City and County of San Francisco
Ethics Commission

English

SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
January 23, 2017, 5:30 P.M.
and AGENDA
Room 400, City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco

1. Call to order and roll call.
2. Public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda.
3. Discussion and possible action on draft minutes for the Commission’s December 19, 2016, special meeting.
   Attachments: Draft minutes from the December 19, 2016, special meeting
4. Hearing on the Merits – In re Alpha Buie, Treasurer, and the African American Democratic Club, SFEC No. 13-131112
   Attachments: Staff’s Administrative Hearing Brief and Exhibits
5. Presentation and Discussion from the Bureau of Delinquent Revenues about its collection processes and status of Ethics Commission referrals.
6. Re-hearing of Joel Warne v. Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, Nancy Sarieh, SFEC Nos. 1516-23 & 1516-24
   Attachments: Staff’s Report & Recommendation, SOTF Response, Joel Warne’s Response and attachments.
7. Discussion and possible action on Proposed Enforcement Policy for Investigation Suspension and Parallel Proceedings.
   Attachments:  January 18, 2017 Staff report and proposed policy.
8. Presentation and Discussion on new Ethics Commission website and planned outreach activities.
   Attachments:  January 18, 2017 Staff Report.
9. Discussion and possible action on proposed Ethics Commission budget framework and recommendations for FY18 and FY19.
   Attachments: January 18, 2017 Staff report.
10. Discussion of Enforcement Report. An update on various programmatic and operation highlights of the Enforcement Program’s activities since the last monthly meeting.
    Attachments: January 18, 2017 Enforcement Report and attachments.
11. Discussion of Executive Director’s Report. An update highlighting various programmatic issues and operational activities of the Commission’s staff since the previous monthly meeting that covers a range of topics such as the Commission’s budget, policy developments, outreach activities, audit program, and future staff projects. Any of these subjects may potentially be part of the Director’s presentation or discussed by the Commission.
    Attachments: January 18, 2017 Executive Director’s Report and attachments.
12. Discussion and possible action regarding status of complaints received or initiated by the Ethics Commission.
    Closed Session.
    1. Public comment on all matters pertaining to Agenda Item 12.
    2. Motion: The Ethics Commission moves to assert attorney-client privilege and meet in closed session under Charter section C3.699-13, Brown Act section 54956.9 and Sunshine Ordinance section 67.10(d) to discuss anticipated litigation as plaintiff. (Action).
    3. Conference with Legal Counsel: Anticipated litigation as plaintiff. (Discussion and possible action.)
       Number of possible cases: 30
    4. Discussion and vote pursuant to Brown Act section 54957.1 and Sunshine Ordinance section 67.12 to maintain the confidentiality of discussions held in closed session regarding anticipated litigation as plaintiff. (Discussion and possible action.)
       Motion: The Ethics Commission moves not to disclose its closed session deliberations re: anticipated litigation.
13. Discussion and possible action on items for future meetings.
14. Additional opportunity for public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda pursuant to Ethics Commission Bylaws Article VII Section 2.
15. Adjournment.

There will be an opportunity for public comment on each agenda item.

Materials Available

Materials contained in the Commission packets for meetings are available for inspection and copying during regular office hours at the Ethics Commission, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, at least 72 hours prior to meetings. Any materials distributed to members of the Ethics Commission within 72 hours of the meeting or after the agenda packet has been delivered to the members are available for public inspection at the Ethics Commission, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, during normal office hours.

Electronic Devices Prohibited

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. The Chair may order the removal of any person responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

Meeting Decorum

The Ethics Commission encourages and promotes integrity in government by education and example and is committed to treating all staff, members of the public, and colleagues with courtesy, respect, objectivity, and fairness. Ethics Commission By-Laws Article XI Sec. 1. Members of the public who attend commission meetings are also expected to behave responsibly and respectfully. Persons who engage in name-calling, shouting, interruptions, or other distracting behavior may be asked to leave. The following behaviors or activities are strictly prohibited inside the hearing room: applause or vocal expression of support or opposition; eating or drinking; signs regardless of content or message; profanity; physical aggression. The prohibition on signs does not apply to clothing, which includes signage pinned to clothing, messages displayed on clothing, pins, hats, or buttons. If the Chair is unable to obtain voluntary compliance, he may seek assistance from the Sherriff’s Deputy on call. This provision supplements rules and policies adopted by City Hall, the Sherriff’s Office, or the Board of Supervisors related to decorum, prohibited conduct or activities, noise, etc. and is not meant to be exhaustive.

Disability Access

The Ethics Commission meeting will be held in Room 400, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The Commission meeting room is accessible to persons using wheelchairs and other assistive mobility devices. Members of the public should not interfere with accessibility by ensuring the public right of way is open at all times. Ramps are available at the Grove, Van Ness and McAllister entrances. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #42 Downtown Loop, and #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro Stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center. For information about MUNI accessible services call (415) 923-6142. There is accessible curbside parking adjacent to City Hall on Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue and in the vicinity of the Veterans Building at 401 Van Ness Avenue adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex.

To request assistive listening devices, real time captioning, sign language interpreters, readers, large print agendas or other accommodations, please contact the Ethics Commission at (415) 252-3100 or ethics.commission@sfgov.org at least 72 hours in advance before the meeting, except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline is 4:00 p.m. the previous Friday. Late requests will be honored, if possible.

Language Access

Per the Language Access Ordinance (Chapter 91 of the San Francisco Administrative Code), Chinese, Spanish and or Filipino (Tagalog) interpreters will be available upon requests. Meeting Minutes may be translated, if requested, after they have been adopted by the Commission. Assistance in additional languages may be honored whenever possible. To request assistance with these services please contact at (415) 252-3100 or ethics.commission@sfgov.org at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing. Late requests will be honored if possible.

Chemical-Based Products

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.

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements

Individuals who influence or attempt to influence local policy or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code sections 2.100 – 2.160) 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 website: www.sfgov.org/ethics.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code): Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions 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 SUNSHINE ORDINANCE, CONTACT THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE TASK FORCE, City Hall, Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689; phone: (415) 554-7724; fax: (415) 554-7854; email: SOTF@SFGOV.ORG. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, at the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City’s website at http://www.sfgov.org