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Sense/Sensibility Content

This is my plain language rewrite of the Filing a Complaint with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force page.

What to Do When the Government Isn’t Working for You

The Sunshine Ordinance Task Force makes sure that the government of the city and county of San Francisco works for you. This means that the people who live here should be able to see and understand the government’s decisions.

You can use the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force to get information and documents from the government about the work it’s doing and how it will affect you. The Task Force also makes sure that anyone who wants to go to public government meetings are able to.

  • The Sunshine Ordinance says that if a government meeting is open to the public, the government has to post information about the meeting three days before the meeting. The information has to be posted in a public place near where the meeting will happen.
  • The Sunshine Ordinance also says that if you request documents from the City or County, the government needs to answer your request in ten days.

If you think the government of San Francisco City or County hasn’t kept to its commitments about providing documents or making meetings public, you can send a complaint to the Task Force.

How to write a complaint

You can either use the online complaint form or send a letter with your complaint.

  • To use the online form, visit the complaint form website. There, you’ll fill out information like what your complaint is about, the date the issue happened, and how to contact you. Using the form is the easiest way to make sure you’re including the information we need.
  • You can also download the complaint form.
  • If you send a letter, you should include this information:
    • The name of the department or agency that you had the problem with
    • The person at that agency who you spoke with about your request for public documents or a public meeting
    • What happened—like what documents you asked for and when, and how the agency responded
    • How the agency did not follow the laws on public records or public meetings
    • Documents showing what happened, like emails with the agency showing your request and the agency’s response
    • How the Task Force can contact you

You can read more information about how to write the letter in the “San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Complaint Procedures.”

How to send your complaint

You can send in your complaint in a few ways:

  • Fill out the online complaint form and click the “submit” button at the bottom of the web page.
  • Email your letter or the complaint form to sotf@sfgov.org.
  • Fax your letter or the complaint form to 415-554-5163.
  • Bring your letter or complaint form here:
    • Administrator of the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
    • City Hall, Room 244
    • 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
    • San Francisco, California

What happens next

The task force will read your letter and decide whether it can help you. The task force will try to fix the problem informally, but if this doesn’t work, the problem might be discussed at a task force meeting.

You can go to this meeting in person. The meetings are on the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m. They take place at:

  • City Hall, Room 408
    1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
    San Francisco, California

You can also call in to the meeting by calling 415-906-4659. You will be asked for a meeting ID, which is 127 497 534#.

After the meeting, the task force will make a decision.

How to get more information

For more information, please call the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Administrator at 415-554-7724.

You can also visit the task force’s Frequently Asked Questions page.