November 8, 2021
To: Members of the Ethics Commission
From: LeeAnn Pelham, Executive Director
Subject: Agenda Item 8 – Executive Director Report for November 2021
Summary and Action Requested
This report provides various programmatic and operational highlights since the last Executive Director’s
Report. No action is required by the Commission, as this item is for informational purposes only.
Re-Opening of Physical Offices
Over the past months Staff have worked diligently to develop necessary logistics and protocols to enable the re-opening of our physical offices for in-person public services aligned with the latest public health guidance to ensure the health and safety of our staff, visitors, and the public. I want to gratefully acknowledge the extraordinary professionalism and teamwork among the Staff that those efforts have displayed. We look forward to seeing more of each other and to resuming onsite public services starting Monday, November 15. More detailed information about our health and safety protocols will be made available in the coming week both online and through our usual communication channels to help support a seamless transition to a heightened onsite presence.
As noted under Item 7 on this month’s meeting agenda, state legislation enacted in September requires policy bodies to adopt findings each month regarding the continuation of remote meetings to comply with amended provisions of the Brown Act. At this point we do not have further updates regarding dates by which City Hall meeting rooms will be available for the resumption of onsite Commission meetings.
Hiring and Staffing News
As mentioned in my October report, we were pleased to welcome Olabisi Matthews and Corey Ordoñez as new Senior Investigator & Legal Analysts to the Enforcement Division last month. This month I am happy to announce that Cesar Delgado joins our Audit Division on November 8. As our new Auditor, Cesar brings 20 years of experience as an Auditor with the Political Reform Audit Program at the California Franchise Tax Board, where he conducted audits of various state and local political entities. He also served previously as a Political Reports Specialist with a political law firm, where he filed required disclosure reports with state and local regulators. I look forward to introducing Cesar, Olabisi, and Corey to the Commission at the November meeting.
Applications are now being accepted for the position of Director of Enforcement and for two Senior Investigator & Legal Analysts in the Enforcement Division.
We also are currently accepting applications for a temporary, exempt Administrative Services Clerk to assist in handling on-site front office administrative duties for a six-month period.
More information about these positions and how to apply can be found through the Commission’s jobs page.
Revenues Report
The table below reflects revenues received by the Commission for Fiscal Year 2022 as of November 5, 2021.
| Account Description | FY21-22 Original Budget | FY21-22 Actuals as of 11/05/21 |
|---|---|---|
| Other General Government | $2,450 | $500 |
| Campaign Disclosure Fines | $50,000 | $11,858 |
| Lobby Fines | $2,000 | $1,650 |
| Campaign Consultant Fines | $2,000 | $800 |
| Economic Interest Fines | $1,250 | $170 |
| Other Ethics Fines | $7,500 | $33,504 |
| Lobbyist Registration Fee | $85,000 | $13,500 |
| Campaign Consultant Registration Fee | $7,000 | $1,400 |
| Total | $157,200 | $63,382 |
I look forward to answering any questions you may have at the upcoming Commission meeting.