SF Ethics Commission

 Ethics Commission >> Lobbyist Regulation

Second Quarter 1999

Quarterly Report on Lobbyist Activity
Second Quarter 1999

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Second Quarter Summary of Earnings and Expenses LOBBYIST FILING SECOND QUARTER 1999

The San Francisco Ethics Commission has compiled the information filed by lobbyists for the second quarter of 1999 (April 1 - June 30). Lobbyists were required to file reports in accordance with the amended Lobbyist Ordinance effective March 1999, using the revised lobbyist forms approved June 1999. Fifty lobbyists filed reports with the City and County of San Francisco in the second quarter. Analysis of the information is provided in the following tables and documents:
 

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Explanation of Second Quarter Summary of Earnings and Expenses of Lobbyists Registered with the City

Lobbyist Filing of 7/15/99 All Reported Activity

This table summarizes all reported activity for the second quarter. The lobbyists are listed in alphabetical order. Lobbyists will hereinafter be referred to as filers.

Tables of Receipts and Expenditures

Table I: Payments Promised By and Received From Clients

Effective March 1999, filers must report the total payments promised by and received from clients during the reporting period. Table I shows the payments filers report having been promised by and received from clients listed in descending order of amount. The total promised payments reported by filers from clients was $518,962. The total payments reported received by clients during the second quarter was $963,558.

Table II: Activity Expenses

Filers must report the activity expenses that were made during the second quarter. Table II displays the activity expenses reported by filers in descending order of amount. The total of reported activity expenses during the second quarter was over $15,683, of which more than $10,000 was attributed to salaries.

Table III: Political Contributions

Effective March 1999, filers must report all political contributions of $100 or more made, delivered or arranged by the filer, or made by a client at the behest of the filer, during the second quarter. Table III indicates the political contributions reported by filers and/or their clients in descending order of amount. The total of reported political contributions given by filers during the second quarter was $36,700.

Table IV: Payments Made to Influence Legislative/Administrative Action

Filers must report payments made to influence local legislative or administrative action. Table IV contains the reported amount of payments made to influence local legislative or administrative action in descending order of amount. The total reported payments made during the second quarter was $200,658.

Lobbyist Activity Expenses

The table lists the activity expenses reported by filers and includes a breakdown of payments made by the filers, including salaries paid to employees who also serve as City officers. The table lists the filer, salaries paid, the date of the activity expense, the name and official title or position of each beneficiary of the expense and a description of the benefit conferred. The table also includes the total cost of the activity, the portion of the total cost of the activity which represents the value of the benefit conferred on each beneficiary and the name of the payee of the expense if it is different from that of the beneficiary.

Under the amended Ordinance, an activity expense is now defined as any expense incurred or payment made by a lobbyist (or others specified in the Lobbyist Ordinance) which benefits a City officer, a candidate for City office, a family member thereof (including domestic partners), or aides to members of the Board of Supervisors. Activity expenses include gifts, honoraria, consulting fees, salaries, and any other form of economic compensation totaling more than $30 in value in a consecutive three-month period. S.F. Administrative Code Section 16.521(a), as amended.

An example of an activity expense is when Lobbyist John Smith takes Supervisor Jane Thompson to breakfast. Lobbyist John Smith must report the following: the date the meal took place, the name of the restaurant, the name and position of the city official, the amount spent on the city official's meal, a description of the activity (i.e., breakfast), and the total cost of the breakfast. Another example of an activity expense is the salary paid by filers to employees who also serve as City officers. Daniel Johnson is an employee at Cook Corporation, a registered business lobbyist. He also sits on a City Commission. Cook Corporation must report Daniel Johnson's salary as an activity expense.

Lobbyist Political Contributions

As noted above, filers must report all political contributions of $100 or more made or delivered by the filer, or by a client at the behest of the filer, during the reporting period. The table lists candidates that received a political contribution from a filer and/or a client during the second quarter. The table also lists other entities, such as ballot measure committees, that received contributions during the second quarter. The table includes the names of the filer and the client and the amount given. An example of a political contribution is when Lobbyist John Smith donates $400 to Supervisor Jane Thompson's campaign.

Gift Tickets and Admissions

This table lists each gift ticket and/or admission given to an officer of the City and County of San Francisco to attend political fund-raisers and/or charitable events sponsored by 501(c)(3) organizations. The table lists the filer, the date of the political or charitable event, a description of the political or charitable event and the name and official title of the beneficiary of the gift ticket and/or admission.

An example of a gift ticket is when Lobbyist ABC Corporation gives Supervisor Jane Thompson a gift ticket to attend the Political Fundraising Event Luncheon.

Report of City Contracts

Effective March 1999, filers must report certain City contracts awarded to the filer during the reporting period. The table lists the type of contract awarded (rendition of personal services; furnishing of any material, supplies or equipment to or from the City; or sale or lease of land or buildings to or by the City, or financing of the same), the date the City contract was approved, the name of the City officer and Department that approved the contract, and the subject matter of the contract. An example of a City contract is when Lobbyist XYZ & Associates is awarded a contract to provide public relations services for the S.F. Fire Department.

Report of Payments Received in Exchange for Campaign Consulting Services

Also effective March 1999, filers must report the total payments received from City officers during the reporting period in exchange for providing campaign consulting services (as defined in S.F. Admin. Code section 16.541). Such payments must be reported only if the filer contacted the officer within one year of the date of payment. This table displays the name of the City officer and Department from whom the filer received a payment, the amount of the payment, the date the payment was received, and the campaign consulting services provided for which payment was received. An example of campaign consulting services is when a lobbyist provides campaign strategy services for a City officer.

Report of Employment of City Officers or Employees

Finally, the amended Ordinance requires filers to report the names of City officers or employees who have been employed or retained by the filer at any time during the reporting period. This table lists the name and position of the City officer and the services provided by the City officer to the filer. Filers must also report whether a City officer or employee has been employed or retained by a client of the filer at the behest of the filer, at any time during the reporting period. Filers in this case must list the name of the client and that of the City officer. An example of a City officer employed by a filer is when Lobbyist Ace Co. employs Human Rights Commissioner Ann Smith who also serves as Director of Government Relations for Ace Co.

Lobbyist Filing Report for the Second Quarter of 1999

Contract Lobbyists

The report is broken down by type of filer. Section 10A (page 15) details information on contract lobbyists. These are firms and individuals hired to lobby for other parties. Filers must report the full name, business address and telephone number of each client. This requirement applies only to Section 16.521 (i)(1) contract lobbyists. Section 7A of this report notes in italics the identity of the client reported by each filer, a description of the specific local legislative or administrative action which the lobbyist communicated with a City officer or department on behalf of a client, the outcome sought by the lobbyist, the City officer or department contacted on behalf of the client, and the reported payments promised by and received from clients during the reporting period.

For example, Contract Lobbyist Firm, a contract lobbyist, is hired by Building Company to lobby for changes in the building code. Building Company signed a retainer agreement to pay Contract Lobbyist Firm $8,000 to lobby Supervisor Smith, and has so far paid Contract Lobbyist Firm $5,000 of that amount. Contract Lobbying Firm is required to report: the name of its client, Building Company, a description as to whether Contract Lobbyist Firm sought to oppose or support changes in the building code, Supervisor Smith's name, the $8,000 payment promised by Building Company, and the $5,000 payment received by Contract Lobbyist Firm for its lobbying services.

Business/Organization Lobbyists

Section 10B (page 36) of the Lobbyist Report details information on business and organization lobbyists. This subsection describes any legislative or administrative action undertaken by the business/organization and lists the City officers, departments, or agencies contacted pursuant to the legislative action. The subsection also details to whom the filer made payments to influence local legislative or administrative action, the amount of the payments, and the outcome sought by the filer.

Filers must report a description of the specific legislative or administrative action regarding which an employee or member of the lobbyist communicated with any officer of the City and County on behalf of the lobbyists, as well as the payments made to influence local legislative action.

For example, The San Francisco Fog Corporation, a business and organization lobbyist, pays employee Mark Garcia to meet with City officers. During one reporting period, Mark Garcia's duties are evenly divided between lobbying City officers and unrelated duties. Under these circumstances, the San Francisco Fog Corporation must report half of Garcia's salary for the reporting period because it was a payment made for, or in connection with, communications with City officers for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.

Expenditure Lobbyists (formerly known as "Grassroots" Lobbyists)

Section 10C of the report (page 43) details information on expenditure lobbyists. Filers must report a description of the specific legislative or administrative action undertaken and the outcome sought by the filer. Filers must also report payments made for, or in connection with, influencing or attempting to influence local legislative or administrative action.

For example, Expenditures Group, Inc. produces a direct mail piece to City officials, designs a billboard message, and makes payments to Contract Lobbyist to meet with City officials regarding the introduction of legislation. Expenditures Group, Inc. must report the payments made for producing a direct mail piece, designing the billboard message and for Contract Lobbyists' meeting with City officials, because all were payments made for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.