CHARTER AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH A CITY ETHICS COMMISSION
Voter approval of Measure “CCC” would amend the City Charter to establish a City Ethics Commission, for the purpose of impartially administering and implementing governmental ethics in the City of Long Beach. On August 7, 2018, the Long Beach City Council placed Measure “CCC” on the ballot for the consideration of Long Beach voters.
The City Charter does not currently provide for an Ethics Commission. The proposed measure would create a seven-member Ethics Commission with the responsibility for the impartial administration and implementation of the provisions of the City Charter, statutes and ordinances concerning campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest and governmental ethics. The Commission would also make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council concerning the effectiveness of these laws; assist City departments in developing conflict of interest codes; advocate for understanding of the Charter, City ordinances and the roles of elected and other public officials, City institutions and the City electoral process; develop an educational program to familiarize newly elected and appointed officers and employees, candidates for elective office and their campaign treasurers, and lobbyists with City, state and federal ethics laws and the importance of ethics to the public’s confidence in municipal government; and perform such other duties as may be established by the Charter or the Municipal Code. Enforcement of ethics laws would continue to be carried out by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, the Attorney General, District Attorney, City Attorney and City Prosecutor, as appropriate.
Under the proposed measure, the Mayor and City Auditor would each appoint two members to the Commission, to be confirmed by the City Council. The remaining three members would be appointed by the initial four Commissioners, following a public recruitment and application process.
Staffing for administrative and management functions of the Commission will be addressed in the Municipal Code. The Commission will have a budget, as determined by the City Council, sufficient to conduct the Commission’s mission and business. There are potential fiscal impacts associated with this measure, which are unknown at this time.
Measure “CCC” requires simple majority approval of Long Beach voters to pass.
A “Yes” vote will approve Measure “CCC”.
A “No” vote will not approve Measure “CCC”.
