We're gonna have to.

I want to thank you for being with us.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the May the June meeting of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission.

We have a quorum present of more than four commissioners, so I call the meeting to order.

First on our agenda this evening is uh time for announcements from staff and commissioners.

I have one announcement this evening, which is that we obviously have an open seat now.

Uh and that is the um the mayor's appointment uh to to this commission so that it that is presently open um upon the resignation of commissioner Lisa Crowfoot, um, whose meeting was at our our last meeting, and um so anyone who is interested in that position um should speak with the mayor's office.

Are there any other announcements from commissioners or from staff at this time next on the agenda is open forum and this is a time when members of the public may comment on any matter that is within the commission's jurisdiction that is not agendized on tonight's agenda?

Um commissioners cannot discuss the content and the substance of any comments that are made during open forum, and that is not because we are not interested in what you have to say, it's because the matter is not on our agenda.

Um and so we need to s uh only have substantive discussion and action of of matters that are on the the evening's agenda and properly posted.

However, when you speak during public comment, we can and we do hear what you have to say.

If you wish to speak on an item tonight that is on our agenda, please wait until I call that item and I will open for the floor for public comment at that time.

I'd also like to handle in advance uh to to specify how the the uh commission handles public comment.

That's both during open forum and um when we are taking each item so that everyone is confident they will be heard and will know what to expect this evening.

The purpose is pu of public comment is for the commission to hear from you, the public.

It is not a time for commissioners to talk, to answer questions or to have t dialogue.

It is a time when we listen.

So if you speak during public comment, commission commissioners may ask you a brief clarifying question.

Uh, but otherwise public comment is not a time for commissioners to talk or answer questions.

However, after the end of each public comment period, we may address questions or concerns that were raised during that that time.

So for example, I may ask the city attorney, this Trish Hines joining us this evening.

Uh I may ask her for information about an issue that has been raised in public comments, or a commissioner may address questions in a general manner uh to clarify commission policies, or I may ask staff to explain procedures, or I may request that you give your contact information to member of staff so that they may follow up with you later for uh the information relevant to your comments.

However, once each public comment period is closed, it remains closed until public comment is reopened on the next item when you as the public will again have a chance to speak.

So if there is anyone who would like to be heard during open forum tonight, please approach the the mic at this time.

And for those who are who may be watching or uh l listening after this time, we do always have an open forum um section of our agenda, and we welcome your comments at future public meetings.

The first action item on our agenda is agenda item number four, which is approval of commission meeting draft minutes.

This is from the May 6th tw uh 2019 regular meeting minutes.

Are there is there any commissioner comment on these minutes?

Is there any public comment on the minutes?

Do I have a motion from the commission to approve the minutes?

So moved.

Moved by Commissioner Kong.

Is there a second?

A second.

Thank you, Commissioner Maxson.

Any opposed?

All in favor?

Aye.

Motion carries.

Yes, let the record reflect that Commissioner Jackson is abstaining as he was not present at the meeting for which the minutes were recorded.

Action item number five is the limited public financing program audit report from the 2018 election.

There will be a report on this item, yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ktoff, could you please pull up the presentation?

Good evening, Commissioners.

Um, Chair Smith and members of the Public Ethics Commission.

My name is Jennifer Lim, and I'm a performance auditor with the City of Oakland, and I'm here to present to you the results of the limited public financing act audit for the November 2018 election.

Um but before I get started, I really just wanted to take the opportunity to thank the PEC, specifically Whitney and uh ethics analyst Jelani, although he's not here today.

Um they were extremely cooperative and helpful and timely in their responses, so that really helped to kind of move along the audit.

So thank you.

Um but before I get started, I just wanted to provide a brief background on the act on the act.

Um the purpose of the LPFA is to provide funding for candidates running for Oakland City Council in an effort to ensure equal opportunity to participate, even the funding base and encourage competition in elections, amongst other goals.

Um the act has various requirements, one of which is for the city auditor to conduct mandatory post-election audits of all program participants.

Program participants are those candidates who ran for Oakland City Council and accepted public financing.

Um for the November 2018 election, there were 15 candidates who appeared on the ballot, but only 10 were actually eligible and accepted public financing.

Um in other words, there were 10 program participants.

Of the five who did not accept public financing, three chose not to participate, um, and two of them were deemed ineligible at some point in the process.

So at the beginning of the election cycle, there was approximately 183,000 available for disbursement.

So that's about $18,000 per candidate, of which candidates claimed 176,000.