REFORM OAKLAND

Real Oakland Administrative Reform

At a press conference on July 9, 2008 City Attorney John Russo and City Auditor Courtney Ruby proposed a package of critical administrative reforms to make city government more accountable, more transparent and more effective for the taxpayers of Oakland.

At the press conference with the offices of City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and City Councilmember Pat Kernighan, Russo and Ruby called for five good government initiatives in a package called Real Oakland Administrative Reform, or R.O.A.R.

"As we have all witnessed, recent events have created a crisis of confidence in our city government," Ruby said. "I believe that the five administrative reforms we're offering here today get to the heart of creating transparent, principled and accountable government in Oakland."

"As Oakland's elected watchdog officials, we have serious concerns about the lack of protections against abuse of taxpayer resources," Russo said. "These initiatives will ensure a fair and ethical work environment for city employees, and at the same time, they will allow the people of Oakland to once again feel confident that their government is working for them on the level."

The reform package includes:

• Strengthen Anti-Nepotism Rules
- Adopt Anti-Nepotism Ordinance

• Reform Personnel Dept. Procedures
- Involve City Attorney’s Office in all significant employee discipline matters
- Correct flawed personnel procedures to reduce taxpayer liability
- Ensure uniform application of disability accommodations

• Fix Records Management
- Set high standard for retention of paper and electronic records
- Create new records management task force with input from good government advocates and journalists

• Protect Whistleblowers
- Encourage employees to report fraud, waste or abuse
- Establish City Auditor Whistleblower Hotline

• Establish Employee Ethics Program
- Require ethics training for supervisors
- Create on-line ethics resource center for all city employees

Russo and Ruby called on the City Council to unanimously approve the legislative initiatives in the package at the earliest convenience.

For more information about the ROAR campaign please go to www.oaklandcityattorney.org or www.oaklandauditor.com.

At a press conference on July 9, 2008 City Attorney John Russo and City Auditor Courtney Ruby proposed a package of critical administrative reforms to make city government more accountable, more transparent and more effective for the taxpayers of Oakland.

At the press conference with the offices of City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and City Councilmember Pat Kernighan, Russo and Ruby called for five good government initiatives in a package called Real Oakland Administrative Reform, or R.O.A.R.

"As we have all witnessed, recent events have created a crisis of confidence in our city government," Ruby said. "I believe that the five administrative reforms we're offering here today get to the heart of creating transparent, principled and accountable government in Oakland."

"As Oakland's elected watchdog officials, we have serious concerns about the lack of protections against abuse of taxpayer resources," Russo said. "These initiatives will ensure a fair and ethical work environment for city employees, and at the same time, they will allow the people of Oakland to once again feel confident that their government is working for them on the level."

The reform package includes:

• Strengthen Anti-Nepotism Rules
- Adopt Anti-Nepotism Ordinance

• Reform Personnel Dept. Procedures
- Involve City Attorney’s Office in all significant employee discipline matters
- Correct flawed personnel procedures to reduce taxpayer liability
- Ensure uniform application of disability accommodations

• Fix Records Management
- Set high standard for retention of paper and electronic records
- Create new records management task force with input from good government advocates and journalists

• Protect Whistleblowers
- Encourage employees to report fraud, waste or abuse
- Establish City Auditor Whistleblower Hotline

• Establish Employee Ethics Program
- Require ethics training for supervisors
- Create on-line ethics resource center for all city employees

Russo and Ruby called on the City Council to unanimously approve the legislative initiatives in the package at the earliest convenience.

For more information about the ROAR campaign please go to www.oaklandcityattorney.org or www.oaklandauditor.com.