HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-7-16 BOE Agenda Package
Date:Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Time:5:15 p.m.
Location:City Hall, Bldg. A, Executive Conference Room #103
276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA
Board of Ethics Regular Meeting
______________________________________________________________________________
In-Person Public Comments: Join us for the Board of Ethics meeting at the time and location specified
on this agenda to make your comments. Each person will be allotted three minutes to address the
Commission.
Electronic Public Comments: At www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings, locate this meeting and click
on the comment bubble icon. Select the item and click on "Leave Comment." The deadline to submit e-
comments or any comments emailed to BOE@chulavistaca.gov will be noon on the day of the
meeting.
Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities are invited to request modifications or accommodations in
order to access and/or participate in a Board of Ethics meeting by contacting the board staff at
BOE@chulavistaca.gov (California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by dialing 711)
at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting.
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.ROLL CALL
Board Members: Gersten, Salas, Torres, Velissaropoulos, Vice-Chair Hurst, and
Chair Barragan.
3.PUBLIC COMMENTS
Persons may address the Board on any subject matter within the Board’s jurisdiction
that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law generally prohibits the Board
from discussing or taking action on any issue not included on the agenda, but, if
appropriate, the Board may schedule the topic for future discussion or refer the
matter to staff. If you wish to comment, please submit comments electronically at:
www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings or submit an electronic comment per the
instructions on page one of this agenda.
4.ACTION ITEMS
The Item(s) listed in this section of the agenda will be considered individually by the
Board and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. If you wish to comment
on one of these items, you may do so at www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings or
submit an electronic comment per the instructions on page one of this agenda.
4.1 Approval of Meeting Minutes 4
Recommended Action:
Board to approve the minutes dated June 18, 2025.
4.2 Written Communications 8
Recommended Action:
Communication from Board Member Velissaropoulos requesting an excused
absence from the June 18, 2025, Board of Ethics meeting.
4.3 Discussion of the Annual Activities Report and Authorize the Chair to Work
with Staff to Finalize and Submit
9
Recommended Action:
To authorize the Chair to work with staff to finalize and submit the Annual
Activities report.
4.4 Discussion of the Campaign Contribution Enforcement Authority Selection
Process Ad Hoc Sub-Committee next steps and Authorize the Ad Hoc Sub-
Committee to Work with Staff to Proceed with Next Steps
10
Recommended Action:
To authorize the Campaign Contribution Enforcement Authority Selection
Process Ad Hoc Sub-Committee to work with staff to finalize and post the job
posting, select applicants, interview applicants, and bring back proposed
applicants to the board for final approval vote.
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda Page 2 of 10
5.PRESENTATION
The following item(s) will be presentations given to the Board. Action on these
item(s) is typically limited to the Board receiving the presentation and providing
direction or feedback to staff, as appropriate. If you wish to speak on an item, please
fill out a “Request to speak” form and submit it to the Secretary prior to the meeting
or submit an electronic comment per the instructions on page one of this agenda.
5.1 Update from Lobbying Ordinance Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Consists of Chair Isidro Barragan, Vice Chair Leslie Hurst, and Member
Bobby Ray Salas.
5.2 Update from Ex Parte Communication Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Consists of Member William Gersten, Member Jose Torres, and Member
Bobby Ray Salas.
5.3 Update from Amendments to Code of Ethics Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Consists of Vice Chair Leslie Hurst and Member Alexia Velissaropoulos.
5.4 Update from Campaign Contribution Enforcement Authority Selection
Process Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Consists of Member William Gersten, Member Bobby Ray Salas, and
Member Alexia Velissaropoulos.
6.STAFF COMMENTS
7.CHAIR'S COMMENTS
8.BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS
9.ADJOURNMENT
to the regular meeting on August 20, 2025, at 5:15 p.m.
Materials provided to the Board of Ethics related to any open-session item on this
agenda are available for public review by contacting the City Attorney's Office at
BOE@chulavistaca.gov.
Sign up at www.chulavistaca.gov/residents/enotification to receive email notifications
when agendas are published online.
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda Page 3 of 10
Page 1
City of Chula Vista
Regular Board of Ethics Meeting
MINUTES
June 18, 2025, 5:15 p.m.
City Hall, Bldg. A, Executive Conference Room #103
276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA
Present: Member Salas, Member Torres, Vice Chair Hurst, Chair
Barragan
Absent: Member Gersten, Member Velissaropoulos
Also Present: City Attorney Verdugo, Board Secretary Montalvo
Minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the agenda.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Board of Ethics of the City of Chula Vista was called to
order at 5:16 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Secretary Montalvo called the roll.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Robert spoke in opposition to scheduling outreach nights as the same night of
board and commission meetings.
4. ACTION ITEMS
4.1 Approval of Meeting Minutes
Board to approve the minutes dated May 21, 2025.
Moved by Member Torres
Seconded by Member Salas
Page 4 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda
2025-06-18 Board of Ethics Regular Meeting Minutes
Page 2
Yes (4): Member Salas, Member Torres, Vice Chair Hurst, and Chair
Barragan
Result: Carried (4 to 0)
4.2 Written Communications
To approve the excused absence for Board Member Gersten requesting
an excused absence from the June 18, 2025, Board of Ethics meeting.
Moved by Member Salas
Seconded by Member Torres
Yes (4): Member Salas, Member Torres, Vice Chair Hurst, and Chair
Barragan
Result: Carried (4 to 0)
4.3 Discussion and potential action to appoint a Board of Ethics member
and alternate Board of Ethics member to serve on an interview panel
for current and upcoming vacancies on the Board of Ethics
Robert spoke expressing a neutral position.
City Attorney Verdugo shared the Chula Vista Municipal Code Section
2.28.050(A) dictates that when there is a vacancy on Board of Ethics, a
panel is created with one member of Board of Ethics and one member of
Charter Review Commission to interview and select a replacement to
bring back to the board as a whole to vote on. The chosen applicant is
referred to the City Council for final confirmation.
Chair Barragan asked if there was a timeline to appoint or could we wait
for more applicants? City Attorney shared there is no time limit but the
process itself takes a while. Charter Review Commission doesn't meet
until August and they will need to appoint someone as well.
To select Vice-Chair Hurst to serve on the review panel and the selection
of Member Ray Salas as the alternate to assist in reviewing Board of
Ethics member applications, interviewing selected applicants, and
recommending to the City Council one applicant for each available seat on
the Board of Ethics.
Moved by Chair Barragan
Seconded by Member Torres
Page 5 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda
2025-06-18 Board of Ethics Regular Meeting Minutes
Page 3
Yes (4): Member Salas, Member Torres, Vice Chair Hurst, and Chair
Barragan
Result: Carried (4 to 0)
5. PRESENTATION
5.1 Update from Lobbying Ordinance Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Chair Barragan shared that due to work, he was unable to work on the
lobbying ordinance, but will have more time now.
5.2 Update from Ex Parte Communication Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Member Gersten asked Secretary Montalvo to share that "he was unable
to further edit the draft Ex Parte Policy as he was preparing for his trip. He
will have something more concrete at the July meeting."
5.3 Update from Amendments to Code of Ethics Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Vice Chair Leslie Hurst shared that he has a draft and should be able to
share it at the next meeting.
5.4 Update from Campaign Contribution Enforcement Authority
Selection Process Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
Member Bobby Ray Salas shared that the committee is reviewing the
document and is working to find a time to get together.
City Attorney Verdugo encourages the committee to have feedback by the
next meeting.
6. STAFF COMMENTS
City Attorney Verdugo shared he will work with Charter Review Committee t o
agendize getting one of their members to serve on the interview panel.
7. CHAIR'S COMMENTS
Chair Barragan thanked everyone for their updates and the City Attorney for his
guidance.
8. BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS
Vice Chair Hurst shared we are starting to get things rolling.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Page 6 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda
2025-06-18 Board of Ethics Regular Meeting Minutes
Page 4
Minutes prepared by: Sydnie Montalvo, Board Secretary
_________________________
Sydnie Montalvo, Board Secretary
Page 7 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda
Request for Excused Absence Form – 6/19
REQUEST FOR EXCUSED ABSENCE
City of Chula Vista Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Name: _________________________________________________ Date of Absence: _________________________________
Board/Commission/Committee: _________________________________________________________________________________
Chula Vista Municipal Code section 2.25.110 (C) allows board/commission/committee members, by a
majority vote, to excuse a fellow board, commission, or committee member’s absence from a meeting for any
of the reasons listed below. A member who is absent from three consecutive, regular meetings will be
deemed to have vacated his or her membership, unless the member’s absence is excused by a
majority vote of the other members. An absence is only recorded as “excused” upon receipt of a member’s
request and majority vote of the board/commission/committee to excuse the absence. Accordingly, if you
have been absent from a regular meeting, please complete and submit this form to the chair or secretary.
Please indicate the reason for the absence:
1. Illness of the member, family member of the member, or personal friend of the member;
2. Business commitment of the member that interferes with the attendance of the member at a meeting;
3. Previously scheduled vacation of the member, notice of which was provided to the respective board
or commission in advance of the meeting;
4. Attendance of the member at a funeral, religious service or ceremony, wedding, or other similarly
significant event;
5. Unexpected, emergency situation that prohibits the member’s attendance; or
6. Other reason for which the member has given notice to the secretary of his or her unavailability at
least seven days in advance of the meeting.
OR
The absence was not for any of the above-listed reasons. I understand that the absence will be recorded
as unexcused.
I certify the reason for the absence indicated above is true and correct.
Member’s Signature: __________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________________
If completed by secretary or staff to board/commission/committee:
Completed on member’s behalf by: _____________________________, per member’s Verbal Written request
on: _________________.
(date)
(secretary/liaison’s name) 7/1/2025
6/18/2025
Board of Ethics
Sydnie Montalvo
Alexia Velissaropoulos
4
4
Page 8 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda
Page 1 of 1
Board of Ethics
Highlights of Activities During Fiscal Year 2024-25
1. Selected and appointed BOE member to serve on a panel to interview applicants and to
nominate selected applicants to City Council to serve as members of the Board of Ethics.
2. Selected and appointed BOE members to serve on a panel to interview applicants and to
nominate selected applicants Campaign Contribution Enforcement Authority selection
process.
3. Worked with sub-committee on proposed lobbying ordinance, including review,
discussion, and direction/action on proposed edits to proposed lobbying ordinance.
4. Worked with sub-committee on proposed Ex Parte Communication ordinance, including
review, discussion, and direction/action on proposed edits to proposed Ex Parte
Communication ordinance.
5. Worked with sub-committee on proposed amendments to Code of Ethics ordinance,
including review, discussion, and direction/action on proposed edits to proposed
amendments to Code of Ethics ordinance.
6. Adopted a written resolution to establish Executive Conference Room 103 as the
designated location for regular Board of Ethics meetings.
7. Received presentation on the roles, duties and procedures of the Board of Ethics on
behalf of the City Attorney’s office.
Board/Commission Comments or Recommendations to Council
● Continue to promote civic engagement and public discourse.
Page 9 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda
SEEKING ATTORNEYS TO SERVE ON CITY OF CHULA VISTA’S CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTION ORDINANCE ENFORCMENT AUTHORITY PANEL
The City of Chula Vista seeks qualified attorneys to serve on a panel of attorneys who will act as
the enforcement authority of the City of Chula Vista’s Campaign Contribution Ordinance (as set
forth in Chula Vista Municipal Code section 2.52).
Attorneys seeking to serve on the panel should have the following experience: (1) A member in
good standing of the California Bar for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years; (2) Experience
with municipal or public law entity law, civil litigation, and advising elected officials in their
public servant capacity; (3) Experience in some criminal investigation or prosecution
establishing an understanding of the role of an investigator/prosecutor; (3) Experience in civil
litigation establishing an understanding of the rules of civil procedure and of the local courts.
The position and assignment will be on an as needed basis, with cases assigned to the panel
attorneys on a randomly selected rotation basis. Fees should be reasonable and consistent with
amounts commonly paid for municipal law work.
Please provide a cover letter, resume, and fee schedule to Board of Ethics Secretary Sydnie
Montalvo by [DATE] at 5:00 pm via email at boe@chulavistaca.gov or via mail at:
Chula Vista City Attorney’s Office
Attn: Sydnie Montalvo
276 Fourth Avenue, Bldg. A
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Page 10 of 10
City of Chula Vista Board of Ethics
July 16, 2025 Agenda