[00:00:02]
I THINK WE'RE ALL READY TO GO.
[CALL TO ORDER]
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION.I CALL THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING TO ORDER IT IS MAY 25TH, 2022.
THE TIME IS 6:10 PM, WHERE IT AUSTIN CITY HALL AND THE BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM.
IT'S NUMBER 11 0 1 AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS BEING BROADCAST ON ATX N IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT IS COOL.
I'M GOING TO CALL A ROLE IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, SAY HERE OR PRESENT, AND THEN MUTE YOURSELF AGAIN.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
SECRETARY STANTON, PRESENT COMMISSIONER DANBURG COMMISSIONER GREENBURG HERE.
COMMISSIONER MCCORMICK, COMMISSIONER TENDER, YUCA HERE.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS PRESENT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONER LARRY.
UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T JOIN US TONIGHT.
UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE AGENDA, UM, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE, UH, JUST A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE, UM, FOR THE, THE CHILDREN, UH, THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THE FAMILIES IN UBALDI, AND, UH, I'D INVITE YOU IN YOUR REFLECTION OR YOUR PRAYER TO JOIN ME IN THE HOPE THAT, UM, ANYONE WHO'S SEEKING COMFORT RECEIVES IT, THAT ANYONE WHO NEEDS STRENGTH FINDS IT, UM, AND THAT ANYONE WHO NEEDS COURAGE MUSTERS IT.
SO
UM, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT NOW, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP, IS THAT CORRECT? SO WE WILL MOVE STRAIGHT INTO OUR AGENDA.
[1. a. City Council Candidate Forum Planning and Update.]
ONE, NEW BUSINESS.WE HAVE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL, CANDIDATE, FORUM, PLANNING, AND UPDATE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE MS. TARA OLSON FROM THE CITY TO BRIEF US ON THAT.
MS. OLSON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, WE WERE READY FOR YOUR UPDATE.
I'M TARA SON, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M IN THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE AS A MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT.
AND I AM TASKED FOR THE FIRST YEAR DOING THIS, HAVING SOME IN-PERSON OPTIONS FOR OUR CANDIDATE FORUMS, OR AT LEAST AS, AS WE ARE, AS WE SIT NOW.
SO THE DATES WE HAVE CHOSEN, WE LOOKED AT SPECIFICALLY SOME THURSDAY DATES THAT WERE NON COUNCIL DATES SO THAT WE KNEW IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE
AND SO I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE IN A SECOND, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE DID LOOK AT A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHEN CHOOSING THESE FACILITIES AND DATES, AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE CHOOSING A CITY FACILITY, SOME GOOD TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT ACCOMMODATED BOTH A VARIETY OF TRANSPORTATION METHODS AND THEN PARKING AUDIO AND VIDEO CAPABILITIES WHILE ENSURING OUR BEST QUALITY OUTPUT LOCATION WITH EACH WITHIN EACH DISTRICT THAT WE WERE HOLDING A CANDIDATE FORUM IN OR CLOSE BY AS WELL AS STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES.
SO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DID FIND FOUR DATES IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THEM.
THE FIRST ONE IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, FOR THE DISTRICT ONE CANDIDATE FORUM AND THAT LOCATION.
WE HAVE CHOSEN ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER AT 8 4 0 1 CAMERON ROAD.
AND THAT'S A 6:00 PM START TIME.
THE SECOND ONE IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND,
[00:05:02]
THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THE DISTRICT FIVE CANDIDATE FORUM AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT, A CANDIDATE FORUM.SO THAT WOULD BE BACK TO BACK.
DISTRICT FIVE WOULD START AT 6:00 PM, DISTRICT EIGHT AT 7:30 PM.
AND THE LOCATION WE'VE CHOSEN FOR THAT IS THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR CENTER AT 3 9 1 1 AND CHUCK ROAD.
AND WE HAVE DONE THAT LOCATION WITH THOSE TWO DISTRICTS BACK TO BACK IN THE PAST, ACTUALLY IN 2018.
THE THIRD DATE WE CHOSE IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER SIX, TO HOST THE DISTRICT THREE CANDIDATE FORUM.
AND THAT LOCATION WE CHOSE WAS THE CONLEY GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER AT 8 0 8 NILE STREET WITH A 6:00 PM START TIME.
AND THEN THE FINAL CANDIDATE FORUM WE'VE CHOSEN THE DATE OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20TH AT CITY HALL, AND THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO HOST THE DISTRICT NINE CANDIDATE FORUM, AND THEN THE MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM RIGHT AFTER.
SO DISTRICT NINE WOULD START AT 6:00 PM IN THE MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM AND START AT 7:30 PM.
AND I'M ABLE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION IF THINGS CHANGE ABOUT OUR CAPABILITIES OF BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING IN PERSON, WE WILL CERTAINLY ACCOMMODATE THOSE REQUESTS AND, AND ARE PREPARED TO MOVE VIRTUAL.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS, UM, OR COMMENTS FROM OUR, UH, FEARLESS LEADER ON ALL THINGS, CANDIDATE FORUM ON THE COMMISSION, THIS MCCORMICK AND THE ONE WHO HAS A COMMITTEE OF ONE FOR A YEAR, A YEAR FOR A WORKING GROUP OF ONE ON CANDIDATE FORUMS. UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD GO TO YOUR DISTRICT.
I USUALLY TRY TO GO TO ALL OF THEM, BUT IT'S REALLY, UH, AN ASSET TO GO TO SEE THE CANDIDATES AND HEAR AND ET CETERA, AND ALL OF THESE PLACES, WE TRY TO HAVE THEM SO THAT THEY'RE IN CITY FACILITIES WHERE WE HAVE EVERYTHING AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY.
SO WE'LL SEE WHO FILES SINCE THEY DON'T FILE UNTIL AUGUST, BUT THEY CAN BE INTERESTING EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ON TV.
IT'S OLSEN AND THAT'S THE, ON THE NIGHTS WHEN THERE ARE TWO FORUMS BACK TO BACK, SO THAT PRESUMABLY GIVES EACH SESSION ONE AND A HALF HOURS.
IS THAT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WILL BE ON THE SINGLE NIGHT FORUMS? OR DO THEY GET A LONGER TIME? HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, EXACT SAME TIMEFRAME FOR THE SINGLE NIGHTS.
UM, IN ADDITION, I, I WILL MENTION TOO, THAT AS FAR AS PROMOTIONS GO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR THAT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE, OUR CPO IS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE, UM, SOME SOCIAL MEDIA OPTIONS ON THE NEXT DOOR PLATFORM, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PLATFORMS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, UM, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, FOR SURE.
AND BOOST THOSE POSTS TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT SO THAT THEY ARE SEEN AND HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT THAT WAY.
THAT IS OUR PLAN AT THIS POINT, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER EARNED MEDIA OPTIONS, WE WILL DO PRESS RELEASE AND HAVE QUITE A BIT OF EARNED MEDIA THAT WILL CATCH ON WITH THAT AS WELL.
AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RUN A VERY TIGHT SHIP.
THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION.
IF YOU HAD ALREADY MENTIONED IT AND I MISSED IT, BUT EACH ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS ARE THEY RIGHT ON THE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME WHERE THERE THERE'S NO, UM, LIMITED SERVICE WITH A TIME.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, WITH RESPECT TO TRANSLATION OR, UH, UM, INTERPRETATION SERVICES, IS THAT A, UM, A STANDARD SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE AT EACH ONE OF THESE, OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE REQUESTED? WE WILL LIVE PAST AND SPANISH AND THEN HAVE CLOSED CAPTIONING OR ESL.
[00:10:03]
THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE'VE WE HAVE DONE IN THE, IN THE PRIOR YEARS.COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE CAPTIONING FOR FOUR? IS THIS FOUR LANGUAGES OTHER THAN SPANISH IT'S FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, IT'S, IT'S UH, ON THE LOWER THIRDS ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE THE CLOSED CAPTION OPTION SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE, WHAT TEXT IS BEING SPOKEN IN A TEXT ON YOUR SCREEN.
WHAT ABOUT FOR LANGUAGES OTHER THAN SPANISH? UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A REQUEST FOR INTERPRETATION AND, UM, SEE IF, IF WE GET ANY REQUESTS FOR ANY OTHER LANGUAGES.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT? UM, THIS IS, UM, A BIT OF A, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW ELSE TO SAY IT, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A FOCUS POINT FOR ME THAT WE, AS A CITY BY DEFAULT PROVIDE SPANISH AS THE OTHER LANGUAGE AND DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR WHICH I'M PRETTY SURE THERE IS AN ASIAN LANGUAGE THAT IS THE SECOND WIDELY USED LANGUAGE IN AUSTIN.
AND SO MY CONCERN IS THAT FOR ANY LANGUAGE, OTHER THAN SPANISH, IT HAS TO BE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED.
AND I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT PROCESS KNOWS THAT THEY CAN REQUEST IT AND IT'S JUST NOT EASY.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY NOT THE TIME TO MAKE SUCH A CHANGE, BUT THAT'S MY CONCERN IS WE GIVE THIS INFORMATION OUT, BUT SOMEONE WHO LETS LET'S SAY VIETNAMESE, WHICH I BELIEVE MIGHT BE THE SECOND WIDELY USED LANGUAGE IN, UH, IN TEXAS AND IN AUSTIN, HOW WILL THEY KNOW TO REQUEST THIS? AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? LIKE IT'S A PROCESS, RIGHT? AND PEOPLE AREN'T, IF THEY HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH, PROFICIENCY, CHANCES ARE, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE COMFORTABLE ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES AND FEELING EMPOWERED ENOUGH TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS AN ACCOMMODATION THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO PROVIDE FOR ME.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE IN THAT POSITION TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST FOR THE CANDIDATE FORUMS. SO PLEASE DON'T INTERPRET THIS AS I'M I'M, UH, IN JUDGING OR ATTACKING THIS EFFORT.
IT'S SOMETHING CITY-WIDE THAT I RECOGNIZE AS A GAP.
IS THERE A WAY THAT YEAH, YEAH.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY CLEAR PROTOCOL FOR ANY, ANY ISSUE CITYWIDE THAT ACTUALLY USES THE SERVICE TO CALL AUSTIN THROUGH.
AND ONE TO REQUEST INTERPRETATION.
THAT'S A VERY COMMON SERVICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS ON ALL THINGS, ALL ISSUES, ALL THINGS RELATED TO ESSENTIAL AND CRITICAL NEWS THAT NEEDS TO GET OUT AS WELL AS LIKE OTHER, UM, OTHER NEWS FROM AN EVENTS AND, AND DIFFERENT INITIATIVES COMING FROM THE CITY.
SO USING AUSTIN THROUGH, AND ONE TO CALL AND REQUEST OTHER LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION SERVICES IS VERY COMMON AND A VERY FLUID SERVICE THAT WE CAN SET UP AND HAVE SET UP IN THE PAST.
UM, WE, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR A LOT OF OTHER LANGUAGES, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE AND DO EXTRA REACH OUT TO THOSE CITY FACILITIES THAT THAT MAY REQUEST THOSE SERVICES MORE SUCH AS THE AMERICAN ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER, SUCH AS CONNIE GUERRERO.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT GOES WITH ANY CITY FACILITY AND IN ANY COUNCIL DISTRICT, WE HAVE THAT PROTOCOL WIDELY KNOWN AND COMMONLY USED.
AND IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, DETAIL THAT YOU CAN FIND ACTUALLY ON SPEAK AUSTIN.
THE IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE SPEAK UP AUSTIN PLATFORM FOR OUR CITY.
AND I SPEAK AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY HAS ALL THE INFORMATION ON HOW THAT WORKS.
WE'RE DOING PROMOTIONS AND OUTREACH ON HOW EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY CAN, CAN UNDERSTAND THE SERVICE AND ANY LANGUAGE.
AND, UM, SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE THAT AS A WAY TO HELP PROMOTE LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION NEEDS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AGAIN
[00:15:01]
FOR TIMING PROBABLY TOO LATE FOR THIS, BUT, UM, HOW CAN WE MAKE IT WHERE IT IS A TOPIC THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR, FOR THE GROUP TO CONSIDER? BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING IS, UM, A DIFFERENCE IN THE PROCESS, RIGHT? BASED ON YOUR LANGUAGE.SO IF YOU ARE PRIMARILY A SPANISH SPEAKER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REQUEST, RIGHT? SO YOUR PROCESS IS DIFFERENT.
IT'S JUST A GIVEN YOU SHOW UP TO THESE CANDIDATE FORUMS AND, UM, THE ACCOMMODATION IS ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT IF YOU SPEAK, IF YOUR PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS SOMETHING OTHER THAN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO REQUEST IT.
AND SO, AGAIN, I SAY THIS AS A, THIS IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT HERE, BUT I JUST ASKED THAT IF YOU COULD TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION IN PLANNING IT FOR THE FUTURE, THAT ONE GROUP SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN ANOTHER GROUP.
I THINK THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF EQUITY, UM, AND ACCESSIBILITY.
UM, IT'S AND WHEN WE SAY, WELL, WE HAVEN'T HAD REQUESTS FOR OTHER LANGUAGES, WE'VE GOT UNSHARED.
IT'S ALMOST, IT'S SIMILAR TO THE LOGIC OF, WELL, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ABUSE IN A CERTAIN COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT JUST HASN'T BEEN REPORTED, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME AND REQUEST IT IF THEY, IF THEY'RE KIND OF ON THE FRINGES AND NOT REALLY PLUGGED INTO IT.
SO WE HAVEN'T HAD REQUESTS PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EMPOWERED OR THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO I, I CAUTION THAT WE NOT USE THAT AS A MEASURE OF WHAT THE NEED IS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT JUST BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN REQUESTED THAT THERE ISN'T A NEED AND THE SECRETARY AND STANTON I'LL, UH, I'LL JUMP IN REAL QUICK TO SAY THAT I HAVE GOOD NEWS, WHICH IS THAT, UM, THE CANDIDATE FORUM AND, UH, HOW THAT PROCEEDS IS A WELL WITHIN OUR PURVIEW.
UM, SO WE CAN WORK ON THIS AND WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO KIND OF LOOK INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE GIVEN OUR, HOW FAR OUT WE ARE FROM THE FORUM DATES.
UM, SO WHAT I THINK WE CAN DO IS, UH, KIND OF HAVE, UM, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO COMMUNICATE WITH LYNN AS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE JUNE MEETING SOME OF THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION SERVICES AHEAD OF TIME, IF THAT'S SUFFICIENT AND, YOU KNOW, AND IF IT'S DONE IN THE APPROPRIATE SET OF LANGUAGES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, SO I THINK IT'S, I THINK WE CAN ABSOLUTELY WORK ON IT.
SO A LOT OF IT IS FOR CANDIDATES TO DO.
WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IT, BUT I'VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY MY STATEMENT, A STATEMENT EARLIER ABOUT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MANY OTHER LANGUAGE LANGUAGES BEING REQUESTED WAS SPECIFIC TO THIS COULD BE A CANDIDATE FORUMS SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
SO THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST A PREVIOUS TO PREVIOUS CYCLES OF THEM PRIOR.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO AND WE CAN CERTAINLY INVOLVE OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR.
APPRECIATE THAT COMMISSIONER GREENBERG.
SO I, I THINK I UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WILL BE LIVE STREAMING AT ALL THE LOCATIONS IF THAT'S WRONG.
THAT'S UM, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS WOULD THERE BE ANY CHILDCARE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCATIONS? YEAH, NO.
FROM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T, HAS THAT BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN OFFERED IN THE PAST? UH, I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT AS BEING THE THING WE'VE OFFERED IN THE PAST.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU, MS. OLSON WILL LIKELY BE IN TOUCH VIA LIZETTE ORLIN ON SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE ABOUT TRANSLATION SERVICES OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION.
COMMISSIONERS MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
[00:20:02]
LET'S SEE, I WORK IN GROUPS[1. b. Working groups and possible reassignment of subject matters to working groups.]
POSSIBLE REASSIGNMENT OF SUBJECT MATTERS TO WORK IN GROUPS.UM, SO ON THIS ONE, UH, I KIND OF GAVE A VERY VAGUE PREVIEW IN OUR LAST MEETING ABOUT SORT OF WHAT I HAD ENVISIONED HERE.
I'LL JUST, I THINK MAYBE THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE THE POINT, LET ME DIRECT YOU TO OUR AGENDA AND JUST TO LOOK AT ITEM TWO B, WHICH IS THE WORKING GROUP ON SANCTIONS PROCEDURES AND OTHER ISSUES, WHICH ENCOMPASSES IT IN ESSENCE, OUR ENTIRE JURISDICTION AS A COMMISSION, UM, AND AN ENTIRE SUITE OF PARTICULARS, UM, THAT WE WILL OR MIGHT OR COULD LOOK AT AND WORK ON.
UM, IT IS, UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SIMPLIFYING, IT WOULD BE USEFUL A, UM, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR POOR AGENDA, WHICH HAS BEEN SADDLED WITH A VERY LONG DESCRIPTION OF A WORKING GROUP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO KIND OF GIVE FOCUS TO, UM, OUR WORKING GROUP.
UH, WE'VE MET, UM, A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE DOING IN THOSE MEETINGS WAS SIMPLY PRIORITIZING, UM, THE VARIOUS TASKS THAT WE HAD SAID AT SOME POINT WE WOULD TACKLE, UM, AND IT IS, IT IS A BROAD SWATH OF THINGS.
UM, SO, UH, ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE OUT OF HERE IS TO SIMPLIFY THE CURRENT WORKING GROUP, UM, SO THAT IT IS SIMPLY A WORKING GROUP THAT LOOKS AT OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE AND CHAPTER TWO DASH SEVEN.
SO TWO DASH SEVEN OF THE CITY CODE IS THE SUBSTANTIVE ORDINANCES THAT GOVERN OUR COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE ETHICS RULES.
SO CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UM, UH, JUST STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, GENERALLY USING CITY RESOURCES FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES, THINGS LIKE THAT, THE KIND OF STUFF THAT CITY EMPLOYEES AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE SUBJECT TO.
UM, SO IT WOULD BE THOSE TWO THINGS, THINGS THAT FALL UNDER TWO DASH SEVEN AND OUR OWN RULES OF PROCEDURE.
SO WHAT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE IS, UH, CAMPAIGN FINANCE STUFF.
AND WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE STUFF.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR KITCHEN SINK WORKING GROUP IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT DOLLAR LIMITS IN CHAPTER TWO DASH TWO, UM, AND, UH, A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS THAT COULD FALL INTO THE REALM OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE THINGS.
UM, SO ON THAT FRONT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT JUST MOVING FORWARD AS A STANDARD PRACTICE, IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC CAMPAIGN FINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS OR CHANGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE WORKING GROUPS SET UP ON A KIND OF AD HOC BASIS, UM, IT IS COMPLICATED STUFF TO BE JUST COMPLETELY HONEST.
UM, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING JUST AT THE DOLLAR LIMITS IN CHAPTER TWO DASH TWO TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND IT IS, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE TRY TO DO IN OUR KITCHEN SINK WORKING GROUP, AND STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER A, A GOOGLE SHEET THAT HAD EVERY DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WAS LISTED IN TWO DAYS TOO.
UM, BUT TO KIND OF THINK THROUGH CAREFULLY AND ANALYZE WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THOSE DOLLARS LIMITS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS IN OUR CAMPAIGN, FINANCE CODE IS KIND OF A LOT WHEN WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO THINK ABOUT POTENTIAL WAYS TO GIVE MORE TEETH TO THE COMMISSION, UM, TO IMPROVE OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE SO THAT IT'S FAIRER IN HEARINGS.
UM, IT'S A LOT, UH, AND, AND I THINK THE BENEFIT OF DOING THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE THINGS ON A MORE AD HOC BASIS, AND HAVING WORKED IN GROUPS KIND OF SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THINGS LIKE DOLLAR LIMITS OR SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES IN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OR SOMETHING, IS THAT OUR CAMPAIGNS ARE WAY MORE CYCLICAL THAN JUST YOUR RUN OF THE MILL ETHICS COMPLAINTS.
AND IF WE WANT TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TIMELY AND SENSITIVE TO OCCURRENCE CYCLE, IT MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP THAT IS DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME, AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO SHOEHORN IT INTO A KITCHEN SINK WORKING GROUP, LIKE THE ONE WE ALREADY HAVE.
[00:25:02]
THOSE ARE MY TWO BIG THOUGHTS.SO I'M GOING TO STOP THERE IF ANYONE'S GOT THOUGHTS, DISCUSSION ON THAT, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IT.
I AGREE THAT THE KITCHEN SCENE WORKING GROUP IS OVERWHELMED WITH THE AMOUNT OF, UM, AREAS TO LOOK AT.
AND REMEMBER THIS HAPPENS SORT OF INADVERTENTLY BECAUSE THERE WERE TWO WORKING GROUPS AND THEN MAYBE TWO COMMISSIONERS LEFT AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE MEMBER OF THE WORKING GROUP LEFT.
I THINK YOUR SUGGESTION TO SPLIT INTO TWO WORKING GROUPS IS A GOOD ONE.
AND DO YOU WANT EMOTION? I I'M HAPPY TO DO THE DIRTY WORK OF MAKING THE MOTION, BUT JUST WANTED TO SOLICIT ANY FEEDBACK.
AND JUST TO BE COMPLETELY CLEAR, MY MOTION WOULD BE JUST TO RE, TO REDEFINE THE CURRENT WORKING GROUP WITHOUT CREATING CURRENT, LIKE A NEW CAMPAIGN FINANCE WORKING GROUP.
IF WE WANT TO DO THAT, WE COULD DO THAT IN A SEPARATE MOTION, I THINK, BUT FOR NOW, GIVEN OUR TIMELINE FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE STUFF, THE CAMPAIGNS ARE FORMERLY GOING TO START SOON ENOUGH THAT REALISTICALLY, IF WE, RIGHT, IF WE HAD A WORKING GROUP THAT WE SET UP TODAY THAT HAD RECOMMENDATIONS READY FOR JUNE, OUR JUNE MEETING, MAYBE, BUT EVEN THEN IT'S, IT'S SO SHORT OF A WINDOW TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION THAT IT FEELS FEELS MAYBE A LITTLE MORE WISE TO NOT RUSH AND DO IT RIGHT.
THAT'S STILL, THAT'S MY SENSE, AT LEAST GIVEN THAT IT'S, UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM US TO COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UM, ITS SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE TO TWO DASH TWO.
WELL, SO WE WOULD, SO IN THEORY, THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS WOULD BE, WE CREATED A WORKING GROUP TODAY.
WORKING GROUP COMES BACK IN JUNE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN THEY REPORT THAT TO COUNCIL AT THEIR NEXT REGULAR MEETING AT SOME POINT IN THE SUMMER AUGUST.
UM, AND SO WE RUN INTO THIS, THE TRUE START OF THE CAMPAIGN.
UM, SO I, I'M NOT, AT THIS POINT SUGGESTING WE CREATE A SEPARATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE WORKING GROUP TO LOOK AT DOLLAR LIMITS FOR THE CYCLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, IF THERE'S INTEREST IN DOING CAMPAIGN FINANCE STUFF EXPLICITLY TO LOOK AT FUTURE HYPOTHETICAL CHANGES THAT WOULDN'T APPLY IN THE CURRENT ELECTION CYCLE, I'M ALL FOR IT.
BUT YES, I SEE COMMISSIONER DANBURG GO AHEAD.
MAYBE, UH, WELL THERE'S ANOTHER DEBRA DANBURG POPPING UP.
WE HAVE SOMEONE, UH, I THINK WE CAN HEAR YOU GIVE IT A SHOT.
I, IF I NEED TO, I WILL, UM, SECOND THE MOTION AND THEN ADD IN ON THIS.
UM, I, YEAH, THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE, I DON'T THINK I'VE FORMALLY MADE THE MOTION YET, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT MOTION.
I MOVE THAT THE CURRENT WORKING GROUP, UM, DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA ITEM TO THE EYE, AS OPPOSED TO REREADING THE WHOLE THING THAT, THAT WORKING GROUP, UH, BE RENAMED AND RE TASKED SO THAT IT IS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO DASH TWO.
TO DESK SEVEN AND THE COMMISSION'S RULES OF PROCEDURE PERIOD.
SO WORKING GROUP AS DESCRIBED ON AGENDA ITEM TWO D I THAT IS CURRENTLY THE WORKING GROUP ON SANCTIONS PROCEDURES AND OTHER ISSUES, WHICH HAS, UH, WHICH WE'LL LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS THAT IT BE SIMPLIFIED TO BE A WORKING GROUP THAT LOOKS AT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE TWO DASH SEVEN AND COMMISSION RULES OF PROCEDURE
[00:30:12]
SO ON THAT LIST, YOU'RE CROSSING EVERYTHING OFF EXCEPT HERE.SO THE ONE THAT SAYS POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO DASH SEVEN.
AND SO IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT'S GENERAL.
SO IN SHORT, JUST WANTING TO CLARIFY, WHICH OF THOSE ARE YOU JUST CROSSING OFF? THEY WON'T BE ON THE AGENDA ANYMORE.
SO THE ONES THAT ARE, THAT ARE STAYING ON, I GUESS, UH, ARE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO TWO DASH TWO, WHICH IS THE SECOND ONE AND POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION, WHICH IS THE THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE SUBJECTS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THESE OTHER BULLET POINTS FALL WITHIN A POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE OR TWO DASH SEVEN.
SO THE THINGS THAT OUR WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN LOOKING AT IN THE PAST, UM, AREN'T EXCLUDED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE THINGS UNDER TWO DASH TWO COMMISSIONER GREENBERG.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSION SANCTIONS, INCLUDING BLAH, BLAH, SANCTIONS IS STILL ON THE TABLE TO LOOK AT, YES, SANCTIONS ARE CURRENTLY, OUR CURRENT SANCTIONS ARE LETTERS, BUT OUR SANCTIONS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER TWO DASH SEVEN IN A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT THAT AUGMENTS OR INTRODUCES THE SANCTION WOULD HAVE TO BE IN TWO DASH SEVEN.
SO I'LL TAKE IT AS A SECOND AND, OR, OR ADD A SECOND, THE MOTION.
SO WHAT'S EXCLUDED THE CHANGE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING WOULD BE AN EXCLUSION OF CHAPTER TWO DASH TWO.
IS THAT CORRECT FROM D SCOPE FROM THE SCOPE OF THIS WORKING GROUP? YES.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DAN, I SAW YOUR HAND UP THE, GOT A VOLUME ISSUE AGAIN.
UM, I AGREE THAT BIFURCATING, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA, AND I FURTHER AGREE THAT MAKING ANY CHANGES IN TWO DASH TWO, THIS CLOSE TO THE ELECTION SEASON IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE VIOLATIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE FILED.
SOMETHING I DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER.
UM, OKAY, WELL THAT'S THE MOTION IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONERS? YES.
R R THE CITY CODES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION ARE TWO DASH SEVEN AND TWO DASH TWO.
CORRECT? THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES OR NO.
UM, AND THEY INCLUDE, UM, CERTAIN CITY CHARTER PROVISIONS, I BELIEVE.
UM, I'LL LET LYNN WALK THROUGH AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
MY, MY OVERALL QUESTION IS ARE THOSE OTHER CODES THAT ARE NOT EXPLICITLY NAMED TWO DASH SEVEN AND TWO DASH TWO, ARE THEY COVERED UNDER COMMISSIONED RULES AND PROCEDURES? THE OTHER BULLET SCOPE? I WOULD SAY I'LL ACTUALLY JUST LET LYNN ANSWER THAT.
SO I WOULD SAY NO, UM, EXCEPT THAT CHAP SECTION 2 7 2 6 2 7 2 6 DESCRIBES YOUR JURISDICTION INCLUDES CHAPTER FOUR EIGHT, WHICH IS REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT CHANGES TO IT, YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY ASSIGN A DIFFERENT WORKING GROUP TO LOOK AT CHAPTER FOUR EIGHT.
THERE IS A SECTION OF THE CITY CHARTER ARTICLE THREE, SECTION EIGHT THAT ALSO ADDRESSES CAN PAYING CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES, BUT THAT WOULD FALL WITHIN CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
WHAT I'M NOT CLEAR ON IS HAVE WE ACCOUNTED FOR ALL THE
[00:35:01]
ITEMS THAT ARE IN SCOPE OR OF OUR COMMISSION, OR IS SOMETHING LEFT OUT AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING, BUT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR INTENTION THEN CHAIR IN THE FUTURE SHOULD, SHOULD WORK.UM, SHOULD WE FIND POTENTIAL CHANGES IN OTHER CODES THAT ARE NOT NAMED SPECIFICALLY IN THIS WORK GROUP? WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR DOING THAT TO CREATE ANOTHER WORKING GROUP? UM, AND, UH, I, THAT THOSE WORDS CAME OUT OF MOUTH, BUT GRUDGINGLY, UM, BUT, UH, IT'S JUST THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR KITCHEN SINK WORKING GROUP AND TRYING TO ECONOMIZE PEOPLE TO WHATEVER RECOMMENDATION WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE TO CODE IN OUR JURISDICTION HAS NOT BORNE FRUIT.
SO THE IDEA IS FOCUS FOR THE CURRENT WORKING GROUP ON THE TASKS THAT WE KIND OF HAVE BEFORE US.
AND WE CAN GET INTO THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT IN OUR AGENDA, WHAT THOSE TASKS ARE, THE KIND OF PRIORITIZATION THAT WE WERE DOING SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
BUT IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS, THEN BY ALL MEANS THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME FOR A WORKING GROUP ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE THAT PART OF THE CITY CODE.
AND WE WILL WE'LL CROSS THE BRIDGE WHEN WE GET THERE.
SO WOULD THIS NEW, WOULD THIS CHANGE IN STRUCTURE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, ALLOW US THE FLEXIBILITY THAT LET'S SAY SOME MIRACLE, THIS NEW WORK GROUP DOESN'T HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE AND WE CAN TAKE ON WORK FOR OTHER CODES.
WOULD THIS STRUCTURE ALLOWS US THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE ON THAT AS A SCOPE AND ADDITIONAL SCOPE, OR WOULD WE, OR WOULD IT PRECLUDE US FROM DOING THAT? AND WE WOULD HAVE TO FORM A NEW WORK GROUP.
YOU KNOW, IF WE, UM, IF WE WERE MEETING IN OUR WORK GROUP AND WE, IF WE SAY WE'RE INCREDIBLY PRODUCTIVE AND WE CROSSED ALL THE CHECKED OFF ALL THE BOXES, UM, IT WOULD LIKELY BE MOST APPROPRIATE EITHER TO COME BACK TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, TO REDEFINE OUR WORKING GROUPS, SCOPE, DISSOLVE, OR RECONSTITUTE THE WORKING GROUP, OR TO CREATE, UH, A NEW WORKING GROUP THAT HAS THAT SPECIFICALLY AS PART OF ITS SCOPE.
SO IF IN THE COURSE OF OUR DISCUSSION IN THE WORKING GROUP, WE'RE LIKE, MAN, REALLY WISH I COULD CHANGE THAT CHAPTER FOUR DASH EIGHT LOBBYIST RULE.
WE'D PROBABLY THE APPROPRIATE THING FOR US TO DO AS A WORKING GROUP WOULD BE TO PUMP THE BRAKES, MAKE A NOTE.
AND IN OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, UH, TRY TO, OR, YOU KNOW, TALK WITH THE CHAIR AND COMMUNICATE WITH LYNN THAT THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING ON OUR AGENDA TO DISCUSS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALRIGHT, THEN I WILL, WE'VE GOT DEBORAH VIRTUALLY, SO I'M GOING TO GO AROUND THE HORN AND ASK FOR A VOTE AND I'LL REPEAT THE VOTE AND MOVE ON AS OPPOSED TO GOING ONE BY ONE MULTIPLE TIMES.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS WAS AN I AND COMMISSIONER MCCORMICK.
IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION COMMISSIONER, SECRETARY STANTON AS A YES.
COMMISSIONER DANBURG YES, YES.
UH, ONE GOOD LEGISLATIVE ONE, UM, COMMISSIONER GREENBERG.
COMMISSIONER 11 SAYS I, THAT IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH AN ABSENCE INNOVATION SEAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEW SLIMMER SLEEKER WORKING GROUP'S PRODUCTIVITY.
I THINK, I THINK WE CAN SAY IT'S NO LONGER THE WHOLE KITCHEN SINK, MAYBE JUST SOME OF IT.
[1. c. Ethics Code Overview of Section 2-7-62 (Standards of Conduct) and conflict of interest provisions, Section 2-7-63, 2-7-64, and 2-7-65, and Section 2-7-2 (Definitions).]
INTO, UM, OUR OVERVIEW OF, UH, SO WE WERE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH, UM, LYNN'S PRESENTATION, THE OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER TWO DASH SEVEN.UM, SO, UH, I WILL, UH, LET HER GO THROUGH THAT PRESENTATION.
[00:40:02]
UM, THE NEXT THINGS JUST TO KIND OF FORECAST WHAT ELSE IS ON OUR AGENDA COMMISSIONERS.UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE, UH, POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT OUR KITCHEN SINK WORKING GROUP HAS COME UP WITH ON THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT.
UM, AND THEN JUST A FEW OTHER CLOSING MATTERS THAT REALLY SHOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG.
UM, SO ANY OBJECTION INTO ROLLING INTO OUR OVERVIEW? OKAY.
LYNN, I THINK WE NEED TO GO TO, I'M SORRY.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE ON SLIDE 29 OR 30.
I GOT TO LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER.
UM, SO FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE IS, UM, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT CAN BE MADE AT CAN BE A VIOLATION OF CITY CODE AND IT FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
UM, ABUSE MEANS USE OF A CITY OFFICE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, OR OTHER POSITION WITH THE CITY TO OBTAIN PERSONAL GAIN OR FAVOR FROM A CITIZEN OR OTHER CITY EMPLOYEE OR VENDOR.
UM, SO BASICALLY YOU'RE USING YOUR POSITION TO GET A BENEFIT FOR YOURSELF FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
FRAUD INCLUDES AN AUTHORIZED USE OF CITY RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL GAIN BY DECEPTION.
SO IT'S NOT JUST USE OF CITY RESOURCES.
THAT ADDS A DECEPTIVE ELEMENT THAT CAN BE BY FORGERY, ALTERING A DOCUMENT.
UM, IT'S ALSO INCLUDES MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, SUPPLIES, OR OTHER CITY RESOURCES THROUGH METHODS SUCH AS THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, OR MISREPRESENTATION.
SO THESE ARE THE FRAUD AND ABUSE PROVISIONS ARE PRETTY SERIOUS AND THE CITY AUDITOR WILL CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION OF IF THERE'S SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD OR ABUSE.
UM, FRAUD ALSO INCLUDES INTENTIONAL IMPROPER HANDLING OF A REPORTING OF MONEY, UM, AND INTENTIONAL IMPROPER DESTRUCTION OR REMOVAL OF RECORDS THAT WOULD BE CITY RECORDS.
WE HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE LAW IN TERMS OF RECORD KEEPING, OR WE USE OFFICIAL INFORMATION FOR PERSONAL BENEFITS, SUCH AS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FOR OUR OWN PERSONAL GAIN.
UM, SO, UH, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, ALL, ALL OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M COVERING AND NOT EVERYTHING IN CHAPTER TWO SEVEN AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION, I'M MAINLY FOCUSING ON THE ETHICS, THE ETHICAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT IN 2, 2 7, 6 2, I BELIEVE.
AND THEN I BELIEVE YOUR AGENDA LIST, THE OTHER CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROVISIONS IN THE CITY CODE.
SO, UM, MY EYESIGHT'S NOT GOOD TO LET KNOW TO LOOK FORWARD.
SO, UH, SALARIED CITY OFFICIALS, SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THE RULES APPLY TO, UM, THIS, UH, SOME OF THE CITY RULES APPLY TO EMPLOYEES AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN CITY OFFICIALS, SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TO JUST HIRE CITY OFFICIALS.
BUT IN THIS CASE, THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVOLVE CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES WHO CANNOT, UM, MAKE SURE SALARIED CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.
YOU'RE A CITY OFFICIALS, BUT YOU'RE NOT, YOU DON'T GET A SALARY.
THEY CAN'T REPRESENT FOR PAY ANY PERSON OR GROUP BEFORE ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, ANOTHER BOARD, OR OF COURSE THE CITY COUNCIL OR ANOTHER COMMITTEE, THEY CAN'T REPRESENT ANOTHER PERSON DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE A SALARIED CITY OFFICIAL OR AN EMPLOYEE, YOU YOU'RE ALREADY DEEMED UNDER THE CITY CODE TO HAVE A CONFLICT FOR YOU TO STEP IN AND SAY, I'M GOING TO REPRESENT MY NEIGHBOR ON THIS CASE, THIS RATE CASE BEFORE THE AUSTIN ENERGY, UM, THAT'S NOT ALLOWED OR TO UNDER THE CITY CODE.
UM, THEY CAN'T REPRESENT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP BEFORE MUNICIPAL COURT.
[00:45:02]
MR. DAN BERG, IF YOU COULD MUTE YOURSELF.UM, AND, UH, THE LATTER ONE IS, UM, IS, IS MORE FOCUSED IF, IF THERE WAS AN ACTION THAT WAS INSTITUTED BY THE CITY OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE IN THE COURSE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES.
SO, UM, NOW IN TERMS OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT, THE ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEYS WOULD NEVER REPRESENT ANYONE IN MUNICIPAL COURT THAT WOULD BE A CLEAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
SO WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RULES THAT APPLY TO US.
UM, UM, SO SALARIED CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES ALSO MAY NOT USE THEIR OFFICIAL POSITION TO SECURE A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE OR EXEMPTION, UM, TO HARM ANOTHER OR SECURE, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THEIR, UM, FOR A PURPOSE THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO SPECIFIC OFFICIAL ONE.
SO AGAIN, YOU SEE THIS CONTINUED THEME THAT YOU USE YOUR OFFICIAL POSITION TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF THE CITY, NOT FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE.
UM, NOW MAYOR AND COUNCIL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TWO YEARS AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, THEY CAN'T SOLICIT OR PROPOSE ON A CONTRACT OR ENTER A CONTRACT FOR SALE TO THE CITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES.
THERE IS AN EXCEPTION FOR REAL ESTATE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE NEED TO SELL THEIR OWN, UH, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELL THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
UM, THERE ARE US CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR YOUR RIGHT TO HANDLE YOUR OWN PROPERTY.
SO, UM, BUT THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP PREVENT POTENTIAL CORRUPTION, UM, BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVEN AFTER THEY LEAVE OFFICE.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY OR ANYONE ACT THERE ON THEIR BEHALF CAN NOT, AFTER TWO YEARS SELL OR LEASE REAL ESTATE TO THE CITY, UNLESS CITY COUNCIL HAS DESIGNATED THAT PROPERTY, UM, FOR CONDEMNATION OR, YOU KNOW, TO BE OBTAINED THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THEY HAVE SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS, UM, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT MAY BE RESOLVED BY RECUSAL.
I THINK WE TOUCHED ON THIS LAST MEETING, BUT FUTURE EMPLOYMENT IS ONE OF THOSE, AN OFFICER IN A NONPROFIT ENTITY, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, IF ONE OF YOU SERVED AS AN OFFICER ON A NONPROFIT ENTITY AND SOMEHOW THAT NONPROFIT ENTITY BROUGHT A CLAIM AGAINST A COMPLAINT AGAINST SOMEONE FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO RECUSE FROM, FROM THAT COMPLAINT.
LIKEWISE, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER IS CONSIDERING SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING AND A NONPROFIT ON WHICH THEY SERVE ON THE BOARD COMES BEFORE COUNCIL, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S AN OFFICER FOR THAT NONPROFIT WOULD HAVE TO RECUSE FROM THAT DISCUSSION OR VOTE.
UM, A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IS ONE OF THOSE DEFINITIONS IN YOUR CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO SEVEN, AND IT'S E AND I BELIEVE IT'S TWO, I THINK IT'S 2 7, 2.
SO STATE SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IS IN A BUSINESS CAN BE IN ANOTHER PERSON IN REAL ESTATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS DEFINITION IS QUITE BROAD AS PRETTY MUCH ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS ENTITY.
AND ACTUALLY THE KITCHEN SINK WORKING GROUP IS GOING TO HAVE AN ITEM THAT WILL COME FORWARD ABOUT BUSINESS INDUSTRY IN INTERESTS OF CITY OFFICIALS, FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS, THE WORKING GROUP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE KITCHEN SINK.
YES, YES, NO LONGER NOW MORE TAILORED.
SO SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST CAN ARISE FROM OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OF A BUSINESS INCOME THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM AN EMPLOYER, OR EVEN THROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, STOCKS AND BONDS CONTROL THAT YOU HAVE OVER A BUSINESS DEBT.
UM, IF, IF A CITY OFFICIAL MAKES A LOAN OR RECEIVES A LOAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY REPORT IN THEIR STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT IF THERE WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH OR EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RATE OF INTEREST, THAT WOULD SUGGEST SOME KIND OF SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP, MORE THAN THE TYPICAL LOAN RELATIONSHIP, IT CAN ALSO BE BY KINSHIP.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE
[00:50:01]
DEGREES OF AFINITY ANDSO WHEN THERE IS A RECUSAL CITY, EMPLOYEES HAVE TO NOTIFY THEIR SUPERVISOR, THAT THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THEY HAVE TO PUT IT IN WRITING.
AND THE SUPERVISOR HAS TO THEN REASSIGN THAT, THAT MATTER TO ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THAT APPLIES THE WAY UP TO CITY MANAGER.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CITY MANAGER HAD A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS, THE MANAGER WOULD NOTIFY CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT'S WHO HIRES THE CITY MANAGER, UM, FOR YOU, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW HOW YOU RECUSED, YOU SIGN IN THAT SHEET.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE, YOU NEED TO RE TO RECUSE ON ANY ITEM FOR OTHER BOARDS, IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.
AND COMMISSIONER GREENBERG IS FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
SOME BOARDS THAT, THAT MAKE, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANTIAL HAS SUBSTANTIAL DECISION-MAKING MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT TO COVER A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE CITY CLERK UNDER STATE LAW, OR IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST RELATED TO VENDOR, CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE TO, WOULD HAVE TO FILE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AFFIDAVIT.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE IN THE DECISION-MAKING LOOP IN REGARD TO VENDORS.
ALL RIGHT? SO IF WE GET TO A POINT THAT YOU WANT TO STOP AND SAVE IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING, YOU JUST LET ME KNOW.
UM, WE ARE ABOUT TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES, THE CITY CODES, THE DEFINITIONS ARE IN 2 7, 2, 2 7 7.
ONE OF THE CITY CODE DESCRIBES THE DEADLINES.
AND THEN 2 7, 7 2 DESCRIBES SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO REPORT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I FLAGGED, I THINK FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK TODAY, EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER DAN BERG, WHO'S ATTENDING VIRTUALLY IS SOME OF THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED AS PART OF THAT, OR HAVE TO BE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE REPORTED IN A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
SO THE BLUE FLAGS IN YOUR NOTEBOOK THAT SUBSECTION E DEFINES WHAT HAS TO BE REPORTED.
AND THE PURPOSE IS SIMPLY TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS AND FOR PURPOSES OF TRANSPARENCY, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY, I TELL EXECUTIVES, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS YOU MAY FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN INVASION OF YOUR PRIVACY TO BE REPORTING THE SOURCES OF YOUR SUBSTANTIAL INTERESTS, IT HELPS YOU TO IDENTIFY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST SO THAT YOU WILL THINK ABOUT THAT IN YOUR JOB.
AND SO WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF BEING HIRED, NEW CITY OFFICIAL HAS TO FILE A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTEREST.
AND THEN EVERY YEAR THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 30TH THAT SOMETIMES GETS PUSHED BACK.
IF, IF THE IRS PUSHES BACK, THE FILING DEADLINE CITY COUNCIL TYPICALLY WILL EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR FILING STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INTEREST AS WELL.
SO THE ETHICAL CONCERNS ABOUT GIFTS IS THAT THERE IS A, THERE IS A POWER IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT AND THOSE THAT WE GOVERN.
WE REGULATE, WE PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES AND WE ARE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TELL EMPLOYEES EVEN WHEN WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A MONTH OF CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING, EVERY FALL LASTS FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND DEPARTMENTS ARE VERY CREATIVE ABOUT IDEAS.
THEY HAVE TO RAISE MONEY THAT WILL GO TO DIFFERENT CHARITIES.
THAT IS JUST THE CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN FOR NUMEROUS OPTIONAL CHARITIES THAT EMPLOYEES CAN CAN OPT INTO.
BUT IF A DEPARTMENT DECIDES TO HAVE A SILENT AUCTION, THEY CAN'T GO TO A NEARBY BUSINESS RESTAURANT.
WHAT HAVE YOU AND SAY, WILL YOU GIVE US A $25 GIFT CARD? UM, THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE UNDER THE GIFT POLICY BECAUSE BUSINESSES WOULD FEEL LIKE, OH, IT'S THE CITY.
WE SHOULD, WE BETTER CHIP IN SOMETHING SO THAT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED.
IF AN EMPLOYEE WANTS TO DONATE A GIFT CARD, THEY'VE GOT TO BUY IT AND OFFER IT THAT WAY.
UM, SO THE, UH, I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH ALL THIS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE GIFTS POLICIES IS IF THERE IS ANY INTENTION TO INFLUENCE SOMEONE, EITHER BY INFLUENCING OFFICIAL ACTION OR TRYING TO
[00:55:02]
CURRY FAVOR OR REWARD SOMEONE FOR THEIR OFFICIAL CONDUCT THAT IS PROHIBITED BY THE GIFT POLICY.AND IT INCLUDES A SHOULD KNOW OR SHOULD KNOW THAT IT WAS OFFERED WITH THE INTENT TO INFLUENCE OFFICIAL CONDUCT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF A VENDOR'S TRYING TO GIVE A CITY OFFICIAL A GIFT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS A NO-NO.
THE ONE EXCEPTION WE MAKE IS IF EMPLOYEES ATTEND A CONFERENCE AND THERE'S AN EXHIBIT HALL WHERE THERE ARE TOKEN ITEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE THERE PINS, YOU KNOW, STICKY NOTES, THAT SORT OF THING, THEN THAT WOULD BE OKAY BECAUSE IT'S OFFERED TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDS THE CONFERENCE, UM, GIVES THAT CAN NEVER BE ACCEPTED.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDES GIFT CARDS.
GIFT CARDS ARE CONSIDERED CASH AGAIN, GIFTS FROM A VENDOR.
UM, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S A MEAL.
UM, WHAT HAVE YOU, I TELL EXECUTIVES IF YOU, UM, GO TO A CONFERENCE AND A VENDOR ASKS YOU TO GO TO DINNER, JUST SAY, SURE, I JUST HAVE TO PAY MY OWN WAY.
AND IF AT THE END OF THE MEAL, THE VENDOR SAYS TO YOU, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
THEN YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY MUST PAY BACK THAT VENDOR, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, DO IT, AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO THE OFFICE AND GET, CAN GET A CHECK ISSUE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REIMBURSE THAT VENDOR AND NOT LET THEM GET BY WITH TRYING TO BUY YOU A FREE MEAL.
UM, STATE LAW, PROHIBITS HONORARIUMS FOR SPEAKERS AND HONORARIUMS WOULD BE, AGAIN, A GIFT CARD.
SOMETHING MEANT TO REWARD YOU FOR SPEAKING, AS IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY.
NOW, THE EXCEPTION WOULD BE, IF SOMEONE IS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE GETTING A PLAQUE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GIVEN TO SOMEBODY FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO WHO YOU ARE AT THE CITY.
IT'S JUST A RECOGNITION OF HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN WITH THAT ASSOCIATION.
UM, BUT OTHERWISE, UM, NO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, STATE OR LOCAL COULD ACCEPT AN HONOR.
DOES, UH, THE TWO YEAR APPLY HERE, LIKE, LET'S SAY, THEY'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OR EXPERTISE AS A FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE FINE.
AND THERE, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS UNDER STATE LAW, AS WELL AS THE CITY CODE FOR SPEAKING AT A CONFERENCE AND YOU'RE GETTING, THERE'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE TO IT.
SO IF YOU SPEAK AT A CONFERENCE, IT IS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ME, IF I GO TO A GOVERNMENT LAW CONFERENCE AND I'M SPEAKING ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT OR ETHICS, AND I GET FREE REGISTRATION, OR EVEN SOME MEALS AND MILEAGE PAID THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE THERE IS A PUBLIC, THAT'S THE PUBLIC PURPOSE EXCEPTION OF THAT.
I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS SPEAKING IS NOT RECEIVING.
IT'S NOT GIVEN TO ME AS AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE MY OFFICIAL CONDUCT IS JUST A GROUP OF GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS THAT GET TOGETHER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE EXCEPTION.
NOW, IF IT'S A CONTINUING EDUCATION PUT ON BY A VENDOR THAT'S IN THE CARIBBEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT AGAIN WOULD NOT BE OKAY, THAT WOULD BE INTENDED INFLUENCE DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SHOW UP FROM VARIOUS PLACES.
YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT VENDOR IS TRYING TO INFLUENCE YOU.
AND THERE'S AN EXAMPLE YOU MAY RECALL IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION, UM, KIND OF GOT IN TROUBLE WITH THAT TYPE OF CONDUCT, UM, FROM THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY ON IT, REMEMBER SPECIFICS.
UM, SO WE USED TO, UM, I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, THE GIFT POLICY CHANGED.
IT USED TO BE NO VALUE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GO TO A COUNCIL MEETING AND YOU WOULD SEE THE CENTER SENIOR CITIZENS SHOW UP WITH THEIR, UM, CHOCOLATE KISSES OR GOODIES THAT THEY WANT TO PASS OUT ON THE DAYAS.
AND THAT WAS PROHIBITED, BUT OBVIOUSLY VERY EMBARRASSING TO NOT ACCEPT AND HARD
[01:00:01]
TO EXPLAIN.AND SO THE GIFT POLICY HAS CHANGED SO THAT AGAIN, YOU CAN NEVER ACCEPT GIFT CARDS OR CASH, BUT IF THERE'S AN AMOUNT THAT'S $50 IN VALUE, YOU KNOW, COOKIES OF CONSTITUENT, WHERE TO BRING COOKIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AND IT'S CUMULATIVE OVER A YEAR.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S KEPT FOR A FOUR YEAR AT $50 VALUE.
UM, AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT ATTENDANCE TO AN EVENT OR DISCOUNTED ADMISSION.
IF THERE'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE, THAT'S AN EXCEPTION TO THE GIFT POLICY WHEN, UM, EXPECTED TO TRACK THE GIFT VALUE, EVEN IF IT'S $50 OR LESS THAT'S FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
AND SO I THINK THAT PROBABLY BECOMES MOST COMPLICATED FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I MEAN, BUT THAT, I MEAN, THAT GIFT POLICY APPLIES TO YOU.
UM, I DOUBT THAT Y'ALL HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, SITUATION COME UP, BUT THERE COULD, COULD BE OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS A MEETING AND WANTS TO HOST A GROUP AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE MEALS PROVIDED OR SOMETHING THERE'S, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ESTIMATE AND WE TELL DEPARTMENTS, AND THIS IS ALSO STATED AT, AT, I BELIEVE YOUR BOARD AND COMMISSION TRAININGS.
IF YOU EVER HAVE ETHICS QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CALL THE, THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND ASK FOR THE ETHICS TEAM TO PROVIDE ADVICE WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY CITY OFFICIAL, ANY CITY EMPLOYEE TO HELP THEM WITH ETHICS QUESTIONS.
AND THERE'S ALSO AN ETHICS HOTLINE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO CITY EMPLOYEES.
THERE'S AN ETHICS AND OBER OPEN GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE WHERE THEY CAN SEND US AN EMAIL CALL ON THE PHONE, UM, AS WELL AS REPORTING, IF THEY HAVE ETHICS VIOLATIONS TO REPORT, THEN THEY REPORT THAT TO THE INTEGRITY HOTLINE AT THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.
IS THAT NUMBER ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONER ON THE CITY WEB PAGE, WHERE YOU CAN SEND YOU THE LINK.
I THINK YOU DO HAVE ACCESS, I'M NOT 100% SURE OF THAT FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, BUT I'LL DOUBLE-CHECK WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND I'LL, UM, BUT IF I, I'M NOT SURE.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE IS A ONE DRIVE THAT CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT COMES UP FOR YOU ALL AS WELL, BUT I CAN CHECK ON THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ETHICS HOTLINE, SO YEAH, I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO BE EASILY AVAILABLE, RIGHT? YES.
AND THE, I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY ON THE CITY AUDITOR'S WEB PAGE IN TERMS OF REPORTING AND ANY, ANYBODY CAN REPORT 3, 1, 1 AS WELL.
THAT'S ANOTHER SOURCE OF, OF REPORTING.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S OCCURRING TO ME THAT THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM THAT I DIDN'T FORECAST BEFORE, WHICH IS OUR DRAFT MEDIA STATEMENT ON TOP OF THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STUFF THAT WE GOT A GREAT, HELPFUL PREVIEW ON IF IT'S OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST WE PAUSE OUR PRESENTATION AND OVERVIEW SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH THE WORKING GROUP ON EQUITY AND THE DRAFT MEDIA PIECE.
AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOME FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS IF THAT'S OKAY.
AND WE'LL PICK THIS UP AT OUR NEXT MEETING, TRYING TO, TRYING TO GET US OUT AT A REASONABLE TIME.
DID WE GET TO FINISH THAT SLIDE THOUGH? I'D HATE TO LEAVE, LIKE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLIDE.
SO WE WERE, OH, ARE WE ALMOST, OH MAN.
WE DON'T HAVE TO FINISH THREE MORE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR SLIDE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.
I'D HATE TO LEAVE, LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT ONE SLIDE, ARE YOU AT A GOOD STOPPING POINT FOR GIFTS? YEAH, JUST FOR GIFTS.
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO, I, I THOUGHT I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR, YOUR SLIDE DECK PRINT OUT, AND I THOUGHT, I THINK THIS IS, I THINK THIS IS THE END OF THE SLIDE.
UM, SO WITH THAT COMMISSIONERS, I'M GOING TO MOVE INTO, UM, AGENDA ITEM.
I'M GOING TO GO INTO TO, IT IS GOING TO BE TWO
[2. d. Working group status reports and/or recommendations on the following]
D TWO, WHICH IS THE WORKING GROUP ON RACE, IDENTITY, AND EQUITY, SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE MEDIA STATEMENT THAT COMMISSIONER KILLED, DRAFTED THAT COMMISSIONER MCCORMICK HAD SOME WORKED ON AS WELL.[01:05:01]
I AM GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO THE VICE CHAIR TO TALK ABOUT THE PIECE.AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER MCCORMICK HAD.
UM, UM, WE, UH, COMMISSIONER LAURIE AND I WORKED ON IT LAST WEEK.
AND SO AT THIS POINT I KIND OF HAVE A DILEMMA BECAUSE THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING IS THAT SOME OF SOME PEOPLE WANT A MORE FORMAL APPROACH TO THE LANGUAGE.
AND YET WE'VE COMMISSIONER LAURIE AND I WERE WORKING ON A MORE, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD VERNACULAR, BUT A MORE FAMILIAR TYPE OF APPROACH TO SEND OUT TO PEOPLE.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RECONCILE THOSE TWO.
AND, UM, SO COMMISSIONER MCCORMICK, IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOUR COMMENTS AND I WELCOME ALL POINTS OF VIEW ON THIS, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN, SO ONE OF THE FEEDBACK POINTS WE GOT MAYBE TWO MEETINGS AGO WAS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE IT JUST MORE FOCUSED ON EXACTLY WHAT WE DO AND SORT OF GET AWAY FROM A STATEMENT OF EQUITY AND MORE JUST, THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
THAT'S THIS DRAFT MEDIA PIECE.
AND, UM, SO I WOULD LOVE YOUR INPUT ON THIS.
WHAT'D YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THE SENTENCES THAT ARE UNDERLINED ARE THE ONES THAT I DID, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE SENTENCES UNDERNEATH IT IS WHAT, HOW I JUST KIND OF FORMALIZED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IF THIS IS GOING OUT TO MEDIA, WE NEED TO HAVE IT A LITTLE MORE FORMAL AND BUSINESS LIKE, UH, THAT WE ARE A LITTLE MORE, UM, PROPER, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY, AND I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE BULLET.
POLITES, IT'S JUST CAUSE SOME OF THE PARAGRAPHS, UH, IT HAD A CONTRACTION IN THERE.
YOU DON'T DO THAT WHENEVER YOU'RE, UM, I'VE WRITTEN A LOT IN MY DAYS PER A NEWSPAPER, BUT THIS WAS KIND OF LIKE YOU SPEAK, BUT I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE FORMAL IF WE'RE SENDING IT OUT AND ESPECIALLY MEDIA STUFF, BECAUSE WE'LL GET IT EDITED.
LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO WITH WHAT I DID.
I JUST KIND OF SAT DOWN THIS AFTERNOON AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.
I WOULD SAY THAT GETS BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHO OUR AUDIENCES ON THIS.
AND ONE OF THE GOALS WAS TO HAVE OUR COMMISSION, AT LEAST ONE OF THE STATED GOALS WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WAS TO MAKE OUR COMMISSION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND, AND TO NOT USE SUCH FORMAL LANGUAGE SO THAT WE'RE SO THAT THE POPULATION THINKS, SEES US AS APPROACHABLE AND AS SOMETHING THEY CAN BECOME INVOLVED IN.
SO, I MEAN, WE CAN REVISIT THAT AND WHO WE WANT OUR AUDIENCE TO BE.
AND JUST THOSE GENERAL QUESTIONS.
WHAT I DID WAS TAKE OUT THE WORD YOU A LOT.
I THINK THAT WHENEVER YOU ARE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE READING IT, YOU DON'T NEED TO SAY YOU FILE A COMPLAINT.
IT HAS A BULLET POINT FILE A COMPLAINT OR WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH IT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE YOU DO SO-AND-SO RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S A, WE'RE NOT TEACHING SCHOOL.
SO THAT'S MY, YEAH, THAT'S I JUST WOULDN'T EVER, IF, WHEN I FIRST READ IT, IT JUST KIND OF HIT ME.
AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND OF WHAT I DID.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT MEDIA OUTLETS THIS WILL BE GOING INTO.
SO, UM, WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, I DID A PRETTY LENGTHY INVESTIGATION AND COMPILED A LIST OF MULTIPLE MEDIA OUTLETS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEND IT TO DEPENDING ON BUDGET, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SUPPORTS.
I MEAN, YOU'RE STARTING WITH THE STATESMAN AND THE CHRONICLE AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO DIFFERENT LANGUAGE OUTLETS, INCLUDING VIETNAMESE, SPANISH LANGUAGE, CHINESE LANGUAGE.
I LOOKED UP, I DID A PRETTY CONSTANT COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF THE MEDIA OUTLETS THAT WERE OUT THERE.
I WAS STOPPING OFF IN RANDOM GROCERY STORES JUST TO PICK UP WHATEVER THE, THE NEWS OUTLET WAS.
UM, SO WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE, BUT OF COURSE, UM, I NEED TO REVISIT WITH CITY STAFF ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO, WHAT WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT OUT LIKE A PRESS RELEASE, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I WAS CAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF PRESSURE.
AT LEAST I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT THE, THE REVISION THAT, UM,
[01:10:01]
COMMISSIONER MCCORMICK SUGGESTED IS MORE OF A PRESS RELEASE TYPE FORMAT.I ACTUALLY LIKED THIS FORMAT FOR ME READING.
SO I THINK IT REALLY IS GONNA DEPEND ON WHERE YOU'RE SENDING IT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SEND IT OUT TO PUBLICATIONS, IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE PRESS RELEASE BECAUSE THEY SCAN AND THEY PICK UP THE HEADLIGHT, HEADLINES, UH, HEADLIGHTS OF IT.
AND THAT'S WHY THE BULLET POINTS ARE VERY, VERY GOOD.
DON'T GET INTO THE WEEDS WITH A LOT OF NARRATIVE.
UH, YOU'RE NOT WRITING A THESIS.
YOU WANT THEM TO PINPOINT CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THE BULLET POINTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR STICK IN THEIR MIND.
THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST MAYBE IS LIKE A ONE PAGE GRAPHIC OF NICE GRAPHIC WITH ALL HIS INFORMATION AND INCLUDE SOME INFOGRAPHICS ON IT TO MAKE IT A ONE PAGER.
AND IF IT'S MORE THAN ONE PAGE, FORGET IT.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, SO IS THERE, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO GRAPHIC DESIGNERS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR US? WELL, THAT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO DO IT.
WE'VE SORT OF, WE KIND OF LEFT IT LAT WHEN WE CAME UP, WE KIND OF LEFT THAT HANGING WHILE WE WORKED ON THIS.
SO LYNN, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND IT'S A QUESTION I KNOW THAT WE'VE ASKED BEFORE.
UM, AND I REMEMBER HEARING AN ANSWER AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT ANSWER IS.
UM, LYNN, DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, UH, IF WE, MAYBE WE CALLED TERRA OLSON? YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.
AND I, I REMEMBER THE ISSUE COMING UP BEFORE.
I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND SEARCH MY EMAILS TO SEE IF I GOT A FOR SURE.
DO YOU HAVE IN MIND? WELL, LIKE, LIKE THIS.
THAT'S NOT DIFFICULT IF YOU HAVE PUBLISHER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO I WOULD THINK WE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED.
ARE YOU, YOU WERE ASKING US TO CLARIFY OR DETERMINE OUR AUDIENCE, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO MY VOTE IS THAT IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE AND I WANT IT TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC, NOT WITH MEDIA.
UH, WE CAN SEND IT TO MEDIA, BUT THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE WHOM WE'RE DOING THIS FOR IS YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE VERNACULAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT, UM, FEELING LIKE, OH, OH, THEY'RE TALKING TO ME LIKE, HEY, DID YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'S WRONG, SPEAK UP, RIGHT.
THAT'S MORE INFORMAL THAN IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION OF CITY, FINANCIAL CITY CODE FINANCIAL, THAT YOU'VE LOST ME.
BUT IF IT'S, HEY, YOU THINK SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH THAT? WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
THIS IS HOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE DO WHERE W YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 11 OF US OR HOWEVER MANY.
AND, UH, W WE'RE HERE TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO HELP THAT, HOW I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW WE REACH PEOPLE, NOT, NOT THE TEXT HEAVY AND WRITTEN.
LIKE IT'S A, UM, WRITTEN AS IF IT'S BRITAIN WITH DISCLAIMERS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, CYA.
UH, BUT, WELL, I GUESS, YES, SINCE MY DEGREE IS IN COMMUNICATIONS, THEN, UM, THE LAST THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE DOWN IS BULLET POINTS.
AND PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER NO MORE THAN FIVE OR SOMETHING.
SO THE BULLET POINTS AND YOU WANT TO GET ACROSS TO THEM.
THEY CAN FILL IN THE BLANKS AND DON'T WRITE A THESIS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO READ IT SO EVER HOW YOU WANT TO DO.
THAT'S WHY THE BULLET POINTS HERE ARE VERY GOOD.
UM, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT, UH, AGAIN, THE ONE PAGER WOULD BE REALLY NICE WITH JUST KIND OF LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE DO HIGHLIGHTING THAT,
[01:15:01]
BUT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION HERE IS REALLY AMAZING TOO.SO I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT EITHER.
AND I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT SOME OF THIS ON OUR, MAYBE IT'S ALREADY ALL ON OUR WEBSITE.
I NEED TO GO BACK AND CHECK THAT.
BUT MAYBE EVEN TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE CHECK OUR, CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER DETAILS TO, TO WRITE A COMPLAINT, OR IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT, THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD GO WELL, AND THAT'S ON THE BACK OF IT.
SO WHICH SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT IT'S PROBABLY TOO LONG.
SO, AND THE OTHER THING, YEAH.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S NOT ON HERE THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF, AND I LEARNED TONIGHT IS THAT THEY CAN REPORT A VIOLATION TO 3, 1, 1.
UM, BUT I CAN COMMISSIONER LAURIE AND I CAN TAKE IT BACK AGAIN, INCORPORATE THIS FEEDBACK, UM, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
UM, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AGAIN, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT.
IN, IN A WAY THAT SATISFIES PEOPLE, WHICH IS YES, I SEE COMMISSIONER DANBURG AND THEN I HAVE A THOUGHT AS WELL TO GO GET COMMISSIONER DANBURG.
I, WHEN I, WHEN I FIRST READ THIS, I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY APPROACHABLE AND I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND Y'ALL ON PUTTING IT INTO A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC CAN RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND GET A GRASP ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE AND AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARTICIPATE.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRESS RELEASE.
USUALLY IF YOU'RE DOING A PRESS RELEASE, YOU ARE THEN DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE YOU PUT THIS RELATABLE LANGUAGE IN, BUT I THINK THERE IS VALUE IN APPROA APPROACHING IT ALL THREE WAYS, WHAT A PRESS RELEASE AND THE PRESS CAN CALL WITH FOLLOW-UPS, ET CETERA.
ONE IS THIS VERY APPROACHABLE, USEFUL STAGMENT, AND ANOTHER IS A GRAPHIC WAY OF PRESENTING IT.
THERE'S NO REASON TO NOT DO ALL THREE, BUT I REALLY WOULD NOT LIKE TO FORMALIZE THE STATEMENT THAT WAS WRITTEN BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY RELATABLE AND REALLY ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR AUDIENCE AND YOU CAN PICK WHO YOU WANT TO SEND, WHICH COPY TO WRITE.
SO I WAS GOING TO, UH, FIRST ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER DANBRIDGE HAS SAID, WHICH IS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO MAKING THIS, UH, PLAIN LANGUAGE, UM, TRUE KIND OF VERNACULAR ERC 1 0 1.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, WHAT I, WHAT I SEE AS REALLY, I, I, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THE NIGHT THAT WE HAD GOOD STAMP IT AND SEND IT OUT.
UM, BUT I THINK, UM, JUST TO KIND OF RESTATE WHAT I'VE HEARD, UH, SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK THE NEXT TIME POTENTIALLY WITH SOMETHING TO, UH, LOOK AT AND APPROVE AS A GROUP, UM, IS POTENTIALLY ONE VERSION OF THIS.
THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE THE GRAPHIC DESIGNED, ONE PAGER THAT WE CAN HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, POTENTIALLY THE FIRST THING YOU SEE, YOU LIKE CLICK ON THE ERCS LANDING PAGE.
AND IT SAYS LIKE ERC 1 0 1 AND IT'S THIS LIKE NICE LINK TO A PDF THAT'S COLORFUL AND SIMPLE LIKE THIS.
AND THEN THE OTHER THAT IS, UH, AND THIS IS WHERE I WANT LIKE CLARIFICATION AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF I'M MISHEARING, WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAID, BUT THE OTHER BEING ALMOST LIKE AN OP-ED, RIGHT.
UH, BECAUSE IF WE'RE WE CALL THIS A DRAFT MEDIA PIECE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND A MEDIA PUBLICATIONS, IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT LIKE TAKING OUT AD SPACE TO ANNOUNCE SOMETHING.
UM, IT PRESS RELEASE FUELS STRANGE, BECAUSE I THINK LIKE COMMISSIONER DAN BRICKS THAT I ASSOCIATE THAT WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME EVENT OR A HAPPENING OR AN OCCASION.
UM, AND THIS ISN'T REALLY THAT.
UM, SO I SEE THIS MORE AS LIKE AN OP-ED THAT WE'RE WRITING IN KIND OF A FIRST PERSON AS A COMMISSION.
SO, UM, AND I THINK THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO OP-ED
[01:20:01]
LANGUAGE.UM, SO I, BUT IF THAT IS A MIS-CHARACTERIZATION OF HOW PEOPLE CONCEPTUALIZE THIS, THEN WE CAN NOT APPROACH IT THAT WAY.
UM, I DON'T SEE THIS AS BEING KIND OF LIKE AN AUTHOR LIST TEXT THAT SHOWS UP IN COMMUNITY IMPACT.
FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION IS SAYING VIA THE MEDIA.
UM, AND NORMALLY THAT TAKES THE FORM OF SOME KIND OF OP-ED, BUT I SEE COMMISSIONER STANDARD SECRETARY SAYING, GO AHEAD.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE COULDN'T TREAT THIS AS AN AD THAT YOU TAKE OUT.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS OUR AD IT'S, IT'S A ONE SHEET INFORMATION PAGE.
THIS CATCHES MY ATTENTION MORE THAN A PIECE THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED AS OH, IT'S SOMEBODY'S OPINION.
OH, I'M JUST NOT, I GUESS I'M REALLY LAZY WITH READING, BUT I'M JUST LIKE, I'M I SCAN, OKAY.
WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO? WHO ARE WE, HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH IT? THAT IS GOING TO GET MY ATTENTION.
AND SO, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS, BUT, UM, AND I, I ENCOURAGE US TO USE, TO DO THE WORK ONCE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE LIKE, AND THEN USE THAT SAME ONE INSTEAD OF REWORKING IT FOR MEDIA, REWORKING IT FOR THIS PUBLICATION.
IT SHOULD BE MY, MY INTENTION.
MY HOPE IS THAT WHAT WE COME UP WITH CAN BE USED NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE THE IMPORTANT THING HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.
AND THAT IS THE AUDIENCE, WHOM IS IT FOR? NOT WHAT PUBLICATION IS IT FOR THAT CATCHES YOUR EYE, THE CLAUSE.
I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CATCHES YOUR EYE, WHEREAS THIS IS, SO I GO AHEAD, COME SHOOT ATTENDING UCO.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT THE INFORMATION IN HERE IS IT'S VERY WELL-WRITTEN AND IT'S REALLY GOOD.
AND AGAIN, I JUST DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ON PAGE TWO, LIKE WHERE TO GO, BUT EVEN HERE, I'M LOOKING REALLY QUICK.
I DON'T SEE THAT ON THE WEBSITE.
SO IF I WERE A CITIZEN AND I WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT, I DON'T, IT'S NICE ON HERE.
AND I'M LIKE, OH, OKAY, THIS IS GOOD INFORMATION, BUT IT'S NOT ON OUR WEBPAGE.
AND WE DID TALK AT ONE POINT ABOUT PUTTING IT ON THE WEBPAGE AS WELL.
SO THAT'S IN THE HOPPER, SO TO SPEAK.
I MEAN, THAT'S ONCE WE FINALIZE THE LANGUAGE.
SO, UM, I THINK ONE, UH, I'M JUST GONNA THROW THIS OUT THERE, UH, TO SEE THIS THROUGH, I FEEL LIKE IT'S SO CLOSE, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER STANTON, WOULD YOU WANT TO, UH, JOIN THE WORKING GROUP SO THAT, UH, AS WE COME UP WITH THE SORT OF FINAL VERSION THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED AT OUR NEXT MEETING, UM, THAT WE'VE GOT THAT INPUT IN THE FRONT END, SO TO SPEAK, MAY I JOIN JUST FOR THAT ONE SPECIFIC PURPOSE? SORRY.
THAT SOUNDED SO LIKE I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING.
DONNA BETH, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT TOO, IF YOU WANT TO BE ON THE WORKING GROUP IS YOUR, I MEAN, YOUR INPUT IS VERY VALUABLE.
SO I AM NEW, I'LL READ AND TO MAKE ROOM ON THE WORKING GROUP.
I'M HAPPY TO, UH, STEP OUT TEMPORARILY.
WE CAN, WE CAN AT ANY MEETING, WE CAN ALWAYS RECOMPOSE OUR WORK IN GROUPS.
WE'VE BEEN VERY, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FIDELITY TO THE COMPOSITION OF OUR WORKING GROUPS.
SO I THINK THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE A MOTION IN MY MOTION IS GOING TO BE, UH, FOR THE WORKING GROUP ON, OOH, EXCUSE ME.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THIS RIGHT.
THE WORKING GROUP ON RACE EQUITY, RACE, IDENTITY, AND EQUITY, UM, BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS, KALE, LAURIE MCCORMICK, AND STANTON.
SO THAT TAKES ME OUT OF IT, BUT, UH, INTRODUCES AT LEAST FOR OUR PRESENT PURPOSES, COMMISSIONERS, MCCORMICK AND STANTON THE MOTION.
UM, I WILL SAY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AND, UH, I'LL GET THE EYES AND I'LL ASK, UH, MR. DANNENBERG TO UNMUTE HERSELF TO SAY I, IF SHE WANTS TO VOTE.
I SEE NONE OPPOSED ABSTENTIONS.
[01:25:01]
OKAY.IS THERE ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
THEN I AM COUNTING THAT AS UNANIMOUS.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS WHO WERE ON THAT WORKING GROUP.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THRILLING CONCLUSION OF OUR DRAFT MEDIA PIECE SAGA.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK ON OUR AGENDA.
IT IS ITEM A TWO D I, WHICH IS OUR WORKING GROUP, THE WORKING GROUP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE KITCHEN SINK.
UM, WE HAD MET AND AS I HAD ALLUDED TO IN OUR REASSIGNMENT AND REORGANIZATION TOPIC EARLIER TONIGHT, UM, WE DID SOME PRIORITIZATION OF VARIOUS TASKS THAT HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE WORKING GROUP, UM, IN KIND OF HOW WE WANT TO TACKLE THEM JUST FROM A KIND OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, NOT IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS MOST TO THE WORKING GROUP, BUT RATHER WHAT WE COULD FEASIBLY ACCOMPLISH.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS AT THE VERY TOP OF THAT WAS, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, IMPROVEMENTS OR UPDATES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION OR THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS THAT OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES HAVE TO FILL OUT.
UM, WHAT WAS CIRCULATED AHEAD OF THE MEETING AND WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE PRINTOUTS OF ARE TWO POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY MIGHT NEED A LITTLE WORK.
UM, BUT, UH, I'M GOING TO STOP THERE.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER GREENBERG TO KIND OF DISCUSS THE BACKGROUND ISSUE AND WHAT THE TWO OPTIONS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO SO COMMISSIONER GREENBERG, GO AHEAD.
THE FORM I HAD LOOKED AT SPECIFICALLY SAID CITY COUNCIL AND CANDIDATES, BUT LOOKING AT THE CODE, IT APPEARS TO INCLUDE OTHERS.
UM, MAYBE THERE'S A SEPARATE FORM FOR CITY COUNCIL, MARRYING CANDIDATES.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN JULY EV THE OTHER CITY OFFICIALS ONLY FILE ONCE A YEAR, BUT BECAUSE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO FILE, UM, TWICE, THEN I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT'S CONSISTENT FOR COUNCIL HAVING TO DO THE UPDATE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE UPDATES, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY SELF POPULATED, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO ADD TO IT.
SO IN ANY CASE, THE IMPORTANT THING IN MY MIND IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, DON'T HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE WHEN THERE ARE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN PARTICULAR, THE LAND USE DECISIONS.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I WOULD SAY THIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OWN OR DERIVE INCOME FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT PROPERTIES THOSE ARE.
UM, SO CURRENTLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TABS, NUMBER THREE SAYS YOU NEED AN ITEMIZED LIST OF ALL SOURCES OF INCOME FROM INTEREST DIVIDENDS, ROYALTIES, RENTS, TRUST, DISBURSEMENTS, OR OTHER NON-OCCUPATIONAL SOURCES, INCLUDING THE AMOUNT, BUT IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE, OH, EXCLUDING THE AMOUNT, BUT IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE FOR EACH SOURCE, EXCEEDING EITHER 10% OF THE OFFICIAL'S GROSS INCOME OR $5,000.
AND NUMBER FIVE IS ABOUT OWNERSHIP.
SO NUMBER THREE IS ABOUT SOURCES OF INCOME.
NUMBER FIVE IS ABOUT NATE LISTS THE NAME OF ANY CORPORATION PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER ENTITY IN WHICH THE OFFICIAL HELD ACQUIRED, OR SOLD STOCK OR OTHER EQUITY OWNERSHIP, HAVING A VALUE EXCEEDING $5,000 OR EQUIVALENT TO 5% OR MORE OF THE STOCK OR EQUITY IN THE ENTITY.
UM, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PROPERTIES, IF THERE'S PROPERTIES THAT ARE RELEVANT IN THAT.
AND THE REASON, UM, THIS CAME TO MIND IS I WAS AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND A LOBBYIST TESTIFIED SAYING HE WAS REPRESENTING A PARTICULAR LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
AND ONE MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAD THAT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP LISTED ON THEIR STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN BOTH SECTION THREE, THE SOURCES OF INCOME AND SECTION FIVE, THE OWNERSHIP INTEREST.
BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW WHETHER THE COUNCIL MEMBER DID NOT ABSTAIN OR RECUSE ON THE ZONING CASE.
[01:30:02]
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE PUBLIC IS LACKING SUFFICIENT INTEREST TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.NUMBER NINE ON THE FORM, UM, SAYS TO LIST AND DESCRIBE ALL REAL PROPERTY HELD, OWNED, ACQUIRED, OR SOLD UNDER A CONTRACT FOR SALE BY A CORPORATION PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY IN WHICH YOU OWN OR CONTROL AT LEAST A 5% INTEREST.
THE DESCRIPTION SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS BEFORE TO LOCATE THE PROPERTY AND INCLUDE A STREET ADDRESS IF ANY, AND THE PRESENT USE OF THE PROPERTY.
AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT THE PROPERTY ADDRESSES WOULD BE IN NUMBER NINE, BUT AT LEAST FOR THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBER, THE ONLY THINGS LISTED IN NINE WERE, UM, LISTED AS EITHER THE COUNCIL MEMBER PROPERTY OR THE SPOUSE'S PROPERTY OR COMMUNITY PROPERTY.
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SEEMED TO MATCH UP WITH THOSE PROPERTIES, UM, THAT WERE LISTED IN NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FIVE, WHERE THERE WAS A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP LISTED.
AND THERE WAS A LOBBYIST SAYING I'M REPRESENTING THAT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
SO I THINK THE FORM NEEDS TO SOMEHOW BE, MAKE THAT MORE CLEAR.
UM, SO PERHAPS IN SECTION THREE AND FIVE, IT COULD JUST SAY IF ANY OF THE ENTITIES LISTED CONTROL PROPERTY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF AUSTIN, TEXAS LISTS THE ADDRESSES.
SO THAT COULD GO INTO THREE AND FIVE OR PERHAPS IT'S THAT NUMBER NINE ONLY SAYS A 5% INTEREST.
IT DOESN'T SAY FIVE, A VALUE EXCEEDING $5,000 AND A 5% INTEREST IN SOME OF THESE COMPANIES MIGHT BE WAY MORE THAN THE INTEREST THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS.
BUT IF $5,000 IS INAPPROPRIATE THRESHOLD IN NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FIVE, PERHAPS $5,000 SHOULD ALSO BE THE THRESHOLD.
UM, LYNN WAS CONCERNED THAT ADDING A, ADD A VALUE EXCEEDING $5,000 OR AT LEAST 5% INTEREST WOULD SOMEHOW BE LESS AND MAYBE, UM, GIVE US LESS, UM, DISCLOSURE RATHER THAN MORE DISCLOSURE.
I THINK I JUST MISREAD YOUR INTENT.
UM, BUT THE CITY CODE IS SAYS, PROVIDE AN ITEMIZED LIST.
THIS IS ON NUMBER NINE, SUBSECTION E OF ALL REAL PROPERTY HELD OWNED BY THE BUSINESS ENTITY, UH, IN WHICH THE OFFICIAL OWNS OR CONTROLS AT LEAST A 5% INTEREST.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF THEY AT LEAST HOLD AN INTEREST THAT IS VALUED AT $5,000.
SO I JUST MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR $5,000 OR 5%.
I MEAN, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT ONE OR THE OTHER COULD BE THE LARGER, THE SMALLER.
SO THE WAY THAT NUMBER FIVE SAYS VALUE EXCEEDING $5,000 OR EQUIVALENT TO 5%, I THINK WOULD BE THE KIND OF LANGUAGE THAT I WOULD CHANGE IN NINE.
THEY ADVANTAGE TO CHANGING THREE OR FIVE TO SAY IT SHOULD LIST THE PROPERTIES.
UM, THEN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY WHICH ENTITY OWNS WHICH PROPERTIES, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE WOULDN'T EVEN CARE.
WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE INTEREST IN SO THAT THEY'RE NOT MAKING LAND USE DECISIONS THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES THESE CORPORATE STRUCTURES ARE CHALLENGING AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS OWNED.
UM, EVEN WE HAD THAT OTHER CASE WHERE THE, UM, COMPLAINT WAS ABOUT, DID THIS REALLY IDENTIFY THE PROPERTY? UM, BUT I THINK IF WE AT LEAST TRY BY MAKING THEM LIST THE ADDRESSES, WE'LL BE HOPEFULLY GETTING MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR, UM, CITY OFFICIALS.
UH, SECRETARY STANTON, AND THEN COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS, GO AHEAD.
CAN I JUST KNOW GREENBERG? I, BECAUSE I KNOW I'M ON THE SAME WORK GROUP AND I
[01:35:01]
UNTIL, AND I'M VISUAL.SO I NEEDED IT LAID OUT VISUALLY FOR ME TO, TO SEE IT.
AND I, I WANT TO CHECK MY UNDERSTANDING WITH YOU.
THAT IS YOUR INTENT IS ONE OF THE INTENT IS TO, UM, ALIGN THE THREE STATEMENTS WITH EACH OTHER.
THAT IS SECTION, IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT? SECTION THREE NOW, UM, NUMBER THREE, NUMBER FIVE AND NUMBER NINE IS THAT ONE OF THE INTENSE, BECAUSE THEY LIST DIFFERENT NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES, RIGHT? THREE MENTIONS, 10% OR 5,005 LISTS, 5,000 OR 5%, NINE LISTS 5% WITHOUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT IS ONE OF YOUR INTENTIONS IS TO JUST MAKE IT, NO, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THREE AND FIVE HAVING A DIFFERENT PERCENT BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT PERCENT OF A DIFFERENT THING.
10% OF YOUR GROSS INCOME IS DIFFERENT FROM 5% OF THE STOCK OF THE ENTITY.
SO I DON'T HAVE A FEELING ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THERE'S ADDRESSES OF REAL PROPERTY THAT AREN'T GETTING LISTED ON THE FORM.
AND THAT SOMEHOW WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THOSE ADDRESSES LISTED.
I MEAN, PERHAPS THE EASIEST THING IS JUST TO SAY, IF ANY OF THE ENTITIES LISTED CONTROLLED PROPERTY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF AUSTIN, TEXAS LISTS THE ADDRESSES, AND THAT COULD BE PART OF THREE AND FIVE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY TO DO IT.
AND IF THERE'S NOTHING THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, THEN THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I'M NOT SPEAKING IN LEGAL LEADS, BUT THAT JUST STRIKES ME RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND FOR, UH, UM, PUBLIC OFFICIAL THAT HAS A LOT OF, UM, REAL ESTATE INTERESTS.
IT MIGHT BE COMPLICATED TO FILL OUT THE FORM, BUT I APPRECIATE, UM, MS. CARTER'S POINTING OUT THAT IT GIVES THEM ALSO A HEADS UP OF WHERE THEY NEED TO BE CAREFUL.
SO COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS AND THEN I SEE COMMISSIONER DAN BURKS.
AND I THINK MY ONLY CONCERN IS, IS, UM, HOW MUCH WORK THIS WILL BE FOR SOMEONE WHO WHO'S IN THE BUSINESS OF FLIPPING PROPERTIES OR OWNS QUITE A FEW PROPERTIES AND, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THE THRESHOLD HERE THAT TRIGGERS THE REPORTING IS LARGE ENOUGH GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT VALUES OF PROPERTY HERE IN AUSTIN, DOES THIS BECOME HONEST ON ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL? UM, AND SO I JUST WONDER HOW THIS WOULD MIRROR OTHER AGENCIES WITH WHOM THEY HAVE TO REPORT TO AND WHETHER OR NOT OUR THRESHOLDS ARE BENEATH THAT OR LARGER THAN THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT BEING EXCESSIVE HERE AS WELL.
SO JUST FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE.
I APPRECIATE THAT POINT OF VIEW.
THE OPPOSITE POINT OF VIEW WAS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS TO A FRIEND AND THAT FRIEND IS LIKE, WHY $5,000? WHY, WHY, YOU KNOW, WHY ANY LIMIT, WHY IF THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN A PROPERTY AND THEY'RE VOTING ON IT, THAT'S WRONG, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
$5,000 IN REAL ESTATE IN AUSTIN IS NOT A WHOLE LOT.
UM, THAT IS, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
AND I WONDER I'M JUST NOT HAVING SEEN A LOT OF THESE DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS MYSELF.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY THAT HAVE FILLED OUT THESE FORMS THAT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT OF LIKE FLIPPING HOMES.
UM, AND, AND I WONDER HOW THAT'S REPORTED CURRENTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN CURRENTLY UNDER NINE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE LISTING SOME OF THAT.
UM, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IF IT'S IN THEIR NAME, RIGHT, LIKE THEIR PERSONAL NAME THAT THEY'RE MAKING THESE TRANSACTIONS, THEN THOSE ARE THAT'S REAL PROPERTY THAT'S HELD OWN ACQUIRED OR SOLD.
UM, WELL, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S A SIX MONTH UPDATE AS WELL.
UH, AND ACTUALLY, I THINK NUMBER EIGHT MIGHT BE THE MORE APPROPRIATE ONE FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S AN ITEMIZED LIST OF ALL REAL PROPERTY IN WHICH THE OFFICIAL HOLDS ANY LEGAL OR BENEFICIAL INTEREST.
[01:40:03]
RIGHT.SO NUMBER EIGHT WOULD BE WHERE THE OFFICIAL THEMSELVES WOULD BE REPORTING.
IF THEY OWNED IT, LIKE WERE, UH, YEAH.
IF THEY WERE ON THE PAPERS AS THEY'RE DOING THAT.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THOUGH.
UM, YEAH, I THINK YOU, OH, YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER DANBURG THEN VICE-CHAIR KILL.
ON THE ONE HAND, I AM ABSOLUTELY FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, UM, YOU KNOW, MY HEAVY, MY HEAVY HEAD OF PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND IT BECAME A RENTAL PROPERTY AND ALL THESE VARIOUS TAX THINGS CAME UP ON THE OTHER HAND, I DON'T WANT TO THROW OUT SUCH A BIG NET THAT YOU'RE INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEIR INVESTMENTS ARE INVESTED IN.
UM, MY FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE I WAS 16, SHE RECOMMENDS THINGS THEY'RE NOT TARGETED TO AUSTIN, BUT I, I TRULY DO NOT KNOW THE LEVEL OF MY FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN VARIOUS INVESTMENTS.
UM, AND SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE A FALLBACK WHERE YOU CAN PUBLICLY FILE YOUR IRS STATEMENTS AND NOT HAVE TO INDIVIDUALLY LIST STUFF, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN VARIOUS MUTUAL FUNDS, VARIOUS, UM, RENT TO OWN, YOU KNOW, KINDS OF FUNDS.
AND THEY REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE TARGETS ARE AND IF THEY'RE IN AUSTIN.
AND SO IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO FOLDERS CLOSURE OF THEIR HONEST AND SWORN TO IRS STATEMENTS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FURTHER THAN THAT.
CAUSE I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF US WHO JUST KIND OF LIKE INVEST IN MUTUAL FUNDS OR DO WHAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS SITE AND DO NOT LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF IT.
ONE THING THAT I THINK ON THAT FRONT THOUGH, IS, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT COMMISSIONER GREENBURG CAME UP WITH ON SECTIONS THREE AND FIVE, WHICH IS TO JUST LIST AND DESCRIBE THE REAL PROPERTY FOR THOSE ENTITIES THAT YOU'RE LISTING.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF, UM, I AM AN EMPLOYEE AT, UH, ORACLE, IS THAT, IS THAT, THAT THE BIG CAMPUS ON RIVERSIDE? UM, I BELIEVE THEY OWN THAT PROPERTY.
UM, SO A REALLY SIMPLE EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS CHANGE WOULD DO IS TO SAY I MAKE 50% OF MY GROSS INCOME FROM ORACLE.
UM, BUT, UH, I WOULD THEN HAVE TO LIST THAT ADDRESS BECAUSE ORACLE OWNS THAT PROPERTY.
UM, SO, UH, AND I THINK THE SIMILAR THING UNDER FIVE, WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK, RIGHT.
IT'S SO IT'S MAYBE FIVE IS A LITTLE TRICKIER.
UM, I THINK FIVE, I CAN SEE WHERE THINGS GET A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED, UH, BUT IN ANY EVENT IT'S, UM, I, I THINK WITH ALL OF THIS ONE QUESTION FOR LYNN, UM, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW IS TRUE.
UM, IS THERE A KIND OF GOOD FAITH STANDARD GENERALLY WITH, UM, TO THE BEST YOU FILL OUT THE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE? THAT WAS WELL, THERE'S AN AFFIRMATION, RIGHT? UM, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY, YOU KNOW, GOOD FAITH EXCEPTION OR AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, UM, THAT CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU'LL YOU COULD RECOMMEND AS A COMMISSION BE ADDED.
UM, AND I, I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE QUESTIONS THAT ASK ABOUT STOCKS AND BONDS AND THE QUESTIONS THAT LIKE NUMBER EIGHT ASKS ABOUT PROPERTY, YOU OWN YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE BEING THE CITY OFFICIAL.
[01:45:01]
ASKS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF BUSINESS ENTITIES.SO IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO AN EMPLOYEE OF ORACLE.
IT WOULD APPLY TO SOMEONE WHO HAS AT LEAST 5% OWNERSHIP OF ORACLE.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT, DO YOU HAVE AT LEAST A 5% OR $5,000, $5,000 VALUE.
NOW THAT MAY BE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT HOW MANY EMPLOYEES, ORACLE OWNED STOCK THAT'S WORTH $5,000 AND THEY MAY HAVE NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, WHAT PROPERTY IS OWNED AND THE EMPLOYER MAY NOT DESIRE OR HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SHARE THAT WITH THEM.
UM, I, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT VERY QUICK CAVEAT.
UM, I'M NOT PICKING ON ORACLE FOR ANY REASON.
IT WAS THE FIRST BIG PROPERTY THAT CAME TO MY HEAD.
UM, VICE-CHAIR, KAEL HAD HER HAND UP AND THEN COMMISSIONER LEVIN'S I HAVE, I FORGOTTEN WHAT I WANTED.
UH, COMMISSIONER LEVIN'S, UM, A COUPLE OF POINTS FIRST ON THREE TO RESPOND.
I DON'T THINK IT, UH, AN ORACLE EMPLOYEE, UM, WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE DISCLOSURE IN ITEM IN SUBSECTION THREE BECAUSE IT SPECIFIES NON-OCCUPATIONAL SOURCES, RIGHT? HOWEVER, SOMEONE WHO OWNS ENOUGH STOCK IN ORACLE, SUCH THAT THEY RECEIVE DIVIDENDS OF GREATER THAN $5,000 A YEAR WOULD HAVE TO LIST EVERY PROPERTY THAT DIVIDENDS THAT ORACLE HAPPENS TO OWN.
AND THAT SEEMS, THAT SEEMS LIKE NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT.
AND THE SAME BASIC IDEA WOULD APPLY ON FIVE, EXCEPT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO OWN ENOUGH STOCK TO GET 5,000 IN DIVIDENDS.
YOU JUST HAVE TO OWN STOCK THAT'S WORTH $5,000 OR MORE, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO ALREADY LIST, I'M SORRY, YOU ALREADY HAVE TO LIST THOSE, RIGHT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIST EVERY PIECE OF REAL PROPERTY THAT ORACLE ON ORACLE HAPPENS TO OWN WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME REASON, CHAIR SOBER AND WANTS TO PICK ON POOR LITTLE ORACLE, BUT IT COULD BE ANY OF A LONG LIST OF COMPANIES IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS.
IT WAS, I USED TO DRIVE BY IT ALL THE TIME TO GO HOME TOP OF MINE, PROMISE, UM, COMMISSIONER GREENBERG, UM, PERHAPS THE WORDING.
ISN'T WHAT WE WANT BECAUSE THE INTENT IS NOT FOR SOMEONE WHO OWNS $5,000 IN STOCK OF ORACLE TO HAVE TO LIST EVERYTHING WITHIN AUSTIN.
SOMETIME THAT ORACLE OWNS IT'S MORE THAN IF YOU HAVE A $5,000 INTEREST IN A REAL PROPERTY THROUGH THAT, WHICH MAY BE EVEN HARDER TO FIGURE OUT.
SO MAYBE A KNOWN $5,000 INTEREST IN A PROPERTY.
UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE WAY I DESCRIBED TO PEOPLE, IT WAS HOW THEY HANDLE MUTUAL FUNDS IS LOOK AT WHAT YOU CONTROL.
IF YOU ARE A DAY TRADER AND YOU OWN $5,000 WORTH OF 10 DIFFERENT STOCKS, YOU GOT TO LIST THOSE INDIVIDUAL STOCKS.
IF YOU OWN AN INDEX FUND WITH X, YOU KNOW, FIDELITY OR WHATEVER YOU LIST FIDELITY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY PICK, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER WHAT FUNDS ARE PART OF THAT INDEX FUND.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL ADVISOR THAT SELECTS 10 STOCKS AND YOU KNOW, YOU OWN THAT, YOU HAVE TO LIST THOSE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT IS SPECIFIC, BUT MUTUAL FUNDS, WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT IF IT'S A REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE INVESTED, YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT IF YOU WERE VOTING.
THE CONCERN IS WHETHER YOU'RE VOTING IN A WAY THAT WOULD AFFECT WOULD GIVE YOU A PERSONAL BENEFIT.
AND SOME OF THESE LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS, UM, I THINK THERE'S, I MEAN, IF THE LOBBYIST IS SAYING, WE HAVE AN INTEREST ON THIS PARTICULAR ADDRESS THAT WAS UP FOR A ZONING CASE, THEN THAT CONCERNED ME, SECRETARY OF STATE FORGIVING ME, I FEEL VERY NAIVE AND ASKING THIS QUESTION,
[01:50:01]
WHAT IS THE POINT OF, UM, OF THESE SECTIONS? IT IS CONFLICT OF INTERESTS TO GAUGE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, RIGHT? SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE SIGN IN US COMMISSIONERS HERE TO STATE, WHETHER WE HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IS THERE A LIMIT? IS THERE A ONLY IF YOU HAVE 5% INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC OR $5,000 WORTH OF INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC, I'M, I'M REALLY WHAT SPEAKS TO ME IS COMMISSIONER GREENBERG, YOUR FRIEND WHO SAID, WHAT DOES IT MATTER? WHAT THE NUMBER IS LIKE, IF YOU HAVE A, IF YOU HAVE SOME INTEREST IN IT, THEN YOU HAVE INTEREST IN.IT'S LIKE, AND HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THE NUMBER OF 5,000? AND IS THIS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO REVIEW EVERY YEAR? EITHER YOU HAVE INTEREST OR YOU DON'T, IF YOU DO LIST THEM ALL AS BEST AS, YOU KNOW, WHAT AM I MISSING? IT'S NO SUCH THING AS A BAD QUESTION.
SO, UM, I, WHAT I SEE AS THE PURPOSE, UH, AND MAYBE I'LL DEFER TO LYNN ACTUALLY IS TO KIND OF JUST THE GENERAL PURPOSE FOR THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE.
UM, LET'S GET TO COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS AS WELL.
SO, UM, THIS COMMISSION IS NOT REQUIRED TO FILE STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION, BUT CERTAIN COMMISSIONS ARE.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION HAS TO FILE STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INTEREST.
YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONS THAT ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT REAL ESTATE, THEY'RE FILING THESE.
AND SO ONCE A YEAR, EVERY COMMISSIONER AND TWICE A YEAR FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY FILE.
IF THEY HAVE REAL PROPERTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S VALUED AT 5% INTEREST, THEY HAVE TO IDENTIFY THAT.
OR NUMBER NINE, IF THEY HAVE A 5% INTEREST IN A BUSINESS, THEY HAVE TO LIST ALL THE REAL PROPERTIES OWNED BY THAT BUSINESS.
SO YOU, EVERY COMMISSIONER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT EVERY MEETING, THEY COME TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT'S THAT OCCURS AT EVERY MEETING MEETING.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, SOME CITY OFFICIALS HAVE TO COMPLETE THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION, HELPS THEM IDENTIFY CONFLICT, POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
IF THE PUBLIC MAKES A PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO OBTAIN THOSE AND THEY DO GET REQUESTED AND THEY CAN GO DOWN THE LIST, UM, AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S ON COUNCIL AGENDAS OR VARIOUS BOARD AND COMMISSION AGENDAS TO WATCH OVER WHETHER OR NOT THEY FIND ANY CONFLICT WITH THE, WITH FOR EXAMPLE, A PROPERTY ADDRESS THAT'S IDENTIFIED THE GO TO COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS, UM, HAD A POINT TO MAKE GO AHEAD.
SO JUST TO, AGAIN, TO KIND OF REHASH WHAT MY CONCERN IS IS, YOU KNOW, I, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THAT IS USING ONE'S INDIVIDUAL POSITION TO LEVERAGE AN ADVANTAGE IN THE DECISION-MAKING.
UM, BUT WHAT I WANT US TO BE AWARE OF IS, UM, THAT FOR SOME, WHAT IS A DIMINIMOUS VALUE IS DIFFERENT.
THERE'S NO OBJECTIVE STANDARD THERE.
AND SO FOR, FOR US, AS A COMMISSION, WE'RE MAKING A RULE THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, WEALTH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO IN MAKING THIS VERY BRIGHT LINE RULE, WE MAY BE OBLIGATING PEOPLE TO A LEVEL OF AWARENESS THAT IS JUST NOT NORMAL FOR THEM.
SO THAT'S KINDA MY PITCH ON IT.
I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THESE THRESHOLDS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER REGULATORY REGULATORY AGENCIES WHO GOVERN THESE TYPES OF DISCLOSURES.
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION THAT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
UM, I'LL BE COMPLETELY HONEST.
UM, I'M TRYING REALLY HARD TO THINK BACK TO THE, UH, KINDS OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES THAT STATE OFFICIALS HAVE TO FILL OUT UNDER STATE LAW AND I'M DRAWING A BLANK.
UM, I SEE UP COMMISSIONER DANBURG FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
DANBURG NO LESS, UM, MAY HAVE INSIGHT ON THAT, BUT GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER
[01:55:04]
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS, POINT AS EXACTLY ON TARGET.UM, WE ALL ENCOURAGE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO IF WHAT YOUR BUSINESS IS, IS BUYING DISTRESSED PROPERTIES AND FIXING THEM UP WHERE THEY ARE HABITABLE AND AFFORDABLE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND IT IS TRUE IF YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF INVESTMENTS IN A BUNCH OF MONEY, DO THOSE INVESTMENTS MATTER LESS THAN IF YOU HAVE NOT VERY MUCH MONEY, BUT YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT, IT, YOU KNOW, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS COMPARED TO SWEAT EQUITY AND YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT WE HAVE HAD IN FRONT OF OUR COMMISSION, PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTES ON SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER BELIEVE WAS BENEFITING THEIR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND THE COMPLAINANT BELIEVED IT WAS FOR THEIR PERSONAL INTEREST.
AND THOSE WERE PRETTY HOTLY DEBATED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AND IN THOSE FEW CASES, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS ONLY BENEFITING IF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BENEFITED.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER BELIEVED WAS HIS OR HER JOB.
I THINK ONE THING, UM, THAT I, UH, AM TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF AS WELL, IS WHAT THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS ARE, UM, IN SOME OF THESE HYPOTHETICAL'S THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO, SO IN, IN THE CASE OF SOMEONE WHO MAKES A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEIR INCOME, UH, INVESTING IN, UM, PROPERTY TO IMPROVE UPON THAT PROPERTY AND THEN TO SELL THAT PROPERTY LATER, UM, THAT CURRENTLY IT IN A NORMAL, IF THEY'RE NOT DOING IT THROUGH AN LLC OR SOMETHING, I THINK THAT IF I UNDERSTAND THESE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, IT DOES GET REPORTED CURRENTLY.
UM, AND SO I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT IN THOSE MORE, IN MORE LEGALLY SOPHISTICATED ARRANGEMENTS WHERE WE'RE OPERATING THROUGH, UH, LLCS AS THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THERE ARE CASES WHERE, UM, THE REQUIREMENTS DON'T CAPTURE THE REAL PROPERTY INTERESTS THAT THOSE LLCS HAVE.
UM, SO, UH, AND I, BUT I WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT IT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF HOW PEOPLE, UH, I MEAN, EVERYONE MAKES THEIR MONEY IN THE WAY THAT THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY.
UM, BUT, UH, FOR THE KINDS OF ARRANGEMENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I DUNNO, I FEEL IT'S, IT'S LESS ABOUT, UH, KIND OF GOING AFTER A PARTICULAR MEANS OF GENERATING INCOME AND MORE ABOUT, UH, IF THERE IS CURRENTLY THE KIND OF INCONSISTENCY IN OUR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT ALLOWS FOR SOMEONE TO REPORT ONE THING, UH, RATHER REQUIRE THEM TO REPORT ONE THING, IF THEIR NAME'S ON THE DEED AND NOT IF IT'S AN LLC, THAT THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN ON THE DEED, THAT'S THE KIND OF DISCREPANCY THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.
I MEAN, I'M FINE WITH, UM, EARNING INCOME BY, UM, PURCHASING PROPERTIES AND IMPROVING THEM, JUST DON'T ALSO MAKE A DECISION THAT INCREASES THE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY BY CHANGING, YOU KNOW, IT'S ENTITLEMENTS.
AND IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PROPERTY IS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LISTED LIKE IN NUMBER EIGHT BY ADDRESS, THEN IT'S, TO ME A PROBLEM COMMISSIONER LEVIN'S, UM, I'M GOING TO WAIT INTO SOMETHING THAT MAY END UP BEING A COMPLETE DEAD END, BUT WITH RESPECT
[02:00:01]
TO EIGHT, WHICH REQUIRES ITEMIZED LIST OF ALL REAL PROPERTY, UM, COULD THAT BE, WOULD THAT BE A BETTER TARGET FOR AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE THIS SEAM EIGHT SEEMS TO REQUIRE ONLY THE DISCLOSURE WHEN YOU OWN A DIRECT INTEREST IN IT.SO IF YOU OWN IT IN YOUR NAME, UM, SINCE WE'RE NOT REALLY GOING AFTER, IF YOU OWN 5,000 BUCKS, IF ORACLE STOCK, YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE EVERY PROPERTY, ORACLE OWNS, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING AFTER, BUT WE ARE GOING AFTER IF YOU OWN, YOU KNOW, HALF OF XYZ, LLC, WHICH OWNS BLACK ACRE, WHICH IS UP FOR BEING REZONED.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IS, IS SUBSECTION EIGHT, A BETTER CANDIDATE FOR AMENDMENT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
I THINK IT'S NINE, BECAUSE NINE IS THE ONE THAT'S ABOUT CORPORATION PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OR PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN SOME SENSE, HIDDEN, WHEREAS EIGHT IS MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.
YOU HAVE AN OWNERSHIP AND YOU WRITE IT DOWN AND AID IS ALL, IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A LIMIT OF, IT'S GOTTA BE $5,000 OR SO NINE SO THE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO NINE THERE'S, SO THERE'S ALREADY THE 5% MINIMUM THRESHOLD.
IT'S 5% OF IT, OF THE ENTITY, NOT NECESSARILY THE PROPERTY, IF I AM READING THAT WE WANT SOMEHOW TO BE $5,000, IF THE PROPERTY VALUE IS $5,000, NOT IF YOU HAVE A $5,000 INTEREST IN ORACLE, WELL THEN YEAH, THREE AND FIVE, THAT'S APPLIED TO THE ORACLE ISSUE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT NINE, WELL, IF YOU ADD THE $5,000, IT'S GONNA, IT WILL.
BUT THE FIVE, NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE OWN 5% IN AN ENTITY THAT LARGE.
BUT HOW DO WE CRAFT THIS SO THAT IT CAPTURES THE ONES WE WANT AND DOESN'T BURDEN WITH THE ONES WE DON'T.
I THINK THAT I'M HERE WITH QUESTIONS, NOT RIGHT.
I THINK YOU'RE, IT'S, IT SHOULD NOT BE A $5,000 INTEREST IN THE ENTITY.
IT SHOULD BE A $5,000 INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY SPECIFIC REAL PROPERTY, OR TO TAKE COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS, POINT OF VIEW, MAYBE FUN THOUSANDS TOO WELL, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOME THRESHOLD ON THE PROPERTY VALUE THAT GETS IT LISTED BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT BEING LISTED AT LEAST ON ONE PUBLIC OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE AS DRAFTED THE AMENDMENT TO NINE WOULD BE A $5,000 INTEREST IN THE ENTITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO REVISE THAT.
THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REVISED.
UH, THAT WAS THAT'S THAT'S MY HAND THAT MADE THAT.
SO I'LL TAKE OWNERSHIP, UM, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS AND THEN COMMISSIONER DANBURG.
UM, IF YOU COULD MEET YOURSELF COMMISSIONER IN TAMPERING UNTIL YOU'RE READY.
COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. SO I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE, BUT I THINK, AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS THAT IT IS THE ENTIRETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATION THAT DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFLICT ACTUALLY EXISTS.
AND I THINK WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO TRY AND CREATE AN, UH, AN OBJECTIVE THRESHOLD TO APPLY TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS.
AND I GUESS MAYBE PERHAPS, I MEAN, WHEN I LOOK AT ALL OF THE OTHER AREAS OF LAW THAT I PRACTICE IN, THERE'S GENERALLY NOT AN OBJECTIVE RULE.
SO MAYBE WORDING THAT IS DISCRETIONARY TO THIS BOARD MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO FIT ALL OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
WELL, DECIDING THAT YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DISCRETIONARY, RIGHT? AND IT'S WAY MORE THAN THAT, BECAUSE IT COULD BE THAT YOUR CHILD OWNS AN INTEREST IN A PARTICULAR PROPERTY, AND YOU DECIDE THAT THAT'S IT, BUT IT DOESN'T GET REPORTED ON YOUR STATEMENT
[02:05:01]
OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS.IT'S ONLY YOUR INTEREST, YOUR SPOUSE'S INTEREST THAT GETS REPORTED.
BUT I THINK HAVING THE FORM, THE REPORT IS CERTAINLY A START.
IT'S NOT GOING TO UNCOVER EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND WE DO STILL HAVE TO RELY ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BE REASONABLE ABOUT WHAT THEY THEMSELVES FEEL AS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON CERTAIN THINGS.
BUT, UM, I JUST THINK THE FORM COULD BE BETTER THAN AT THIS POINT.
I WOULD SAY WE DON'T HAVE THE PERFECT LANGUAGE AND THAT MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE, IF THERE'S INTEREST IN THE COMMISSION COULD COME BACK NEXT MONTH WITH HOPEFULLY LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN STAND UP.
UM, I THINK THAT IS, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD GAME PLAN AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION TO KIND OF GET US ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
UM, SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GREENBERG FOR SPEARHEADING AND CHAMPIONING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
UH, THANKS FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY LATE NIGHT DRAFTS OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT? NOT QUITE READY FOR PRIME TIME, BUT IS THERE INTEREST IN THE COMMISSION AND IN GOING FORWARD? I'M DEFINITELY INTERESTED.
I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS OBVIOUS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT, THAT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION, BUT ALSO BEING MINDFUL OF, OF THERE, WHERE WE DO HAVE DISCRETION.
SO COMMISSIONER DANBURG, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP EARLIER AS WELL, AND I WANTED TO, IF YOU HAD A COMMENT, GO AHEAD.
JUST, JUST KIND OF GENERALLY I IMAGINE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL INVOLVED CITIZENS, I IMAGINE THAT EVERY ONE OF US IS DOING THINGS TO IMPROVE OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS AND I HAVE ACTUALLY MET IN PERSON CAUSE I'VE BEEN SO, SO, UH, UH, ONLINE DURING THIS TIME.
BUT I, I THINK MY BIGGEST POINT ABOUT THIS IS ALL OF US WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE BETTER.
THAT IS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN ANY PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
AND THAT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF A FALLBACK WHERE IF WE MAKE OUR ENTIRE IRS STATEMENTS OR IF WE MAKE OUR ENTIRE WHATEVER, WHATEVER PUBLIC PEOPLE CAN CRITICIZE IT AS THEY WANT.
BUT IF, IF, IF, IF WE BUY INTO THIS OR THAT MUTUAL FUND OR THIS OR THAT, WHATEVER INVESTMENT THING, IT IT'S, WE ARE NOT DECISION MAKERS.
WE ARE NOT WATCHING THAT INVESTMENT.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BETTER.
AND SO I THINK THAT IN ANY OF THIS STUFF, IF THERE IS A FALL BACK AND THAT FALLBACK IS FULL DISCLOSURE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING FINANCIALLY, THAT SHOULD BE A TIME'S OUT WHERE WE'RE BEING FULLY DISCLOSING AND WHAT THE GROUPS WE'RE INVOLVED WITH ARE DOING.
IF IT'S NOT INFLUENCING OUR DECISION-MAKING, OTHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
AND OUR CITY BETTER, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY NET OR A FALLBACK WHERE YOU'RE NOT THE DECIDING PERSON IN THE DECISIONS.
SO, UH, W WHAT I KIND OF, WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT WAS MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT, UH, BURDENING OVERLY BURDENING, UM, PEOPLE TO REPORT ON FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WHERE THEY DO NOT HAVE DECISION-MAKING POWER AND WHERE THE ULTIMATE INVESTMENT LANDS.
WELL, I THINK THEN WE CAN GENERALLY TABLE THIS FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, THE WORKING GROUP THAT NEEDS A NEW BRAND NAME.
UM, WELL, IT'S NOT A KITCHEN SINK ANYMORE.
THE TWO DESKS SEVEN, WHAT CO TWO NIGHTS? WELL THINK OF SOMETHING BRAND IS NOT MY STRONG SUIT.
WE'LL THINK OF SOMETHING NICE.
UH, BUT THAT WORKING GROUP WILL, UH, UH, GET BACK TO IT AND COME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT, UH, INCORPORATES THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[02:10:01]
WAS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION, UM, WITH THAT.I THINK OUR AGENDA IS DONE, BUT FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: APRIL 27, 2022 REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING Discussion and possible action regarding the minutes for the April 27, 2022 Regular Commission meeting.]
UM, SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SECRETARY STANTON, UM, TO DISCUSS THE MINUTES, UH, AND IF THERE ARE ANY NEEDED ADJUSTMENTS.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, DID WE DISCUSS OR DETERMINE DISPOSITION FOR EACH ITEM ON THE AGENDA? I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT IS OUR DISPOSITION ON TO SEE CONTENTS OF THE AGENDA FOR FUTURE MEETINGS, INCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF COMMISSIONS, JURISDICTION AND OR FUNCTIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID NOT? UM, SO THIS IS, SO THIS IS WHERE I, UH, HAVE, THIS IS WHERE I'M DOING MY CHAIRING THING, AND I'M KIND OF, UH, IF, IF THERE IS, I WILL TEMPORARILY PAUSE AND SAY IF THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA GENERALLY, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE, IF I'VE NOT MADE THIS EXPLICIT, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, BUT FEEL FREE TO CALL IT OUT AND STOP.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT NOW WE CAN, I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE READY TO TALK ABOUT IT AS A COMMISSION, UM, UH, COMING INTO THESE MEETINGS.
WHAT I TRY TO DO IS GET A SENSE OF, UH, WHAT'S, WHAT'S KIND OF READY FOR PRIME TIME.
UM, BUT, UH, THIS END WITH ANY OTHER THING ON OUR AGENDA THAT WE'RE AGENDIZED TO DISCUSS, UM, IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE AGENDA, WE CAN, I KNOW THAT LYNN'S BEEN LOOKING INTO IT.
UM, JUST GENERALLY WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THE AGENDA.
IF YOU'D LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT WE CAN, UH, NO, MY QUESTION WAS REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T MISS IT.
WE CAN, WE CAN DECIDE, HEY, WE'RE NOT READY TO, TO DISCUSS THIS.
OR, YOU KNOW, AND LYNN DID PROVIDE, UM, UM, INFORMATION ON THAT.
I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO JUST KIND OF RESPOND TO HER AND WE CAN DO THIS, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THIS COMMISSION, IT DOESN'T, UM, WE DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS THIS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, LIKE, ARE WE TABLING THIS I'M FINE WITH TABLING.
UM, SO IF WE, MY PLAN WAS TO, UH, TABLE THAT, AND THEN THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE UNDER OLD BUSINESS, UM, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR TIME THIS EVENING, AND TO ALSO KIND OF PLAN A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR OUR FUTURE MEETINGS.
BUT AGAIN, IF THERE'S, UH, IF THERE'S RELEVANT UPDATES OR THINGS TO DISCUSS UNDER ANY GIVEN ITEM, THEN I'M HAPPY TO, I HAVE NO PROBLEM PUMPING THE BRAKES, SO WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.
UM, SO, UH, WITH THAT, THEN, UH, HAPPY TO GO TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND SECRETARY STANTON, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
SO FOR THE MEETING MINUTES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD, DO WE NEED TO, DO WE NEED TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL, WE NEED TO VOTE.
WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT WITH, UH, AMENDMENT, CORRECT? CORRECT.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, OKAY.
LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MEETING MINUTES FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, THERE ARE A FEW AMENDMENTS THAT I WOULD, UH, THAT I AM PROPOSING.
UM, PAGE THREE, NUMBER FOUR, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SECOND LINE, WE NEED TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE WORKING GROUP TO ADD AN S TO MAKE SANCTIONED, PLURAL, PUT A COMMA AFTER PROCEDURES, EVEN FACT THAT IS THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE WORK GROUP, CORRECT.
INCLUDING THE COMMA, AND THEN IN THE NEXT, UH, PARAGRAPH IN REGARD TO AGENDA ITEM TWO, SEE IF WE CAN CORRECT THAT TITLE COMMISSIONER.
I FEEL SO VAIN MAKING THIS COMMENT THAT CHANGE THAT TO SECRETARY, JUST TO BE CONSISTENT IF WE ARE USING TITLES.
AGAIN, I AM LIMITING MY, UM, FEEDBACK ON ITEMS THAT AFFECT COMPREHENSION OF, OF THE MINUTES.
[02:15:02]
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.AND THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THAT AHEAD OF TIME.
COMMISSIONER GREENBERG MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED SECOND SECONDED.
UM, I WILL SAY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, AYE.
AND COMMISSIONER DANNENBERG IF YOU COULD UNMUTE TO SAY I, I HEARD AND PERFECT.
UM, UH, ALL THOSE OPPOSED AND ANY ABSTENTIONS SAYING NONE.
UH, WE HAVE SOME FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANY ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE NEXT AGENDA? I HAVE ONE VERY SMALL ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT, UM, NO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
[4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
OH, YOU DO.THEN GO AHEAD, SECRETARY STANCE.
UM, AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS BETTER.
WELL, LET ME JUST PUT IT OUT THERE AND THEN I'LL, I'LL SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE ON THE APPROPRIATE, UM, PROTOCOL OR, OR PROCESS FOR DOING THIS, HOW TO CHANGE OR SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGING THE ACTUAL TEMPLATE FOR AGENDA AND MINUTES.
OH, THAT'S ACROSS ALL THE COMMISSIONS IS, UM, AND YOU CAN LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE FOREVER AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT WORTH IT, BUT IT'S A QUESTION THAT I HAVE, AND I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT AS AN ANSWER, BUT THAT'S A TOPIC THAT, AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST TOPICS THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO, MY INTENTION IS NOT TO DRAW DISCUSSION TODAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT THESE ARE, THESE ARE NOT FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT I HAVE FEEDBACK FOR US, UM, FOR TODAY'S MEETING.
IS THIS AN APPROPRIATE TIME? UM, PLEASE DON'T HATE ME.
LET'S PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE IT APPEARS IN THE RECORDING AND, AND I JUST DON'T WANT ANY, UM, MISPERCEPTION THAT ORACLE DID SOMETHING WRONG.
THAT'S WHY THEY CAME UP IN DISCUSSION AT A COMMISSION MEETING THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION.
I DON'T WANT US IN THAT POSITION.
SO MOVING FORWARD AND IT IS A VERY FUNNY, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLE, BUT WE GOT, I GOT TO TAKE IT BACK TO BUSINESS AND WE CANNOT DO THAT.
SO IN EXAMPLES, WE SHOULD USE PERSON A OR COMPANY A SURE.
NO, I THINK THAT'S, THAT IS A GOOD SUGGESTION.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S MY PROPENSITY TO TRY TO FIND REAL WORLD EXAMPLES AND I LOVE I GOT WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
I'M JUST THINKING, PROTECTING US.
WE WOULD NEVER IMPUGN THE INTEGRITY OF THE DIGNIFIED LONGHORN BAND.
AND THEN I DON'T NEED THIS, BUT IF IT'S FOR CONSISTENCY, I'M CHANGING THIS TO SECRETARY TO MATCH WITH.
MY
AND THIS IS, UH, I, I REALLY GENUINELY APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.
MY ONE LITTLE ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE ATTORNEYS ON THE COMMISSION AND THAT THE HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT MAY BE WATCHING AN ATX AND RIGHT NOW, UH, MAYBE, UH, OVERREPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS.
UM, THE SAN ANTONIO LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS FOR PRO BONO WORK FOR VICTIMS IN UBALDI.
AND IF YOU HAVE A CAPACITY, BANDWIDTH AND AN APPROPRIATE SKILL SET, THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING AN EMAIL TO YOU.
AGAIN, IT'S THE SAN ANTONIO LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION.
THEY'VE GOT INFORMATION ONLINE AS WELL AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEIR WEBSITE.
[02:20:03]
YEAH, IT DOES HELP IF YOU SPEAK SPANISH, IF YOU ARE A SPANISH LANGUAGE ATTORNEY, EVEN MORE.SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH WITH THAT.
I AM GOING TO ADJOURN OUR ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING.
GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A GREAT SAFE EVENING.
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.