Meeting Information

Elections Commission

Department of Elections
Elections CommissionApproved: 8/7/02

City and County of San Francisco
Elections Commission
Minutes of the Meeting Held
June 5, 2002

I. President Mendelson called the meeting to order.

2. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Kenealey, Thomas Schulz, Alix Rosenthal, Michael Mendelson, and Brenda Stowers and Richard Shadoian. ADSENT: None.

3. Flag Salute

4. Public Comment: Supervisor Daly presented his proposal that the City pay postage for absentee ballots and asked for the Commission’s support.

7. Item taken out or order - Personnel Policy Committee update on Director search. President Mendelson called for this report out of order. Anna Borjas of DHR reported on the recruitment for a Director of Elections. The job analysis phase of the recruitment has just been completed to establish an eligibility list. The exam is being finalized and a tentative time line has been submitted. This time line shows the tasks still needed to be completed. August 16 is the date the DHR hopes to have the completed eligible list adopted. President Mendelson asked where was the requirement that a candidate have elections experience as a minimum requirement. Ms. Borjas said that this was not a requirement in previous announcements. She said it was entered as a “desirable qualification”. Commissioner Schulz asked if DHR will be using the internet as a resource. Marsha Stroop also spoke and reviewed the salary range for this position. The announcement is expected to be posted on June 21, 2002.

5. Minutes for May 15, 2002 – APPROVED unanimously.

6. Officer’s Reports. President Mendelson reported that, at the request of the Commission, he has sent a letter in response to the Mayor’s request for audio tapes of the Closed Session on April 22, 2002 and to Attorney Vernon Grigg about his request to have his client, former Director Tammy Haygood, reinstated. The President also reported on what occurred at the Civil Service Commission’s May 20,2002 meeting in which the process for the hearing to determine CSC jurisdiction was explained.

President Mendelson explained that numerous commissions in the City have non-profit foundations, i.e. the Library. He said he was suggesting that the Elections Commission look into attaining a 501.c.3 non-profit status to aid in getting donations for such things as a van service to assist handicapped voters in getting to the polls and relieving some of the financial burden of printing the voter information pamphlet.

President Mendelson reported on the search for 30,000 square feet that the Acting Director is seeking in order to move the DOE under one roof.

Vice President Shadoian explained his plan to form a blue ribbon panel after having an informational exploratory meeting with various community leaders about their interests in and ability to help the DOE. The meeting will be next Tuesday. After the initial meeting, Vice President Shadoian will come back to the Commission and ask if there’s interest in going forward with plans for a blue ribbon panel. Some of the groups to be represented at the initial meeting are: The Chamber of Commerce, Committee on Jobs, Center for Voter Democracy, League of Women Voters, Coalition of SF Neighborhoods, etc.

Commissioner Serrano-Sewell complained that none of the organizations of color have been invited to this informational meeting. Commissioner Rosenthal agreed. She said that the full Commission should have been consulted and that this was the first time she had heard about this meeting. Commission Schulz agreed and said that the Commission hasn’t yet met with the Citizens Advisory Committee and should do so soon.

President Mendelson said that because several important City representatives have already been invited, the meeting should go forward with the understanding that in the future, such ideas for meetings should come before the Commission for approval. He said that this particular meeting should be viewed as the first of a series of meetings incorporating significant ethnically represented groups.

Commissioner Stowers reported that she has begun meetings with vendors to aid in their understanding of the DOE’s needs. These meetings will also help the vendors present proposals to the Secretary of State for certification. The current deadline for the November 2002 elections is July 1st for implementation of Proposition A.

7. Committee Reports. The Personnel Policy Committee has set the Tuesday before Regular Election Commission meetings at 4:00 pm as their meeting date and time. Commissioner Rosenthal reported from the Budget Policy Committee that the Mayor’s office has reported to the Board its recommendations for the 2002-03 budget for the DOE. It was proposed that the DOE be budgeted for $9.5M, this is down $300,00 from the previous year. The Budget Committee recommends that the Commission support the Daly proposal to pay for absentee ballots because it will increase voter turn out, may be less complicated for poll workers on election day and will not be an expense to the DOE – The Board of Supervisors plans to get an appropriation to pay these costs and a percentage may be reimbursed by the State.

8. Director’s Report. Acting Director Arntz reported that there are still bills coming in from the March election that were not previously known. ES&S is requesting more than the contract called for and that this is being negotiated. The managers are putting together staffing schedules for next year, this has never been done before. The DOE is planning past the election. There have been 73 precincts affected by the redistricting.

Commissioner Serrano-Sewell asked if all the printing cost bills have been paid. Mr. Arntz said that there are still outstanding invoices for Sequoia, approximately $35,000.

Commissioner Kenealey asked about the contracts for public information officers. Mr. Arntz said those were personal services contracts and have not been covered by the supplemental budget.

RECESS for 5 minutes.

9. Old Business. Approval of By Laws PASSED unanimously with amendments given to the Commission Secretary. It was also agreed that the President of the Commission shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of each standing committee. Commissioner Schulz suggested that the Mission Statement be added to the By Laws. Commissioner Rosenthal respectfully disagreed stating that the By Laws are the rules by which the Commission operates and that the Charter was the guiding principle of the Commission. Vote by role call to include the Mission Statement was: Kenealey – No; Shadoian – No; Rosenthal – No; Schulz – Yes; Serrano-Sewell – Yes; Stowers – No; Mendelson – Yes; The amendment did not carry.

Vice President Shadoian requested that Item 9b. (action to seek a waiver from the Board of Supervisors to permit the City employees to serve as field election deputies on November 5, 2002) be TABLED. PASSED. Vote was 6-1 with Commissioner Serrano-Sewell as the opposing vote.

10. New Business. Proposed ordinance amending the Municipal Elections Code to require that San Francisco pay for postage of absentee ballots. MOVED that the President of the Commission send a letter to the Board of Supervisors in support of the amendment to the Municipal Elections Code to require that San Francisco pay for absentee ballot postage, with the understanding that the funds not come from the DOE budget. PASSED unanimously.

President Mendelson introduced Dwight Beattie and John Mott Smith were introduced as experts who have been assisting the Department.

11. Public Comment. Chris Bowman asked about prioritization of official ballot arguments being calendared on a future agenda, suggested that the Department reduce the number of precincts as a way to save money and suggested that the Commission, under Prop. E, could not take a stand on a Charter amendment.

President Mendelson announced that the next scheduled meeting of this Commission would be July 17, at 7:00 pm in room 400.

ADJOURNED