To: Members of the Ethics Commission
From: LeeAnn Pelham, Executive Director
Subject: Agenda Item 10 – Executive Director Report for May 2022
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.
Updated Racial Equity Action Plan and Progress Report
The Ethics Commission’s updated Racial Equity Action Plan was provided to the City’s Office of Racial Equity as required for all City departments on May 2. In addition, departments were also asked by ORE to submit a separate Racial Equity Progress Report by May 2. The Progress Report was designed by ORE for the City’s departmental leaders to reflect on their department’s racial equity work in the past year and to highlight areas of focus for the coming year (Part A). The Progress Report also included a Budget Equity Tool worksheet for departments to align priority areas for advancing racial equity with an inventory of departmental functions, programs, and services (Part B).
As these documents note, we anticipate that our Plan will remain a living document that continues to expand and evolve to reflect full breadth of our departmental commitments to racial equity, and the full breadth of our experiences, aspirations and practices as a Commission and staff team. In addition to being linked in this report, both items have also been posted on our Ethics Commission Racial Equity page and appear as attachments to this report. We welcome your feedback, and we look forward to scheduling a more in-depth review and discussion of the updated Plan and Progress Report and the priorities they detail at an upcoming Commission meeting.
FY23 Budget Update
Departmental budget submissions for the Fiscal Year that begins July 1, 2022 were due to the Mayor’s Office on February 22, 2022. Budget instructions issued to City departments by the Mayor’s Budget Office in December asked Departments to continue providing services within existing budget levels. Departments were not asked to meet any budget reduction targets this year owing to a $100+ million budget surplus. The Commission’s proposed operating budget for FY23 was submitted to the Mayor’s office on February 22. To date, we have not had the opportunity to meet with Mayor’s Budget Office staff as typically has been the case at this point in prior budget years. We do, however, now have a meeting scheduled with the Mayor’s Budget Office Director and Budget Analyst for May 12. As you may recall, each year the Mayor issues a proposed budget for the City on June 1.
The Board of Supervisors’ Special Budget and Appropriations Committee plans to hold its departmental budget hearings beginning June 15, which is the day the Ethics Commission’s budget is first scheduled to be heard.
Staff News and Hiring Updates
Following the February appointment of Pat Ford to be Director of Enforcement that created a vacancy in the Policy Division’s lead staff position, Michael Canning has been appointed to serve as Acting Senior Policy Analyst. In this new role, which took effect April 18, Michael is providing important continuity for the Commission’s ongoing policy and legislative work, including taking the lead in developing and implementing policy prioritization plans and assuming duties as media contact that were formerly performed by Pat Ford. Michael joined the staff in April 2021 as Policy Analyst. His prior experience includes acting as Voting Information Director and Program Associate at MapLight, and responsibility for stakeholder engagement and communications management on public policy issue campaigns. Michael holds a Master of Business Administration and Public Policy from Mills College and earned his BA in Political Science from American University in Washington D.C.
You will recall that among other position-related adjustments and new positions the Commission’s proposed FY23 budget is seeking, we are proposing to reclassify the job classifications of both of the two existing Policy Division positions. Due to the complex nature of the Commission’s policy and legislative work, we are seeking this realignment to ensure the job classifications reflect the full nature and level that work. Action to initiate recruitments to fully staff the Policy Division going forward is pending the outcome of these budget requests so that we know what resources will be authorized and funded in the FY23 budget.
Separately, we have now moved to the candidate review phase for the Ethics@Work Training and Outreach Manager and for two Training and Outreach Specialist positions for that program.
At present, the Ethics@Work program’s Training Design Specialist position remains in recruitment with applications continuing to be accepted. In addition, we continue to accept applications for a Senior Investigator/Legal Analyst position in the Enforcement Division. Detailed information for these positions and the online application process can be accessed through our Ethics Commission jobs page.
Revenues Report
The table below reflects revenues received by the Commission for Fiscal Year 2022 as of May 6, 2022.
| Account Description | FY21-22 Original Budget | FY21-22 Actuals as of 5/6/2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Other General | $2,450 | $500 |
| Campaign Disclosure Fines | $50,000 | $15,331 |
| Lobby Fines | $2,000 | $6,550 |
| Campaign Consultant Fines | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Economic Interest Fines | $1,250 | $170 |
| Other Ethics Fines | $7,500 | $34,067 |
| Lobbyist Registration Fee | $85,000 | $120,500 |
| Campaign Consultant Registration Fee | $7,000 | $10,800 |
| Total | $157,200 | $190,918 |
I look forward to answering any questions you may have at the upcoming Commission meeting.