effective coordination among each other and with the client in order to meet the stated audit objective, and ❖ Establish continuity of effort from year to year and among each other in order to avoid "retraining" our personnel in subsequent years. Team Member Mr. Gilbert Vasquez, CPA Mr. Vasquez will have the responsibility and authority for the audit Coordinating Partner engagement and act as the liaison between the CITY and the Firm. Mr. Lee Waddle, CPA Mr. Waddle will review all audit reports, financial statements and other Quality Control Partner information to ensure compliance with the Firm and all applicable standards. Mr. Vedeo Tinana, CPA Mr. Tinana will have the responsibility of directing the technical Engagement Principal performance and oversee the operations of the engagement team. Ms. Linda Narciso Ms. Narciso will be responsible for conducting the audit team's day-to- Manager day fieldwork. Staff Continuity Our commitment to achieve long-term engagement continuity is accomplished through early planning and thorough management which increases audit efficiency and streamlines the audit process for the CITY. The selection of personnel we propose for assignment to this engagement has been based on the above criteria. The Firm covenants that it will not replace any of the "key management personnel" unless circumstances beyond our control occur (e.g. personnel leave the Firm). Each person to be assigned to the engagement has been chosen for his or her ability to repeat on future years' engagements. A brief description of the responsibilities of each of the individuals we propose to assign to the engagement team to serve the CITY is shown below. 12 GILBERT R. VASQUEZ, CPA Managing Partner Firm Position Mr. Vasquez is the founder and managing partner of Vasquez & Company LLP. Since 1967, he has managed and directed a successful practice in public accounting, auditing, taxation and financial advisory services. Areas of Expertise Mr. Vasquez area of expertise is focused on accounting, taxation, financial, and compliance audits, internal control review of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, privately held companies and publicly traded companies. Standards Mr. Vasquez is familiar with conducting audits in accordance with the following standards/provisions: • Generally Accepted Auditing Standards • Generally Accepted Govemment Auditing (GAAS) Standards (GAGAS) • Single Audit Act Amendment of 1996 and OMB • Federal Acquisition Regulations A-133 • Standards of the Public Company Accounting • OMB Circular A-122 Oversight Board Representation of Experience Mr. Vasquez's experience includes his involvement in the following engagements: • City of Baldwin Park • City of Cudahy • City of San Fernando • County of Los Angeles • Central Basin Municipal Water District • Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District • Needles Public Utility Authority • Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority • Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority • City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency • Rio Hondo Community College District • City of Pico Rivera (Water Distrct) • Valley County Water District Educational Background Mr. Vasquez received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting from California State University, Los Angeles. He is also a credentialed Professor of Accounting. Professional Aff iliations Mr. Vasquez was a member of the 1984 Olympic Organizing Committee and currently serves on the Board of Directors of its successor organization, the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles. Mr. Vasquez continues his membership on several Boards including the National Council of La Raza, Cal State LA Foundation and Manufacturers Bank. Mr. Vasquez has also served as member of the Los Angels County Sheriff's Department Board as well as the Los Angeles Metropolitan YMCA Board. Past corporate board, associations include GTE of California, Glendale Federal Savings and Loan Association, and Blue Cross of California, and the American Power Products. 13 0 0 LEE WADDLE, CPA Quality Control Partner Firm Position Mr. Waddle is the quality control partner for Vasquez & Company, LLP. Mr. Waddle has over 40 years of professional public and private accounting and auditing experience. Mr. Waddle oversees the Firm's quality control efforts, internal audit outsourcing practice, and acts as the Firm's primary expert witness. Areas of Expertise Mr. Waddle area of expertise is focused on financial and compliance audits, internal control review of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, privately held companies and publicly traded companies. Standards Mr. Waddle's is familiar with conducting audits in accordance with the following standards/provisions: • Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GARS) • Single Audit Act Amendment of 1996 and OMB Circular A-133 • OMB Circular A-122 • Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) • Federal Acquisition Regulations • Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Representation of Experience Mr. Waddle's experience in this area includes his involvement in the following engagements: • City of Baldwin Park • City of Gardena • City of Cudahy • City of San Fernando • City of South Gate • Central Basin Municipal Water District • Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District • Needles Public Utility Authority • Bureau of Sanitation - City of Los Angeles • Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority • Los Angeles Unified School District • Rio Hondo Community College District • Water Replenishment District • City of Pico Rivera (Water District) • County of Los Angeles Professional Background Prior to joining Firm, Mr. Waddle served as Director of Internal Auditing for Tiger International and as Assistant Director of Internal Auditing for Whitaker Corporation. Mr. Waddle was a senior audit manager in charge of quality control for Ernst & Young, LLP in its Orange County office. Educational Background Mr. Waddle received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting, from the California State University of Los Angeles. He is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Waddle meets all the Firm and professional CPE requirements. 14 0 0 VEDEO L. TINANA, CPA Principal Firm Position Mr. Tinana is a Principal with Vasquez & Company LLP. He has over 25 years of professional public accounting and auditing experience in a wide variety of industries. Areas of Expertise His area of expertise is focused on financial and compliance audits of public sector entities and various nonprofit organizations funded by the Federal government, State of California, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, and other local governments. In addition to significant accounting and auditing experience, he has extensive experience in contract audits, close-out audits involving direct and indirect cost rates and overhead rate audits. Mr. Tinana coordinated five CPA firms in a two-year Department of Labor (DOL) project involving quality control reviews of over 300 pensions and welfare benefit plans in conjunction with the DOL's efforts to effect a revision to the "CPA Guidelines on Audits of Pension Plans Covered by ERISA". The results of his findings were presented to the AICPA Committee on Governmental Auditing in Washington D.C. Grant/Program Audits performed in accordance with program/grant guidelines and specific contract provisions are significantly represented in Mr. Tinana's area of expertise. In this capacity, he was involved in extensive reviews of contracts of subgrantees of the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles and County of Ventura. Over 300 subgrantees were audited, including for-profit entities and nonprofit agencies with revenues ranging between $50,000 and $7.5 million. Standards Mr. Tinana is familiar with conducting audits in accordance with the following standards/provisions • Generally Accepted Auditing standards (GAAS) Generally Accepted Government Auditing • Single Audit Act Amendment of 1996 and OMB Standards (GAGAS) Circular A-133 Federal Acquisition Regulations • OMB Circular A-122 Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Representation of Experience His experience in this area includes his involvement in the following engagements: • Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) • Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority • Los Angeles Unified School District • Rio Hondo Community College District • Valley County Water District • City of Baldwin Park • Valley Economic Development Corporation • Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County • Compton Unified School District • Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles 15 0 LINDA NARCISO Manager Firm Position Ms. Narciso has been a practicing accountant since 1992, and is currently a manager with Vasquez & Company LLP. Areas of Expertise Her practice is focused in conducting financial and compliance audits of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, privately held companies and publicly traded companies. She has also managed engagements of incurred cost and close-out audits of professional services providers for government agencies. Standards Ms. Narciso is well versed in conducting audits in accordance with the following standards/provisions: • Generally Accepted Auditing standards . OMB Circular A-122 • Generally Accepted Government Auditing Federal Acquisition Regulation Standards Standards of the Public Company Accounting • Single Audit Act Amendment of 1996 and OMB Oversight Board Circular A-133 Representation of Experience Ms. Narciso's experience encompasses her involvement in the following engagements: • Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority • City of Gardena • Union Station Gateway, Inc. • Los Angeles County Employee's Retirement • City of San Fernando Association • City of Cudahy Southern California Association of Governments Professional Background Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Narciso worked as an audit manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. As an audit manager, she participated and supervised various financial statement audits of profit, as well as not-for-profit organizations. Education Ms. Narciso received her Bachelor of Accountancy degree in 1991 at the De La Salle University. Ms. Narciso continues to stay current on matters of accounting through participation in the Firm's continuing education program as well as attending conferences and seminars. Ms. Narciso meets the Firm's and the professional CPE requirements. 16 . ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SIMILAR ENGAGEMENTS WITH OTHER ■ GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ • ►~r®VASQUEz UA & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS 0 SIMILAR ENGAGEMENTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN I! The Firm's major clients are government and non-profit organizations. We have worked extensively with governmental entities and have the expertise to conduct quality audits in this area. We have performed annual financial, compliance and single audits of cities for the past 15 (years). We currently perform twenty (20) public sector engagements, including audits of water districts, transportation authorities, community colleges and City and County governmental entities. Our services have been well received by our clients. We were able to work within the schedule and meet the deadlines set, unless adverse circumstances arose that were not in our control. In those cases we have used all possible efforts to meet the objectives set. We have had long-term relationships with some of our clients and we believe they are in the best position to vouch for our Firm. Governmental Organization Audits Vasquez & Company LLP has performed over five (5) thousand audits of governmental organizations subject to financial and compliance audits in our 40-year history. These audits were performed in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United State of America (U.S.A), Government Auditing Standards, Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and OMB Circular A-133 and its Compliance Supplement (when applicable), and the Office of the State Controller's Minimum Audit Requirements and Reporting Guidelines for California Special Districts (when applicable). A partial list of the engagements performed over the past three years are as follows: Nature of Engagement Engagement Total Partner/ Hours Principal County of Los Angeles Annual financial statement and Single Audit Mr. G. Vasquez 2300 Ms. Connie Yee (A-133) Co-Auditors and subcontractors with Chief, Accounting Division KPMG Mr. V. Tinana Office of the Controller 500 West Temple Street, Suite 603 1992 to Present Los Angeles, CA 90012 213 974-8326 City of Gardena Annual financial, compliance audit for inclusion Mr. G Vasquez 900 Mr. Mitchell Lansdale in the City's CAFR prepared in conformance City Manager with the GASB 34 requirements and Single Mr. L. Waddle 1700 West 162' Street Audit (OMB A-133), '98 to 04 GFOA and Ms. B. Se-Liban Gardena, CA 90247 CSMFO Awards (310) 217-9500 Client since: 1998 to current City of Baldwin Park Annual financial, compliance audit for inclusion Mr. G. Vasquez 750 Ms. Hennie Apodaca in the City's CAFR prepared in conformance Interim Finance Director with the GASB 34 requirements and Single Mr. L. Waddle 14403 E. Pacific Avenue Audit (OMB A-133), and the Redevelopment Mr. V. Tinana Baldwin Park, CA 91706 Agency Audit '00 to '04 GFOA and CSMFO (626) 960-4011 Awards Client since: 2000 to current City of San Fernando Annual financial, compliance audit for inclusion Mr. G. Vasquez 500 W. Lorena Quijano in the City's CAFR prepared in conformance Finance Director with the GASB 34 requirements and Single Mr. L. Waddle 117 McNeil Street Audit (OMB A-133), and the Redevelopment Mr. V. Tinana San Fernando, CA 91340-2993 Agency Audit, GFOA and CSMFO Awards (818) 898-1244 Client since: 1993 to 2005 17 I E • 0 Central Basin Municipal Water Annual financial, Single Audit (A-133) and State Mr. L. Waddle/ 450 District Controller's Report GFOA and CSMFO Aileen Umali-Hermoso, CPA, Awards Mr. G. Vasquez CGFM Budget and Finance Officer Telephone no. (310) 436-2622 Client since: 1999 to resent City of Cudahy Annual financial, compliance audit for inclusion Mr. G. Vasquez 400 Ms. Mellie Deano in the City's CAFR prepared in conformance Director of Finance with the GASB 34 requirements, Single Audit Mr. L. Waddle 5220 Santa Ana Street (OMB A-133), and the Redevelopment Mr. V. Tinana Cudahy, CA 90201 Agency (323) 773-5143 Client since: 2000 to current Valley County Water District Annual financial statements, State Controller's Mr. G. Vasquez/ 375 Mr. Brian Dickenson Report and Agreed Upon procedures. Mr. V. Tinana General Manager 14521 Ramona Blvd. 2005 to present Baldwin Park, CA 91706 626 338-7301 Upper San Gabriel Valley Annual financial, Single Audit (A-133, when Mr. L. Waddle/ 275 Municipal Water District necessary), and State Controller's report Mr. Timothy Jochem Mr. G. Vasquez General Manager Client since: 2005 to resent p 11310 Valley Boulevard El Monte, California 91731 626 443-2297 Needles Public Utility Authority Annual financial, Single Audit (A-133, when Mr. L. Waddle/ 250 Ms. Bonnie Lutrell necessary), and State Controller's Report Director of Finance 817 Third Street Client since: 1998 to current Needles, CA 92363 60 326-2115 18 ■ ■ ■ r ■ ■ SPECIFIC AUDIT APPROACH ►~~®VASQUEZ III & COMPANY LLP CERTMED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CON SULTANTS ■ ■ ■ ■ • • SPECIFIC AUDIT APPROACH We firmly believe that our prior experience with other similar entities, coupled with our unique approach to auditing, will result in a timely, efficient and cost-effective audit for the CITY. Our audit will be conducted with a minimum of disruption to ongoing day-to-day operations. Our general audit approach for local government is a business approach. This means we spend more time understanding the overall nature of the CITY's business. We strongly emphasize early planning, communication and coordination of our efforts with CITY personnel, which results in the efficiency and timeliness of our procedures. Our approach stresses early resolution of audit, accounting and reporting- related issues. The FIRM utilizes a systems-based, control-oriented audit approach, which will allow our auditors to obtain an overall understanding of the CITY and its operating environment, while at the same time considering how to be more efficient in utilizing the CITY's accounting information system. The result of using this approach is that appropriate personnel resources can be directed to devote audit attention to the critical points in the transaction cycle. Our analytical approach and audit working papers techniques are structured to assure consistency and also force the preparer to focus on areas where controls are weak or nonexistent and need improvement or implementation. Thus, we will be in a position to assist the CITY in identifying control weaknesses and developing practical corrective measures. Proposed Segmentation of the Engagement The size and depth of our staff, as well as our pledge to the CITY to provide year-to-year staff continuity, enables us to better coordinate our activities with those of the CITY's staff. Therefore, we can undertake a wide variety of assignments simultaneously, thereby avoiding delays and bottlenecks in the conduct of our audits. The implementation of our audit approach to the CITY and its related entities will be divided into the following phases: • Familiarize ourselves with operating environment • Perform risk assessment procedures • Develop audit plan • Discuss and agree on financial statement format • Identify internal ' Plan and perform ■ Perform completion control strengths and substantive procedures weaknesses procedures ■ Perform overall evaluation of • Evaluate design and ■ Consider audit the financial statement and implementation of evidence disclosures selected controls sufficiency ■ Conduct exit conference • Understand ■ Conclude on with management, including accounting and critical account discussion of proposed audit reporting activities matters adjustments and management letter, if any Express an audit opinion • Management report 19 Phase l Phase II Phase III Phase IV • • Phase I- Audit Planning We believe the planning phase lays the foundation for the direction of our audit efforts. It encompasses the following steps: Gaining and Documenting an Understanding of the City's Internal Control by: ❑ Conducting entrance conferences with the appropriate City officials. The agenda would include, but need not be limited to, the following: • The application of generally accepted accounting principles • Concerns of the City management • Report requirements, refinements and deadlines • Initial audit report and timing schedule • Assistance by the City personnel • Establishment of principal contacts • Progress reports process • New Single Audit Requirements and Other Compliance Issues • Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit • The auditors' responsibility for fraud detection • Management's responsibility in fraud prevention • Scheduling inquiries of management and others (including non-accounting personnel) about the risk of fraud ❑ Expanding our understanding of the City and its Operating Environments. We will accomplish this by familiarizing ourselves and updating our knowledge of applicable background information pertinent to the City, its grants and funding structure through our review of the following: • Applicable state legislation • Organizational structure • Minutes of the City Council and other related entities • City charters, ordinances and bond covenants • Policies and procedures manuals, administrative codes, rules and regulations • Long-range plans of the City and other related entities • Operational and capital budgets • Description of the City's financial and other information systems • Recent financial statements and key operating statistics • Contracts and major commitments • Grant agreements • Cost allocation plans • Possible effects on the City of the actions of regulatory agencies • Fraud Risk Assessment Process ❑ Through our background knowledge of the City and its related entities, and as a result of our fact-finding process, we will develop an in-depth understanding of the areas of concern. We will be in a position to meet with the City management to discuss areas that might have a significant impact on timing and completion of the audits or that may be of special concern to management. We will review such areas in-depth to obtain an early understanding and resolution of any "problem" areas that may impede our progress and to develop our overall approach so that the City will have sufficient time to develop the data necessary for completion of the audit with minimum amount of disruption of the day-to-day routine. We will gather information needed to identify fraud risks. ❑ Our planning process will include a specific review of computer activities performed by the City personnel. 20 • • Phase II - Control Evaluation The steps included in this phase are as follows: ❑ Our systems evaluation approach enables us to obtain a better understanding of the various transaction cycles and sub-cycles and how they relate to each other. By using narrative and flowcharting techniques for each cycle, we will identify the critical points in the flow of financial information. Our basic technique begins with information contained in the financial statements and traces such information back to source data. This process is infinitely better than the traditional tedious method of going from source data to financial statements. ❑ We will identify the strengths and weaknesses in each of the transaction sub-cycles and sub-audit areas that have a bearing on the audit objectives. This identification of internal control strengths and weaknesses will enable the audit team to determine the emphasis to be placed on audit testing. It will also serve as a basis for the development of conclusions and recommendations regarding weaknesses in the systems of internal accounting control and opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness. ❑ Our engagement service team will prepare a tailored audit program unique to the City based upon applicable single audit guidelines and the identification of internal control strengths. Our audit programs are tailored into a unique, efficient and effective document addressing the audit objectives, issues, and systems of the City. ❑ We will inquire of management and others (including non-accounting personnel) to identify fraud risks. ❑ Our engagement team will discuss and consider the susceptibility of financial statements to fraud and to emphasize professional skepticism. We will obtain information necessary to identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud. We will identify risks that may result in material misstatement due to fraud. We will assess the identified risks after considering an evaluation of the antifraud programs and controls. We will respond to the identified risks. ❑ We will provide periodic written progress reports on the planning and test work performed during the planning and interim fieldwork phases and discuss the schedule to complete the audits in the most economical manner. Phase III - Substantive Testing The third phase of our audits will be the testing or traditional fieldwork phase. The steps involved in this phase are as follows: ❑ Substantive Testing - The purpose of the substantive tests is to provide reasonable assurance of the validity of the information produced by the accounting system. These tests will include various detail tests and analytical procedures, including ratio analysis, comparisons of actual-to-budget information and other procedures. ❑ Compliance Testing - The purpose of compliance testing is to determine whether the expected strengths within the system are functioning as prescribed. Sample sizes may range from 40 items to 60 items, depending on how we assess control audit risk and audit detection risk. ❑ Analytical Review Procedures - Analytical review procedures, consisting of statistical, ratio, and trend analyses are performed during every phase of the audit, from the planning phase to reporting phase. These analytical testing techniques provide feedback on potential areas of audit concern as well as provide comfort concerning the overall reasonableness of the financial statements. ❑ We will assess identified fraud risks and respond to the fraud risk assessment. ❑ We will discuss all adjusting journal entries proposed by our auditors and explain them to the City personnel prior to recording. It is our practice to discuss issues and proposed audit entries with the program manager or management personnel immediately responsible for the program to ensure that we have not misunderstood that particular situation. This will ensure that the proposed entry or 21 • • management comment and recommendation are accepted by the immediate manager in charge, and will ensure that the recommendation is feasible and makes business sense. It is also our policy to address issues and resolve them as they arise, and not wait until the end of the process and surprise management with a long list of issues that need to be addressed. In short, there will not be any surprises to anyone. ❑ Conduct Entrance and Exit Conferences with the City officials - We will meet with management at the outset of final fieldwork to discuss our approach to the final fieldwork and to update ourselves on any developments subsequent to interim fieldwork. We will also meet with the appropriate City officials at the completion of final fieldwork to summarize the results of the audits and discuss any significant findings before our comments are finalized in writing. The final element in our work plan is the reporting to the City officials overseeing the audit in order to apprise them of our progress. We obviously believe communication is vital. We have stressed the importance of continuous close relationships throughout this proposal and have indicated the various points where we will meet for specific discussions and decision. Thus we believe we should have regular progress meetings between our top engagement personnel and the City officials. It is our intent to use these meetings to report: ❑ Accomplishments ❑ Outlook ❑ Problems that have to be resolved. It is also our practice to work closely with the State Controller's office to ensure that the final State Controller's reports meet the needs of all users. Accordingly, we are available to meet with representative of the State Controller's office, City management, and grant program at any time throughout the engagement to ensure the efficient completion of the various audits and the acceptability of the related reports. Further, it is the strict pledge of the Firm to update the appropriate City personnel on a frequent basis. Phase IV - Reporting The last phase of our audit involves preparation of Independent Auditors' Reports, Single Audit Reports, findings and our management letter comments. Because of our emphasis on early problem resolution in the planning phase of the examination and extensive interim test work, our final audit fieldwork will be mainly concerned with reviewing the fair presentation of the final numbers that will appear in the annual financial reports. Throughout the final phase, Mr. Waddle will monitor and review the work. The critical audit areas of each fund audited will be reviewed in the field by the engagement manager. We will evaluate the audit evidence and communicate instances of possible fraud to the proper level of authority. We will work closely with the City personnel to prepare the annual financial statements. Prior to the signing of our accountants' reports, a "cold" review of the draft reports and other documents will be performed, in order to evaluate the professional excellence of the examination. Mr. Waddle will then give his concurrence as to the propriety of the accountants' reports. Every effort will be made for early delivery of the reports to ensure prompt and satisfactory professional service. Our Approach to the Preparation of Management Letter Our general approach to the preparation of a management letter includes the following: ❑ A meaningful management letter does not just appear at the end of an audit; its preparation is a continuing process throughout the course of the audit. Indeed, to be most beneficial, the letter to management should be issued while the audit is in process, not well after the fact, as is often the case. We emphasize the importance of the management letter with the entire audit team and believe this 22 • • continual awareness encourages the audit team to view audit situations in terms of constructive management letter comments. ❑ Our partners and managers devote a significant amount of time to our management letters to help ensure that events are properly interpreted and that suggestions are practical and cost-effective. accordingly, we devote considerable attention to developing meaningful comments to management. As auditors for the City, we will be interested in the City's overall success as an efficient, properly controlled and cost-effective unit of local government. Therefore, you can expect us to offer constructive suggestions regarding your operations. Indeed, while the profit motive is not the paramount objective of municipal government, this does not lessen the need to view the City as a business, and one that should be effectively and efficiently operated. Thus, we prefer to view management letters as more than a vehicle for citing and eliminating weaknesses in the system of internal accounting control. Our management letters place heavy emphasis on the operational side of the governmental unit, and our suggestions for improvements are designed to improve overall management and result in a better use of resources. Consideration of Fraud We will consider the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud and design the audit to provide reasonable assurance of detecting fraud that results in the financial statements being materially misstated in accordance with SAS No. 99, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit. The consideration of fraud is not separate from the consideration of audit risk but is integrated into the overall risk assessment process. Although parts of the presentation in detecting fraud may be perceived a sequential process, the audit is a continuous process of gathering, updating, and analyzing information about the fairness of presentation of amounts and disclosure in the financial statements. The procedures presented in detecting fraud may be performed concurrently with other procedures and the evaluation of fraud risks will occur continuously throughout the audit. Number of Hours by Staff Level Sampling Sizes and the Extent to which Statistical Sampling Is to Be Used in the Engagement We will test transaction cycles using statistical and judgmental sampling methodologies to determine whether the necessary control procedures are prescribed and followed satisfactorily. The sample size will range from 40 items to 60 items, depending on how we assess control audit risk and audit detection risk. In addition, if there are any deviations in our sample selection, we will expand the sample size and if the additional sample confirms the deviation problem, we will use statistical techniques to extrapolate the dollar value of the deviation. 23 • 0 Type and Extent of Analytical Procedures to Be Used in the Engagement The audit team will use our analytical review techniques to identify other areas that might require attention. Until the year-end account balances are finalized, our review will focus on budgets compared to actual/projected information. We can thus, identify certain sensitive areas to determine whether they are indeed areas requiring extra attention. We will also focus on unusual fluctuations occurring within individual funds to identify accounts and areas which merit further investigation. Based on our understanding of the City's operating environment, through our analytical review and other planning procedures, we will meet with the City personnel to highlight areas to be emphasized during the audit. We will concentrate our efforts on the identified areas of audit concern and areas we know are important to the City Officials. Some of our preliminary audit concerns are elaborated as follows: • Compliance with applicable laws, regulations and reporting requirements • All matters of compliance with GASB statements and interpretations • Receipt of all revenue to which the City is entitled • Purchases are authorized and within budgetary limitations • Encumbrances and liabilities are recorded and charged to proper budgetary accounts • Proper accounting for equipment and building leases • Proper recording of outstanding obligations. Approach to Be Taken to Gain and Document an Understanding of the CITY's Internal Control Structure In order to gain and document an understanding of the CITY's internal control structure, we will review the CITY's policies and procedures, meet with appropriate management personnel to ascertain actual operation of policies and procedures and carry out compliance tests to document intemal control strengths and weaknesses. In reviewing controls over EDP systems emphasis would be placed on the following: • Determination of the organizational and operational controls over the data being processed including but not limited to, system development and maintenance controls, hardware controls, and access controls • Evaluation of the degree of "control consciousness" among personnel • Determination of the potential impact of general control strengths and weaknesses • Consideration of the possibility of management override of controls Our principal sources of information for the EDP systems would be interviews with responsible accounting personnel, reviews of program documentation for the CITY's systems, as well as direct observations made by our audit team. Approach in Determining Laws and Regulations that will be subject to Audit Test Work With regard to planning for single audit requirements, we will perform the following: The City will be asked to prepare a schedule that lists each grant program it administered during the audit period. The grants should be categorized by grantor agency and grant numbers. The compliance requirements to be tested will be identified for all major grant programs received by the City. The compliance requirements for the major grants will be extracted from "Major Compliance Features of Programs Administered by State and Local Governments" for grants covered in that document. • Compliance with Laws and Regulations -The purpose of testing compliance with laws and regulations is to determine whether the City is complying with laws and regulations, specifically as they apply to state and federal financial assistance. Compliance procedures will include reviewing 24 E 0 state and federal grant requirements, applicable laws and regulations, allowable costs, eligibility, sub-recipient monitoring, and other specific agency requirements. Approach to Be Taken in Drawing Audit Samples for Purposes of Test of Compliance The Firm also utilizes statistical sampling whenever possible to reduce the number of test items selected and to increase the reliability of our testing procedures. The decision whether or not to utilize statistical sampling, in many instances, depends upon the degree of reliance to be placed on internal accounting controls. The stronger the internal controls, the more likely statistical sampling can and will be used. Statistical sampling is most often employed in our compliance testing procedures during the Single Audit. 25 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ IDENTIFICATION OF ANTICIPATED AUDIT ■ PROBLEMS ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ M ►►~0 VASCQU Ez WA & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS • 0 IDENTIFICATION OF ANTICIPATED POTENTIAL AUDIT PROBLEMS Assuming that the CITY is up-to-date with the necessary accounting records, and we receive full cooperation and all documents requested from CITY personnel within the agreed upon timeframe, the Firm does not anticipate any audit problems. However, there have been some changes in the auditing requirements that will require incremental time and effort to conduct and complete under generally accepted auditing standards. SAS 112 eliminates the term "reportable condition" from the previous literature and replaces it with the term "significant deficiency," and incorporates similar definitions of the terms "control deficiency," "significant deficiency," and "material weakness" to those used in PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2. SAS 112 requires the auditor to communicate in writing, to management and those charged with governance, within 60 days of the report release date, significant deficiencies and material weaknesses identified in the audit (including those continuing to exist that were identified in previous years). As we begin to implement this new standard, we may find the need to communicate more control deficiencies than under the previous standard. Although we may have known of the existence of deficiencies in prior years (such as the lack of resources to prepare tax accruals or draft financial statements), we were not required to communicate them in writing. GASB Statement No. 43 Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other than Pension Plans (Issued April 2004) This Statement establishes uniform financial reporting standards for other postemployment benefits (OPEB) plans and supersedes the interim guidance included in Statement No. 26, Financial Reporting for Postemployment Healthcare Plans Administered Defined Benefit Pension Plans. The approach followed in this Statement generally is consistent with the approach adopted in Statement No. 25, Financial Reporting for Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Note Disclosures for Defined Contribution Plans, with modifications to reflect differences between pension plans and OPEB plans. The requirements of this Statement for OPEB plan reporting are effective one year prior to the effective date of the related Statement for the employer (single-employer plan) or for the largest participating employer in the plan (multiple-employer plan). The requirements of the related Statement are effective in three phases based on a government's total annual revenues in the first fiscal year ending after June 15, 1999. Plans in which the sole or largest employer is a Phase 2 government - with total annual revenues of $10 or more but less than $100 million - are required to implement this Statement in financial statements for periods beginning after December 15, 2005. Earlier implementation is encouraged. GASB Statement No. 45 Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions (Issued June 2004) This Statement establishes standards for the measurement, recognition, and display of OPEB expense/expenditures and related liabilities (assets), note disclosures, and, if applicable, required supplementary information (RSI) in the financial reports of state and local governmental employers. This Statement generally provides for prospective implementation- that is, that employers set the beginning net OPEB obligation at zero as of the beginning of the initial year. Implementation is required in three phases based on a government's total annual revenues in the first fiscal year ending after June 15, 1999. The definitions and cutoff points for that purpose are the same as those in Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements-and Management's Discussion and Analysis- for State and Local Governments (GASB 34). This Statement is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2007, for Phase 2 governments. Earlier implementation is encouraged. 26 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ . m ■ ■ PRICE PROPOSAL • 41 ►~r®vASQUEz WA & COMPANY LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS ■ ■ ■ ■ PRICE PROPOSAL Our fees for the services outlined in this proposal are based upon our estimates of the time needed to complete the project at our standard hourly rates. Incidental expenses associated with travel time, travel expenses and indirect expenses will be added to the fees. You acknowledge that any fee estimates we have furnished are only our good faith estimates based on our understanding of the engagement assumptions and the facts and circumstances we are aware of at this time. If the bases for our estimates are inaccurate, the fees and expenses may be different from those we each anticipate. If significant additional time is necessary, we will discuss it with you and arrive at a new fee estimate before we incur the additional costs. Our standard hourly rates vary according to the degree of responsibility involved and the experience level of the personnel assigned to your audit. The fees are based on anticipated cooperation from your personnel and the assumption that unexpected circumstances will not be encountered during the audit. We anticipate the maximum annual cost for the audit services for the first year and the subsequent two years not to exceed the firm fixed prices quoted below. 007-0• CITY - Audit $ 37,200 Community Development Commission - Audit Rosemead Housing Development Corp - Audit CITY - Single Audit GANN Limit Review Subtotal 9,130 4,400 11,550 220 62,500 Out-Of Pocket Expenses Grand Total 2,000 $ 64,500 27