AUDIT_2024_01_18_MINUTESThe City of Lake Forest
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Proceedings of the January 18, 2024 Meeting
5:15 p.m. – City Hall, 220 E. Deerpath
Minutes
I. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman Magnuson called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. Audit Committee Members present:
Chairman Magnuson, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Durkin, Mr. Hirsch, and Ms. Larisey. Absent: Finance Committee
Chairman Preschlack and Mayor Tack. Quorum present.
City staff present: Elizabeth Holleb, Finance Director; Diane Hall, Assistant Finance Director; Mark
Krygeris, Staff Accountant; Jamese Scott, Staff Accountant; Kevin Zelk, Deputy Police Chief; Joe Gabanski,
Assistant Director of Innovation and Technology; Tony Canania, IT Systems Administrator; Tricia Schwall,
Senior Resource Manager; Todd Nahigian, Croya Manager and Joe Mobile Superintendent of Parks and
Recreation.
Others present: Joe Lightcap, Baker Tilly; Jennifer Karras of the Croya Foundation, Paul Lemieux, JoAnn
Desmond, and Steve Potsic of the LFLB Senior Resources Commission
Mr. Tighe Magnuson, Audit Committee Chairman provided a welcome to the two new members of the
Audit Committee.
II. Consent Agenda
Approval of minutes from Audit Committee meeting held on October 19, 2023
Mr. Hirsch made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 19, 2023 Audit Committee meeting.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Dillon. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
III. FY23 Single Audit Report
Mr. Joe Lightcap of Baker Tilly provided an overview of the City’s Single Audit report for FY23. The City
had over $750k in Federal Grant expenditures, mainly through a passthrough grant from Lake County for
the Burr Oak storm sewer project. The City had a clean report.
The Committee discussed the City’s process for identifying and applying for grants. The City has
instituted a grant program that has been very successful. Costs associated with a Single Audit are not
charged to the grant but are budgeted in the Capital Fund.
IV. Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Citizens Foundation – Financial Presentation
Mr. Mark Dillon stated that is he currently on the LFLB Senior Citizens Foundation Board and would be
recusing himself from the discussion.
Mr. Paul Lemieux, Vice President of the Foundation provided an overview of what the Foundation
represents and financial information. Pasquesi Shepard provides the financial statements for the
Foundation. Investments did well last year. Support to the Seniors is back to pre-covid levels. The Social
Worker that was provided through Josselyn was discontinued and the funding was provided by the
Foundation. The Foundation is looking to fund a social worker if hired by the City. The Foundation may
need to move to a classification of Private Foundation from Public Foundation due to IRS regulations.
Due to declining donations, they no longer meet the requirements of a Public Foundation. The change in
status would incur an estimated cost of $2,000 per year.
Mr. Steve Potsic, Foundation President provided a status update on the Senior Cottage project.
The Committee discussed the decline in donations. The dynamic of members has changed over the
years. Additional fund raising may be needed to increase contributions and to promote project specific
fund-raising efforts.
V. Croya Foundation – Financial Presentation
Mr. Todd Nahigian, Croya Manager provided a history of the Foundation. The Foundation raises funds
for specific projects. Currently raising funds to remodel the Croya kitchen. The Foundation provides
grants and scholarships to students each year. A grant of $6,500 was received to fund the music
program. Fund raising events are held every other year.
The Committee discussed the matrix used to see if Croya programs are working. The total number of
kids attending programs is used to measure contacts made throughout the schools. Kids are referred to
Croya by the schools and through social workers.
VI. Police Foundation – Financial Presentation
Mr. Kevin Zelk, Deputy Police Chief reviewed programs completed in 2023 including programs with Croya
and the Senior Center. The K-9 program is under review and money will be put aside for future years.
Donations in 2023 were lower than years past. With many new residents, communication is needed to
educate the community about the foundation. Projects funded were reviewed to include the annual
awards ceremony for police officers.
The Committee discussed the letter campaign to raise funds for the foundation. The foundation was
encouraged to reach out to local businesses for donations. The Police Foundation presentation was
discussed to move to April due to their December 31 year-end to allow more time to prepare the
financial statements.
VII. Innovation and Technology (IT) Presentation
Mr. Joe Gabanski, Assistant Director of IT provided an overview of third-party support used for incident
response. The City is insured through Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA) with an
annual aggregate limit of $1m, which has not been increased from the previous year. The coverage is for
all City security systems. An overview of the City’s incident response and annual testing that is conducted
was provided. The City utilizes third parties for assistance with monitoring our systems.
The Committee discussed third party vendors can also provide risk for the City’s security. Cloud vendors
will be reviewed this year to include receiving reports confirming their security. The City is most
vulnerable to spearfishing attempts. Staff are required to complete annual security training.
The Committee requested a dashboard to show how we are doing on the different layers of protection to
be coded Red, Yellow, and Green. The dashboard to be included in the Audit Committee packet.
VIII. Auditor Recommendation for FY24 and FY25
Ms. Elizabeth Holleb, Finance Director stated an RFP was conducted three years ago for audit services.
The City approved a three-year contract with an option of two additional years. The City completes an
RFP every five years. Staff is recommending extending the contract for the two additional years.
Mr. Hirsch made a motion to approve the recommendation to the City Council to approve a 2-year
renewal option for audit services with Baker Tilly. The motion was seconded by Mr. Dillon. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
IX. Other Business
Foundation Summary – No discussion
Foundation Financial Review – No discussion
Old Business – Discussion re. Foundation Presentation Format and Sample Dashboard – The Committee
reviewed a template PowerPoint provided by Audit Committee Chairman Magnuson. Foundations would
not be required to present a PowerPoint but could provide a one-page summary with the requested
information. Through the new process, IRS form 990 would no longer be required from the foundations.
A request for three-year comparison of financial information to be included was made. The Parks and
Recreation Foundation is scheduled for April and would be provided the new format six weeks in
advance to prepare. The Committee would debrief afterwards for any changes moving forward.
X. Opportunity for Public to Address the Audit Committee – No one requested to address the Audit
Committee
XI. Adjournment
There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Hirsch to adjourn the meeting. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Durkin. The motion was approved unanimous by voice vote. The meeting was
adjourned at 7:49 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Hall
Assistant Finance Director