City and County of San Francisco
Ethics Commission

English

SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

October 19, 2009 6:30 P.M.
and AGENDA
Room 408 City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco

NOTE:  This is not the same day or time as the Commission’s regular meetings.

1. Call to order and roll call.
2. Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission.
3. Consideration of legislation to amend Chapter 2 of Article III of the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to ban members of City boards and commissions from obtaining employment with the City during their tenure and for one year after the termination of their City service.  Supervisor Mar or a member of his staff will attend the meeting to discuss the legislation and answer questions.  A copy of the draft amendments and a legislative digest are available from the Commission office and website.  (Discussion and possible action.)
4. Closed session.  (Discussion and possible action.)

   Closed session held pursuant to Charter section C3.699-13, Brown Act section 54956.9 (a) and (c)  and Sunshine Ordinance section 67.10(d) to discuss anticipated litigation as plaintiff and existing litigation as defendant.

   1. Conference with Legal Counsel:  Anticipated litigation as plaintiff

      Number of possible cases:  1

   2. Conference with Legal Counsel:  Existing litigation as defendant

      Number of cases:  2

      Myrna Lim v. City and County of San Francisco Ethics Commission et al., Case No. 08-472073 (S.F. Superior Court)

      Allen Grossman v. San Francisco Ethics Commission et al., Case No. 09-509868 (S.F. Superior Court)

5. Discussion and vote regarding closed session action and deliberations.  (Discussion and possible action.)

   Discussion and vote pursuant to Brown Act section 54957.1 and Sunshine Ordinance section 67.12 on whether to disclose any action taken or discussions held in closed session regarding anticipated and existing litigation.  

   Motion:  The Ethics Commission finds that it is in the best interests of the public (not) to disclose its closed session deliberations re: anticipated litigation and existing litigation.

6. Consideration of possible amendments to the Commission’s Regulations for Investigations and Enforcement Proceedings (“Regulations”).  At its May 2009 meeting, the Commission began consideration of several staff-recommended substantive and technical amendments to the Regulations.  These amendments will address issues that could include but are not limited to identifying the laws that the Commission enforces, allowing amendments to probable cause determinations, requiring the Executive Director to notify the Commission and respondents of exculpatory information, addressing the confidentiality of complaints alleging violations of the Sunshine Ordinance, and clarifying the process and procedures related to a hearing on the merits.  The draft amendments and a staff report will be available at the Commission office as well as on the Commission website.  (Discussion and possible action.)
7. Annual Report.  Consideration of the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008-2009.  The Commission will discuss the contents of a draft annual 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.)
8. Policy Priorities.  The Commission will discuss progress in the areas of 1) Education and Technology, 2) Campaign Finance Laws, 3) Communications with the Public, 4) Enforcement, 5) Conflicts of Interest, 6) Lobbyist and Campaign Consultant Ordinances, policy priorities last approved by the Commission on August 8, 2009.  The Commission will also discuss priorities for future work in these areas and possibly auditing, public finance, and budgeting.  This discussion is in lieu of an annual retreat. (Memo regarding policy priorities)  (Discussion and possible action.)
9. Minutes of the Commission’s regular meeting of September 14, 2009.   (Discussion and possible action.)
10. Executive Director’s Report.  An update of important Ethics Commission staff activities since the previous monthly meeting.  (Discussion.)
11. Items for future meetings.  Commissioners may propose items for future agendas and the Commission may determine the priority of these items.  (Discussion.)
12. Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission.
13. 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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