City auditor outlines FY2027 audit plan; council schedules closed session on Admirals, Tides leases and appointments

City Auditor Brad Smith presented the proposed FY2027 Annual Audit Plan to the Norfolk City Council, outlining audit phases, proposed audit projects and ongoing reviews the auditor's office expects to pursue over the next 12 months.

Smith said the plan is flexible to accommodate unanticipated high-risk issues and investigations. The list of proposed audits and ongoing projects he named included: police overtime and grants compliance (currently in report-writing phase), the retiree payment process (field phase), a citywide vehicle fuel-card review, fire-rescue medication process, recreation and parks program revenue handling, temporary service contracts, citywide contract-monitoring procedures, human-services benefits and self-sufficiency programs, public library workflows and follow-ups on prior audit recommendations. Smith described audit phases as planning, field work and reporting and said targets are set with the goal of producing actionable findings.

Separately, the council announced a closed meeting to be held June 23, 2026 at 4:40 p.m. in the 10th-floor conference room of City Hall under clauses referenced in Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia. The stated purposes included discussion of the award of a public contract or lease for the Norfolk Admirals, discussion of the award of a public contract/lease for the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park, consultation with legal counsel regarding possible modification of Council rules of procedure (including the Broadcasting of Meetings), and discussion of board and commission appointments (several appointment names were listed for consideration). The announcement cited that open discussion could adversely affect the bargaining position of the public body.