Oakland Public Ethics Commission Strategic Retreat – April 28, 2022

The Oakland Public Ethics Commission (PEC) held a special two‑evening retreat on April 28, 2022, from approximately 5:00 PM to 8:15 PM (the first evening). The purpose was to reflect on the commission’s history, current operating context, and future vision. Commissioners, staff, and facilitator Trent Waknight (Grove Consultants International) participated in structured vision‑setting exercises. The meeting began with a roll call (6 of 7 commissioners present), announcements, a public forum, and a unanimous vote to renew virtual meetings under state emergency provisions. The bulk of the session was devoted to a graphic history timeline and a context‑mapping exercise.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Kantz (public comment during open forum) raised concerns about Complaint 21‑08 regarding the redistricting commission’s failure to properly notice meetings, arguing that only the commission can dismiss the complaint and that staff cannot unilaterally dismiss it. He also alleged that public records requests had not been fully answered and that the city attorney’s office has a conflict of interest because it represents both the redistricting commission and the ethics commission.
• Mr. Kantz (public comment during the retreat) criticized the mediation process as “completely broken,” citing a four‑year mediation case where the planning department allegedly misled investigators. He urged the commission to fix the requirement that mediation must occur before a complaint can be filed, and to prohibit city staff from lying to PEC investigators.

Discussion Items

• Welcome and Announcements – New Commissioner Francis Upton was sworn in. Executive Director Whitney Barrittoto announced her departure (effective June 10) and that the ticket policy ordinance had passed first reading at City Council unanimously on April 26.
• Preliminary Action – The commission unanimously (6‑0) approved a resolution to continue virtual meetings under state emergency provisions (AB 361).
• Retreat Introduction – Facilitator Trent Waknight presented ground rules (“agreements”) for the session: “big hat/little hat,” “beach ball principle,” “seek first to understand,” “meet me in Paris,” and “be present.” Commissioners agreed to speak freely.
• Opening Check‑in – Commissioners and staff shared something that gives them energy and something the PEC has done that makes them proud. Responses highlighted personal interests (travel, music, tennis, family) and pride in PEC’s transparency work, enforcement actions, public financing reforms, and community engagement.
• Graphic History Exercise – Whitney Barrittoto presented a visual timeline of PEC milestones from 1996 to 2020. Commissioners then added events from 2018‑2022, including: becoming filing officer for campaigns and lobbyists (2018), the ticket abuse investigation (2018), launching online Form 700 training (2018), the “Race for Power” report (2020), transition to 100% virtual meetings (2020), the spotlight on Oakland Public Records report (2021), the largest enforcement case ($300,000 bribery, 2021), the diversion program (2021), enhanced open disclosure websites, and new partnerships (Next Request, OpenOakland, etc.). The exercise highlighted the commission’s growth in technology, collaboration, and data transparency.
• Context Mapping Exercise – The group identified trends and influences across seven areas: ethics, transparency, campaign finance, economic factors, political climate, city/public needs, and uncertainties. Key points included: growing public demand for self‑service data access (e.g., police records, contractor databases), increasing distrust in government (especially at the federal level), the potential game‑changing impact of the proposed public financing ballot measure, workload and staffing shortages, the need for a centralized city records management system, and the challenge of ensuring adequate technology resources.
• Closing Activity – Commissioners and staff shared one‑sentence “headlines” from the retreat, such as “Time to flex Oakland’s PEC,” “PEC recalibrating and refocusing efforts on enforcement, education, and collaboration,” and “Bonding as a commission.”

Key Outcomes

• Vote to Renew Virtual Meetings – Approved 6‑0 (one commissioner absent).
• Retreat Foundation – The commission agreed on a process and ground rules for the two‑evening retreat, setting the stage for developing a future vision and strategies on day two.
• Next Steps – The meeting was recessed to continue the retreat on the following evening (April 29, 2022). No formal decisions were made beyond the preliminary action; the retreat is designed to inform future commission priorities.

Note: The original agenda and minutes were unavailable; the summary is based solely on the provided transcript.