If you don’t know about the ethics commission, you could hardly be blamed. With meetings conveniently scheduled at 3 p.m. on Thursdays, only a single Phoenix resident is consistently in attendance. Even those who attend don’t see much: The commission is in the habit of breaking into executive sessions for the majority of meetings to discuss the complaints without the public knowing what its members say.
Perhaps due to a lack of public knowledge, the number of complaints submitted to the commission remains low. Phoenix has only seen eight complaints in eight years while Philadelphia, a city of comparable size, saw 51 complaints or referrals in 2024 alone.
Here’s a primer on how to keep an eye on the ethics commission’s work.
How to submit an ethics complaint in Phoenix
The city’s ethics webpage features a section titled “Why Ethics Matter,” but no explanation of how to submit an ethics complaint to the city. If you want to submit one, you can email [email protected]. (Be a pal and let us know by emailing [email protected].)Include a written explanation of the alleged ethics violation, list your contact information and attach any documents, pictures or files that concretely illustrate the complaint. Consider viewing the ethics handbooks for elected officials, board and commission members and city employees, depending on the subject of your complaint.
To stay updated on your complaint’s status, you may have to take the initiative and track down developments yourself. Some complainants have alleged the city never told them about their decisions. You can check out agendas for upcoming meetings on the city’s ethics webpage.
How to go to a Phoenix Ethics Commission meeting
The city doesn’t make it easy, but its meetings are open to the public.First, check when an Ethics Commission meeting is scheduled on Phoenix’s public meeting notices webpage. Meetings are typically at 3 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, though special meetings are sometimes held.
Generally, meetings are held in person on the 12th floor of City Hall. To get into City Hall, you have to register for a meeting in advance (so much for public meetings). RSVP to [email protected].
If you drive, you’ll need to find parking. There is metered parking on many of the streets surrounding City Hall, including on 3rd Avenue and on Washington Street. It’s $1.50 per hour with a two-hour limit, meaning you’ll end up paying $3. If you want to avoid paying for parking out of principle, we recommend arriving early and finding a spot near 4th Avenue and Fillmore Street.
You can also watch meetings virtually. Registration information is included in meeting agendas.
If you want to speak in the meeting or provide a written statement, submit a request to [email protected] or call (602) 262-7526 by 11:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting. But don’t be alarmed if the commissioners completely ignore what you have to say — they say they are not allowed to respond to public comments.
