Government: Expenditures Of $700K Over 3 Years Prompts Policy Review
A task force assigned to examine the San Diego Unified Port District’s current travel needs and practices said the move to adopt a more detailed policy is long overdue.
Since 1987, port commissioners and staff members have followed the guidelines of a three-page, non-specific policy that allowed commissioners to spend nearly $700,000 in expenses over the past three years.
After some questions were raised in the media about the expenses, Port Commission Chairman Paul Speer appointed the task force, made up of representatives from the education, business, journalism and tourism fields, as well as a waterfront hotel executive.
The Port District oversees operations of development along the San Diego Bay, shipping and air operations.
Attorney Patrick Shea, who was chairman of the task force, said from a public standpoint, there could be some difficulty understanding why commissioners travel at all.
Complex Organization
“First of all, it’s because of the complexity of our organization,” said Bruce Hollingsworth, the port’s treasurer. “We have three major business entities that we operate. Those include maritime, real estate and aviation, and each of these are fairly complex operations in and of themselves. A board member needs to make policy decisions.
“In order to understand what the issues are, and in order to make an informative decision, they need to travel to seminars, conferences and meetings with their peers and other agencies, and discuss issues of mutual importance and concern.”
The task force worked for several weeks and reviewed travel policies of more than 40 public and private organizations to develop the 30-page proposed policy, presented in a public meeting Oct. 24.
Commissioners are expected to receive the recommendations Nov. 14.
“My belief is that this policy is the most comprehensive, and certainly this is the most comprehensive effort to address this subject,” Shea said. “This was a constructive and positive thing to do. Perhaps it was long overdue, but it was a welcome task.”
The task force collectively agreed it was essential for commissioners and staff members to travel to accomplish the port’s mission. But the committee recommended the seven commissioners and 763 employees travel under less expensive itineraries.
First-Class Accommodations
Under the current policy, commissioners are allowed to fly first-class for international travel. In the past three years, commissioners have traveled to cities like Sydney, Hong Kong, Geneva, Amsterdam and Copenhagen to attend conferences and trade missions.
If the new policy is adopted, senior directors and commissioners would fly business class for international flights. First-class would be acceptable only if business-class seating was not available.
Coach fare would be provided for other employees on international flights.
For domestic flights of less than two hours, coach fare is recommended for all.
For flights within the United States of more than two hours, senior directors and commissioners would be provided business-class seats.
Other recommendations by the task force included, among others:
– The district should obtain tickets through a travel coordinator/travel management company to ensure the lowest possible cost.
– Employees should take advantage of the minimum 14- and 21-day advance ticket pricing.
– The district will not pay for travel expenses for a spouse, unless the presence of a spouse is required.
– Expense reports must be filed within 30 working days after the trip.
– Commissioners should complete a written report detailing where they went and with whom they met.
– Commissioners should make a first effort to use airlines that are port tenants.
