PRC MIN 1976-09-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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' 1 ' � , . � w . , ' � � AGENDA ITEM 1 . Review and Discussion of Conflict of Interest Codes Chairperson Pound welcomed the members of various City Committees and asked each to stand and introduce him or herself. �The meeting was then turned over to P1r. Riback. He inquired as to whether everyone had rece�ived the memorandum from the City Attorney's office, j which included, among other things, a sample of the proposed code. Having � received an�affirmative reply from everyone, P9r. Riback then sumnarized ;� the requirements under the Political Reform Act of 1974, �vhich included the necessity to �ado!�t Conflict of Interest Codes; the need to have codes adopted at the most decentralized level which �is why each City Department was obligated to prepare its own code; the requirement for a public hearing which Mr. Riback indicated would be held September 29 at the Ueterans �1em- orial Building; the requirements of departmental codes that officers, er:�;�loyees, and in some cases consultants in designated positions must dis- close certain financial interests; the definition of designated positions; � the procedures each department head will follow in establishing designated positions, disclosure catagories, and the code itself; the definition of financial interest as set forth in the Political Reform Act; jurisdictional requirements placed upon reportable financial interest; the "foreseeable" aspects of reporting financialinterest; the requirement i;o make d�isclosures in an annual statement; and the public record status of all disclasure state- ments. Commissioner Knecht inquired as to whether it was necessary to report the actual market value of real property. Mr. Riback indicated that the law requires only that the disclosure statement indicate whether the fair market value of the real property, or the value of any investment exceeds $10,000 or whether such value exceeds $100,000. He further indicated that with 'respect to personal income, the law requires that the statement indi- cate whether the agyregate value of �income from each source vaas greater than $1 ,000 or whether it was greater than �10,000. Mr. Riback stated that when it comes time for er�ployees and Commissioners to make disclosure statements, the attorney's office will be available to help define the various requirements with respect to how, what and how much � you have to disclose. Commissioner Knecht inquired as to �vhether the requirements of the Politiral Reform Act had been through the courts. P1r. Riback replied that it had been through the courts and that although some minor parts have been found to be unconstitutional , generally the Act had been upheld. Conunissioner Buckhout commented that it appeared that the requirements of the Act served as the deterent to citizen participation on Boards, Commis- sions, and Committees. He further stated that he feared the public records status of disclosures under the code might lead to the information being easily used by opponents to embarrass or intimidate Commission or Committee members. -2-