Contact:
John St. Croix
(415) 252-3100
For release: November 15, 2011
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT NOVEMBER 14, 2011 REGULAR MEETING
At its regular meeting on November 14, 2011, the San Francisco Ethics Commission took the following action:
- Began consideration of and received public comment on draft regulations governing the Commission’s handling of complaints alleging a violation of the Sunshine Ordinance. By a vote of 5-0, the Commission decided to table discussion of the regulations in order to garner additional information from a possible joint meeting with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.
- By a vote of 4-0 (Ward recused), granted requests for waivers from two post-employment restrictions set forth in San Francisco Campaign and Conduct Code sections 3.234(a)(1) and (a)(2) to Tiffany Bohee, Interim Director of the Redevelopment Agency of the City and County of San Francisco (“SFRA”). The waivers permit Ms. Bohee, a former employee of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (“OWED”), to continue to work on a pending legislative packet to fund redevelopment activities in San Francisco and to communicate with her former department on behalf of the SFRA.
- Approved a settlement in Complaint No. 28-101026 related to the Common Sense Voters, SF 2010, Vote for Mark Farrell for District 2 Supervisor Committee (“Respondent”), whereby Respondent will pay $500 to the Commission.
- Approved a settlement in Complaint No. 03-061016 related to the Mak ’06 Committee (ID No. 1287595), Jaynry Mak, and Frances Hsieh, Treasurer (“Respondents”), whereby Respondents will pay $18,000 to the Commission.
- After discussion of staff’s proposed amendments to the Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance, San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 1.100 et seq., approved a number of the proposed provisions, including:
- By a vote of 5-0, approved deleting the requirement in sections 1.140(a)(1) and 1.142(a) that a candidate seeking public funds must have filed a statement that he or she intends to participate in the public financing program;
- By a vote of 5-0, approved deleting section 1.140(a)(2)(C) that requires applicants for public financing to agree (i) not to pay any campaign vendors or contractors in return for a contribution and (ii) not to make more than 50 total payments to a vendor or contractor that has made a contribution to the candidate;
- By a vote of 5-0, approved draft amendments to section 1.104 to add, modify and delete definitions;
- By a vote of 5-0, approved proposed changes to sections 1.128(c), 1.134(c), and 1.142(g) to require the Commission to post certain information on its website and to provide written notice only by email;
- By a vote of 5-0, approved technical amendments to section 1.160.5, which governs persuasion polls;
- By a vote of 5-0, voted to delete sections 1.161, 1.161.5, 1.162, and 1.163, as the substantive content of such sections will be replaced by other provisions approved by the Commission in the same legislative proposal; and
- By a vote of 5-0, approved all the changes set forth in staff’s draft amendments, subject to changes otherwise approved or withdrawn by the Commission.
The legislative proposal, which will be available on the Commission’s website, will not be effective unless adopted by the Board of Supervisors with the votes of at least eight members.
- By a vote of 5-0, approved draft amendments to sections 1.142 of the CFRO to delay certification of candidates for the Board of Supervisors who seek public funds for the November 2012 election until the Redistricting Task Force has completed the new district boundaries on or around April 15. The legislative proposal, which will be available on the Commission’s website, will not be effective unless adopted by the Board of Supervisors with the votes of at least eight members.
The Commission’s next scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, December 12, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 408 City Hall.
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The Ethics Commission, established in November 1993, serves the public, City employees and officials and candidates for public office through education and enforcement of ethics laws. Its duties include: filing and auditing of campaign finance disclosure statements, lobbyist and campaign consultant registration and regulation, administration of the public financing program, whistleblower program, conflict of interest reporting, investigations and enforcement, education and training, advice giving and statistical reporting.
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