A county grand jury Wednesday called for expanded subpoena powers for the San Diego Ethics Commission and sought a public vote to ensure the panel has adequate funding and independence.
The Ethics Commission, which was established in 2001, investigates violations of the city's campaign and lobbying laws and enforces violations through the imposition of fines.
According to the San Diego County Grand Jury, a significant potential conflict of interest exists because the Ethics Commission investigates city officials who control its budget.
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"When City Council members are the subject of an investigation and are found to have violated existing laws there is a potential for retribution against the commission through reduction of the budget and/or staffing," the grand jury's report states.
To remedy the problem, the grand jury recommended a change to the city's charter that would require the City Council to provide adequate annual funding and staffing levels for the commission.
The grand jury also sought a charter change to prevent the City Council from ever disbanding the Ethics Commission.
It also recommended that the commission's executive director be given the ability to subpoena witnesses during the investigative stages of alleged ethics violations. The Ethics Commission can now only issue subpoenas for documents, and can't compel witnesses to appear.
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