Inspector General's Report on Indian Creek, Palm and Hibiscus Islands Projects Expected in March

Last fall as tempers flared over the disclosure of another City stormwater project lacking proper permits, Miami Beach Commissioners Michael Góngora and Mark Samuelian asked the new Inspector General to look into the projects. IG Joseph Centorino this week said his investigation is proceeding and he expects to have a report by end of March at the latest.

Centorino told the Commission’s Land Use and Sustainability Committee, chaired by Samuelian and on which Góngora sits, that a team of three has been looking into the Indian Creek and Palm and Hibiscus Islands projects.

“It’s a serious investigation in the sense that we know that there was some misconduct on the part of the City and as well on the part of the private side of this,” he said.

The review team includes an investigator, an auditor, and a private engineering consultant.

Alluding to the larger plan for stormwater and resiliency projects to combat flooding from sea level rise, he said, “In view of what’s coming down the line, we cannot afford – the City can’t afford – to continue to make these kinds of errors. It’s a serious investigation. We will lay out all the facts for the Commission and for the public at an appropriate time and we will come up with some recommendations for further controls on these projects.”

In response to a question from Committee member Commissioner Ricky Arriola, Centorino said the engineering consultant’s fee has been limited to $25,000.

Photo of Indian Creek project: DMSI