Substantiated Whistleblower Investigation: Oakland Parks, Recreation, and Youth Development Department.

On November 9, 2021, the Office of the City Auditor, released the Oakland Parks Recreation and Youth Development Department Whistleblower Investigation. The investigation was prompted by two whistleblower complaints, containing a total of five allegations. The first complaint was received in January 2019 alleging the Director used City resources for personal gain, fraudulently diverted money to the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation (the Foundation) to circumvent City rules, used the Foundation to support friends and associates, and that OPRYD violated City competitive solicitation requirements. The second complaint, received in December 2019, alleged the Director misspent federal funds. Read the press release here.

Performance Audit: The City of Oakland’s Homeless Encampment Management Interventions and Activities for Fiscal Years 2018-19 and 2019-2020.

On April 14, 2021, the Office of the City Auditor released the City of Oakland’s Homeless Encampment Mangagement Interventions and Activities audit. This report examines the City of Oakland’s encampment management services and activities and has four sections. Section 1 discusses the impacts of encampments on Oakland residents, both housed and unhoused, City staff, City services, businesses, and the community, as well as the City’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of encampments. Section 2 addresses the Police Department’s and the Fire Department’s response times to 911 emergency calls at encampments and the City’s response to the 311 Call Center service requests at encampments. Section 3 includes estimates of the City’s costs associated with encampment activities. Specific cost details and the roles and responsibilities of staff working on encampment activities, and the audit methodology to estimate such costs, are shown in the Appendix. Finally, Section 4 provides guidance for the City Administration to more effectively implement the City’s new encampment policy. Read the press release here.