Meeting Notice
Ballot Simplification Committee
for the November 3, 2009 Municipal Election
Agenda for the Week of July 27-31, 2009
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 prior to each election. The Committee must complete its digests no later than 85 days before the election. For the November 3, 2009 election, this deadline falls on Monday, August 10, 2009. In general, the digests are limited to 300 words.
The Committee's procedures can be summarized as follows. First, the Deputy City Attorney assigned to the Ballot Simplification Committee prepares a preliminary draft digest of each proposition. The Committee then edits and amends that draft. Once the Committee members preliminarily agree on a draft for discussion purposes, 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 Committee 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. Requests for Reconsideration must be submitted within 24 hours of adoption of the digest. Guidelines for Requests for Reconsideration are available at each Committee meeting or from the Department of Elections.
Due to scheduling constraints, the Committee may consider one or more measures before the final deadline for submitting or withdrawing those measures. If a measure has not yet been ordered submitted or submitted to the Department of Elections at the time the agenda is published, it is designated on the agenda as "pending submission." If a measure is withdrawn before the Committee meets to consider that measure, the measure will be taken off the Committee's agenda.
If time constraints prevent the Committee from fully considering any of the items listed for a meeting, that meeting will be continued to a date and time announced at the end of the meeting.
For more information about the Ballot Simplification Committee meetings, please contact Barbara Carr or Evan Kirk at 415 554-4375 or publications@sfgov.org
Location: Meetings will be held in City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Please refer to individual meeting dates for exact locations.
Time: All meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Please note that the discussion order of items on each day's agenda is subject to change at the Committee's discretion.
Monday, July 27, 2009 City Hall, Room 400* 9:00 a.m.
1. Ordinance: Mid-Market Special Sign District** (Discussion and possible action to adopt a digest)
2. Ordinance: Advertisements on City Property** (Discussion and possible action to adopt a digest)
3. Discussion and possible approval of Words You Need to Know
4. Discussion and possible approval of other informational materials for the Voter Information Pamphlet
Public Comment on matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ballot Simplification Committee
Continuance or Adjournment***
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 City Hall, Room 408* 9:00 a.m.
1. Charter Amendment: Budget Process** (Discussion and possible action to adopt a digest)
2. Charter Amendment: Board of Supervisors Aides** (Discussion and possible action to adopt a digest)
3. Discussion and possible approval of Words You Need to Know
4. Discussion and possible approval of other informational materials for the Voter Information Pamphlet
Public Comment on matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the Ballot Simplification Committee
Continuance or Adjournment***
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 no meeting scheduled
Thursday, July 30, 2009 no meeting scheduled
Friday, July 31, 2009 City Hall, Room 408* 9:00 a.m.
1. Ordinance: Candlestick Park Naming Rights** – pending submission (Discussion and possible action to adopt a digest)
2. Ordinance: Vehicle License Fee** – pending submission (Discussion and possible action to adopt a digest)
3. Discussion and possible approval of Words You Need to Know
4. Discussion and possible approval of other informational materials for the Voter Information Pamphlet
5. Discussion and possible action concerning any Requests for Reconsideration of digests received by Wednesday, July 30, 2009. Requests for Reconsideration will be placed in Department of Elections public file as they are received, and an amended agenda will be placed in the public file and posted on the Department of Elections website as soon as possible and no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
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 meeting room and the Department of Elections.
If any materials related to an item on this agenda have been distributed to the Ballot Simplification Committee after distribution of the agenda, those materials will be posted on the Department of Elections website and be available for public inspection at the Department of Elections in City Hall, Room 48, during normal office hours. The Department of Elections is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Disability Access: Meetings of the Ballot Simplification Committee may be held in several rooms in or near San Francisco's City Hall, at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. The meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible. The nearest accessible BART station is Civic Center at the intersection of Market, Grove, and Hyde Streets. The accessible MUNI Metro lines are the J, K, L, M, N and T (Civic Center Station or Van Ness Avenue Station). MUNI bus lines serving the area are the 47 and 49 Van Ness, 9 San Bruno, and the 6, 7, 71 Haight/ Noriega. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call 415-923-6142.
There is accessible parking in the vicinity of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza and adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex. Accessible curbside parking is available on Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place and Grove Street.
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 Department of Elections at 415-554-4375 or our TTY at 415-554-4386 to make arrangements for the accommodation. Late requests will be honored, if possible.
Chemical-Based Products: In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, 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 to accommodate these individuals.
Cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices: 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.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE: Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its 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. 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 Administrator by mail to: Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco CA 94102-4689; by phone at 415-554-7724; by fax at 415-554-7854; or by email at sotf@sfgov.org.
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from the Administrator or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code from the Internet, at URL: http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=4459
Lobbyist Registration & 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 Sec. 2.100) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone 415-581-2300; fax 415-581-2317; website: sfgov.org/ethics.
