Ethics Commission approves incompatible-activities rules for Homelessness & Supportive Housing department

The San Francisco Ethics Commission voted 4–1 on July 16 to approve a Statement of Incompatible Activities (SIA) for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). The SIA sets standards for departmental employees to prevent conflicts of interest as the department administers grants and contracts related to homelessness services.

Pat Ford, senior policy and legislative affairs counsel, told commissioners the proposed SIA largely mirrors language used by other departments but includes three provisions tailored to HSH: a prohibition on employees being registered lobbyists, clarification that volunteer activities do not override review restrictions, and a ban on serving as a board member of a nonprofit that applies for HSH funding. Melanie (department representative) explained meet-and-confer steps with employee bargaining units and that the department conducted negotiations in April and May and closed the meet-and-confer process on June 23.

Commissioners asked how form 700 disclosure levels would apply to positions that oversee the department's roughly $600,000,000 annual budget; staff said senior executives and finance roles disclose at the highest categories and program managers at Category 2. Commissioner Chiu and others pressed whether the SIA should be broadened to incorporate lessons from recent corruption reports; staff said broader changes are better addressed in code or citywide regulations but that reviewing SIAs is part of the commission's larger conflict-of-interest policy project. The commission approved the SIA with four votes in favor and one opposed.

What happens next: If adopted by the commission, the SIA becomes operative and the department can post and distribute it to employees; staff flagged that the department would post the approved SIA and distribute it to officers and employees.

Authorities referenced: existing SIA practice across city departments, Form 700 disclosure categories, and meet-and-confer obligations with employee unions.