Report 2015-116 Recommendation 11 Responses
Report 2015-116: City of Irvine: Poor Governance of the $1.7 Million Review of the Orange County Great Park Needlessly Compromised the Review's Credibility (Release Date: August 2016)
Recommendation #11 To: Irvine, City of
To foster public confidence in its processes and findings, Irvine should conduct self-initiated investigations, reviews, or audits in an open and transparent manner that ensures independence. Specifically, Irvine should not establish advisory bodies exempt from open meeting laws to oversee these investigations, reviews, or audits. Instead, any required reports from contractors conducting such investigations, reviews, or audits should go to the city council or a standing committee of the city council to be discussed in either open or closed session, as appropriate.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019
The status of this recommendation has not changed.
- Estimated Completion Date:
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018
The city's response to this recommendation has not changed.
- Estimated Completion Date:
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2017
The status of the recommendations the City of Irvine has indicated it will not implement has not changed.
- Estimated Completion Date:
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
As we note in our assessment of the city's 60-day response: We are disappointed that Irvine has chosen not to implement this recommendation. Our recommendation is not "one size fits all." We do not recommend that Irvine cease using subcommittees. Rather, our recommendation is specific to the use of subcommittees to oversee investigations, reviews, or audits.
1-Year Agency Response
Please see the City's 60-day response
- Response Date: August 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement
As we note in our assessment of the city's 60-day response: We are disappointed that Irvine has chosen not to implement this recommendation. Our recommendation is not "one size fits all." We do not recommend that Irvine cease using subcommittees. Rather, our recommendation is specific to the use of subcommittees to oversee investigations, reviews, or audits.
6-Month Agency Response
Please see the City's 60-day response.
- Response Date: February 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Will Not Implement
As we note in our assessment of the city's 60-day response: We are disappointed that Irvine has chosen not to implement this recommendation. Our recommendation is not "one size fits all." We do not recommend that Irvine cease using subcommittees. Rather, our recommendation is specific to the use of subcommittees to oversee investigations, reviews, or audits.
60-Day Agency Response
As noted in the City's June 28, 2016 response to the California State Auditor, under the Brown Act, the City Council retains the right to judiciously appoint ad hoc subcommittees of its membership to give focused attention to a particular matter for a temporary period. The City Council has historically formed subcommittees to allow two councilmembers (who have been appointed by a majority of their colleagues at a public meeting) to examine specific subject matters in detail. In this instance, the City Council unanimously determined that the unique nature of this matter necessitated the appointment of a subcommittee. Implementation of the "one size fits all" recommendation that Irvine refrain from forming advisory bodies that fall within the Brown Act's exemptions to open meeting requirements would be poor policy. Note: Listed as Recommendation No. 9 in June 28, 2016 letter.
- Response Date: October 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Will Not Implement
We are disappointed that Irvine has chosen not to implement this recommendation. Our recommendation is not "one size fits all." We do not recommend that Irvine cease using subcommittees. Rather, our recommendation is specific to the use of subcommittees to oversee investigations, reviews, or audits.
All Recommendations in 2015-116
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.