The Oakland Public Ethics Commission (PEC) held a regular meeting on May 20, 2026, addressing public comments, a presentation on local public financing, proposed charter amendments regarding council member compensation and non-interference, case closures, and enforcement updates. The commission voted on salary-setting amendments and defined its enforcement role for charter section 218.
That's very loud. Is that better? Okay, it's still loud. Someone fixing it. So I'll remind people, as we have comments if the uh if they're on Zoom, to uh go ahead and make the comment. So we're going to now move on to item three open forum. Before we start, I want to go over the public comment process so we all know what to expect. A member of the public may speak on any item appearing on the agenda. If you wish to speak during open forum, or on an item that is uh or on an item that is on our agenda site, please stay seated until that item is called. And when I open the floor for public comment on the item, please come to the podium. Tonight we will also be accepting public comments from participants joining via Zoom and by phone. When an item is called and you wish to comment on that you wish to comment on, please use the raise hand feature on Zoom or press nine if you are participating by phone. When it is your turn to speak, staff will call your name and unmute your line. Speakers are generally allotted one three-minute turn to speak per item, subject to change by the chair based on the number of speakers. So everyone gets a chance to speak and be heard. Please leave the podium promptly when your allotted time is up. Participants on Zoom will be muted when their time is up. I also want to clarify how we handle public comment, both during open forum and during public comment periods later on in the agenda, so that everyone is confident that they'll have a chance to be heard and knows what to expect. Open forum is a time for members of the public to comment on any matter within the jurisdiction of the PEC that is not on tonight's agenda. Commissioners cannot discuss the substance of any comments made during open forum, not because we're not interested, because the item, but because the item is not on tonight's agenda. However, we listen to what you have to say. The purpose of public comment is for us to hear from you. It is not a time for commissioners to talk, answer questions, or have dialogue. It is a time for us to listen. Again, public comment is not a time for commissioners to talk or answer questions. After the close of each public comment period, we may address questions or concerns that you have raised. For example, I may ask you to give the staff your contact information so that they can follow up with you and give you information you've requested. Or I may ask the city attorney for information about an issue raised in public comment. A commissioner may address questions in a general manner to clarify the commission's policies, or I may ask staff to explain their procedures. However, once each public comment period is closed, it remains closed until the public comment is reopened on the next agenda item, which you will again have a chance to speak during public comment. Lastly, while you are free to express yourself, the commission urges members of the public not to make complaints or ask the commission to investigate alleged legal violations at public meetings, since public disclosure of such complaints or requests may undermine any subsequent investigation. Please contact staff at Ethics Commission at Oaklandca.gov for assistance in filing a complaint. If there's anyone who would like to be heard during open forum tonight, I invite you to line up at the mic. And if you're participating virtually, please use the raise hand feature on Zoom or press nine if you wish if you're participating by phone. Please state your name each time you make a public comment if you wish it to be recorded. Again, you will have three minutes and the timer is there, so you'll know when it's time to wrap up. And I also note we have one written comment as well. Does anyone want to make any public comments? I'll ask me that. Oh, okay. Gene has it. When the most recent three members were appointed to this body, they came in and they voted on something they knew nothing about. There were three dismissals I had put forth. And it's an installed to the public when you don't even know what you're voting on. And that related to the ballot measure. When the enforcement chief, that the special election ballot measure, April 15th, 2025, which the enforcement chief summarily dismissed it. It's within the jurisdiction of the body, ballot measures. And what happened during that time in the court, they miss routed my writ that I filed on May 19th, 2025, right before the city council certified the election results. They could not do that. But because it was rerouted to a general civil matter and not a writ, a temporary restraining order, for 333 days, I've been dealing with this.