The Dallas City Council’s Government Performance and Financial Management Committee was briefed on an internal audit on Tuesday that suggested an environmental education program was inefficient
At the meeting, Dallas City Auditor Mark Swann and staff reported to the committee that they had completed their evaluation of the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability’s (OEQS) environmental education and awareness program.
The auditor’s staff explained to the committee that the OEQS program “has shared oversight and does not monitor costs, making it difficult to know if the program is efficient.”
“The Environmental Management System is implemented under out-of-date administrative directives,” staff explained during the meeting. “The administrative directives have not been updated to support standards revised in 2015 or the City’s Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan.”
To this point, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn said, “It seems like almost every audit comes back with at least one note that says the administrative directives are out of date.”
She further asked if a memo or acknowledgment form could be sent to all City departments to ensure their administrative functions were up to date.
The City Manager’s Office indicated that such a proposal was indeed possible.
The internal audit itself was initially filed on February 27, with the intent “to determine if [OEQS]’ environmental education and awareness program is efficient and effective.”
On the issue of effectiveness, the audit concluded, “Generally, yes. The City’s compliance efforts are working well, as reflected by recent audits performed by an external auditor.”
However, with regards to efficiency, the City Auditor determined it was generally inefficient, noting that the “availability of on-demand training is limited, and the costs are not tracked as indicated in the governing Administrative Directive.”
Expanding on the point, the audit explained that the OEQS education program “has several challenges that reduce the program’s effectiveness and efficiency,” including a lack of oversight, limited course content and availability, document retention, and cost.
The report made four recommendations, urging OEQS to:
- Improve the availability of environmental training courses;
- Monitor the cost of the environmental education and awareness program;
- Update administrative directives and develop internal policies for ensuring compliance;
- Review the emerging risk related to implementing environmental stewardship.
OEQS agreed with all the recommendations and provided initial steps it could take to implement the necessary changes.
Specifically, the department explained, “OEQS will review and update the Environmental Policy, administrative directives, and internal procedures to meet current standards, requirements, and City priorities.”
The Government Performance and Financial Management Committee is composed of Council Members Cara Mendelsohn (Chair, District 12), Gay Donnell Willis (Vice Chair, District 13), Tennell Atkins (District 8), Adam Bazaldua (District 7), Adam McGough (District 10), Paul Ridley (District 14), and Chad West (District 1).
West and Bazaldua attended the meeting virtually, while Atkins and McGough were absent.
The City of Dallas only “virtue signals”.
It is well documented that the City Council does not care about “health risks” when it comes to water fluoridation.
They all are well aware that “health risks” exist with water fluoridation.
This is an uncontested fact…”Health risks” exist with water fluoridation.
And you will never hear the Council say: “No health risks exist with water fluoridation.”
QUOTES form the audit docs”
“The Dallas Environmental Policy states that the City is committed to a clean, safe, and healthy environment.”
And
“…the importance of environmental stewardship for clean air and water….”
What evidence did they use to say the program is effective? Data?