July 11, 2022
Contact: Michael Canning (415) 252-3100
Chair Yvonne Lee called the Meeting to order at 10:03am. With Commissioners Theis Finlev, Mike Romano, and Argemira Flórez Feng participating, a quorum was present. Commissioner Bush was delayed due to technical issues and joined the meeting at 10:18 a.m.
Under Item 2, provided the opportunity for general public comment on matters not appearing on the Agenda but within the Ethics Commission’s subject matter jurisdiction.
Under its Consent Calendar, provided the opportunity for public comment and voted 4-0 to approve a motion by Commissioner Finlev and seconded by Commissioner Romano to approve as presented Item 3, Draft Minutes for the June 10, 2022 regular meeting, and Item 4, Commission Resolution on Continuation of Remote/Hybrid meetings.
On its Regular Calendar Agenda Item 5, provided the opportunity for public comment and voted (5-0) to approve a motion by Commissioner Bush and seconded by Commissioner Finlev to adopt the proposed Stipulation, Decision and Order In the Matter of Gabriela Lopez (SFEC Case No. 2021-038).
Under Agenda Item 6, provided the opportunity for public comment and voted (3-2, with Lee and Romano in the dissent) to approve a motion by Commissioner Bush and seconded by Commissioner Finlev to adopt the proposed Stipulation, Decision and Order In the Matter of Darryl Honda (SFEC Case No. 2021-026).
Under Agenda Item 7, received and discussed a staff update on and provided the opportunity for public comment on a proposed Ethics Commission ordinance for November 2022 ballot and amended Ethics Commission regulations to strengthen gift and other City ethics laws. No action was taken.
The Commission then took up Item 10a and provided the opportunity for public comment on all matters pertaining to proposed closed session.
With members of the public wishing to speak on Agenda Item 8, behested payments legislation enacted in December 2021 and recent legislative developments, Chair Lee called for public comment on Item 8 before taking further action on Item 10.
Following public comment on Item 8, the Commission resumed consideration of Item 10.
Under Item 10b, the Commission unanimously (5-0) approved a motion by Commissioner Romano and seconded by Commissioner Finlev to proceed into closed session for an update with the City’s Department of Human Resources Labor Negotiator regarding Labor Negotiations on the status of the meet and confer process with the Employee Organization, San Francisco Municipal Executives Association, regarding the Ethics Commission’s proposed ballot measure and regulation amendments.
The Commission moved into closed session at 12:00 pm. Due to technical issues, Commissioner Bush was unable to continue his remote participation at the end of the closed session and was excused at that time. After reconvening in open session at 1:22 pm, the Commission approved (4-0) a motion by Commissioner Romano and seconded by Commissioner Finlev to not disclose matters discussed in closed session.
Under Agenda Item 8, received and discussed a staff update on behested payments and took further public comment. After further discussion, the Commission conveyed its openness to holding a special meeting on Wednesday July 27 to further consider the issues. No action was taken on the item.
Under Item 9, heard a report by the Executive Director. The Commission took no action on the item as it was for informational purposes only.
Under Item 11, discussed possible items for future meetings.
Under Item 12, provided the additional opportunity for general public comment on matters not appearing on the agenda.
Under Item 13, adjourned the meeting at 3:16 p.m.
Draft Minutes for the July 8, 2022 Regular Meeting will be available upon their completion and will be included on the Agenda for the Commission’s next Regular Meeting, which will be made available on the Commission’s website at sfethics.org.
Meeting agendas and materials are available at https://sfethics.org/ethics/category/agendas.
For further information, please contact the Ethics Commission at ethics.commission@sfgov.org or (415) 252-3100.
SFGovTV provides a continuous archive of selected Commission, council and board meetings that allows viewers to watch those meetings online in full at the viewer’s convenience. Video, audio, and closed-captioning archives of Ethics Commission meetings may be accessed here.