AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2022-92, on the first of two readings, amending the San Marcos Code of Ethics to add provisions relating to review by the Ethics Review Commission (ERC) of Annual Financial Disclosure statements submitted by City Council members, Planning and Zoning Commissioners, and the four city council appointees; requiring periodic review by the ERC of Campaign Finance Reports to determine compliance with the individual contribution limit and aggregate fund-raising limits set by the Code; and providing an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: July 5, 2022
Department: Legal Department - as directed by City Council on July 5, 2022.
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Background Information:
The attached ordinance amends the San Marcos Code of Ethics to formalize the process for the Ethics Review Commission’s review of annual financial disclosure statements submitted by members of the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission and the four city council appointees. It would require the ERC to provide an explanation of the reasons supporting any request to an official or employee for clarification, correction, or completion of any missing information on an annual financial disclosure statement. The attached ordinance also provides for ERC review of campaign finance reports to determine compliance with individual contribution limits and aggregate fund raising limits that were added to the Code in 2018.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
On July 5, 2022, Council discussed the need for amending the San Marcos Code of Ethics and gave direction to staff to bring forward an ordinance amendment that formalizes the ERC’s review of annual financial disclosure statements and requires the commission to provide an explanation to accompany any request to an official or employee for clarification, correction, or completion of any omitted information. Council also directed that the ordinance include provisions for ERC’s review of campaign finance reports to determine compliance with the individual contribution limit and aggregate fund raising limits set forth in Sections 2.467 and 2.468 of the San Marcos Code of Ethics.
The attached ordinance was posted for consideration on first reading on the City Council’ s regular agenda for October 3, 2022. After some discussion, council postponed first reading of the ordinance until the November 15, 2022 regular meeting and directed that a separate discussion item be placed on that same agenda to allow the council to review and discuss provisions of the San Marcos Code of Ethics, adopted in 2018, that set individual contribution limits and aggregate fund raising limits during an election cycle for the mayor and council members.
This item was postponed from November 15th council meeting.
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