Meeting Notice

Ballot Simplification Committee

for the November 8, 2005 Consolidated Special Statewide Election

Agenda

The Ballot Simplification Committee prepares an impartial summary of each local ballot measure.  These digests are included in San Francisco's Voter Information Pamphlet, which is mailed to each registered voter in advance of each election.  The Committee must complete its digests no later than 85 days before the election.  For the November 8, 2005 election, this deadline falls on Monday, August 15.  In general, the digests are limited to 300 words.

The Committee’s procedures can be summarized as follows.  First, the Committee develops a draft digest of each ballot measure.  Once the Committee members agree on a draft, they invite public comment on the proposed digest.  Each speaker is asked to observe a three-minute time limit.  After all public comment is received, the Committee decides whether to revise the digest based on the comments.  The Committee does not consider political arguments about the proposed measures.  After all proposed revisions are considered, the Committee votes to adopt a final digest.  At least three BSC members must vote in favor of a digest before it becomes final.

Any person may submit a written Request for Reconsideration of a digest to the Department of Elections.  Guidelines and applicable deadlines for Requests for Reconsideration are available at each Committee meeting or from the Department of Elections.

For more information about the Ballot Simplification Committee meetings, please contact Barbara Carr at (415) 554-6105 or Barbara.Carr@sfgov.org

Location: Meetings will be held in City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place in San Francisco. Please refer to individual meeting dates for exact locations.

Time: All meetings begin at 9:00 a.m.

Please note that the discussion order of items on each day’s agenda is subject to change at the Committee’s discretion.

Monday, August 1, 2005                   City Hall, Room 416*                        9:00 a.m.

1. Charter Amendment: Ethics Commission**
   
   

2. Initiative Ordinance: Neighborhood Firehouses**
   
   

3. Initiative Declaration of Policy: Military Recruiting in Public Schools**

      Public Comment on matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ballot Simplification Committee

Continuance or Adjournment***

Tuesday, August 2, 2005                   City Hall, Room 408*                        9:00 a.m.

1. Initiative Ordinance: Prohibition of Firearms**

2. Bond Measure: Streets and Sidewalks**

Public Comment on matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ballot Simplification Committee

Continuance or Adjournment***

Wednesday, August 3, 2005              City Hall, Room 82*                          9:00 a.m.

1. Charter Amendment: Dividing MTA Appointments**

2. Charter Amendment: Moving Election Date of Public Defender and Assessor-Recorder**

Public Comment on matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ballot Simplification Committee

Continuance or Adjournment***

*          Meeting rooms are subject to change.  If a room change is necessary, a notice will be posted outside the original meeting room.  Information will also be available at the Department of Elections, City Hall, Room 48, or via telephone at 415-554-4375.

**        For identification purposes only; not actual or proposed title

***      If an item is continued to a subsequent meeting, a notice of continuance will be posted on the bulletin boards outside the hearing room and the Department of Elections

Agenda items will be continued in the order above.

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Disability Access

Meetings of the Ballot Simplification Committee will be held in several rooms in City Hall, at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #42 Downtown Loop, and #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro Stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center. For information about MUNI accessible services call (415) 923-6142. There is accessible curbside parking adjacent to City Hall on Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue and in the vicinity of the Veterans Building at 401 Van Ness Avenue adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex.

The following services are available on request 48 hours prior to the meeting; except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline shall be 4:00 p.m. of the last business day of the preceding week: For American sign language interpreters or the use of a reader during a meeting, a sound enhancement system, and/or alternative formats of the agenda and minutes, please contact The Elections Office at (415) 554- 4375 or our TDD at (415) 554-4386 to make arrangements for the accommodation. Late requests will be honored, if possible.

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products.  Please help the City accommodate these individuals. Individuals with chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-6060.

Know your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)

Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils, and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, Donna Hall, Clerk, City Hall, Room 409, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4683 at Phone No.: (415) 554-7724; Fax No.: (415) 554-7854; E-mail: [email protected] Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library and on the City's website at www.ci.sf.ca.us.

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code §2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300, fax (415) 581-2317; web site at www.sfgov.org/ethics.