On November 5, voters in Oakland approved a ballot measure which amends the City Charter as it relates to the Public Ethics Commission and the Lobbyist Registration Act.

Measure OO, changes the qualifications for members of the commission to prohibit a person from serving on the commission if, within two years, that person was an elected official or candidate for the Oakland Unified School District, a spouse or close family member of a local elected official, an officer or employee of a political party, a registered lobbyist, or a person who made campaign contributions to candidates for local elective officer which total more than two times the local contribution limit (currently $600).

It also prohibits lobbyist from making payments directly benefiting an elected city official, candidate, or their immediate family, such as gifts or compensation, if the cumulative value exceeds $50 in a calendar year.

The measure will go into effect ten days after the vote is declared by the City Council, except the amendments to the Lobbyist Registration Act will be effective January 1, 2025.

Voters will decide whether to pass a ballot measure this upcoming November election which would tighten the city’s public ethics laws.

Ballot Measure OO would establish and revise various requirements of the Public Ethics Commission and its members.

It would also amend the lobbyist registration act to prohibit lobbyists from making direct payments of more than $50 per year to local elected officials, candidates, and their families.

If approved by voters on November 5, the measure would be effective 10 days after the vote but the amendments to the lobbyist registration act would be effective January 1, 2025.

Nicolas Heidorn has been hired as the new executive director of the City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission. Heidorn previously worked as chief consultant of the California State Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments committee and as legal director of the government watchdog group California Common Cause. Currently, Heidorn operates a consulting firm that focuses on election reform policy and has spearheaded Oakland’s Democracy Dollars program. With the city’s budget problems tightening the mayor’s budget, Heidorn has been brought in to navigate the program’s delayed rollout and the commission’s bloated caseload.

The Public Ethics Commission will consider annual adjustments to the contribution limits at their regular meeting next week.

Commission staff will present an updated list of the campaign contribution limits and expenditure ceiling amounts, as adjusted according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as required by the Oakland Campaign Finance Reform Act.

The limitations on contributions from persons to candidates who adopt the voluntary expenditure ceiling will increase to $900 per election.

If approved, the adjusted limits will be in effect for the 2020 elections.

The Oakland Public Ethics Commission and OpenOakland, a civic technology group, have jointly released a new version of their web tool, Open Disclosure, to track political contributions in Oakland elections.

The corresponding app, to be released on September 25, will show the source and spending of campaign funds for both Oakland city candidates and ballot measure committees.

In addition to displaying sources of contributions, the new release will also include data on spending by independent expenditures.

City Council passed the Oakland Government Ethics Act towards the end of an eight-hour meeting during the early hours of December 10.

In November, voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to strengthen the city’s Public Ethics Commission (PEC). Measure CC, a charter amendment, gives the PEC authority to enforce the city’s lobbying laws and to levy fines in excess of $1,000 for violations.

The Oakland Government Ethics Act compliments the charter amendment by providing a new set of ethics rules including a revolving-door provision and a new lower annual gift limit of $250. Gifts from persons who do business or seek to do business with the city are further limited to $50 annually.

The legislation is effective immediately.

City Council is preparing to hold a final vote on the Oakland Government Ethics Act after voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to strengthen the city’s Public Ethics Commission (PEC). Measure CC, a charter amendment, gives the PEC authority to enforce the city’s lobbying laws and to levy fines in excess of $1,000 for violations.

The Oakland Government Ethics Act compliments the charter amendment by providing a new set of ethics rules including a revolving-door provision and a new lower annual gift limit of $250. Gifts from persons who do business or seek to do business with the city would further be limited to $50 annually.

The council is scheduled to hold a final vote on the legislation on December 9, 2014.

Voters have approved an amendment to the Oakland City Charter to strengthen the authority, resources, and independence of the Public Ethics Commission. The commission now will have the authority to enforce the Oakland Lobbyist Registration Act and provisions of the state’s Political Reform Act.

Measure CC sets aside $500,000 in additional funding for the commission in order to hire more staff members and investigate violations. The seven-member commission now has the authority to impose penalties and fines when four members agree by vote.