HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Ethics Commission - 08/18/2016 Minutes of the Ethics Commission Meeting on August 18, 2016
ACM Conference Room-5t" Floor City Hall— 1201 Leopard Street
The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Karon Connelly at 5:30.
Item 1 -- Roll Call. Present: Vice-Chair Karon Connelly, Alicia Benavidez, Rob Bailey, Ken Bung,
Harry Hallows, Drue Jones, Rick Milby, and Larry White. Absent: Dr. Haysam Dawod (excused.
City Staff in attendance: Assistant City Attorney Lisa Aguilar.
Item 2 -- Review and approval of Minutes of July 21, 2016 and July 28, 2016.
Mr. Bung made motion to approve Minutes of July 21, 2016; second by Mr. White. All in favor.
Motion passed. Ms.Jones made motion to approve Minutes of July 28, 2016;second by Mr. Bung.
All in favor. Motion passed.
Item 3 — Discussion and possible action regarding independent legal counsel. The Commission
reviewed a memo regarding independent legal counsel. Ms. Connelly made a motion for the
proposed contract for independent counsel to be revised to reference the memo dated August
18, 2016 as a reason for the independent legal counsel contract. Second by Mr. Hallows. The
Commission discussed contract had been sent back because it did not specify legal necessity;
independent counsel is at discretion of the Commission; contract funding not responsibility of
Ethics Commission.
Vote on motion: In favor: Vice Chair Connelly, Alicia Benavidez, Rob Bailey, Harry Hallows, Drue
Jones and Larry White; Against: None; Abstaining: Mr. Bung and Mr. Milby. Motion passed.
Ms. Jones made a motion, second by Mr. White for the Commission to send a letter to the City
Attorney requesting funds be appropriated in fiscal year 2017 budget of$5,000 for independent
legal counsel if required. All in favor; none opposed. Motion passed. The Commission discussed
that Ms. Jones would draft the letter and Ms. Connelly would revise the contract.
Item 4 — Discussion and possible action regarding annual financial disclosure forms. The
Commission reviewed annual financial disclosure forms.
Item 5—Discussion and possible action regarding Planning Commissioner contracts with the City.
Mr. White discussed potential for conflicts, to recuse themselves if conflict comes up. The
Commission discussed that some of the annual financial disclosure forms did not have the
amount of contracts, so the missing information to be requested. The Commission asked Mr.
White to draft a memo to Planning Commission to remind them of the ethical responsibilities,
bring attention to potential conflicts, and need to recuse themselves.
Item 6— Discussion and possible action regarding City Code of Ethics amendments.
Ms. Jones made motion to table item 6, second by Mr. Milby. All in favor; none opposed.
Item 7—Public Comment. There was no public comment.
Item 8-- Identification of next Ethics Commission meeting. The next regular Ethics Commission
meeting is Thursday September 15, 2016.
Item 9—Identification of items to be placed on the next meeting's agenda. Continued discussion
of tabled items from previous month's agenda and items 3,4, 5, and 6.
Item 10-- Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:55.
The foregoing minutes of the meeting of the Ethics Commission were approved on September 15, 2016, by the
Ethics Commission.
By:
Name:
Title: