Commission delays final MDPL management deal after inspector‑general review; extends lease to year‑end

Miami Beach commissioners on Feb. 5 agreed to extend the Miami Design Preservation League’s (MDPL) lease and asked staff to negotiate a revised management agreement after the city inspector general told the commission that a near‑complete investigation had found serious structural issues.

Inspector General Joseph Santarito said the OIG’s review — begun last summer — identified problems in both operations and governance that contributed to the issues. He recommended waiting for the report’s findings so the city and MDPL could incorporate audit recommendations into any new agreement.

MDPL’s newly hired executive director, Meg Lustow, and board chair Roger Goldblatt told commissioners the organization had already begun reforms, hired an outside accounting/charity CPA firm to assess internal controls, and removed prior staff implicated in the audit. Goldblatt and Lustow asked for continuity, stressing MDPL’s role in preserving Ocean Drive and the city’s Art Deco heritage.

Commission discussion focused on balancing the city’s desire to protect public assets and demand accountability with support for an organization that manages a high‑profile visitor center. Commissioners sought contractual safeguards — including termination clauses and clear KPIs on governance, fundraising separation from advocacy, and transparency requirements — before a long‑term management contract would be executed.

The commission voted to extend MDPL’s lease through Dec. 31, 2026, and directed staff to negotiate a new management agreement that incorporates IG findings and specific reform commitments. Commissioners said they would review the inspector‑general report once it is released and work with MDPL to implement reforms prior to any multi‑year contract.