About the Public Ethics Commission
The Public Ethics Commission was created in 1996 with the goal of ensuring fairness, openness, honesty and integrity in City government.
Posted: June 28th, 2019 3:49 PM
Last Updated: April 28th, 2022 2:53 PM
The Public Ethics Commission is an independent commission made up of Oakland residents and charged with ensuring fairness, openness, honesty and integrity in Oakland City government.
Our objective is to make sure Oakland public officials and government decision-making processes operate in a fair and unbiased manner, to promote transparency in Oakland government, and to promote public trust in our local political system.
The Commission's duties include ensuring compliance with the City of Oakland's government ethics, campaign finance, transparency, and lobbyist registration laws
The Commission administers compliance programs, educates citizens and City staff on ethics-related issues, and works with City staff to ensure policies are in place and are being followed. The Commission also conducts investigations, audits and public hearings, issue subpoenas, and imposes fines and penalties to assist with its compliance responsibilities.
The Commission is a resource for City staff, public officials, candidates for local elective office, lobbyists, contractors doing business with Oakland, City residents, businesses and other organizations.
An Independent Board
The Public Ethics Commission was created by City Charter, amended in November 2014, as an independent, non-partisan City board to oversee compliance with the City’s campaign finance, transparency, and ethics laws.
The Commission is a seven-member board of volunteer Oakland residents. Three members are appointed respectively by the Mayor, City Attorney, and City Auditor, subject to veto by the City Council. Four members are recruited and selected by the Commission itself.
The Commission’s daily operations are conducted by staff at the direction of the Commission.
Our Strategy
The Public Ethics Commission fosters transparency, promotes open government, and ensures compliance with ethics laws through a comprehensive approach that emphasizes prevention, enforcement, and collaboration.
PREVENT
Prevention activities consist of education, outreach, information, and advocacy to help individuals understand and comply with government integrity laws and to suggest legislative changes when necessary. The Commission is a resource for City staff, public officials, candidates for local elective office, lobbyists, contractors doing business with Oakland, City residents, businesses and other organizations.
ENFORCE
Enforcement includes investigations, audits, public hearings, subpoenas, fines, and penalties for certain types of violations. The Commission also incorporates alternative enforcement strategies, such as sharing information publicly and referring issues to another enforcement entity where appropriate.
COLLABORATE
Collaboration recognizes that lasting results are achieved not through education and enforcement alone, but through a comprehensive strategy that aligns all points in City government – including clear policies and process, effective management and provision of staff resources, technology and infrastructure that support the process, and an understanding of citizen expectations. A collaborative approach includes engagement, innovation, and partnership to leverage the efforts of City and community partners working on similar or overlapping initiatives and facilitate changes in systems and culture to achieve ethical and open government outcomes.
Public Ethics Law
The Commission oversees compliance with Oakland law governing:
- Campaign Finance
- Financial Conflicts of Interest by Public Officials
- Lobbyist Registration and Reporting
- Post-Governmental Employment
- Misuse of City Resources
- Gifts and Honoraria given to Public Officials and Candidates
- Public Meetings and Public Records
The PEC has primary responsibility for the fair and effective administration of the following laws:
Provides a comprehensive framework of ethics and conflict of interest rules for public servants.
Encourages limits on campaign spending and seeks to reduce the influence of large contributions on election outcomes.
Provides partial public funding to City Council District candidates to promote a fair and equal opportunity to participate in elective and governmental processes.
Promotes access to government documents and timely notice of public meetings.
Requires registration and activity disclosure for individuals and groups that influence public decisions by lobbying City public servants.