Ethics Commission executive director reports progress on filing tools and staff says goodbye to long-time employee

At the meeting the executive director reported on training schedules and a multi-year move toward fuller electronic filing for Form 700 and other commission records. The director announced training sessions on Feb. 5 and March 5 (Room 408) to help people who will be filing under the future electronic process.

Director St. Croix highlighted a new citywide database designed to increase public access to agency information and singled out staffer Stephen Massey for his technical work. In a longer segment commissioners and staff recognized longtime employee Mabel Ling; commissioners thanked Ling for her service and Ling said her last day will be Jan. 3 and expressed appreciation for colleagues and the city attorney's office.

A commissioner queried revenue numbers in the executive director's report (budget goal cited as about $100,000 versus recalled receipts of roughly $12,000$16,000); staff said most revenues arrive in January and pledged to double-check and report back. Commissioners also asked about the status of the "Chu Herrera" legislation; staff said revisions were being considered and no committee hearing has been scheduled yet.

Commissioners raised a procedural policy issue for a future agenda: whether the executive directors existing power to dismiss complaints when criminal authorities are investigating should be supplemented by a mechanism to defer or "tickle" cases so the commission can revisit them if prosecutors later decide not to pursue charges. Staff cautioned that the commission must meet yearly performance measures and keeping cases open would affect those statistics. The chair asked that the topic be placed on a future meeting agenda for fuller policy discussion.

The meeting ended after the chair called for public comment (none present) and commissioners voted to adjourn.