Oakland Port Staff Outlines Policy Revisions and Corrective Steps to Promote Accountability

Port of Oakland staff provided a progress report on its policy strengthening efforts to the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners at the board’s regularly scheduled public meeting on March 28. Updates included a new purchase card policy (PCard), other important policy revisions being made, employee ethics training and communications, all oriented toward changing the port culture to one that adheres to the highest standards of ethics, accountability and transparency. 

The port reiterated a number of relevant previous actions and announced several specific updates on actions:

• Established a whistleblower hotline in 2010.
• Conducted the first port purchasing card audit in 2012 (for Calendar Year 2011).
• Conducted an independent investigation of improper expenditures that the media brought to the port’s attention.
• Changed executive leadership for two key positions – executive director and maritime director.
• Concluded an eight-month recruitment process and selected a new Port Attorney with background in a variety of legal areas including ethics.
• Revising and updating key policies with an inclusive and collaborative approach involving as many as 50 employees.
• Providing ethics training for port employees far above that required by law.
• Set up a public webpage related to the port’s commitment to accountability and transparency that includes the steps the port is taking and a timeline. 
• Revised the Pcard policy based on audit recommendations.
• Revising travel policy to provide clarity, guidance and responsibility.
• Both the board and the senior staff conducted workshops to review their governance and operations, and adopted Statements of Intention that embody the values of the port and the new era at port.

"Today is a symbol of the work that we are doing,” declared Acting Executive Director Deborah Ale Flint. "We have dedicated ourselves to a new standard.” 

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