Oxnard--The Finance & Governance Committee received its semiannual whistleblower report, featuring a new online portal, during its Tuesday, January 9 meeting.
THE city received 21 whistleblower reports between June 7 and December 14, which were determined to be non-fiscal or City-related.
Project Manager Annie Jensen presented the report and noted that in 2016, the City Council approved taking all appropriate steps to thoroughly evaluate allegations of any improper governmental action brought to its attention.
An improper governmental action is defined as any activity by a local agency or employee undertaken in the performance of the employee’s official duties outside of the person’s official activities that violate any local, state, or federal law or regulation relating to corruption, malfeasance, bribery, theft of government property, or willful admission to perform duty, is economically wasteful or involves gross misconduct.
“The city shall establish a whistleblower hotline to receive and investigate possible city fraud, waste, and abuse,” she said. “These complainants must remain confidential, and the complainant’s identity may not be revealed without the complainant’s permission, except to an appropriate law enforcement agency conducting a criminal investigation.”
She said the city’s internal auditor, Vasquez and Company, may conduct an investigation into the facts…
