![\"City](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MIA_117MiamiMeeting08NEWPPP.JPG\" "\\"Miami")
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Miami Commissioners Miguel Angel Gabela (center) and Damian Pardo (right) listen as Chairwoman Christine King (left) speaks during the first Miami City Commission meeting of 2026 on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.<\/p>\n
Pedro Portal<\/p>\n
pportal@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
The head of Miami\u2019s independent government watchdog unit wants to sit in on private agenda briefings between city administrators and elected officials going forward, emails show.<\/p>\n
Antonio Diaz, who heads the city\u2019s new Office of the Independent Inspector General, or OIG, has asked City Manager James Reyes to allow Diaz or another OIG representative to attend the city administration\u2019s briefings with the mayor and city commissioners. The briefings prepare the elected officials ahead of upcoming City Commission meetings.<\/p>\n
Diaz\u2019s office, which is tasked with investigating wrongdoing within city government and has the power to subpoena witnesses and administer oaths, has been operational since November 2025 after voters approved an Office of the Independent Inspector General in August 2024.<\/p>\n
Diaz wrote in a Sept. 6 email to Reyes, obtained by the Miami Herald through a public records request, that he would like for an OIG staffer to be present during briefings \u201cin an observational capacity.\u201d He noted that in accordance with the state\u2019s Sunshine Law, the administration briefs each commissioner separately.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause these briefings are conducted individually with each elected official,\u201d Diaz wrote, \u201cit is important from an oversight standpoint that we have visibility into the information being presented and can ensure that material information provided by the administration, department directors, and other City officials is being presented accurately and consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n
The inspector general\u2019s request indicates a desire by Miami\u2019s newly minted watchdog office to have a window into the sausage-making behind the city\u2019s legislative process, which involves city commissioners voting on proposals ranging from major land deals<\/a> to multimillion-dollar legal settlements<\/a>. During the closed-door briefings, which typically happen biweekly in the days leading up to City Commission meetings, the administration goes over the meeting agenda with each commissioner individually.<\/p>\n While city commissioners will publicly discuss legislative items on the dais, they also show up to commission meetings armed with information about what they\u2019re voting on \u2014 sometimes with their minds already made up, and in other instances prepared to negotiate with their colleagues out in the open. City rules, however, don\u2019t require a discussion on every item \u2014 instead, commissioners or the mayor have to flag an item for discussion if they\u2019d like to talk about it during the meeting. While that helps meetings run more efficiently, it also means many items are approved without any public discussion.<\/p>\n Diaz told the Herald there wasn\u2019t a \u201cspecific incident or allegation\u201d that prompted his request, nor has he found that information is being improperly conveyed during briefings.<\/p>\n \u201cMy approach is preventive,\u201d Diaz said in an email Wednesday. \u201cHaving OIG visibility into the briefing process allows us to remain informed and, where appropriate, identify issues before they become problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Diaz said there is also interest among city commissioners in having the inspector general present. After he emailed his request to Reyes, the city manager\u2019s office formally scheduled the OIG to attend a briefing with Commissioner Ralph Rosado this week. Diaz also said Rosado \u201cexpressly invited\u201d him to attend. While he was still at City Hall after the Rosado briefing, Diaz said Commissioner Damian Pardo \u201cpersonally invited\u201d him to sit in on his briefing, and that he participated. Commissioner Rolando Escalona also expressed interest, Diaz said.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, our objective is straightforward: the OIG should understand what is occurring throughout City government, particularly on significant matters coming before the Commission,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cWe are not looking to interfere with the administration, departments, or City Attorney\u2019s Office briefing elected officials. The purpose is to remain informed and provide independent oversight where appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published September 9, 2026 at 2:17 PM.<\/p>\n