Rules Committee advances inspector general charter amendment for further meet-and-confer

The Rules Committee of the Board of Supervisors on June 27 reviewed a first-draft charter amendment that would create an inspector general housed in the Controller's Office and give that office expanded investigatory powers, including subpoenas for contractors and, as permitted by state law, authority to seek search warrants.

President Aaron Peskin introduced the proposal, saying the change would create a public integrity unit to restore trust after a series of high-profile corruption scandals. Peskin said staff had done a national search of best practices and worked with Controller's Office staff including Greg Wagner and former Controller Ben Rosenfield. "Government relies on trust," Peskin said, arguing the measure would "allow us to clean our own house" and that establishing an inspector general was the "gold standard" used by many major American cities.

Peskin described the office's proposed scope: accepting complaints from the public, proactively investigating allegations involving contractors, lobbyists and others who seek city benefits, expanding whistleblower coverage beyond city employees, and providing dual reporting to the mayor and the board with twice-yearly public reports. He cited California Penal Code section 830.13 as the statutory framework permitting search-warrant authority for certain peace officers and noted the amendment would rely on existing charter set-aside funding, saying it would add the position "at no additional cost to taxpayers."

Peskin also addressed a written request from the Ethics Commission to prevent the new inspector general from investigating matters covered by the Political Reform Act and the campaign and governmental conduct code. He argued including an explicit carve-out would reduce existing controller authority and complicate complex investigations that may cross multiple enforcement jurisdictions, pointing to charter provisions (F0.106 and F.107) that already limit overlapping investigations when they would impede or delay enforcement by other bodies.

Committee members expressed support and asked for further consultation. Vice Chair Supervisor Shimon Walton thanked Peskin for clarifying the relationship between the proposed Controller-based inspector general and the sheriff's office inspector general. Supervisor Asha Safaie said restoring public trust and protecting whistleblowers motivated her cosponsorship.

One member of the public, Barbara Tard, a long-time oversight practitioner, spoke in favor of the inspector general model and commended the use of best-practice research. After public comment, Chair Hillary Ronan moved to continue the item to the call of the chair so the sponsors could finish meet-and-confer discussions; the committee recorded unanimous "aye" votes from Walton, Safaie and Ronan and passed the motion without objection.

The matter will return to the Rules Committee after the chair calls it back following required meet-and-confer steps.