Legislation Details

File #: HIST-3408    Version: 1 Subject:
Type: Historical Status: Action Item
In control: City Council Meeting Agenda
On agenda: 9/11/2006 Final action: 9/11/2006
Title: Approval of a Contract with Moreland & Associates for Temporary Professional Accountant Services.
Attachments: 1. A-3__09-11-06 CTO Moreland AMENDED.doc, 2. A-3__Moreland Contract.pdf
City of Culver City, California City Council Agenda Item Report A3-1 RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve a contract for accounting services with Moreland & Associates for the services of three staff accountants through November 2006, at a cost of $101,400. BACKGROUND: The City Treasurer’s Office has suffered the loss of three professional Accounting positions in the last four months. The first vacancy occurred on May 1, 2006 when long time Treasury Accountant I, retired after twenty six years with the City. The second vacancy, the Accountant II in General Accounting, occurred on July 13, 2006, when another long term employee resigned for a more lucrative position which was closer to her home. The final one is effective September 14, 2006, vacating another Accountant I position in General Accounting. The Department has, in effect, been functioning with continual vacancies in the professional Accounting ranks for the last few years. DISCUSSION: Moreland & Associates (a CPA firm that previously has been the City’s auditor) has supplied us with temporary accounting employees at various levels in the past in order to help fill vacancies. In order to ensure that we can complete the fiscal year end close in a timely and accurate fashion, as well as complying with the additional requests from the City Council for more work in the area of grants monitoring/reporting and providing Meeting Date: 09/11/06 Item Number: A-3 AGENDA ITEM: Approval of a Contract with Moreland & Associates for Temporary Professional Accountant Services. Contact Person/Dept.: Karen S. Maggio/City Treasurer's Office Phone Number: (310) 253-5844 Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No [] Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X] Public Notification: Moreland and Associates on 9/5/06; Master Notification List on 9/5/06 Department Approval: Crystal C. Alexander, City Treasurer City Manager Approval: Martin R. Cole for Jerry B. Fulwood (09/06/2006) City Controller Approval: Marlee Chang (09/06/2006)City of Culver City, California City Council Agenda Item Report A3-2 continual bare bones financial reports during the period through October 31, 2006, we need seasoned Accountants to aid in the work. It is imperative that this work be completed in order to be able to do the analysis necessary to produce the annual financial reports for the City, the Redevelopment Agency and Transportation, as well as complete the single audit report, the State Controller’s Report and other requirements of various granting and funding agencies. FISCAL ANALYSIS: The total cost per Accountant is $65.00 per hour. Three months time is equal to 520 hours. The total cost per Accountant is $33,800 or a total, not to exceed, of $101,400. It is anticipated that the vacancy savings in the Department will be $37,346. The additional cost will be $64,054. Staff proposes to initially fund this contract from existing departmental resources. During the mid-year review, resources may be available for a line-item transfer. Alternately, the remaining funds necessary would come from appropriated reserves. In either case, a supplemental appropriation from fund balance will not be required. ATTACHMENTS:  Proposal letter dated July 25, 2006 from Moreland & Associates, Inc.  Resume of Jacqueline Horak, one of the requested temporary accountants. MOTION: That the City Council: 1. Authorize a budget appropriation in the amount of $64,054 from the General Fund Appropriated Reserve to Account Number 10112400.619800 and a transfer of $37,346 from salaries in 10112000 and 10112400 to Account Number 10112400.619800.; and, 2. Approve the contract with Moreland and Associates securing temporary Accountant services; and, 3. Authorize the City Attorney to prepare the proper documents and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City. MEETING DATE: 09/11/06 AGENDA ITEM: Approval of a Contract with Moreland & Associates for Temporary Professional Accountant Services ATTACHMENTS Pages 1. Moreland & Associates Letter dated 7/25/06 1 - 41201 DOVE STREET, SUITE 680 NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA 22660 (949) 221-0025 M i oreland & e„P' 44VCI: fde4|109| 11 C. crA min PUBLIC, ACCOUN !ANIS 570 RANCHEROS DRIVE, SUITE 260 SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 (760) 752 3390 July 25, 2006 Ms. Karen Maggio Deputy City Controller City of Culver City 9770 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 Dear Ms. Maggio: In accordance with your request, we are presenting this proposal to provide temporary personnel services to the City of Culver City. You have indicated you will require the services of an interim Accountant for approximately two months. We propose to satisfy your requirements by providing the services of Jacqueline Horak. Ms. Horak shall report directly to Cynthia Hart during this assignment. It is understood that the management of the City of Culver City is responsible for the substantive outcome of the work and, therefore, has a responsibility to be in a position in fact and appearance to make an informed judgment on the results of these services. Jacqueline Horak will at all times be an independent contractor of Moreland & Associates, Inc. who is covered by our Workers' Compensation insurance. At any time during the performance of these services, your agency will be able to terminate these services for any reason. We ask that you provide us with two weeks notice before the services are terminated or a significant change is made in the level of services. Your agency may extend these services by our mutual agreement. The fees for the services of Jacqueline Horak will be at the rate of $65 per hour. Our services will be billed on approximately the first day of the month for the services provided the prior month. Upon your acceptance of this proposal we will provide you with Certificates of Insurance for our Workers' Compensation insurance, our General Liability insurance and our Professional Liability insurance. Our services are made possible as a result of sustained expenses in developing and maintaining a qualified staff of temporary employees and contractors. Therefore, your utilization of Jacqueline Horak is on a temporary basis. Should you hire this person on a permanent basis (either full-time or part-time) or contract with them directly for any servicesMs. Karen Maggio City of Culver City July 25, 2006 either (a) during this temporary assignment or (b) within one year following the termination of this temporary assignment, you agree to immediately notify Moreland & Associates, Inc., and to pay a finder's fee of $10,000.00 to Moreland & Associates, Inc., within thirty (30) days of such hiring or contracting. Additionally, should you refer them for a temporary or contract assignment to any other entity, associate or business acquaintance during the time period specified above, then you agree to give an immediate notice to Moreland & Associates, Inc. of such referral and you also agree to pay a finder's fee of $10,000.00 within thirty (30) days of a hiring or contracting by such other entity. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this proposal. Please call if you would like to discuss our proposal in more detail. Please acknowledge acceptance of our proposal by signing and returning one copy of this letter for our files. Very truly yours, MORELAND & ASSOCIATES, INC. Mindy Jacobs Manager, Temporary Personnel Services ACCEPTANCE BY THE CITY OF CULVER CITY By: Date: JACQUELINE T. HORAK GENERAL SUMMARY Results oriented professional with a proven track record of achievement in finance, accounting, and systems. Major strengths in cash flow management and planning; organization and implementation of accounting policies and procedures; establishing and automating financial reporting systems. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a team building management approach, relating well to all levels of corporate personnel. BUSINESS EXPERIENCE 2006 City of Lomita Interim Administrative Services Director Lomita, California The City of Lomita is located 26 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the City of Torrance, Rolling Hills Estates, and Rancho Palos Verdes. The City of Lomita is predominately a residential community with a population around 25,000. The annual operating budget is approximately $16 million. Direct a staff eight including finance and accounting, planning and budget, treasury, procurement, information technology, human resources and payroll, risk management and water utility billing. Responsible for administering the City's fiscal policies to ensure effective implementation of the City Council's goals and objectives to maintain fiscal integrity. 1998 - 2005 Access Services Incorporated Director of Finance and Administration Los Angeles, California Access Services Incorporated is a state mandated local governmental agency created by Los Angeles County's public transit agencies to administer and manage the delivery of regional ADA paratransit service with a budget close to $80 million. Direct a staff eighteen including procurement and contracts, information technology, human resources and payroll, risk management, internal audit, finance and accounting, planning and budget, grants and treasury. Responsible for the overall financial and administration operation of the organization as well as its relationship with financial institutions, funding sources such as the FTA and LACMTA, Board of Directors, and various committees. 1996 - 1997 Crest Office Furniture Co. Inc. Vice President of Operations & Controller Los Angeles, California Crest Office Furniture is a contract furniture retailer/wholesaler and rental dealership. Direct a staff twenty-five including warehouse, maintenance, customer service, administration, accounting and sales. Responsible for the overall operation of the company including but not limited to office administration; payroll/personnel; cash management; accounting and financial functions; and network administration.JACQUELINE T. HORAK Page 2 BUSINESS EXPERIENCE (continued) 1994 - 1996 Controller J. Robert Scott is a prominent textile wholesaler. J Robert Scott Textiles, Inc. Los Angeles, California Direct twenty people with various duties: warehouse; maintenance; customer service; administration; and accounting. Responsible for office administration; payroll/personnel; cash management; accounting functions; and network administration. 1992 - 1994 CEG, Inc. Controller Culver City, California CEG is a full service real estate investment firm encompassing acquisition, development and management of over $500 million of multi-family housing. Manage a staff of twelve responsible for the accounting function of two hundred partnerships and thirty corporations. In addition to general accounting responsibilities, duties included: construction accounting; property management; investor loan servicing; financial reporting; audit packages for tax return preparation; cash management of over three hundred bank accounts; management of Novell network using Execudata and other financial reporting software. 1986 - 1992 Tri-Star Electronics International, Inc. Controller El Segundo, California Tri-Star Electronics, a 350 employee wholly owned company of DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc. (acquired October 1991), is an electronics manufacturer with annual consolidated sales of $40 million. The operations consist of four companies, three based in the Los Angeles area and one based in Lugano, Switzerland. Direct a staff of fourteen in general and cost accounting functions including personnel administration. Primarily responsible for financial reporting; cash flow planning and management; banking relationships encompassing maintenance of asset based financing revolver and term loans; certified audits; bank and other governmental audits. Developed and implemented accounting policies and procedures; designed and/or enhanced software to improve financial reporting. EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS Pepperdine University Bachelor of Science in Business Management Los Angeles City College Associate of Arts in Accounting Certified Novell Administrator 9770 CULVER BOULEVARD CULVER CITY, CA 90232-0507