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The City Services Audit Unit shall:
(1) Conduct and publish an annual review of management and employment practices, including City policies and MOU provisions, that either promote or impede the effective and efficient operation of City government;
(2) Identify the top five City departments by workers compensation claims, list the cost of these claims, and recommend ways to reduce both workplace injuries and improper claims;
(3) Identify the top five departments by overtime expenditures and report on the cause and potential mitigations for any excessive overtime spending; and,
(4) Conduct best practices reviews and other studies and assist departments in implementing their findings.
(Added November 2003)
The City Services Audit Unit shall conduct periodic, comprehensive financial and performance audits of City departments, services, and activities. Except as provided in Section F1.102, the Controller shall have discretion to select, on a rotating basis, departments, services, and activities for audit, giving priority to matters affecting direct services to the residents of the City and County of San Francisco. In selecting audit subjects, the Controller shall give preference to requests for performance audits made by the Audit Review Board, the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, department heads, and commissions; provided, however, that absent extraordinary circumstances, no department, activity, or service shall be subject to repeated audits in two successive years.
(Added November 2003)
(a) Before making public any portion of any draft, notes, preliminary or final report relating to the operations or activities of a City officer or agency, the Controller shall deliver a copy of the draft report to any such officer, and to the head of any agency discussed in such report and provide the officer and agency, in writing, with a reasonable deadline for their review and response. The Controller shall include in any report, or portion thereof that is made public, a copy or summary of all such officer and agency responses. In addition, the audit shall include an analysis of the anticipated costs and/or savings of any recommendations contained in the report.
(b) The Controller shall publish the results of all final performance audits and a summary of agency responses, shall deliver copies of such audits to relevant department heads, Audit Review Board, Mayor, City Attorney, Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Civil Grand Jury, and San Francisco Public Library, and shall make the audits available on the City's website. Each department subject to recommendations by the Controller shall include with its next two annual budget requests following such audit a report on the status of the Controller's recommendations. In particular, the report shall include:
(1) the Controller's final audit recommendations;
(2) a plan to address the Controller's findings and to implement the Controller's recommendations;
(3) any costs or savings reflected in the proposed budget attributable to implementation of Controller recommendations; and
(4) a statement of the recommendations that the department does not intend to implement and the basis of the department head's determination not to adopt the Controller's recommendation.
(c) To avoid conflicts of interest, all employees engaged in preparation of audits shall be designated as confidential employees. If the Controller determines that any member of the regular audit staff is unable to participate in an audit due to a potential conflict of interest, or as a result of the employee's collective bargaining representation, the Controller shall have the option of assigning other employees regardless of civil service job description, hiring outside experts, or contracting for such services with an outside individual or agency.
(Added November 2003)
The Controller shall have the duty to perform regular oversight of the City’s contracting procedures, including developing model criteria and terms for City Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and auditing compliance with City contracting rules and procedures. Where appropriate, the Inspector General shall investigate cases of alleged abuse or conflict of interest. Should the Inspector General find that there has been an abuse or conflict of interest, the Inspector General shall refer that finding to the Ethics Commission, the District Attorney, and the City Attorney for possible enforcement action. Nothing in this Section F1.106 shall be construed to alter the existing jurisdiction of City departments and agencies with respect to contracting.
(Added November 2003; amended by Proposition C, Approved 11/5/2024)
(a) The Controller shall have the authority to receive individual complaints concerning the quality and delivery of government services; wasteful and inefficient City government practices; misuse of City government funds; and improper activities by City government officers and employees, by persons or entities that have or are seeking a contract, grant, lease, loan, or other agreement with the City and County, and their employees or officers; by applicants for or recipients of permits, licenses, land use entitlements, tax incentives, benefits, or services from the City and County, and their employees or officers; or by registered City lobbyists. When appropriate, the Controller shall investigate and otherwise attempt to resolve such individual complaints except for those which:
(1) another City agency is required by federal, state, or local law to adjudicate,
(2) may be resolved through a grievance mechanism established by collective bargaining agreement or contract, or
(3) are subject to an existing, ongoing investigation by the District Attorney, the City Attorney, or the Ethics Commission, where either official or the Commission states in writing that investigation by the Controller would substantially impede or delay their own investigation of the matter.
If the Controller receives a complaint described in items (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection (a), the Controller shall advise the complainant of the appropriate procedure for the resolution of such complaint.
(b) If the Controller receives a complaint alleging conduct that may constitute a violation of criminal law or a governmental ethics law, the Inspector General shall review the complaint and decide whether to initiate an investigation. Thereafter, the Inspector General shall promptly refer complaints regarding criminal conduct to the District Attorney or other appropriate law enforcement agency and shall refer complaints regarding violations of governmental ethics laws to the Ethics Commission and the City Attorney. After referring a complaint to the District Attorney, Ethics Commission, or City Attorney, the Inspector General may investigate the matter in coordination with the department receiving the complaint. The Inspector General may decline to refer a complaint to the District Attorney, Ethics Commission, or City Attorney if the complaint relates to the conduct of that agency. In that circumstance, the Inspector General may refer the complaint to another City, State, or federal agency with jurisdiction over the matter. Nothing in this Section F1.107 shall preclude the Controller from investigating whether any alleged criminal conduct also violates any civil or administrative law, statute, ordinance, or regulation.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Charter, including, but not limited to Section C3.699-11, or any ordinance or regulation of the City and County of San Francisco, the Controller shall administer a whistleblower and citizen complaint hotline telephone number and website and publicize the hotline and website through press releases, public advertising, and communications to City employees. The Controller shall receive and track calls and emails related to complaints about the quality and delivery of government services, wasteful and inefficient City government practices, misuse of government funds and improper activities by City government officials, employees and contractors and shall route these complaints to the appropriate agency subject to subsection (a) of this Section F1.107. The Board of Supervisors shall enact and maintain an ordinance protecting the confidentiality of whistleblowers, and protecting City officers and employees from retaliation for filing a complaint with, or providing information to, the Controller, Ethics Commission, District Attorney, City Attorney or a City department or commission about improper government activity by City officers and employees. The City may incorporate all whistleblower functions set forth in this Charter or by ordinances into a unified City call center, switchboard, or information number at a later time, provided the supervision of the whistleblower function remains with the Controller and its responsibilities and function continue unabridged.
(Added November 2003; amended by Proposition C, Approved 11/5/2024)
The Controller shall assess the progress of City departments' compliance with Charter Section 16.120 and any implementing ordinances requiring City departments to prepare effective customer service plans. The Controller shall make recommendations to departments to improve the effectiveness of such plans. The Controller shall report to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor the failure of any department to comply substantially with the Controller's recommendations regarding customer service plans.
(Added November 2003)
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