On January 21, 2020, the City Council for Riviera Beach recommended three (3) individuals to serve as representatives on the City Audit Committee on behalf of the City Council of which Councilperson Shirley Lanier has been selected to serve as the chairperson of and City Council’s liaison to the committee. Subsequently, Ms. Madelene Irving expressed an interest in an appointment to serve on the City Audit Committee. On Monday, February 24, 2020, the audit committee met to discuss elements associated with the scope of service for the revised request for proposals, as well as to receive information from legal concerning Florida’s public meeting and open records law.

Additionally, there were conversations about the feasibility of expanding the audit committee’s function to assist in reviewing and providing insight about internal audits that will be conducted, managed, and drafted by the Internal Auditor. City staff believes having an independent audit committee provides for additional transparency in governance, as well as an additional perspective on audit findings prior to the findings being articulated to the City Council and the public, for that matter. As a result of the expansion of services, the staff is recommending adopting Resolution 27-20 to incorporate language that allows the audit committee to serve as an independent advisory board to the city administration, city staff, and the City Council when deemed necessary. This additional expansion will also provide much-needed resident input concerning material and immaterial findings that may be discovered as part of an internal audit.