AgdaPkt 2004-03-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

1.A~\4 SALINAS RE-INTRODUCES LEAGUE- IS AN ETHICS CODE RIGHT FOR SPONSORED HOUSING ELEMENT YOUR CITY? SELF-CERTIFICATION BILL: AB 2980 The League's board of directors believes it could be. The League board voted to endorse the Late last week Assembly Memlnr Simon Sali- Institute for Local Self Government's effort to nas, Chair of the Assembly Lonl Gc femment encourage as many cities as possible to engage Collllllime, ~-aB 2980 a League-spon- in the discussion of public service ethical values sored bill which would grant regulatory relief from through the adoption and/or update of a city code state Department of Housing reviews of local of ethics. The action occurred at the board's housing elements for those communities which February meeting. commit to hit a targeted production level of afford- able housing, The board took this action as part of a pack- The measure would authorize "production- age of public confidence strategies for 2004. The based certification" and reward communities with a board had reœived copies of the Institute's new return of their local control if they commit to build at process-oriented guide on adopting codes of least 15% of their share of low and very low income ethics. The guide was produced as one of the housing over their five-year housing element cycle. recommendations of the League's Ethics Educa- This measure is similar to last year's AB 980 (Sali- tion Task Force. The Task Force was created !l§§1. which was delayed in the Assembly while a when the League made promoting public confi- task force of stakeholder groups attempted to dence in city government one of its strategic negotiate reforms to the housing element law. priorities for 2003 and 2004. The concept behind ~ is picking up The Institute's guide focuses on process momentum and bi-partisan support. Nine co- because it recognizes that there is no 'one-size authors have added their names to the bill: Assem- fits all" code of ethics that will serve the needs of bly Members Dutton, Laird, Longville, Vargas, and all of California's diverse cities. The guide does, Wiggins; Senators Denham, Florez, McPherson, however, provide a "menu" of choices for cities and Soto. crafting a code, as well as sample language. The guide's core message is that codes of ethics are Requested Action For Cities: a positive opportunity for local officials to affirm their city's commitment to core public service values. 1) Send Support Letters: While most land use legislation is oriented toward removing local Electronic copies of the guide are available authority, this is a positive bill that seeks to restore without charge from the ILSG website (http:// local authority to cities that are doing what they can www.ilsQ.ol'Ql). Printed versions are available for on affordable housing. It will take a major effort by $20 plus shipping and sales tax from the League's local governments to achieve positive changes to housing element law. If your city supported ~ CityBooks service at (916) 658-8257 or last year, please send a support letter on ~ www.cacities.ora/store, Proceeds from sales of All other cities are encouraged to support this all Institute ethics resources support the Institute's proposal. Sarno!e letters are available on the work in the ethics area, Leaoue's websíte at www.cacities.orolhced. Has your city adopted or updated its ethics 2) Thank Author's and Co-authors, Ask code in the last year? If so, the Institute would like your Legislator to Co-Author. If your legislator to include your city in its 'Ethics Hall of Fame" on has co-authored this measure, please take the time its website. Please contact Institute staff to thank them. If your legislalor has not co- (sDeersi(â!cacities.ora) with a copy of your code. authored this legislation, please encourage them to The Institute hopes the list will grow and under- do so. score the breadth of cities' commitment to ethical values in public service. PAGE 2/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org