SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
September 14, 2009 5:30 P.M.
and AGENDA
Room 408 City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco
- Call to order and roll call.
- Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission.
- Consideration of possible amendments to the Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance (CFRO), San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 1.100 et seq. At its August 10, 2009 meeting, the Ethics Commission began consideration of and approved several amendments to CFRO that include: eliminating and streamlining reporting requirements, authorizing greater electronic filing, adjusting expenditure limits for inflation, clarifying the permitted uses of campaign funds, limiting which candidates are eligible to accept the voluntary expenditure ceilings, increasing voluntary expenditure ceilings in response to third party spending in support of competing candidates, modifying how public funds are disbursed to candidates, clarifying the requirements for third-party reporting, amending the statute of limitations for administrative actions, and imposing record-retention requirements on local committees. At this meeting, the Commission will continue its consideration of staff proposals that include but are not limited to refining definitions, codifying previous Commission advice that candidate committees are responsible for the payment of accrued expenses, and fine-tuning the eligibility requirements to receive public financing. A staff report, the draft amendments and a legislative digest are available from the Commission office and website. (Discussion and possible action.)
- Minutes of the Commission’s regular meeting of August 10, 2009. (Discussion and possible action.)
- Executive Director’s Report. An update of important Ethics Commission staff activities since the previous monthly meeting. (Discussion.)
- Items for future meetings. Commissioners may propose items for future agendas and the Commission may determine the priority of these items. (Discussion.)
- Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission.
- 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/
If any materials related to an item on this agenda have been distributed to the Ethics Commission after distribution of the agenda packet, those materials are available for public inspection at the Ethics Commission, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, during normal office hours.
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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