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CC 04-03-2024 Oral Communications_3CC 4-03-2024 Written Communications Oral Communications From:Tessa Parish To:City Clerk; City Council; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject:Oral communcation Date:Wednesday, April 3, 2024 5:12:19 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. for meeting April 3rd. I am writing to you because I am very concerned about our finance system, staff? and audit efficiency. As I read the endless reports by wonderful residents like Rhoda and Peggy Griffen that take hours and hours of their time to review our finances, it concerns me and I am beginning to question if the city does not need an overhaul of our system or staff and increase hours of committee? 1. First, shouldn't have the finance person know how taxes work? Had the staff made a call to the state for verification? 2. The mishandling of the BMR funds? 3. The financial statements for the Fiscal Year ending in June 30, 2023 that is required for the City's Certificate of Participation are late? These and so many other discrepancies that I have read about for oral communication in the last year, is staggering. My question is, is the head of that Div a CPA? is he/she properly trained for the position? how about his/her subordinates? are they trained? who is making these mistakes? I urge you to review this matter. If the staff is not adequately trained, please consider training his/her ahead of any corrections or consequences. In any other business, if someone makes those mistakes they would be reprimanded or fired. Those are big mistakes and should be seriously considered and acted upon. Otherwise, Council and overseeing staff could be held responsible as well if these mistakes continue unchecked. Well, that is my opinion. I hope the staff responsible understand this is not an attack against them but more of concern and wanting them to be helped toward a better outcome. Best Regards, Tessa Parish Cupertino Resident From:Lisa Warren To:City Council Cc:City Clerk Subject:Oral Communications - City Council meeting April 3, 2024 - Lobbyist memos/reports Date:Wednesday, April 3, 2024 4:24:38 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Mayor and City Council members, I believe that the decision made by a previous council to contract with a (in Sacramento) lobbying firm was a very good one. I am more than disappointed that any/all communications from (and between) Joe Gonsalves and Sons and the city of Cupertino are now limited to the shadows of limited Staff members, and not in the public light. I am someone who use to attend in person meetings with the first lobbying firm that was contracted with. I also attended LRC meetings when they were on zoom. They were informative and very useful... and publicly open ! Until .... for what I consider no good reason : Effective January 25, 2023, the Legislative Review Committee (LRC) was dissolved per City Council action. I am wanting to know if the reports from the city's lobbyists are available to the public, and how/where they can be found. I have attempted to find Joe Gonsalves and Sons guidance, via reports to Staff, on the city's website but have not been successful. Do they exist ? Is this council given information submitted, or spoken about, by Joe Gonsalves and Sons in any form at all that is not available to the public ? Tax payer dollars and paying for this resource and it should be readily available to the public. I hope to get answers to my questions within a week's time. Thank you. Lisa Warren Joe A. Gonsalves & Son is a prominent lobbying firm with a rich history. Founded in 1975 by Joe A. Gonsalves, it has over 50 years of legislative experience representing clients before the California State Legislature and California State Departments. Their commitment lies in advocating for their clients’ interests while maintaining a high standard of professionalism, honesty, and ethics.