February 6, 2023
To: Members of the Ethics Commission
From: Gayathri Thaikkendiyil, Acting Executive Director
Subject: Agenda Item 6 – Acting Executive Director’s Report for February 2023
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.
Staff News
Effective Monday February 6, 2023, Michael Canning will serve as the Acting Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager (1824) to lead the Commission’s ongoing policy and legislative priorities until that vacancy is filled. Michael joined the staff in April 2021 as Policy Analyst. Following the February 2022 vacancy in the Policy Division’s lead position, Michael was appointed to serve as the Acting Senior Policy Analyst in April 2022. In that role, Michael provided important continuity for the Commission’s policy work, including the Government Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Review Project. In November 2022, Michael became the 1823 Senior Policy Analyst, following the reclassification of positions in the Policy Division. Prior to joining the Commission, Michael worked as Voting Information Director at MapLight, where he led the development of Voter’s Edge, an online tool that helps members of the public with information about political candidates. Michael has experience performing market and policy research and analysis, stakeholder engagement, and project management within multiple Non-Governmental Organizations and private consulting firms. His prior areas of work have included campaign finance, political campaigns, food security, and labor issues. Michael holds a dual master’s degree in Public Policy and Business Administration from Mills College and received his BA in Political Science from American University in Washington, D.C.
Biennial Code Update
On January 31, the Board of Supervisors passed on first reading, the Ordinance to amend the City’s Conflict of Interest Code following the 2022 biennial review process required by state law. This Ordinance amends the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to update the Conflict of Interest Code’s Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests) filing requirements by adding, deleting, and changing titles of certain designated officials and employees to reflect organizational and staffing changes, and by refining disclosure requirements for certain designated officials and employees. Amendments add, delete, and change departmental designated filer listings since the Code was last amended in 2020. The Ordinance appeared as Item 28 on the Board of Supervisor’s January 31 meeting agenda and among other departmental changes reflects the proposed Ethics Commission Code changes that were adopted at the Commission’s August meeting. The Ordinance is Item 8 on the Board of Supervisor’s February 7 meeting agenda, where it may be finally passed by the Board. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Ordinance will be sent to the Mayor for her signature. If the Mayor signs the Ordinance, it will become effective 30 days after being signed.
Behested Payments
At the Commission’s December meeting, the Commission voted to approve new regulations regarding the City’s behested payment rules at the December meeting. On December 12, Staff referred the approved regulations to the Board of Supervisors, where the Board has a 60-day period in which they can veto the regulations with a two-thirds vote. If the Board does not vote to veto within the 60-day period, the regulations will become effective at the end of the 60-days on February 7, 2023. Staff is planning to update the Commission’s website to reflect the new regulations on February 7 and to send out a public notice through the Interested Persons List to notify the public of the changes.
Revenues Report
The table below reflects revenues received by the Commission for Fiscal Year 2023 as of February 6, 2023.
| Account Description | FY22-23 Original Budget | FY22-23 Actuals |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Consultant Registration Fee | $7,000 | $6,450 |
| Lobbyist Registration Fee | $85,000 | $44,500 |
| Campaign Consultant Fines | $2,000 | $50 |
| Campaign Disclosure Fines | $50,000 | $5,656 |
| Statement of Economic Interests Fines | $1,250 | $0 |
| Lobbyists Fines | $2,000 | $2,450 |
| Other Ethics Fines | $7,500 | $23,638 |
| Other General Government Charges | $2,450 | $0 |
| Total | $157,200 | $82,744 |
I look forward to answering any questions you may have at the upcoming Commission meeting.