SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
February 11, 2008 5:30 P.M.
and AGENDA
Room 408 City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco
I. Call to order and roll call.
II. Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission.
III. Election of Chair and Vice-chair. The Commission will elect a Chair and Vice-chair to serve for the coming year. (Discussion and possible action.)
IV. Consideration of Statements of Incompatible Activities. The Commission has been considering the draft Statements of Incompatible Activities (“SIAs”) submitted by departments, boards and commissions pursuant to section 3.218 of the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code. At this meeting, the Commission will consider for final adoption 12 SIAs which have been initially approved and for which the meet and confer process has concluded. These SIAs pertain to the following departments, boards or commissions: Juvenile Probation Commission and Department, Building Inspection Commission and Department, Citizen’s General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee, Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Environment Department and Commission, Film Commission, Fine Arts Commission, Municipal Transportation Agency, Port of San Francisco, Public Health Department and Health Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Recreation and Park Department and Commission. Representatives of departments under consideration may attend to comment on SIAs and possibly answer questions from Commissioners. SIAs that are approved for final adoption will not go into effect until thirty days after all SIAs have been finally adopted. The draft SIAs for these departments, boards and commissions are available at the Commission office and on the Commission website. (Discussion and possible action.)
V. Consideration of proposed regulations to implement section 1.113 of the Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance, San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 1.100 et seq. (“CFRO”). At the Commission’s January 2008 meeting, the Commission rejected proposed amendments to regulations implementing section 1.113, which requires any committee that is raising or spending funds to support or oppose a measure to file financial disclosure documents during the signature gathering period. At this meeting, the Commission will consider alternative, proposed regulations defining a “committee” that is subject to section 1.113 filing requirements, as well as regulations identifying the start and end dates of the reporting periods, the duties of the signature gatherers, and the forms required to be filed. A copy of the proposed regulations and staff memorandum are available at the Commission office and on the Commission website. (Discussion and possible action.)
VI. Consideration of proposed amendments to Article IV of the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code relating to the implementation of the Controller’s Whistleblower Program. The Board of Supervisors' Rules Committee has referred the amendments to the Ethics Commission for comment. The amendments implement Charter provisions directing the Controller to administer a whistleblower program and investigate reports of complaints concerning the misuse of City funds, improper activities by City officers and employees, deficiencies in the quality and delivery of government services, and wasteful and inefficient City government practices. Several of the proposed amendments formalize steps that the Controller has already undertaken to establish a whistleblower program. The draft legislation, legislative digest and a staff report are available from the Commission office and on the Commission website. (Discussion and possible action.)
VII. Annual report. Consideration of the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2006-2007. At the last Commission meeting, the Commission provided suggestions on possible changes to the draft annual report for FY 06-07. At this meeting, Commissioners will discuss the contents of the report, suggest and vote on possible amendments, and possibly adopt the report for submission to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. A copy of the draft report is available at the Commission office and on the Commission website. (Discussion and possible action.)
VIII. Minutes of the regular Commission meeting of January 14, 2008. (Discussion and possible action.)
IX. Executive Director’s Report. An update of important Ethics Commission staff activities since the previous monthly meeting. (Discussion.)
X. Items for future meetings. Commissioners may propose items for future agendas and the Commission may determine the priority of these items. (Discussion.)
XI. Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission.
XII. Adjournment.
Know Your Rights Under the Sunshine Ordinance
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Frank Darby by mail to Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco CA 94102-4689; by phone at 415 554 7724; by fax at 415 554 7854; or by email at sotf@sfgov.org. Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from Mr. Darby or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the Internet, http://www.sfgov.org/sunshine/
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing devices.
This location is wheelchair accessible. In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity, or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct. Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 252-3100; fax (415) 252-3112 and web site www.sfgov.org/ethics
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