SF Ethics Commission

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

Table I: Payments Received From Clients

Table II: Activity Expenses

Table III: Political Contributions

Table IV: Payments Made to Influence Legislative/Administrative Action

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.

An activity expense is 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 $20 in value in a calendar month. S.F. Administrative Code Section 16.523(i).

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.

Filers must report all political contributions of $100 or more made during the reporting period. The table lists candidates that received a political contribution from a filer during the fourth quarter. The table also lists other entities, such as ballot measure committees, that received contributions during the fourth quarter. The table includes the name of the filer and the amount given. An example of a political contribution is when Lobbyist John Smith donates $400 to Supervisor Jane Thompson's campaign.

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 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 Event Luncheon.

Contract Lobbyists

The report is broken down by type of filer. Section 7A (page 11) 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 16.520 (a) 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 (and whether the lobbyist supported or opposed the action), the City officer or department contacted on behalf of the client, and the payments reported 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 paid Contract Lobbyist Firm $5,000 to lobby Supervisor Smith. Contract Lobbying Firm is required to report: the name of its client, Building Company, a description as to whether Contract Lobbyist Firm supported or opposed changes in the building code, Supervisor Smith's name, and the $5,000 payment Building Company made to Contract Lobbyist Firm for its lobbying services.

Business/Organization Lobbyists

Section 7B (page 32) of the Lobbyist Report details information on business and organization lobbyists. This subsection details 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 and the amount of the payments.

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, and 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 direct communications with City officers for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.

Filers must report payments for, or in connection with, soliciting or urging persons other than the filer or the filer's employees to enter into communications with a City and County officer for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.

For example, One Big Corporation, a business and organization lobbyist, obtains the assistance of We Be Lobbyists, a contract lobbyist, to help One Big Corporation organize its mailing lists so that One Big Corporation may send a mailer urging citizens to contact the Board of Supervisors about a local legislative action. One Big Corporation pays $10,000 to We Be Lobbyists for its assistance. One Big Corporation also places an ad in the newspaper urging members of the public to contact City officers about an upcoming vote on campaign finance reform. One Big Corporation must report the amount of the payment made to We Be Lobbyists and the payment made to the newspaper for advertising space because these payments were made for, or in connection with, soliciting or urging persons other than the filer or the filer's employees to enter into communications with a City officer for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.

Grassroots Lobbyists

Section 7C of the report (page 42) details information on grassroots lobbyists. Filers must report a description of the specific legislative or administrative action undertaken. Filers must also report payments for, or in connection with, support or assistance of other lobbyists; and payments for, or in connection, with direct communications with a City officer for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action, including payments to contract lobbyists for this purpose. Filers must also report payments for, or in connection with, soliciting or urging persons other than the filer or the filer's employees to enter into communications with a City officer for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.

For example, the Grassroots Group obtains the assistance of Contract Lobbyist to help Grassroots produce a direct mail piece to City officials, design a billboard message, and meet with City officials regarding the introduction of legislation. Grassroots must report the payment it made for producing a direct mail piece because it was a payment made for direct communication with City officials for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action. Grassroots must also report the payment for the design of the billboard message because it was a payment made for soliciting or urging persons other than the filer or the filer's employees to enter into communications with a City officer for the primary purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action. Grassroots must also report the payment made for the meeting with City officials because it was a payment made for direct communications with City officers for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.