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Policy division outlines priorities: streamlining, AB 1170 impacts and Prop D implementation
Summary
Policy manager Michael Canning briefed the commission on the division’s work: staffing increases, Prop D implementation, pending projects to streamline programs, address AB 1170 duplication of filings, and possible collaboration with the mayor’s office on lobbyist and campaign finance changes.
Michael Canning, policy and legislative affairs manager for the San Francisco Ethics Commission, briefed commissioners on April 11 on the policy division’s structure, recent work and near-term priorities.
Canning said the division was created in 2017 to strengthen policy analysis for the commission’s regulatory programs and noted staff capacity recently increased: Ryan Abusa and Tricia Lim joined in January as senior policy research specialist and policy research specialist, respectively. The policy team’s work spans project launch and scoping, stakeholder engagement, legal review with the city attorney’s office, and coordination for adoption and implementation of policy changes.
Recent accomplishments Canning highlighted included implementing Proposition D and associated regulations, tracking election‑year needs and supporting the commission’s election work, and completing internal hiring. Current projects he previewed include a streamlining project that will examine several programs (the major developer program, the campaign consultant program, recusal-notification rules, trustee election disclosures and expenditure ceilings/threshold reports); work to address local effects of California Assembly Bill 1170 to avoid duplicate Form 700 filings while preserving local disclosure data; and discussions with the mayor’s office on potential changes to the city’s lobbyist program and campaign finance laws. Canning also said policy staff will work on improving stakeholder engagement, regulation tracking and project management.
Commissioners thanked staff for the overview and said they look forward to the interested-persons meetings and stakeholder feedback on proposed streamlining and other projects. During public comment several attendees urged deeper outreach to candidates and community members who lack campaign staff and suggested low-cost technology or portal solutions to make it easier for volunteers and members of the public to communicate with the commission.
Canning said staff will return to the commission with more detailed proposals and stakeholder input as projects advance.
