TITLE
Recommendation to, in order to maintain the highest ethical standards and integrity for the Harbor Commission, request an independent investigation into the recent accusations made by Commissioner Doug Drummond against fellow commissioners and current and former City employees, and report back to the City Council.
DISCUSSION
Recent published reports in numerous media outlets have indicated that Harbor Commissioner Doug Drummond made serious accusations of "improper and illegal acts" against two other members of the Harbor Commission, as well as current and former Harbor Department employees, a former Long Beach City Manager and a former city commissioner.
These accusations took place during an August 20 closed session of the Harbor Commission to discuss the relocation of the Port's headquarters. The comments were made after the substantive issues of the closed session were discussed.
The charges have thus far been unsubstantiated, and Commissioner Drummond has stated that he subsequently issued an apology. However, the accusations leveled by Commissioner Drummond have cast a negative cloud on the Harbor Department and drawn criticism and public rebuke from stakeholders in the trade industry and from members of the community.
Harbor Commissioner Thomas Fields, against whom many of the charges were made by Commissioner Drummond, sent a letter to Mayor Foster calling the accusations slanderous and asking for an investigation "with the results made public."
The Port of Long Beach is the second largest container port in North American, and has an outstanding international reputation for its leadership in effective and environmentally-sensitive management. The integrity and ethical standards of the Harbor Commission and its deliberative process are of the utmost importance.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER ALL AUSTIN
EIGHTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER STEVEN NEAL
N...
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