Ethics staff presents project calendar for campaign‑finance reforms and related enforcement work

Commission staff presented a proposed project calendar that lays out work on a set of campaign-finance reform and enforcement priorities.

Deputy Director Jesse Menardi described four proposals the Commission previously directed staff to pursue and a broader set of additional issues staff added to the project calendar. Menardi said staff intends to prioritize candidate-controlled-committee rules and Form 700 electronic filing and then proceed to bundling and fundraising reporting and enforcement-regulation review. "We put it in the memo," Menardi said, and walked commissioners through a proposed timeline and the types of legal research, public input and interdepartmental coordination (for example with the city attorney and IT) he expects will be required.

Commissioners asked about staffing and hours and whether legal research would be completed by the city attorney's office or would require outside or pro bono support. Menardi said staff would work closely with the city attorney and IT, reach out to outside experts and schedule public hearings to build the record.

Public commenters urged the Commission to include the political calendar (election dates and filing deadlines) in staff planning, to adopt a clear checklist for identifying control committees, and to treat Sunshine Ordinance enforcement as a higher priority. The staff said the calendar is intended to be a living document the Commission will review periodically.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the prioritized workplan, seek commissioner participation on specific project tracks, and return with draft language, outreach plans and timelines for individual items.