APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
______________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE DAN KALB and CITY ATTORNEY BARBARA J. PARKER
RESOLUTION HONORING COURTNEY RUBY FOR 13 YEARS OF
EXEMPLARY SERVICE AS THE ELECTED CITY AUDITOR OF
OAKLAND
WHEREAS, in November 2006, Courtney Ruby was elected to her first of f our terms as Oakland’s City Auditor and was elected again in 2010, 2018, and 2022 and served a total of 13 years as Oakland’s City Auditor; and
WHEREAS, in her first two terms as the elected City Auditor, Courtney Ruby transformed a troubled and ineffective auditing office into a model perform ance auditing organization, one focusing on accountability, transparency, and results; and
WHEREAS, Courtney Ruby was an outstanding leader and had a clear visio n to focus audit work on those issues of the greatest concern to Oakland r esidents, City leaders, and employees, including homelessness, police reform, fire preventi on, information technology security, public works, and the City’s financial condition; and
WHEREAS, Courtney Ruby inspired her staff with her vision, values, and inclusive leadership style, resulting in a highly motivated and productiv e staff, as well as an ethical and respectful work environment; and
WHEREAS, as an independent auditor, Courtney Ruby established effectiv e working relationships with elected officials, City Administrators, Depa rtment heads, other City officials, and the residents of Oakland; and
WHEREAS, Courtney Ruby developed a strong relationship with the residents of Oakland by communicating directly with them through newsletters, social media, community meetings, and other means to inform the residents of how their local government was performing; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, Courtney Ruby sponsored the “Whistleblower Protectio n Act”, to protect local government employees in California who have exposed fraud, waste, and abuse; and
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CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
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WHEREAS, in 2009, Courtney Ruby established a Fraud, Waste, and Abuse H otline, which received nearly 900 complaints over her last five years as City Auditor; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, Courtney Ruby co-hosted the first mandatory citywide ethics training for managers; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Courtney Ruby published the City of Oakland’s first Ethical Climate Survey, which established a baseline to measure Oakland’s progr ess towards creating a more ethical work environment; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, the Association of Local Government Auditors awarded her Office the Knighton Award, for the best audit report in the country, f or the audit entitled, “Non- Interference in Administrative Affairs”, and in 2021 awarded her Office with distinguished honors for the audit of the “Oakland Police Commission and the Community Police Review Agency"; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, the American Center for Government Auditing named Co urtney Ruby one of the 15 most influent ial professionals in government auditing for demonstrating the courage, integrity, and leadership necessary to confront and overcome political pressures and other constraints of working as a public sector auditor; and
WHEREAS, throughout her career with the City of Oakland, Courtney Ruby w a s a hardworking, and dedicated elected official, who consistently a nd thoughtfully performed her duties with integrity, compassion, and deep respect for Oakland ’s residents, City leaders, and employees; and
WHEREAS, Courtney Ruby has left the City of Oakland to become the Inde pendent Performance Auditor for the San Diego Association of Governments; and
WHEREAS, Courtney Ruby has made significant contributions to improving accountability and promoting transparency in the City of Oaklan d and will be deeply missed by her staff, friends, colleagues, and the people of Oakland; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council recognizes and honors Courtney Ruby for her extraordinary service and vast contributions to the City of Oakland.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
A T T E S T :
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council
of the City of Oakland, California