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Agenda |
Regular |
Audit Committee |
Meeting No. | 17 | Contact | Rosemary MacKenzie, Council Administrator | |
Meeting Date |
Monday, June 7, 2010 |
Phone | 416-392-8021 | |
Start Time |
9:30 AM |
rmacken@toronto.ca | ||
Location |
Committee Room 1, City Hall
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Chair | Councillor Doug Holyday |
Members of Council and Staff: Please keep this agenda and the accompanying material until the City Council meeting dealing with these matters has ended. The City Clerk’s Office will not provide additional copies.
Special Assistance for Members of the Public: City staff can arrange for special assistance with some advance notice. If you need special assistance, please call (416-392-8021), TTY 416-338-0889 or e-mail rmacken@toronto.ca.
Closed Meeting Requirements: If the Audit Committee wants to meet in closed session (privately), a Member of the Committee must make a motion to do so and give the reason why the Committee has to meet privately. (City of Toronto Act, 2006)
Notice to people writing or making presentations to the Audit Committee: The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its committees.
The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City’s website. The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it – such as your postal address, telephone number or e-mail address – available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.
The City videotapes committee and community council meetings. If you make a presentation to a committee or community council, the City will be videotaping you and City staff may make the video tapes available to the public.
If you want to learn more about why and how the City collects your information, write to the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2 or by calling 416-392-8021.
Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Confirmation of Minutes - May 14, 2010, Meeting 16
Communications/Reports |
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AU17.1 | ACTION |
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Ward: All |
Agenda Planning for the July 5, 2010 Audit Committee Meeting |
Origin |
(May 3, 2010) Letter from the Chair, Audit Committee |
Recommendations |
The Chair of the Audit Committee recommends that the Audit Committee:
1. Authorize the City Clerk to accept regular business Items for the July 5, 2010 meeting of the Audit Committee in addition to the Financial Statements from the City's ABCs. |
Summary |
In July 2008, the Audit Committee adopted a motion which directed that in future years, the annual schedule of meetings for the Audit Committee include:
- one meeting to review the City’s audited consolidated financial statements; and
- a separate meeting to review the financial statements of agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs) including business improvement areas (BIAs), arenas and community centres.
Accordingly, the meeting of the Audit Committee scheduled for June 30, 2010 is to consider the City's financial statements, and the meeting on July 5, 2010 is to consider financial statements of the City's ABCs, BIAs, Arenas and Community Centres.
Due to the upcoming election, these are the last meetings scheduled for this year. The Auditor General has advised that there will be several other matters that will require consideration by the Audit Committee. I am recommending that the Audit Committee permit other Items at the July 5, 2010 meeting, in addition to the financial statements. |
Background Information |
Letter (May 3, 2010) from the Chair, Audit Committee (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30569.pdf) |
1a | Audit Reports to be Submitted to July 5, 2010 Audit Committee Meeting |
Origin |
(April 28, 2010) Report from the Auditor General |
Summary |
The purpose of this report is to provide Audit Committee with information regarding various audit reports to be submitted to the July 5, 2010 meeting of Audit Committee. |
Background Information |
Report (April 28, 2010) from the Auditor General, headed "Audit Reports to be Submitted to July 5, 2010 Audit Committee Meeting" (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30570.pdf) |
AU17.2 | ACTION |
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Ward: All |
Insurance and Risk Management Review |
Origin |
(April 26, 2010) Report from the Auditor General |
Recommendations |
The Auditor General recommends that:
1. The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer review the draft Risk Management Policies and Procedures Manual and ensure that it is current, revised to take into account emerging or changed circumstances, reviewed by all stakeholder groups, finalized and widely circulated to all relevant staff.
2. The Director, Corporate Finance, in consultation with the City’s insurance advisors, evaluate the risks and benefits of increasing the City’s level of self insurance. The results of the evaluation be reported to City Council.
3. The Director, Corporate Finance, review the possibilities of changing the current insurance fronting arrangement. Such a review include consultation with staff of the Toronto Transit Commission.
4. The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer review and, if appropriate, recommend to Council revisions to the delegated financial authority limits for the settlement of insurance claims.
5. The Director, Corporate Finance, establish a process to monitor City divisional response time to insurance adjuster requests for information and report results to Divisions where significant delays occur. The City Manager take appropriate action if response times are not appropriately addressed.
6. The Director, Corporate Finance perform regular reviews of the time spent on adjusting services for the same category of claims. Any files which result in an inordinate amount of time and as a result incur excessive costs be discussed with the third party adjuster.
7. The Director, Corporate Finance, review the financial thresholds for reporting insurance claims to the Claims Review Group.
8. The Director, Corporate Finance, review the Loss Control Notice process to ensure all Notices are issued when required, divisional responses are received and progress on corrective action is monitored by Insurance and Risk Management staff.
9. The Director, Corporate Finance, ensure appropriate action is taken on loss prevention recommendations identified by the insurer. For recommendations not addressed, specific reasons for not doing so be documented and approved in writing.
10. The City Solicitor in consultation with the Director, Corporate Finance, prepare a cost-benefit analysis to determine if it would be advantageous to transfer a certain level of legal services currently provided by external private sector legal firms to internal solicitors. Such an exercise be conducted prior to the next City budget cycle.
11. The Director, Corporate Finance, consider the development of a process whereby all legal bills are analyzed and scrutinized on a performance review basis. Such a process include evaluations of time spent on specific legal files, the level of lawyer expertise assigned to each file along with review of hourly rates. The review process be documented along with evidence of any follow up on apparent irregularities.
12. The Director, Corporate Finance, review the current fee structure arrangement with the adjuster in order to determine whether or not there would be cost savings in minimizing flat fee charges.
13. The Director, Corporate Finance, complete the implementation of the Insurance and Risk Management staffing changes approved in the 2009 City budget.
14. The Director, Corporate Finance, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, interface the Risk Management Information System operated by the City with the claims database managed by the adjuster.
15. The Director, Corporate Finance, complete the implementation of an automated process to update the Risk Management Information System quarterly for the cost of all legal services.
16. The Director, Corporate Finance, consider the need to record, in the claim files, costs related to adjusting services provided by City staff.
17. The Director, Corporate Finance ensure that user division staff are included in at least an advisory role with the Claims Working Group.
18. The Director, Corporate Finance complete a comprehensive listing of properties and insured values for the 2011 insurance renewal process.
19. The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer report at least once each term of Council on appropriate relevant information relating to significant uninsured risks.
20. The Director, Corporate Finance, in consultation with appropriate senior management, consider the cost-effectiveness of consolidating the current City of Toronto insurance program to include certain other City Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Corporations. |
Summary |
The Auditor General’s annual work plan included a review of the Insurance and Risk Management Section of the Corporate Finance Division.
Our review identified areas where opportunities exist to improve administrative practices and controls. Accordingly, we have issued a report which contains 20 recommendations. |
Financial Impact |
The implementation of certain recommendations in this report may result in cost impacts and savings although not all of these savings can be quantified. Of the recommendations where savings can be quantified, savings in the range of $600,000 per year are possible. |
Background Information |
Report (April 26, 2010) from the Auditor General, headed "Insurance and Risk Management Review" (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30572.pdf) Appendix 1 - Insurance and Risk Management Review (February 22, 2010) (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30571.pdf) Appendix 2 - Management's Response (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30573.pdf) |
AU17.3 | ACTION |
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Ward: All |
Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division - Controls Over Ferry Service Revenue Need Strengthening |
Origin |
(April 26, 2010) Report from the Auditor General |
Recommendations |
The Auditor General recommends that:
1. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, evaluate options for alternative payment methods including the use of debit and credit cards at sales counters and vending machines, as well as Web-based sales.
2. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, develop an automated cash reconciliation process. The process should include daily variance tracking of cash shortages and overages, and should report accumulated variances by month, year and cashier. The process should also provide for investigation and reconciliation of unusual variances. Mandatory supervisory review should include sign-off on all reconciliations and variances. Variance reports should be retained in accordance with required record retention time frames.
3. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, conduct a business process review of the Ferry Service/Marine Operations and evaluate options to upgrade or replace the existing information technology system for submission to the 2011 information technology capital process. The review should include:
a. integration of the point of sale system with other related City systems, such as the debit and credit card system and the SAP financial system; and
b. an evaluation of the CLASS management information system as it relates to meeting the needs of Marine Operations.
4. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, implement an interim process to independently reconcile point of sale revenues with bank deposits.
5. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, ensure staff are appropriately trained on computer systems routinely used and user manuals are available to staff for training and ready reference. Further, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, determine corporate requirements for future computer system support and maintenance in the event of system failure.
6. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, evaluate options for automating the ferry service ticket inventory.
7. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, evaluate options for:
a. automating ticket cancellation and refund processes; and
b. implementing a process to analytically review cancelled tickets and refunds.
Further, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, implement a process to ensure reasons for ticket and ferry pass cancellations and refunds are appropriately documented and are subject to supervisory approval.
8. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, review current ticket and dock procedures. Periodic comparisons between tickets sold and the number of patrons recorded as ferry passengers should be conducted, and unusual deviations investigated.
9. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, develop a process to review and monitor vendor contracts and ensure contracts are renewed on a timely basis.
In addition, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, develop a process to periodically bill and follow-up on outstanding revenues on a timely basis.
10. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, evaluate controls on system data and change management processes, and ensure corporate requirements are followed for current and future computer systems. |
Summary |
The objective of this review was to assess the adequacy of controls over the administration and collection of Ferry Service revenue.
Our review identified opportunities for strengthening controls over the management of Ferry Service revenue and receivables. We have provided 10 recommendations for strengthening financial and accounting controls. |
Financial Impact |
The implementation of recommendations in this report will improve controls in the management and administration of ferry service revenues and receivables. The extent of any resources required or potential cost savings and revenue improvements resulting from implementing the recommendations in this report is not determinable at this time. |
Background Information |
Report (April 26, 2010) from the Auditor General, headed "Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division - Controls Over Ferry Service Revenue Need Strengthening" (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30574.pdf) Appendix 1 - Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division - Controls Over Ferry Service Revenue Need Strengthening (January 15, 2010) (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30575.pdf) Appendix 2 - Management's Response (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30576.pdf) |
AU17.4 | ACTION |
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Ward: All |
Governance and Management of City Wireless Technology Needs Improvement |
Origin |
(April 20, 2010) Report from the Auditor General |
Recommendations |
The Auditor General recommends that:
1. The following recommendations in the attached Auditor General’s report entitled “Governance and Management of City Wireless Technology Needs Improvement” be adopted:
“1. The Chief Information Officer ensure current and future wireless projects undertaken by City divisions are administered under the Information Technology Governance Framework.
2. The Chief Information Officer ensure measures to provide a consultative and collaborative role on wireless projects undertaken by City Agencies, Boards and Commissions are implemented.
3. The Chief Information Officer prepare a comprehensive City-wide IT Wireless Plan and periodically review the plan to ensure that it is current and relevant.
4. The Chief Information Officer complete a review of City-wide information technology policies to ensure policies are prepared, approved and reviewed on a regular basis.
5. The Chief Information Officer implement City-wide wireless standards and develop procedures to provide for periodic review to ensure the accuracy and relevancy of wireless standards.
6. The Chief Information Officer develop a comprehensive IT Security Manual as a ready reference for City staff.
7. The Chief Information Officer implement additional measures to further reduce the risk of unauthorized access to City wireless technology.
8. The Chief Information Officer ensure information technology inventory records are complete and controls are working as intended.”
2. This report be forwarded to the City’s Agencies, Boards and Commissions for information. |
Summary |
Attached is the Auditor General's report entitled "Governance and Management of City Wireless Technology Needs Improvement.” This review was conducted as part of the Auditor General's 2009 Annual Work Plan.
The objective of this audit was to determine what steps the City has taken to address risks related to the emerging use of wireless technology. Specific areas reviewed include an analysis of existing wireless related policies, general management and operational practices in effect, and safeguards used to secure city wireless infrastructure and data. |
Financial Impact |
The recommendations in this report have no financial impact. |
Background Information |
Report (April 20, 2010) from the Auditor General, headed "Governance and Management of City Wireless Technology Needs Improvement" (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30577.pdf) Appendix 1 - Governance and Management of City Wireless Technology Needs Improvement (March 12, 2010) (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30578.pdf) Appendix 2 - Management's Response (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30579.pdf) |
(Deferred from February 12, 2010 - 2010.AU15.7) |
AU17.5 | ACTION |
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Ward: All |
2008 Investment and Leasing Policy Compliance |
Origin |
(January 26, 2010) Report from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer |
Summary |
To respond to the audit opinion and the auditor’s comments contained in the report, "Auditor’s Report on Compliance with Investment Policy 2008" and to comply with the City’s Statement of Lease Financing Policies which requires confirmation that the City’s Agencies, Boards and Commissions have complied with the City’s investment and leasing policies during 2008. |
Background Information |
Report (January 26, 2010) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, 2008 Investment and Leasing Policy Compliance (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30582.pdf) Attachment 1 - Ernst & Young Auditor's Report on Compliance with Investment Policy (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30580.pdf) Attachment 2 - Ernst & Young Management Letter (September 3, 2009) (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/au/bgrd/backgroundfile-30581.pdf) |