March 30, 2000

Under the California Constitution and applicable statutes, hearings of Assessment Appeals Boards are judicial proceedings. The decisions of Assessment Appeals Boards must be based exclusively on properly admitted evidence. Assessment Appeals Boards may not base any factual determinations necessary for their decisions on anything other than the aforementioned evidence. Information presented through public comment, unless properly admitted into evidence in compliance with the Revenue and Taxation Code and of the Property Tax Rules of the State Board of Equalization, is not evidence upon which Assessment Appeals Boards may base findings.

The Assessment Appeals Board Agenda packet and documents are available for review in Room 405 at City Hall. Each item on the Agenda my include the following documents: (1) An Application for Changed Assessment (2) Comparable Sale Information (3) Department or Agency Correspondence (4) Public Correspondence.

Public comment will be taken for items on the agenda, as well as items not on the agenda but under the jurisdiction of the Board. Each member of the public will be allotted the same number of minutes to speak to the Board. The Board may limit the total testimony to 30 minutes.

1. Public Comment on any agenda item.
   
   
2. CLOSED SESSION (Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Section 1605.4)
   
   Deliberations on the case of the Viacom Personal Property, for various locations throughout the city.
   
   
3. Reconvene in Open Session:

1. Possible report on action taken in closed session.
   
   (Pursuant to Government code Section 54957.1 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.14)

2. Vote to elect whether to disclose any or all discussions held in closed session. (Pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.14(a).)
   

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE - Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching it’s decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. The Sunshine Ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and the City operations are open to the people’s review.

For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Donna Hall; by mail to Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, #1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, by phone at 415.554.7724, by fax at 415.554.5163, or by e-mail at Donna_Hall@ci.sf.ca.us.

Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a free copy from Ms. Hall or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the Internet, at http://sfbos.org/sunshine