2023–2024 San Francisco Civil Grand Jury Report Provides a
Comprehensive List of San Francisco Commissions, Recommends the
Creation of a Commission Oversight Board and the Abolishment of 15
Commissions.
SAN
FRANCISCO, June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Grand
Jury report shows the number of commissions in San Francisco government has swelled to 115,
which is significantly more than the commission count in larger
peer cities and counties in California. Commissions have been a core part
of San Francisco's unique city and
county government structure since the first 21 were created in
1898. Their numbers grew dramatically in the 1970s, driven largely
by the creation of advisory bodies.
During its investigation, the Jury found that most commissions
provide important oversight of city departments, government
transparency and community engagement, but shortcomings exist,
specifically:
- No accurate and comprehensive list of commissions exists within
city government.
- Fifteen commissions are redundant or unnecessary, and the Jury
recommends that they be abolished.
- Twenty commissions are inactive but currently remain on at
least one official city list and in the San Francisco Municipal
Code.
- The entire commission system suffers from a lack of cohesion,
transparency, and accountability.
"Our Jury concluded that San
Francisco has too many commissions and that reducing their
number and improving their effectiveness are of vital importance,"
said John Monson and Niall Murphy, Investigation Committee Co-Chairs.
"To address this matter, the Jury recommends that San Francisco create a new commission, the
Commission Oversight Board, to track, evaluate and report on the
efficacy of the city's many commissions. The irony of creating
another commission to address this pressing issue is not lost on
us." The Jury recommends that the responsibilities of the
Commission Oversight Board include:
- Maintaining an up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive list of
all San Francisco commissions
- Creating performance standards for each commission
- Regular reviews of each commission, including an assessment of
their annual reports
- Implementing a more rigorous commissioner training program and
performance evaluation system
To read the full report, which includes the Jury's
recommendations, please visit
https://www.sf.gov/resource/2024/civil-grand-jury-reports-2023-2024.
About the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury
The Superior Court selects 19 San Franciscans to serve year-long
terms as Civil Grand Jurors. The Jury has the authority to
investigate City and County government by reviewing documents and
interviewing public officials and private individuals. At the end
of its inquiries, the Jury issues reports of its findings and
recommendations. Agencies identified in the report must respond to
these findings and recommendations within either 60 or 90 days, and
the Board of Supervisors conducts a public hearing on each Civil
Grand Jury report after those responses are submitted. For more
information, visit the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury website:
https://www.sf.gov/departments/civil-grand-jury.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civil-grand-jury-commission-impossible-302178153.html
SOURCE San Francisco Civil Grand Jury