Faulconer to Review Over 300 Recommendations to Improve City Operations and Boost Efficiencies

Audit Committee to also consider proposal that could recover up to $500,000 from payment errors

Have an idea to fix City Hall and save taxpayer dollars? The independent City Auditor has over 300.

This morning at 9:00 at City Hall, Council President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer — chair of the City Audit Committee —  will be reviewing 313 recommendations to save tax dollars and improve City of San Diego operations. 176 recommendations from independent City Auditor Eduardo Luna have not been implemented, with some dating back to 2008. Faulconer will be pushing the City to follow through on putting these ideas into effect.

The recommendations touch on issues throughout City government, such preventing undisclosed bonuses at the Southeastern Development Corporation (SEDC), reducing water- and sewer-main breaks, better coordinating street repair between City departments and conducting more analysis to avoid future Qualcomm Stadium legal settlements between the City and Chargers.

Here is the full advisory:

SAN DIEGO — Today, City Council President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer, chair of the City Audit Committee, will examine 313 ideas to improve City operations, as well as a proposal to contract with an expert firm to recover tax dollars the City is owed. The hearing begins at 9 AM in the City Administration Building 12th Floor Committee Room at 202 C Street downtown.

“These recommendations from the independent City Auditor can improve City operations and save tax dollars,” said Faulconer. “I will be pushing to ensure the City follows through and implements these ideas.”

The recommendations offer solutions to increase effectiveness, accountability and transparency for City functions such as street repair, Qualcomm Stadium management and redevelopment.

A report from independent City Auditor Eduardo Luna reveals that of 295 outstanding recommendations from 45 different audits issued since 2008:

• 79 recommendations were implemented (27%);
• 25 recommendations were partly implemented (8%);
• 176 recommendations were not implemented (60%);
• 2 recommendations were not implemented because they are no longer applicable (1%);
• 13 recommendations were not implemented because City management disagreed (4%)

A separate City Auditor report released Tuesday offers 18 recommendations to more effectively manage water and sewer capital improvement projects. The changes aim to better prioritize repairs and could help reduce water- and sewer-main breaks.

The Audit Committee is also expected to vote on a proposal to hire a private firm to inspect City contracts and payments and recover any overpayments or money owed. The Independent Budget Analyst estimates $500,000 of revenue could be recovered by July 2012.

###