Transcripts For SFGTV Ethics Commission 112315 20151125 : vi

. All commissioners are present and accounted for. I will ask for Public Comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda. You have anyone who wishes to make Public Comment at this time . Mary bush on behalf of friends of ethics. We had a discussion this weekend but the fact that the commissions budget will be due in separate as i recall. Which means essentially on your january meeting which is the first chance you have to look at whats being produced. I want to recommendwe want to recommendthe Commission Name to members of the commission to serve as a committee in the interim. In particular, to take a look at the budget that would include the Commission Secretary position and secondly, to create a relationship with the Controllers Office. To see, if in fact they might be able to do in making asses from their Office Available and whether they might be able to come on their own, create the internet capability that would benefit ethics as well as the Controllers Office. So, i suggest that be something you all think about doing. Let me ask you, do you still see a need for a twoperson committee. We are going to meet for a twoperson committee. We are going to meet on january 5. Thats going to replace our normal december eating where we meet at nine and room for 16 from nine11 30 am and the primary subject of the meeting will be its omission from the staff of a proposed budget and we will then have the month the month of january 2 massage it and get Public Comment probably have some kind of a interested persons at meeting in between to allow comments to come in before we finalize it at our meeting, the regular meeting in jenin. I think that sounds pretty complete. One point that i had discussed with the controller is that when a Department Head changes there is often a brief audit that looks at whats happened, with a budget and whats happened with the department get it hasnt happenedwe havent had a change here for 10 years. Prior to that there was not a review of the budget. I think since 1995. So, if you ask them, at this point, you could do that without waiting agenda to initiate a review get the time for a full audit of some of the duties the phone into the commission and what it would take to staff that. It would help you then as you have discussions amongst yourselves and if you go toharvey rose about why he would need more money, and ill just give you one example. Because budget considerations the prior executive director decided to hold off on these audits and reviews of major donors. And major donors are people make 10,000 or more in contributions. Those are pretty much the heavy hitters. They were just sort of swept to the side in terms of reviewing circuit that would be an example of what you might ask the controller to take a look at terms of performance needs. Thank you. Charliegive it all youve been through these last several years, particularly commissioner hur, the budget will be a piece of cake in relative terms. I did want to say that if you wanted to discuss this matter further but the missing public funds from the Campaign Finance Public Financing account, that dates back to 2010, im willing to discuss that, but i didnt see it on todays agenda hope your season kind of a reform memo on that subject because its something that i think you definitely need to give some attention to. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else . That eating too many missed kevindirector of policy for children youth and secure in San Francisco get we been around for about 40 years, serving children and their families around issues i just want to comment around the implementation of opposition c later in the meeting and really ask that you consider nonprofits such as ours when you think about it implemented to make sure the low income student impaired numbers that work our organization dont lose their ability to speak to the representatives and have your voice heard. A lot of the work that we do falls into some of the categories put forth in the ballot measure that was approved. The title work we do is the type of work youre trying to stamp out and to monitor more and assign more financial fees and obligations. Which were concerned to prevent our membership from being able to engage with the representatives really have their voices heard. So, we just ask you really consider us. Will reach out to Different Community groups and how we can make sure that we are monitoring lobby us but we arent minimizing the voices of low income families and young people in San Francisco. Thank you. Thank you. Any othertrying to item number two,item number three, discussion and public actionpossible action regarding the commissions appointment of a new executive director. Possible close session. I would say what i can have a close session. I am prepared to announce that the Ethics Commission has selected ms. Leeann helen to serve as the new executive director. She will assume her duties on january 4. Just to give you some background information, ms. Hallam served from 20112011 the executive director as the los angeles Ethics Commission. Where she had been employed for the nine years prior to assuming her duties as the executive director is a staff member. Of the Ethics Commission did so she is a total of 19 years with the los angeles Ethics Commission get glass, but she was the executive director. She was forced out because los angeles had a 10 year term limit so, after leaving los angeles Ethics Commission she moved back to the bay area from where she originally grew up and has most recently from 2013 until july of 2015 served as a Santa Clara Valley Water District director of ethics and Corporate Governance from which she resigned in july of 2015. As most of you know, the commission recruiting agency delivered to us 32 potential applicants and commissioner andrews and i went through those 32 and selected five that we felt met the criteria of what we needed of a new executive director and interviewed the five by skype and then recommended to the full commission three of the applicants, all of whom were exceedingly well qualified. Any one of whom certainly met what we were looking for could however, i think that the commission, in their hearing made the decision to select ms. Hallam because of her proven track record as an effective and independent nonpartisan leader and manager of the la Ethics Commission. And for obvious energy, enthusiasm and passion for the work of ensuring Good Governance that we believe that makes her the right choice for this commission at this time. We look forward to working with her in the coming years and we are confident that staff, the community and all other stakeholders in the community at large will find that we have chosen well. As i said, she will assume her duties on january 4 and until that date acting executive director jessewill continue in that role and we want to thank him on behalf ofi want to thank them on behalf of the full commission for having performed his duties as the acting executive director in a highly professional and competent manner. I will now entertain a motion for the commission to appoint, formally appoint ms. Hallam as our new executive director. Moved and seconded. Any comments from the public . Hearing no comments from the public although the question. All those in favor say, aye. Opposed, nay. Is unanimously accepted. And welcome ms. Hallam and im going ask you, if you step to the podium and maybe give us a few words of your vision for the future. Good evening. Its really an honor to be arrogant this is a very kind and welcoming place to be. I know theres a lot of work ahead. You may change your mind. Will go with that for now. I very much appreciate the effort it takes for our commission to select a new executive director and appreciate fully the time like this is great transition for an organization. As i look forward to stepping in this role am very aware this body and San Francisco voters have continued to express a very strong interest in the goals that the Ethics Commission is established by voters there in the city and county to pursue. Im really looking forward to the challenge that we have had working together to achieve those ends as the commission begins its next chapter as an organization. I think as im sure youre also appreciate bert organization thats in transition, there are opportunities. First, theres an opportunity to build on past successes. Also, to really look to how we can strengthen our Organization Going for. Toward that end, i think there are three areas theyve expressed and we talked about that i think will be primary for us. First, supporting what we do well and organizationally and continuing to support that. Also, looking to align resources were might be necessary to improve areas where we can better deliver on voters mandates for this commission. Secondly, strengthening our ability as an agency and our capacity as an agency to be a trusted and effective enforcer of the laws within the jurisdiction of the commission. That would come from insurance policy and procedures maximized fairness and objectivity in the process. The rules apply it consistently and of course with appropriate transparency. So these are challenges for any organization. I appreciate but i think working creatively and energetically with you and the staff and others who care deeply about the work of this commission, theres a success i had for the work of the Ethics Commission here in San Francisco. Finally, to both initiate and shape Public Policy but am really looking progressively at the laws under the jurisdiction that youve invested with by the voters working to see how we can strengthen the rules that we all want to live by here in the city going for. So, looking for a conference and review of that and make some recommendations for how we can enhance that and to work in partnership with the voters to continue providing opportunity for them to directly speak make sure the rules continue to stay workable and that their strong in practice. I am very privileged and honored to be here. I know this is hard work, but im very excited by the possibility working with you all and appreciate your optimism and your confidence in me and very much look forward to working with you and the staff and others here in the city that we care so deeply about this work in general. So happy to answer any questions, but i realize you are busy agenda tonight and i look forward to that work starting with you in january. Thank you very much and were all looking forward to january. As i am. Thank you so much. Thank you. [applause] turning to item number four, discussion and possible action regarding the commissions implementation of the provisions of proposition c. We have, for the record we have received a communication from the San Francisco Human Services network concerning proposition c and its implementation. As well as the Public Comment that was made redisplay. I would ask mr. Do you want to bring us uptodate on where we are on that . Well, as the commission of Public Notice proposition c was approved by the novembers november 3, 2015 collections with staff has done is try to identify the issues that need to be addressed by the staffing commission. In the interim between now and the Effective Date of february 1, 2016. So we just have a brief memo setting forth what are the merely apparent issues and for more we will pop up. Most of those are things like drafting the necessary forms, dealing with questions and preliminary guidance pending the commissions adoption of more extensive regulations, connecting outreach and education to the community about the new requirements and then ultimately because this ballot measure did provide for funding for Electronic Filing system, we will have to execute or amend our contact. Currently our conduct is with netfiled in the given us based on past experience, they usually takes up to a year just to sort of execute the contract and the amendment. Then, it may take anywhere from 69 months them to actually sort of build the system. So, in the meantime, though be filing via paper forms which is what we have to get out by february 1 time on. So those are the general overview of the muted issues. Some are raised in the email that was received today, but my understanding that the point of this hearing is to further solicit comments from the public regarding in limitation issues. Regarding the nonprofit issue, have you talked to members of the public antiyou have any thoughts or recommendations on increasing the limit for nonprofits before which they would have to register . The threshold . Yes. So, i think one of the main issues raised by the community has been that nonprofits that already have a number of compliance obligations that might be generally low staffed have to for spending relatively limited amount of funds within and for this reporting obligation. I do think that one wayit would require of this lease amendment of the ordinance but one way to balance both that concern as well as the concern that nonprofits can be used effectively for this type of lobbying, is due as commissioner hur said is to raise the pressure get reporting threshold whether registration trigger so that folks really doing basic grassroots stuff would not have to register. So, that would require another trip to the board basically at this point. The commission would have to approve it by four votes in the board by two thirds vote but that in my mind is one effective way of doing this is striking that balance between two grassroots and nonprofits that might be established by lets say other means by this type of lobbing triptych because we will lose you at the end of the year, do you have any thoughts on what that number should be . I dont have a specific number offhand but uncertainly willing to give that to folks and think about it more. Thank you. You your conclusionyoure assuming facts not in evidence. May mean im being pessimistic. Thank you. I think what we might do is just take a moment, since we have actuallysince the election, the commission itself has not publicized all the fact that he put a proposition on the ballot, opposition c by unanimous vote of all the commissioners that said 75 of the voters of San Francisco voted for that. 75 of the people San Francisco approved that. The voters liked what we did. It was the first time in over, more than a dozen years that this commission exercised its power and authority and mandate under the charter to put things on the ballot, and i think the voters approving it and the fact that it was backed by all of the major entities in the city, the chronicle, the examiner, several former mayors, members of the board of supervisors, other types of Good Governmental organizations, indicates that we did a pretty good thing. I think we ought to blend our own horn for. This is the firsti wouldve liked to seen something that had gone out in regards to our general materials that go out on a regular basis at least acknowledging that we had put proposition c on about. This is the first opportunity to do it and im taking a little time to crow about it because i think we should on behalf of all of us and the people of San Francisco are well served by you. It will talk later on about some the things were waitingi would like to state to the gentleman from coleman, an organization ive known for a long productive time and worked with over many years tragically when i was in the San Francisco Public Defenders Office and respect very much, you dont have a thing to worry about it you absolutely nothing to worry about in regard to this. It affects nonprofits like yours from doing the kinds of civic involvement that you been doing over the course of the last 40 years or so and will continue to do. I think much of the examiner and the chronicle and other entities that look at it, and look at all issue of nonprofit is some sort of chicken little type thing that this guy was cut off all for nonprofits, is simply not true. Theres really nothing to worry about. The Little Things that we may have to tinker with having to do with exemptions, other types of things, we can do quite easily through regulations and we will. So, i just want to take that few minutes for us to just sort of sit back and bask in the glory of the fact that we have on the ballot in november in the election a measure that one by more than any other measure on the ballot. I think we did some pretty good work. Congratulations. I would echo commissioner keane comments. It seems to me that in drafting regulation, rather than trend one which would require to get 4 5 commissioners agreement and the board of supervisors super majority agreement, to think in terms of how we define members. So that we can understand, so that the nonprofits, the small ones like the one i was mentioned, there members communicating are not expend your lobbyist. Thats not what the ordinance was aimed at. But it is, by some regulation we can definition may we can circumscribe and deal with their problem. Its a matter of the staff coming up with a set of regulations, and trying to deal with the concerns that these, not small nonprofits may have, but yet stay within the spirit of the ordinance so that we dont have to start watering it down. Thats where i would view that we can use regulations as a way to protect against an adverse impact on low income organizations that are doing good work. So, i am in agreement wi