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Enforcement director outlines case-management plans and recent Sunshine Ordinance Task Force findings
Summary
Staff described a search for a case-management system, a shrinking number of lengthy open investigations, and mixed outcomes in Sunshine Ordinance Task Force reviews; the Commission plans additional hearings and investigator hires to reduce backlogs.
The Ethics Commission's enforcement staff said it is pursuing a modern case-management system and expanding investigator capacity to reduce a backlog of preliminary-review matters, while recent Sunshine Ordinance Task Force actions prompted additional hearings.
Staff said they examined the Fair Political Practices Commission's custom system — "the Cadillac of systems" — and are exploring options including obtaining or licensing the FPPC code, reviewing internal city systems and discussing costs with IT staff. The enforcement report noted 24 formal investigative matters currently open and about 123 matters in preliminary review; staff said interviews for new investigator positions are scheduled to begin in March.
On the Sunshine Ordinance proceedings, staff reported the full task force panel found no violation in one complaint relating to prior meeting decorum, but the Education & Compliance Committee later voted to find a Sunshine Ordinance violation in a related matter and ordered the Commission to return to the full panel on March 1 for further review. Pelham said she will attend the March 1 hearing to present the Commission's case.
Commissioners and members of the public also questioned the status of referrals to the Bureau of Delinquent Revenue (BDR) for outstanding fines; one commissioner asked staff to obtain order-of-examination status and asset information for specific judgment debtors. Public commenters urged the Commission to begin targeted audits and to accelerate investigator hiring to address aging cases.
The report was informational; staff will continue procurement discussions for a case-management platform and proceed with investigator recruitment and the ordered Sunshine Task Force appearance.
