Audit Committee Reviews Data Practices Audit, Community Engagement, and Future Topics – March 17, 2026

The Audit Committee of Saint Paul convened on March 17, 2026, at City Hall. The meeting included introductions of new committee members, a mid-point update on the data practices performance audit, a report on community engagement efforts, and a debrief of a meeting with Mayor Her regarding future audit topics. All agenda items were received and filed.

Introductions and Committee Overview

• The committee welcomed two new community advisors: Dillon Donnelly (background in manufacturing and workforce development) and Noah McVay (substitute teacher and public administration student). Existing members and staff re-introduced themselves. Chair Rebecca Noecker provided an overview of the committee's typical audit cycle, noting that the current timeline had shifted due to the new administration and delays in the ongoing audit.

Data Practices Study Update

• Dr. Heather Britt from Wilder Research presented the mid-point update on the performance audit of the city's data practices request process, GovQA system, and user experience. The audit addresses five key question areas: GovQA capabilities and internal use, reporting and data trends, the resident-facing portal, policies and training compliance, and benchmarking with other jurisdictions (Hennepin, Ramsey, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Duluth).
• Data collection is largely complete for the document/system review (approximately 75%) and literature/benchmarking (nearly complete). Stakeholder engagement—including surveys of internal department leads and external requesters, and interviews with other jurisdictions—has faced delays due to external challenges in the Twin Cities. Surveys are set to launch this week, initially targeting approximately 700 St. Paul requesters with email addresses; expansion to statewide may follow if response rates are low. Interviews with other jurisdictions are being arranged with assistance from the League of Minnesota Cities.
• Timeline: draft report expected in May, final report in June.
• Committee members asked about survey methodology (deduplication, inclusion criteria) and specific contacts. Jeremy Lostetter requested confirmation of the Hennepin County contact. The committee expressed appreciation for the team's work despite challenges.

Community Engagement Update

• Community Advisor Noah McVay reported on outreach to the city's district councils: he has met with 8 of 10 councils (two rescheduled due to weather and scheduling conflicts). Feedback has been positive, and councils expressed strong interest in the committee's work. McVay compiled a list of potential audit topics from council members and staff, spanning public safety, housing, environmental issues, business regulation, and cybersecurity (the latter mentioned in about a quarter of interactions, referencing a summer 2025 cybersecurity incident).
• McVay proposed several initiatives to improve visibility: creating a directory of city programs and services for residents (to be completed by August 2026), publishing short autobiographies of committee members on the website, developing a periodic blog or listserv update, and providing physical mailing materials for district councils. The committee discussed these suggestions, leaning toward digital communication (e.g., email summaries) to minimize costs and staff burden. Members also supported the directory idea, with Jeremy Lostetter suggesting linking it to audit history.
• Since outreach resumed, the committee's online topic idea survey has received 15 new submissions, up from a quiet period since 2023.
• Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson offered to help boost awareness in her ward, noting that east side residents are less familiar with the committee. Chair Noecker and Vice Chair Molly Coleman have accompanied McVay to some district council meetings.

Debrief with Mayor Her and Topic Selection Discussion

• The committee debriefed about a meeting with Mayor Her and four assistant mayors, which members described as a significant show of respect and a positive sign of the administration's embrace of performance audits. The mayor specifically mentioned College Bound St. Paul as a potential audit topic. Members noted that this program represents a "sweet spot" for audit due to mayoral ownership and its operational maturity.
• The committee agreed to gather additional input: staff will follow up with the mayor's office for any further topic suggestions; members will review McVay's compiled list, the 15 survey submissions, and notes from the mayor meeting. The topic selection process—including risk analysis and staff consultation—will be revisited at the next meeting, with a target to choose the next audit topic by July, following the conclusion of the current audit (final report in June).

Key Outcomes

• All items on the consent agenda (introductions, data practices update, community engagement update, debrief with mayor) were received and filed.
• Directed staff to request additional audit topic ideas from Mayor Her's office.
• Committee members to review topic lists and prepare for discussion at the next meeting.
• Noah McVay will complete a draft directory of city programs by August 2026.
• Next meeting tentatively scheduled for April 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM (to be confirmed via email).
• Meeting concluded after approximately one hour.