March 29, 1999
To:Audit Committee
From:City Auditor
Subject:Standing Committee Requests - Project Update
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Comments:
In order to ensure that the Committee is appraised of all audit projects requested by various
Standing Committees, the following is provided for information purposes:
1.Project:Parking Meters
Requested by:Audit Committee
The City Auditor review, with the appropriate parties, the issue of loss of revenue because of
theft from parking meters and report thereon to the Audit Committee.
2.Project:Arena Boards of Management
Requested by:Budget Committee
The City Auditor be requested to review the revenues and expenditures of those arenas with
large deficits, and report back to the Budget Committee with recommendations on how those
deficits may be reduced.
3.Project:Public Health
Requested by:Budget Committee
(a)The City Auditor be requested:
(i)to report back to the Budget Committee on a system of control for the eligibility of clients
requesting dental services; and
(ii)review the dental services that are now in operation and report back to the Board of
Health prior to the Year 2000 budget deliberations.
4.Project:Audit
Requested by:Budget Committee
City Auditor be requested to report back to the back to the Budget Committee on the
following:
(a)the Department's recommendations of the suggested comments that should be made on
the various Agencies, Boards and Commissions audits, and the costs, if there is one, to the
Department to provide that service; and
(b)prior to the City embarking on the purchase and implementation of the new radio system,
provide a review of same.
5.Project:Toronto Police Services
Requested by:Budget Committee
(a)The City Auditor and the City Solicitor be requested to report back to the Budget
Committee on the possibility of the City conducting the internal audit of the Police
Department.
(b)Referred the report (September 28, 1998) from the Chair, Toronto Police Services Board,
regarding outstanding audit recommendations to the City Auditor for a report back to the
Budget Committee in that regard.
6.Project:Parking Tag Operation Program
Requested by:Budget Committee
The City Auditor be requested to report back to the Budget Committee on the following:
(a)review of Parking Enforcement Unit operations prior to the Year 2000 budget
deliberations; and
(b)whether the definition of absenteeism that the Parking Enforcement Unit is using is
comparable to other Agencies, Boards and Commissions, and a comparison of the Parking
Enforcement Unit's absenteeism rate to other Agencies, Boards and Commissions,
specifically the Toronto Transit Commission.
7.Project:Review of Staff, Councillors' and Mayor's Office Expenses
Requested by:Audit Committee
(a) City Auditor, in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer and the City
Solicitor, report to the Audit Committee on a policy on the receipt of donations of cash,
goods, services and other benefits by Members of Council.
(b) City Auditor to:
(i)report to the Audit Committee on whether the cost of design, lay-out and printing of
Councillors' newsletter being done by the City Clerk is on a full cost recovery charge-back
basis;
(ii)report to the Audit Committee on the establishment of a charge-back policy for those
Councillors who use civic space for second offices;
(iii)clarify that senior staff cannot receive a car allowance and a full mileage allowance, and
report thereon to the Audit Committee, at its meeting to be held on April 7, 1999.
8.Project:Works Best Practices
Requested by:Council
The City Auditor be requested to report to Council through the Audit Committee on the
advisability of performing a value for money audit on the consultants for the Works Best
Practices Program and the anticipated costs of performing the audit.
Conclusions:
The preparation of the above reports are in addition to the work outlined in the City Auditor's
workplan approved by the Audit Committee dated March 1, 1999. This workplan was
designed to accommodate a certain number of special projects. However, the Department's
capability to meet these requests, as well as address its workplan, is becoming more difficult.
A report is currently being prepared in relation to the amalgamation of all City Audit
activities. If a recommendation to amalgamate in this regard is made then the Department will
be in a better position to address the above. If, however, resources are inadequate, a further
report will be prepared for the consideration of the Audit Committee.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Jeffrey Griffiths, 392-8461
Jeff Griffiths
City Auditor