2007-08-08 Board of Ethics Minutes mc

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Motion and vote: Ms. Lum moved to accept the Ethics Guide and forward it to the Mayor for approval. Ms. Malanka seconded the motion, and all members present voted aye. Mr. Ashida clarified that the Board wanted him to send the Ethics Guide to the Mayor for approval. The Chair said yes and also to ask for publication. Mr. Ashida said an additional signature line for the Council Chair to approve the guide may be a good idea, as the policy is intended to cover all County officers and employees in both the legislative and executive branches. Motion modified and vote: Ms. Lum moved to modify her motion to include the Council Chair in the approval of the Ethics Guide booklet. Ms. Malanka seconded the modified motion, and all members present voted aye. The Chair thanked Mr. Ashida for the suggestion. b. Further review and discussion of the Confidential Financial Disclosure Form. Ms. Lum said they had been waiting to see if the dollar amounts on the instruction sheet for the financial disclosure form could be changed, and they had previously sent a letter to the Council asking for the amendment. As the current amounts were in the County Code, they were not allowed to just change them but had to get Council approval. Mr. Ashida said that a letter had been sent by former BOE Chair Bob Williams, but in checking the Council agendas and minutes, it did not appear the Council followed up on the recommendation. He said he could pursue the matter by drafting the bill himself and sending it to the Council Chair, saying it is being requested by the Board of Ethics. Once it gets agendized, the BOE members could appear before the Council to lobby for it. The Chair said he would like to proceed that way. However, late last year the Board had become proactive in trying to establish changes to become more current. In September he had submitted a letter to the BOE, proposing they request of the Council the authority to fine officials and employees who violate the Code of Ethics. The Board voted on his letter and recommended that it go to the Council. They also had acted on an issue which came up as a result of a petition involving Gary Safarik, in which the Board wanted incumbents who were seeking reelection in an election year to be given a time cap on sending campaign literature using County funds. The Chair said these issues seem to have been lost, although he had asked about their status at several meetings earlier this year. Only now, through an email from Mr. Ashida, did he learn of their status. He would like those items agendized so they can be readdressed. Mr. Ashida asked the Chair if he would like him to draft the proposed legislation for these issues. The Chair said the letters they sent out already exist. Mr. Ashida pointed out that the Council, however, never acted upon them. The Chair said they could be redrafted and resubmitted. Mr. Ashida suggested that he put together draft legislation for all three of these items and follow up with the Council Chair, so as to get the ball rolling. 7