Ethics Commission approves stipulation with Commissioner Walter Park over late filings

The San Francisco Ethics Commission approved a proposed stipulation and order concerning Walter Park, a commissioner on the Access Appeals Commission, after staff concluded he failed to timely file his Form 700 statement of economic interests, did not complete required ethics trainings and failed to file a sunshine ordinance declaration; staff also said Park participated in two Access Appeals Commission meetings while disqualified.

Eric Willett, an investigator and legal analyst with the commission, summarized the matter and explained that the proposed penalties were calculated using the commission’s enforcement program modifiers and subsequently reduced where the respondent demonstrated financial hardship. "This matter involves respondent Walter Park. He's a commissioner of the Access Appeals Commission, and he failed to timely file his form 700 and trainings," Willett said.

Commissioners asked procedural questions about which clerks or secretaries are responsible for notifying boards when members fail to file and whether the engagement and compliance division sends automated notifications; staff and engagement and compliance representatives explained that pre‑ and post‑filing notification comes from engagement and compliance but that notification to other boards' secretaries is currently a manual process the commission is working to improve. A commissioner said the proposed $2,100 penalty appeared appropriate and noted staff’s humane consideration of hardship documentation.

A motion to adopt the consented stipulation was made, public comment was solicited (none), and the commission recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote to approve the stipulation.