Item - 2021.AU9.8

The Audit Committee:

1.  Received the report (June 22, 2021) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation for information.

On February 9, 2021, the Auditor General released a report entitled "Getting to the Root of the Issues: A Follow-Up to the 2019 Tree Maintenance Services Audit", which was tabled at the Audit Committee meeting on February 16, 2021.

The Audit Committee made recommendations, subsequently adopted by Council, aimed at strengthening Parks, Forestry and Recreation's (PFR) oversight, monitoring and contract management related to tree maintenance services.

PFR agreed with the assessment and recommendations and established a 30/60/90 Day Plan of Action to advance deliverables related to the report's recommendations to improve crew oversight, enhance contract management and improve productivity and operational efficiency.

Council provided direction to PFR to report to the May 31, 2021 meeting of the Audit Committee with an update on the progress made with respect to the 90 Day Plan of Action and further to report to each regular meeting of the Audit Committee on experiences and data collected on the performance of Urban Forestry Contractors and City crews. Due to the cancellation of the May 31, 2021 Audit Committee meeting, this report has been redirected to the July 7, 2021 Audit Committee meeting. Further, PFR provided a 30-day update at the City Council meeting on April 7 and 8, 2021 and a 60-day update at the City Council meeting on May 5 and 6, 2021.

The purpose of this report is to provide a progress update on the 90 Day Action Plan and introduce a framework which will be used for the regular reporting back to the Audit Committee on experiences and data collected on the performance of Urban Forestry Contractors and City crews.