The OIG report (3.10.21) on the Palm & Hibiscus Neighborhood project highlighted serious shortcomings and a number of recommendations.

This item should discuss and take potential action on the remaining recommendations set forth by the Office of Inspector General in OIG Report 20-07. The complete recommendations from the OIG report are as follows:

 Recommendation #1: Establish by ordinance that the Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Department shall have the final authority and responsibility to approve the submission of all applications for permits by the City from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the Miami-Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) and its Division of Environmental Resource Management (DERM), or any other federal, state or county agency with environmental enforcement authority over issuance of a permit for any City project; and, further, that the Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Department shall immediately, and in writing, report to the City Manager and the Inspector General any concerns expressed by those agencies, or by any other parties, about alleged lack of compliance with federal, state or county laws and regulations related to the permitting of any such projects.

 Recommendation #2: Establish by ordinance that, notwithstanding any provision in a City contract, that the City official who signs an application for a permit included under Recommendation #1 be responsible to personally verify in writing to the City Manager the accuracy and completeness of all such permit applications and associated documentation submitted to any such regulatory agency.

 Recommendation #3: The City Administration should develop policies and procedures for the management of design-build contracts that provide a framework of guidelines, practices, and internal controls to guide management of design-build projects. The City Manager should develop the policy in consultation with CIP, Public Works and the Procurement Director.

 Recommendation #4: Establish by ordinance that, prior to approving significant changes in the design criteria of a design-build project after the award of the construction phase of the project, require that the City Manager notify the Commission, provide justification for the change and its impact on project cost schedule.

Recommendation #5: Direct the City Manager to provide an evaluation of the costs and benefits of the City present  of multiple architecture and engineering consultants versus those of retaining a single project management contractor to provide the City with an integrated, coordinated, and disciplined end-to-end process for planning, designing, and managing the City’s portfolio of designbuild projects to counter the effects of sea level rise.

Recommendation #6: : Require that CIP, Public Works, and the Procurement Department working together, in consultation with the Finance Department, develop a list of key indicators and provide an annual report to the Commission that projects that are at a high risk of cost overruns, schedule delays or performance failures.

Recommendation #7: Amend the City’s Debarment Ordinance to authorize the Inspector General to conduct fact investigations in support of the Debarment Panel and submit to the City Manager and Director of Procurement reports of investigations on the performance of City contractors for possible debarment.