Charter Review Committee approves revised language to create charter Office of the City Auditor

The Glendale Charter Review Committee voted on Oct. 1 to approve revised charter language establishing a charter Office of the City Auditor and an independent Audit Commission, with edits the panel reached by consensus after an extended discussion.

Committee members debated language intended to preserve practical independence for the auditor while recognizing that the city manager will retain managerial authority over the position. The chair summarized the compromise: "the city manager shall not interfere with the scope, timing, findings, or reporting of any audit previously authorized by the audit commission." That sentence, moved into the audit powers section and amended to refer to audits "previously authorized by the audit commission," was part of the package members approved on a motion by Commissioner Paul (mover) and seconded by Chair Flower.

The approved package also includes a charter-level expectation that the council "shall appropriate funds and authorize positions it deems sufficient to enable the office of the city auditor to perform its function," language that staff and legal counsel warned sets expectations but does not remove the council's final appropriation authority. The committee agreed to ask staff to present the marked-up language in the final report and to return the package for one last technical review at the next meeting.

The vote was taken by roll call after a friendly amendment to approval wording for the minutes earlier in the meeting, and the chair said staff would incorporate the committee's edits into the next draft for review before any city-council submission.