NEW RELEASE: Boards and Commissions Survey Report

We are pleased to announce that on October 21, 2026 our Office released the Boards and Commissions Survey Report. In June 2026, we issued surveys to City of Oakland board and commission members and City staff liaisons to better understand their experiences and identify opportunities to strengthen the City’s board and commission system. We received 82 responses from members and 14 from staff, representing 29 boards and commissions.

The report summarizes the survey results and respondents’ suggestions for improving recruitment, training, staff support, and access to information. The appendices explain how the surveys were conducted and provide background on each board and commission, including its membership, the law or measure that created it, and the availability of bylaws and meeting minutes.

Overall, most respondents felt their boards and commissions were carrying out their responsibilities and described their experiences positively. However, they raised concerns about:

• Limited staff support and access to information.
• Limited influence and access to the City Council.
• Unclear responsibilities for members and supporting staff.
• Unclear short- and long-term goals.

We appreciate Gretchen Rooney for her work on this report, those who participated in the confidential survey, and the board and commission members for their commitment to City oversight.

NEW RELEASE: Performance Audit of Oakland’s Capital Improvement Program

On August 19th, my Office released our Performance Audit of Oakland’s Capital Improvement Program Financial Management: Implementing Comprehensive Systems, Policies, and Practices to Enhance Oversight of Capital Project Delivery.

This audit, which we launched in part due to the request of the Director of Transportation, assessed internal controls over the timely, appropriate, and cost-effective use of capital funds. The audit covers projects capital spending within the City of Oakland’s Capital Improvement Program, which guides the construction, repair, and replacement of City assets, including transportation systems, facility development and construction and nearly all street infrastructure.

The audit made 17 recommendations to improve capital project oversight, including updating project management policies, training staff, developing guidance for using on-call contracts, centralizing project management, and maintaining segregation of duties.

To learn more about what we found, we encourage you to read full the report.