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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998/06/01 Board of Ethics Minutes CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA MINUTES OF A BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING Ju,,~ ~, 1998 City Attorney's Conreyence Room 3:48 p.m. M3M3ERS PRESENT: Juan Gonzales I Richayc SchulmanJ Joanne Carsonl Susan Berney, Ricardo Gibert I Jea:1 Rogers, Toni McKean M3M3ERS A3SENT: Chet DeVore O??ICIJI..LS/ STJI.?? P?3S3NT: Ellen Faye Gross, D~pucY City Accorney David Rowlands, City Manager Th~ meeting was called to order ac 3:48 p.m. 1. Roll (:,,11 C::3..ir Gonzales called roll, all members prese::.t I excep-: C~le~ DeVore. 2. ZlpE1rnva 1 n-of Mi ~~)t es. MSC (Carson/Gibert) to approve the minutes of JI.pril 27, 2.998. (D~rney abstained) 3. Tnt ronllrt -; C)'T"l of 'Rnarn t n nF>W ri ty Mana9,::,r I);:vi r3 Row1 2'l~S. Ci~y Manager DOL yet present, Board proceeds to nex~ item. The new City Manager, Dave Rowlands arrives at 4:07 p.m. ::::llen Gross introduces the Board Members to Mr. Rowlands, each of them the:1 give a brier personal introduction. Training Coordinator Toni McKean explains her position with the Board anj how her st.aff posi~ion on the commission came to be. BG~~d of Eth~cs Minutes JU:1e 1, 1998 Page 2 MY. Rowlands addresses the Board regarding the Ethics Stateme~t_ Chaiy Gonzales reiteyates to Mr. Rowlands that the proposed Ethics Statement was a suggestion and not a mandate and rurthey exp::'aine:. that i i: may have been misinterpreted in the way it was wri:. t.'=::-:. IV::::. Rowla~ds reels the intent or the Ethics Statement is appropria~~ and explained to the Board his personal philosophy regarding this issue. Mr. Rowlands stated to the Board that it is his jo~, not the Boayd's, to enforce those standards internally. Richayd Schulman explains the Board's position as an advisory role to the City Council. Mr. Rowlands reiterates his feelings that the Board's mission and objective are appropriate and that he fully SUpPOyts it. Mr. Rowlands also feels that the Board is coming in at the right time with the presentation or the Ethics Stateme:-:.t to Co~~cil. Susan Berney expresses hey thoughts regarding the Code in that it gives the Board investigative authority when theye is a violation of the Code or Ethics and the Board's responsibility to advise the Council and promote the cause of ethics in the City through an educational component. Mr. Rowlands feels that the 30ayd is coming in at the right time with the presentation or the Ethics Statement to Council. Mr. Rowlands distributes a handout outlining his management philosophy; how he will relate to Department ~eaQs; and what he expects rrom Department Heads. Susan Berney notes the "standards" by which new and old employees can know ::heiy exnectations. The Board thanks Dave Rowlands for his time a:-:.c;. presentation. 4. ()r(:J 1 r()mmllTl~ ~at j nnR. None 5. i:'()llow IIp riiRrllssioTlR rpgardina ~~ty WidE=" Rthirs St~i~mc.':It 2nrS. its Prp':~pnt2ti()n to rrnlnril. Member Schulman suggests the Board discuss this item pyior to the new City Manager's arrival. Ellen Gross explains to Board Members why this item was not going before Council on the date the 30aYQ previously anticipated. She rurther explained that Assistant City Manager, Sid Morris requested Ms. Gross obtain addi::io:-:.a::' histoyical background regarding past attempts to have a~ Ethics Statement go before Council prior to the presentat.ion of this one BG~~d of Ethics Minutes JU:le ::., 1998 Page 3 to Council. Ms. Gross offered to share information with Members regarding the prior Agenda and Ordinance of 1989 regarding che Board of Ethics' duties and responsibilities. Members further discuss the issue of the Ethics Statement as merely being a proposal or recommendation and that the Board is not asking or seeking to regulate employees behavior. Member Gibert further states for the record that each department was developing their own Ethics Statement which varied and this Board took the initiative to develop a "City wide Ethics Statement" that everyone, including employees could be aware of. Chair Gonzales comments how pleased he is with the tone and direction the Board will receive from Mr. Rowlands. Members discuss leaving the "City Wide Ethics Statement" as it currently reads and that Chair Gonzales be present at the Council meeting when this goes before on the Council Agenda. 6. ~rainina roordinator Report Ms. McKean has not done any ethics training in two montl:s and therefore has nothing to report. Chair Gonzales and Members discuss those very problems regarding ethics training. It was also noced that the Board Members themselves with the exception of Members Schulman, Berney and Carson have not had any ethics training. Chair Gonzales feels that the Board should address what their own goals are at a future meeting. 7. M~mbpT~' rnmment~ Richard Schulman comments on the publication he received from Brian Bilbray, Mr. Cox and David Malcolm for endorsement of Mayor Horton and has quescions of whether people who were appointed to Boards and Commissio:ls could support political candidates who would participate in the decision to put them on the Board or Commission. The Board discusses the ramifications of proposition 208 as it relates to this and Ms. Gross explains there was an adverse decision, this proposition was unconstitutional and would scill be going before the Ninth Circuit. Boayd of Ethics Minutes June 1, 1998 Page 4 Chaiy Gonzales leaves the next meeting date open, depending on when the Ethics Statement item goes on Agenda. Meeting lS adjourned at 5:13 p.m. Carmen val Secret ry c:\~s\e~hi~s\minutes\060:98.min