file with these mechanisms are also going to be giving great feedback. also as you know the election called for the mayoral race called for june 2018, we've done a significant and unplanned ramping up of our activities. we did have a first session for candidates focused on the 2018 june mayoral race, an information session that we had about 20 attendees and we're updating information and supplemental guides to help that process. we will be doing that more as we move into the eligibility and we have started that with our staff, as well, and we will he arepo report on that as we go forward. i do have a significant note that is unusual and not a frequent occurrence for us, but as i also report in my report, this week -- actually, last week, on january 11th, we

were -- papers were filed in superior court by one of the mayoral candidates, angela alioto for mayor, and angela alioto for mayor 2018 committee, seeking to enjoin public financing for the mark leno for mayor 2018 committee. those papers were filed in an initial hearing held last friday in superior court department 302. we were represented as a named party by the city attorney's office, and this morning, after a subsequent hearing and subsequent papers filed this week, the judge issued a tentative order denying injunctive relief. and i'll leave the details for the city attorney to provide you with, but i just want to convey our appreciation and thanks to andrew shan in particular for really getting some terrific papers in and

being she soliticious -- very soliticious of us i'll turn it over to andrew. >> i'll be very brief. i just wanted to clarify, even though the document is titled a tentative order, the judge did adopt it as the final order from the bench as this morning's hearing. i also want to thank on behalf of my office, i want to thank the staff of the ethics commission for being so readily available. as you can imagine in a tro context, you do need to collect information very quickly, provide information very quickly to the court, and so they were always very helpful and responsive and quick to answer amy question so thanks o them. >> commissioner? >> what was the issue? >> the sole cause or complaint in the petitioner's complaint was mark leno's campaign was violating the campaign

ordinance by not defining what constitutes a matching donation for the purposes of the financing program. >> congratulations, andrew, and thank you for that. we had hoped to have an initial presentation about the budget today for this agenda. the budgets will be due to the mayor's office february 21st, i believe, and that does follow our next submissiocommission mo we will have a full packet of information before that was submitted to our office. we are keeping an eye of all cuts, but we will come forward with items that we know that we need to continue the work that has been started through legislation as well as operational changes at the commission over the last several years. finally, i do want to introduce you tyler field who is our newest new guy.

a mantle no longer worn by the policy staff. tyler joined this office this week as our new information systems business analyst. he's working with jared flores are and steven massey to continue to develop or filing systems for operational need and access to electronically filed disclosure information -- [ inaudible ] -- i think we've got a good -- we've got a good team that we're putting together here. he's also got experience related to coding and other campaign related data, so it's a terrific fit. we're really delighted he's joining us, and i wanted to

introduce him to you today. >> very impressive. good to have you, tyler. >> lastly, we are continuing to work with the department of human resources on our remaining hires. we have two positions that have been through -- actually, three that have completed or virtually completed the oral interview phase, so we have three other positions that are going to be posted, but we are continuing to work with the department of human resources closely to make sure we can be as aggressive as possible to get the remaining seats filled in the next number of months. so again, i'm happy to answer any questions that you have for me. >> one comment i would make in connection with your comments on the mayor's office having to do with the new budget. since we have a new mayor, i think it would be good to remind the mayor and the mayor's budget people what we emphasized with mayor lee, that we have the power, and we would think very strongly of doing

it, of putting on the ballot taking away the mayor's authority to set our budget if they were to cut us in regard to our needs because all of those years when mr. st. crois was here and never asked for anything, and everything went down and went down. we're finally getting up to speed and we're seeing people like tyler and the rest of you. it's working right well. we would not welcome any kind of cuts, nor would any kind of cuts be in any way deserved given the history of the commission and the fact that we're finally in a position to get the commission running as it should. so i -- i hope that in either a diplomatic or as undiplomatic a fashion as you can that you

bring it to the mayor's people when you petition for the budget that we want to keep. commissioners? >> well, i would appreciate it if you would sort off enlighte the other commissioners and the public that we're setting up a telephone system -- >> thank you for that question and my oversight. we have a meeting set with january 24th next week with the administrative and technology people in this building. it is the case that there is apparently only one meeting room that allows for a telephonic input by people remotely, and that is a meeting that happens at the same time this one does, so there is not currently technology that we can use in this room to simply sort of patch in public comment by phone. we are meeting with -- we've started understanding the issues. we're meeting with the technology folks to identify what would it take to enable that to happen, whether it's

through new technology that they can need, or whether it's something we can do through the voip computer technology to get folks in on conference calls or something of that sort. so we're going to identify what it would take to accomplish the goals that the commission mentioned in establishing the meeting days that we have, and that our plan will be based on that to fully make a request through our budget as necessary to try and make that happen. >> thank you. any public comment? >> hi. charlie marceller for the record. i'm wondering if we could maybe switch rooms with the other people? nope? and i also noted you have two auditor positions coming up since oral interview have been completed.

and i imagine they might be hired in the first half of this next calendar year, which is probably because we are obviously going to have some draw on the public financing. so for the emphasis of concurrent and proceactive aud and enforcement, i think it would be good to go full blast as we can on the auditors, so we don't lose those resources within house. and it would be a good training opportunity i think as well. and i'm wondering if there's any moneys that are given to the department or involved with the special election process. is there any discussion about the special election and the department of ethics receiving additional funds? >> i would like to say i wish, but not that i'm aware, no.

now one clarification is there is a provision in the law for a public financing program that does require when there is a vacancy in the mayor call an and election call that an additional $8 perresident be accounted for in our election campaign fund. and so we communicated and confirmed with the controller's office that that level of funding does exist in the current funds balance, so for example if all mayoral candidates, the six who have qualified to be on the ballot and have indicated that they want to be public financing participants, if each one of them wanted to receive the full financing of $975,000 for their campaigns, the fund would be able to withstand that draw, but come november 's election, there may need to be additional put in based on the language that's in the charter, but

based on our ad stiff cost, based on the election call, there is not a provision that does that for us particularly. >> i would imagine that doe gets special consideration because they may have to setup poling stations and pay workers. and also, how many candidates have filed for public financing so far? do you know? >> well, there are -- in terms of what we mean by filing, there were eight candidates in the mayoral race that were qualified for the ballot. six of those eight filed statements of interest to participate in the public financing program, and i believe out of the board of supervisors race for june of 2018, there were three candidates that qualified and two i believe expressed an interest in participating. i may be off on the board of supervisors race, but six of the eight in the mayor's race have filed to participate. as we came to the meeting today, there have been no

requests by any mayoral candidate to actually be certified or to receive public funds yes. >> oh, so certification is still yet to come for those six, so that number may not be the full six. they're keeping their options open at this stage? >> no. to be clear, the candidates when they filed their nominating papers to be on the ballot, they were required to also submit a statement whether they intended to participate in the program. so six of the eight candidates filed statements. each of them indicated they wanted to participate in the program. the next step would be the candidates requesting certification to be eligible to receive public funds from our office. and then, the next step after that would be to actually submit a matching funds claim once they have been certified as eligible to matching -- for public fund financing. the certification eligibility is relevant and important because it releases a first initial grant to candidates for

their campaigns. after that point, they will then submit matching funds claims to have contributions matched up to the limits within the law. so i hope that clarifies the filing process a bit. >> yeah. so the -- i'm doing that in part for the public who's watching. but i'm also wondering, too, if by the next meeting of the commission, which is on the 16th, i believe and we'll have a cleer pictuarer picture as t been certified and their data. great, and you'll also have a clearer picture of your staff demands, especially if they're all going forward big money. mayor's office requires considerable funds because you're reaching out to everybody in the city in a very robust and aggressive way, especially when there's a strong candidate base. thank you. >> thank you. any further public comment?

we'll go on, then, to agenda item number 11, discussion and possible action regarding status of complaints received or initiated by the ethics commission and there's a possibility of a closed session. >> i have a request of closed session. >> all right. there's been a request for a closed session. is there a second? >> i'll second it. >> all right. all those in favor of the closed session. opposed? okay. we'll go into closed session. -- yes, andrew. >> before we go to closed session, perhaps we should provide an opportunity for public comment. >> all right. any public comment on our going into closed session? >> how long do you think you'll

be? >> 15 minutes. >> oh, quick. so you'll come back into session and there's really not much on the agenda, probably, so -- >> we'll sneak in a bunch. >> -- so we probably are going to leave you. >> there'll be some new business. >> but we'll wish you happy new year, and i also did want to say that in this agenda, i've seen evidence that you guys are putting some teeth in your toothless tiger, so i appreciate your hard work. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> okay. well, we'll be in closed session -- >> okay. we're back in open session. is there a motion to not reveal what was discussed in closed session? >> so moved.

>> all those in favor of the motion say aye. opposed no? motion carries 3-0. all right. we'll move now -- do we need any public comment before we -- [ inaudible ] >> okay. any public comment? we'll go to item 12, discussion and possible actions on items for future meetings. >> mr. chairman, i have two items. one is i should like to schedule for our march meeting an item to submit to voters at the next possible election a charter amendment to provide for independent counsel for the

ethics commission. and as noted in the prior discussion touching that subject matter, that san diego law is a model which, in my opinion, would be satisfactory. secondly, i would like a legal research and as appropriate preparation of an ordinance dealing with a practice that has been commented on, i guess, previously, and certainly prior to my appointment to this commission of candidates for

office in the city and county of san francisco using funds from a campaign committee for a county party central committee. and this essence of the democratic party central committee is the one that has come to my attention in which a donor can exceed the $500 per person contribution limit of our campaign and anticorruption law. and for example, contributions to a couple candidates for mayor, such as $1,000 from emerald fund, a real estate

development corporation; $20,000 from salesforce, $5,000 from the labor union; $25,000 from the ceo of a corporation. $5,000 from boston properties, another commercial real estate developer and operator. green cross, $1,000, a marijuana dispensary corporation; and in-kind contributions amounting to a value of $12,000 for parties. and, for example, one of the candidates used $7,000 on a parade float from a campaign for democratic county committee

account. it's all for purposes of name recognition. that's obvious, and it's a form of what used to be called a slush fund. i'm not sure of the legal prerogatives of the city and county of san francisco because county party -- party county committees are authorized under the elections code of the state of california. but if at all possible legally, i would ask, also for calendaring at the march meeting, a preparation of an ordinance to prohibit the use of money contributed to a

campaign to elect a candidate to a county central committee -- a partisan county central committee, whether it's a republican party, the green party, or any other party of for campaigning for public office -- elected public office in san francisco. thank you. >> thank you, commissioner. i think on both of those, if the staff can work on proposed language for us to discuss at the march meeting, that would be helpful, so we can use that for our discussion. the -- at our next meeting, we -- as we had earlier talked about, we're going to be taking

up the whistleblower ordinance, and also the corrupt practices ordinances -- ordinance in order to have both of those on the june ballot. so those are a couple of things that we should gear up for in order to vote on next time because we'll need the super majority in order to put those on the ballot. those are the only things that i have. anything further? okay. any public comment? is there any additional public comment -- on item 13, is there any additional public comment on any matter appearing or not appearing on the agenda?

yes, sir, mr. yapp. >> yes, sir. my name is douglas yapp. the first thing is i'm supportive of hiring more staff. basically, all those past years, we all know what happened, so we have to gear up, and we have to tell the public that this is like a football team. it's not the j.v. squad anymore. it's going to be like a real team, and when one person leaves, there'll be adequate backups, so in other words, the success will continue in an ordinarily fashion. secondly is the example of harvey weinstein. when he started it, it just got bigger and bigger and bigger. i guarantee you there's plenty of viewers listening to what i'm saying that's secretly saying when those guys are staffed, i'm going to file my

complaint. and then, people in the past, like oliver luby and joe linn will say we've waited and waited, and now the tide is turning. it's like water. slowly, it goes up, and then, it floats, a chunk, to the top, because basically, that's what people are waiting for. they want a real football team that's not playing with the j.v. like the previous director. it's obvious you mean business, and people will come and complaint and give you the proof just like the u.s. gymnasts for the women's squad. one doctor was able to shut them up until a couple of women got brave, and another stepped

forward, another stepped forward, and we see what's happening. so the same thing is going to happen in san francisco. people are not going to say well, chicago is corrupt, new orleans is corrupt. they're going to start saying san francisco's corrupt because we're going to make a difference. and let's put it this way: there's plenty of people that did all the legwork in the previous years, and they will be cheering you on. and let's put it this way: i think the commission is ready to handle something so sensitive, nobody, not even a certain ex-mayor wants to even mention the name. the name is joseph malispen,

m-a-l-i-s-p-e-n. ex-day city employee. last person i worked with. plenty to say, and he paid the ultimate price for what he had to say at the hospital. i think the time is coming soon that the city will look into mr. malispen and will find out the real truth, the real truth of what happens to a dead [ inaudible ] man in san francisco. >> thank you. any further public comment? we adjourn. >> motion. >> second. >> all those in favor say aye. we are adjourned.

>> the office of controllers whistle blower program is how city employees and recipient sound the alarm an fraud address wait in city government charitable complaints results in investigation that improves the efficiency of city government that. >> you can below the what if anything, by assess though the club program website arrest call 4147 or 311 and stating you wishing to file and complaint point controller's office the charitable program also

accepts complaints by e-mail or 0 folk you can file a complaint or provide contact information seen by whistle blower investigates some examples of issues to be recorded to the whistle blower program face of misuse of city government money equipment supplies or materials exposure activities by city clez deficiencies the quality and delivery of city government services waste and inefficient government practices when you submit a complaint to the charitable online complaint form you'll receive a unique tracking number that inturgz to detector or determine in investigators need additional information by law the city employee that provide information to the whistle

blower program are protected and an employer may not retaliate against an employee that is a whistle blower any employee that retaliates against another that employee is subjected up to including submittal employees that retaliate will personal be liable please visit the sf ethics.org and information on reporting retaliation that when fraud is loudly to continue it jeopardizes the level of service that city government can provide in you hear or see any dishelicopter behavior boy an employee please report it to say whistle blower program more information and the whistle blower protections please seek www.

>> we think over 50 thousand permanent residents in san francisco eligible for citizenship by lack information and resources so really the project is not about citizenship but really academy our immigrant community. >> making sure they're a part of what we do in san francisco the san francisco pathway to citizenship initiative a unique part of just between the city

and then our 5 local foundations and community safe organizations and it really is an effort to get as many of the legal permanent residents in the san francisco since 2013 we started reaching the san francisco bay area residents and 10 thousand people into through 22 working groups and actually completed 5 thousand applications for citizenship our cause the real low income to moderate income resident in san francisco and the bayview sometimes the workshops are said attend by poem if san mateo and from sacking. >> we think over restraining order thousand legal permanent residents in san francisco that are eligible for citizenship but

totally lack information and they don't have trained professionals culturally appropriate with an audience you're working with one time of providing services with pro bono lawyers and trained professionals to find out whether your eligible the first station and go through a purview list of questions to see if they have met the 56 year residents arrangement or they're a u.s. citizenship they once they get through the screening they go to legal communication to see lawyers to check am i eligible to be a citizen we send them to station 3 that's when they sit down with experienced advertising to fill out the 4

hundred naturalization form and then to final review and at the end he helps them with the check out station and send them a packet to fill and wait a month to 6 weeks to be invited in for an oral examine and if they pass two or three a months maximum get sworn in and become a citizen every single working groups we have a learning how to vote i mean there are tons of community resources we go for citizenship prep classes and have agencies it stays on site and this is filing out forms for people that are eligible so not just about your 22 page form but other

community services and benefits there's an economic and safety public benefit if we nationalize all people to be a citizen with the network no objection over $3 million in income for those but more importantly the city saves money $86 million by reducing the benefit costs. >> thank you. >> i've been here a loventh i already feel like an american citizen not felt it motorbike that needs to happen for good.

>> one day - i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, for liberty and justice for all. >> you're welcome. >> (singing). >> (clapping.) >> introduce the san francisco field officer director ribbon that will mirror the oath raise your hand and repeat the oath i hereby declare on oath repeating. >> citizens cry when they

become citizenship to study this difficult examine and after two trials they come back i'm an american now we're proud of that purpose of evasion so help me god please help me welcome seven hundred and 50 americans. >> (speaking foreign language.) >> she wants to be part of the country and vote so much puppy. >> you know excited and as i said it is a long process i think that needs to be finally recognized to be integrated that is basically, the type of that i

see myself being part of. >> out of everybody on tv and the news he felt that is necessary to be part of community in that way i can do so many things but my voice wouldn't count as it counts now. >> it's everybody i hoped for a bunch of opportunities demographics and as you can see yourself there's a good life for everyone. >> that's why. >> you have people from all the walks that life and they're

standing in water 8 hours to be an american citizen and contribute to the city and that's really what makes this worthwhile. >> ♪ ♪