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Public and staff clash over signage, decorum and first-amendment rights at Ethics Commission meeting
Summary
Attendees pressed the commission on a newly printed meeting decorum notice and whether City Hall signage rules limit hand-held political signs; city open-government staff said signs larger than 11×17 and signs on poles are not allowed, while public commenters said the city attorney and sheriff found no written prohibition on small signs.
The meeting opened with the chair reading a new 'meeting decorum' paragraph that will be added to future notices. The paragraph tells attendees that shouting, name-calling, interruption and signs may be discouraged and that the sheriff may be asked to assist if the chair cannot obtain voluntary compliance.
Members of the public immediately asked whether they could comment on the decorum language. Rayhartz, a director with San Francisco Open Government, said field operations guidance states "signs exceeding 11 by 17 in size are not allowed in City Hall" and that banners and signs on sticks or poles are not permitted; he said small hand-carried signs no larger than 11x17 are allowed. Multiple public commenters — including Michael Petrellis, a BART board candidate — said they had been interrupted at the prior meeting and argued their First Amendment rights were infringed.
Petrellis said he had not received a promised city-attorney written opinion and told commissioners the city attorney's office had written that it was not in possession of a written policy prohibiting political signs in hearing rooms other than policies provided by the sheriff. He said he should be allowed access to the taxpayer-funded broadcast and to express political support by holding a sign.
Larry Bush (Friends of Ethics) and Rayhartz urged clearer rules and better communication; Rayhartz read applicable portions of the Brown Act and the Sunshine Ordinance when discussing whether attendees must identify themselves. Commissioners said the decorum paragraph supplements existing Board of Supervisors rules and city hall policies and will appear on future notices. The chair asked for voluntary compliance and warned that the sheriff could be called if necessary.
The exchange included pointed public criticism about interruptions at prior meetings and calls for the commission to honor free-speech protections while also maintaining order and allowing the meeting to proceed.
