Board and Commission Member Essentials

Before beginning your duties as a board member, you must take the oath of office administered by the Office of the City Clerk.

The City’s Government Ethics Act requires certain Public Servants, including members of boards and commissions, to file a Form 700 – Statement of Economic Interests. This form helps keep things honest by showing the public any financial ties the person might have. It also reminds Public Servants not to make decisions that could benefit them personally.

Board members have to turn in Form 700 within 30 days after they take the oath of office. Then, they must file it every year by April 1 while they serve. They also need to file it again within 30 days after their term ends.

Options to file Form 700:

• File electronically through the City's online portal Netfile. You can get login access by contacting Krystal Sams in the Office of the City Clerk at (510) 238-6405 or sending an email to ksams@oaklandca.gov.
• File a paper copy with the Office of the City Clerk located at 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza (City Hall) on the 2nd floor.

As a Public Servant, you must follow the City's Government Ethics Act and state ethics laws. The following materials cover many of these laws:

1. Introduction to the Government Ethics Act – A comprehensive 10-minute video introduction to the Government Ethics Act.
2. Government Ethics Training for Form 700 Filers – One-hour training for Form 700 filers, which includes board and commission members.
3. Sunshine Training: Open Meetings - 30-minute training for public servants who lead or participate in public meetings. Topics covered include conduct of meetings, communication restrictions, public comments, notice and agenda requirements.
4. California AB1234 Ethics Training – Required of any elected or appointed official who is paid for their service or reimbursed for their expenses. They must complete a 2-hour state-approved ethics training every two years.

Each of the City's boards and commissions were created with a specific purpose to carry out responsibilities outlined either in the City Charter or by an enabling ordinance of the City Council. Each board is supported by a City staff member who is usually responsible for ensuring that meeting notices are properly and timely distributed, and provides professional expertise about the role and duties of the board. To ensure that you understand your role and the work of the board to which you are appointed, the Public Ethics Commission recommends the following best practices:

1. Review your commission/board's applicable laws, by-laws, policies, and procedures with your board/commission staff.
2. Ask questions about your board/commission's procedures and processes if you are unclear about the process or information provided to you.
3. Ask the Public Ethics Commission for advice or assistance on ethics-related matters when needed.

• Government Ethics Act
• Sunshine Ordinance
• List of Oakland's Boards and Commissions
• Public Ethics Commission Governing Laws and Policies

• FPPC Form 700
• FPPC Form 700 Reference Pamphlet
• ILG ABC's of Open Government Laws
• ILG Video: Parliamentary Procedures Simplified (How to run a public meeting)