* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Ethics and Governance Committee on August 29, 2024.] [00:00:21] FOR CITY COUNCIL ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, IT'S, UH, 10 0 2, AND I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER. UM, I'M COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, AND I'M THE CHAIR FOR THE COMMITTEE. UM, I'M PLEASED TO CALL TODAY'S MEETING TO ORDER. I'D LIKE TO START BY RECOGNIZING MY COLLEAGUES. UH, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ HERE. UH, WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ASHA JACKSON'S OFFICE STAFF FROM MARY ANN HUFFMAN'S, OFFICE AND STAFF FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER'S OFFICE. UM, THE VICE CHAIR, UH, UH, VICE CHAIR CARTER IS, IS CURRENTLY NOT IN, IN THE ROOM, BUT, UH, AS SOON AS SHE COMES IN OR IF SHE COMES IN, WE'LL ALLOW HER TO MAKE SOME REMARKS AS WELL. UM, A REMINDER FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. WHEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE SHARE. PLEASE BE SURE TO SPEAK CLEARLY INTO YOUR MICROPHONE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR THREE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS HAS ENDED. AND NOW WE'RE SUBMITTING GONNA SWITCH OVER TO THE MEETING AGENDA TODAY. THE COMMITTEE WILL RECEIVE AN OVERVIEW OF ON CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES AND THE CITY'S CODE OF ETHICS FOR FROM SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY DANIELLE FOLSOM. AND JUST AS A NOTE TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, AND STAFF THAT ARE HERE, THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION WAS IN, WAS INCLUDED, UM, PROPOSED CHANGES, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FIRST RECEIVED THE OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER 18, UH, AS A BODY SO WE CAN PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK FOR ANY PROPOSED CHANGES. UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING TODAY. AND JUST TO KIND OF SET THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE STAGE AS WELL, UM, AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD IN, IN THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON WHAT TRANSPARENCY LOOKS LIKE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO CITY DEPARTMENTS. UM, IN THIS CASE, WHEN IT COMES TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, UH, CAN REALLY LEAN AND TRUST INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AS A BODY, BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA BE ASKING FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMING, COMING MONTHS. AND SO, UM, WITH THAT, UH, PRIOR TO GETTING OUR FIRST PRESENTATION GOING, I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MARC ALCO, WHO'S HERE AS WELL. UH, SO LET ME, UH, LET ME NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR PRESENTER, UH, MS. FOLSOM TO BEGIN HER PRESENTATION ON CHAPTER 18. AND IF YOU PLEASE, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AS, AS WELL AS ANY MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM THAT MAY BE JOINING TODAY. AND JUST AS, AS, UH, YOU GET SITUATED, MS. FOLSOM, WE ALSO HAVE VICE CHAIR, UH, TWILA CARTER THAT'S IN, IN THE CHAMBER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MY NAME IS DANIELLE FOLSOM. I'M A SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY IN THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. AND THE FIRST PRESENTATION I HAVE TODAY IS AN OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER 18. NEXT SLIDE. IN REGARDS TO ETHICS AND ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS FOR CITY OFFICIALS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO INTERACT WITH THE CITY, VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS CAN BE FOUND IN STATE LAW, CITY POLICY, CITY CODE. BUT THE PRIMARY CHAPTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY'S IMPOSED REGULATIONS IS IN CHAPTER 18, LABELED ETHICS. IT CONTAINS RE REGULATIONS AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS AIMED AT SETTING MINIMUM ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND CITY OFFICIALS TO PREVENT THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY AND UNDUE INFLUENCE. AND THE WAY THAT I TEND TO LOOK AT CHAPTER 18 AND THE WAY IT'S ORGANIZED FOCUSES ON FOUR MAIN AREAS THAT WE CAN DRAW ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FROM. WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN CHAPTER 18 RELATED TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, UH, PROHIBITIONS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CITY OFFICIALS. WE ALSO HAVE PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST, WHETHER THAT'S, UM, RELATED TO FINANCIAL INTERESTS OR OTHER TYPES OF CONFLICTS. THEN WE HAVE PROVISIONS THAT REGULATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, THE PROVISIONS CREATING THE CITY'S ETHICS COMMISSION ARE CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER. NEXT SLIDE. BEFORE LOOKING AT THOSE FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE CHAPTER, I DID WANNA EMPHASIZE THE DEFINITION OF CITY OFFICIAL 'CAUSE THAT IS A TERM THAT APPEARS THROUGHOUT THE CHAPTER. AND WHILE, AS I SAID, CHAPTER 18 IMPOSES OBLIGATIONS ON A VARIETY OF PERSONS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE [00:05:01] CITY. IT IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE CITY OF OFFICIAL. AND SO THAT TERM INCLUDES NOT ONLY ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS, BUT APPOINT OF OFFICIALS, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEYS, ANYONE WITH AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL EMPLOYEE POSITION. SO THAT'S GONNA BE MOST OF YOUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, DEPUTY DIRECTORS, AND ALSO ALL APPOINTED MEMBERS OF CITY BOARDS. COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF CITY OFFICIAL, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES ANYONE WHO DONATES THEIR TIME TO THE CITY AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE. SO, STARTING WITH THAT FIRST COMPONENT OF CHAPTER 18, STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, THERE ARE VARIOUS PROVISIONS WITHIN, UM, THE CITY THAT ARE AIMED AT THAT, THE PRIMARY ONE BEING SECTION 18 DASH THREE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. AND THAT WAS DISCUSSED SOMEWHAT IN DEPTH IN OUR LAST ETHICS PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S A LAUNDRY LIST OF 15 PROHIBITIONS AGAINST THE USE OF A CITY POSITION FOR PRIVATE GAIN AND ENGAGING IN CONDUCT THAT WOULD CONFLICT WITH OFFICIAL DUTIES. SO MANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS DEAL WITH, UM, THE DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT, UM, ONE WOULD GAIN AS PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES, UM, ENGAGING IN ANY BUSINESS ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT CONFLICT WITH OFFICIAL DUTIES. ALSO REPRESENTING ENTITIES OUTSIDE THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY IN, UH, IN A WAY THAT MAY CONFLICT WITH OFFICIAL DUTIES. NOT ONLY ARE THERE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT IN THIS CHAPTER THAT ARE IMPOSED ON CURRENT CITY OFFICIALS, BUT WE DO HAVE A PROVISION THAT IS IN OUR ARTICLE THAT'S LABELED LOBBYING REGARDING THE ACTIONS OF FORMER CITY OFFICIALS. SO THAT, UH, CREATES A ONE YEAR PERIOD AFTER A OFFICIAL LEAVES OFFICE, OR LEAVES EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY WHERE THEY CAN'T ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OR HOLD MORE THAN 20% INTEREST IN A COMPANY CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY. AND THEY'RE ALSO PROHIBITED FROM COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO INFLUENCE MUNICIPAL LEG LEGISLATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. UH, FURTHER, IT ALSO PROHIBITS CITY CONTRACTORS FROM HIRING CITY EMPLOYEES WHO'VE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL AND PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH NEGOTI NEGOTIATION OF THEIR CONTRACT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF COMMENCEMENT OF THAT CONTRACT. FINALLY, JUST TO EMPHASIZE, UH, ALTHOUGH CITY OFFICIALS, AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE DEFINITION IN THE PRIOR SLIDE, DO INCLUDE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS THAT AT THIS TIME EXCLUDE CERTAIN CITY BOARDS. SO SECTION 18 DASH EIGHT, AND THOSE PROHIBITIONS DON'T APPLY TO MEMBERS OF CITY BOARDS. THEY'RE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED FROM THE DEFINITION OF CITY OFFICIAL IN THE SECTION. NEXT SLIDE. IN ADDITION, UH, IN THE REALM OF DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW PROVISION THAT WAS ADDED IN THE LAST, LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT'S CALLED SECTION 18 DASH FIVE, DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST AND PROPERTY. NOW, THAT APPLIES TO ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS ONLY, AND IT REQUIRES THAT THEY FILE AN AFFIDAVIT DISCLOSING LEGAL OR EQUITABLE INTEREST IN PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO BE ACQUIRED WITH, UH, PUBLIC FUNDS. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A, UM, A REPLICA OF A PROVISION THAT EXISTS IN STATE LAW, CHAPTER 5 53 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE THAT REQUIRES FILING SUCH AN AFFIDAVIT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. BUT THIS REQUIREMENT ALSO REQUIRES FILING OF THAT SAME AFFIDAVIT HERE IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, SO THAT, UM, THAT INFORMATION CAN BE, UH, DISCLOSED AND, UH, MADE KNOWN HERE AT THE CITY LEVEL. A UH, ANOTHER TYPE OF DISCLOSURE OF, OF INTEREST, AND PROBABLY THE, THE LARGEST ONE THAT WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DISCLOSURE IN CHAPTER 18 FOR CITY OFFICIALS IS OUR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. SO, IN STATE LAW, OF COURSE, UH, ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE MAYOR MUST FILE A STATE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORM. BUT THIS, UH, ARTICLE CREATES A FORM WITH REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRES FILING OF A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR VARIOUS CITY OFFICIALS. SO IN ADDITION TO ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS, WE HAVE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES, ELE EXECUTIVE LEVEL EMPLOYEES OF THE MAYOR'S AND CONTROLLER'S, OFFICE, COUNCIL MEMBER, CHIEFS OF STAFF AND AGENDA DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, DEPUTY DIRECTORS, AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS. NOTABLY, AGAIN, THIS PROVISION IS NOT ONE THAT APPLIES TO MEMBERS OF BOARDS [00:10:01] AND COMMISSIONS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EMPLOYED AT THE CITY. NEXT SLIDE, I, ANOTHER TYPE OF DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IS ARTICLE FIVE, UH, LOBBYING. SO WE HAVE AN ENTIRE ARTICLE THAT REQUIRES REGISTRATION AND QUARTERLY ACTIVITY REPORTS FOR PERSONS COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO INFLUENCE MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. AND AGAIN, JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT EXECUTIVE BRANCH ALSO APPLIES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE COMMUNICATING WITH CERTAIN DEFINED CITY BOARDS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. AND THOSE BOARDS ARE LISTED ON THAT SLIDE, WHICH INCLUDE THE, UH, ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION, OUR GENERAL APPEALS BOARD, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, UM, AS WELL AS OUR BOARD ON SIGN CONTROL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ALL OF THESE BOARDS ARE WHAT WE OFTEN TERM AS OFFICER BOARDS. THESE ARE BOARDS THAT OFTEN OCCUPY A QUASI-JUDICIAL SPACE AND HAVE AUTHORITY, UM, SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY OUTSIDE OF, UM, THE, THE RIM OF OTHERS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT HAVE, UH, A LASTING EFFECT ON, UH, CITY BUSINESS. NEXT SLIDE. SO, BEYOND THE DISCUSSION OF WE HAVE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS TO GET OUT THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE AWARE THE INTERESTS THAT, UM, ARE AT PLAY WITH INDIVIDUALS WORKING FOR OR VOLUNTEERING FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE SEPARATELY A REALM OF REGULATIONS REGARDING CAMPAIGN FINANCE. SO IN ADDITION TO THE, THE COMMONLY KNOWN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS, UH, THAT EXIST, UH, UP TO 5,000 PER CANDIDATE PER CONTRIBUTION CYCLE AND UP TO 10,000 PER CANDIDATE PER CONTRIBUTION CYCLE FOR POLITICAL COMMITTEES. THERE'S ALSO OTHER TYPES OF RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS YOU CANNOT DELIVER OR ACCEPT A POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION IN A CITY OWNED BUILDING. UH, YOU AND FURTHER MEMBERS OF CERTAIN CITY BOARDS, NOT ALL, BUT A DEFINED LIST OF BOARDS IN THAT, UH, ARTICLE ARE CANNOT SOLICIT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A CITY CANDIDATE OR OFFICE HOLDER. SO THAT'S THE ETHICS COMMISSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND CITY APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE PORT AUTHORITY BOARD, OR THE METRO BOARD. AND I DO WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THE WAY THAT THAT, UH, THAT PROVISION IS STRUCTURED, IT'S PROHIBITING THE SOLICITATION MEMBERS OF THOSE BOARDS MAY, UH, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO CITY CANDIDATES OR OFFICE HOLDERS, BUT THEY CANNOT SOLICIT ON BEHALF OF OR FOR THEM. AND, UH, FINALLY, JUST AN IMPORTANT, UM, ITEM TO NOTE WITH THAT PROVISION, BECAUSE IT DOES COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SOLICIT FOR OTHERS THE WAY THE PROVISION IS WRITTEN. IT HAS BEEN INTERPRETED TO ALSO PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THOSE COMMISSIONS WHO DECIDE TO RUN FROM OFFICE FOR SOLICIT, FOR SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THEIR OWN CAMPAIGNS. SO AS A RESULT IN THE PAST, MEMBERS OF THOSE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS WHO HAVE RAN FOR CITY OFFICE, THEY WILL TYPICALLY RESIGN, UM, IN ORDER TO CAMPAIGN AND SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THEIR OFFICE. NEXT SLIDE. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PROHIBITIONS, WE HAVE, UM, AS WE DISCUSSED IN OUR OUR PRIOR PRESENTATION, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST OFFERING OR ACCEPTING A CONTRIBUTION FROM A CITY CONTRACTOR DURING A CONTRACT AWARD PERIOD, AS WELL AS A PROHIBITION, UM, AGAINST, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST OFFERING A CONTRIBUTION, UH, TO BY A PERSON WHO IS AN ADVERSE PARTY TO THE CITY AND LITIGATION THAT, UH, EXCEEDS $50,000. AND THEN FINALLY, THERE IS LIMITATIONS IN, UH, THIS ARTICLE ON REPAYMENT OF PERSONAL LOANS THAT A, UH, A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, CONTROLLER OR COUNCIL MAY MAKE TO THEIR CAMPAIGN. NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN FINALLY, IN ADDITION TO THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS, THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND THE REGULATIONS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE, THE ETHICS COMMISSION, THEIR GOVERNING LAW IS CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 18 IN ARTICLE TWO. SO THAT IS A, A CITY CREATED BOARD WITH SEVEN POSITIONS. SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE NOMINATED BY CITY COUNCIL AND OTHERS ARE [00:15:01] NOMINATED BY VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LABOR AND LEGAL, UH, AND MEDICAL COMMUNITY. AND THAT COMMISSION REVIEWS, SWORN WRITTEN COMPLAINTS THAT ARE MADE TO THE COMMISSION OF IMPROPRIETY ON THE PART OF CITY OFFICIALS. THEY ALSO WORK WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN IDENTIFYING AND REACHING OUT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT HAVE TIMELY FILED THEIR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. THAT, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT IS, UM, DISCUSSED IN ARTICLE THREE. THAT IS MY FINAL SLIDE ON THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE THE ETHICS ONE. SO I'LL COMPLETE MY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MS. FOLSOM. UM, AND JUST BEFORE WE GET, UH, CONTINUE, JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE, UM, WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARTHA KA STADIUM'S OFFICE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S OFFICE, AND OF COURSE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VICE, VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM COUNCILOR, UH, PECK. UM, AND, AND BEFORE I, I START OPENING UP FOR QUESTIONS, JUST WANNA UM, GO BACK TO THE SLIDE SIX ON THE LOBBYING REQUIRED REGISTRATION. UM, SOMETIMES THIS COULD BE, UH, UH, TRICKY ON OUR END BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS AN OFFICIAL LOBBY, UH, LOBBYIST HERE AT THE CITY. AND, AND JUST WANT TO KIND OF GET SOME MORE BACKGROUND AS TO THAT PROCESS. WHERE DO THEY REGISTER? UM, AT WHAT POINT SHOULD THEY REGISTER AS WELL? 'CAUSE SOME FOLKS HAVE COME IN AND ADVOCATING FOR A CERTAIN ITEM. UM, THEN LO AND BEHOLD, THEY'RE PROBABLY ACTUALLY LOBBYING. AND SO WE, JUST FOR CLARITY FOR, FOR THIS BODY, IF YOU CAN SHARE THAT SOME BACKGROUND. SURE. UM, THE REGISTRATION AND THE ACTIVITY REPORTS DO HAVE TO BE FILED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. SO THAT IS THE MAIN REPOSITORY FOR, FOR GAINING THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. AND LET ME JUST PULL UP THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE FOR LOBBYING. SO THERE IS A PERSON IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IF THE PERSON COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY WITH THE MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEN CITY CONTROLLER, MAYOR ELECT, CITY CONTROLLER ELECT, AND ANY CANDIDATES OR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS THAT WE MENTIONED IN OUR SLIDES. AND THEY HAVE TO, TO REVIEW AND SEE IF ONE OF THREE, UH, DIFFERENT SITUATIONS APPLY. THEY EITHER MAKE OR REASONABLY EXPECT TO MAKE A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $200 OR MORE IN A CALENDAR QUARTER OR $800 OR MORE IN A CALENDAR YEAR, NOT INCLUDING THE PERSON'S OWN TRAVEL FOOD OR LODGING EXPENSES, OR THE PERSON'S OWN MEMBERSHIP DUES ON ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN 18 DASH 75 OF THIS CODE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH, OR THEY RECEIVE OR MAY REASONABLY EXPECT TO RECEIVE FROM ANOTHER PERSON, COMPENSATION OR REIMBURSEMENT, NOT INCLUDING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PERSON'S OWN FOOD TRAVEL OF $200 OR MORE IN A CALENDAR QUARTER OR $800 OR MORE IN A CALENDAR YEAR, OR AS PART OF THE PERSON'S REGULAR EMPLOYMENT, COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY WITH ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO INFLUENCE MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYER BY WHOM THE PERSON IS COMPENSATED OR REIMBURSED. SO WITH THESE TWO, THESE THREE ITEMS, IT'S REALLY EMPHASIZING NOT NECESSARILY THE AVERAGE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAN AND SHOULD REACH OUT TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY, BUT REALLY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, UH, ENGAGED OR EMPLOYED BY FIRMS THAT ARE REGULARLY DOING LOBBY LOBBYING OR WHO ARE EXPENDING FUNDS, UM, YOU KNOW, LOBBYING AND ENGAGING WITH CITY OFFICIALS. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, AND YOU LISTED A, THERE'S A LIST OF CITY BOARDS EXECUTIVE THAT ARE UNDER THAT EXECUTIVE BRANCH. I'M, I'M ASSUMING THEY ALL GET TRAINING ON THIS AS WELL. AND, AND THEN, UM, THERE ARE ALSO SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION THAT SAYS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THIS LANGUAGE AS WELL. UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY ON THE AUTOMOTIVE BOARD, WHICH IS A RANDOM BOARD THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT, UH, BUT THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE LOBBYING, UM, WHAT EXTENT, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THEY MADE AWARE OF THIS, UH, THIS CODE OF ORDINANCE? AND THEN TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE RECEIVING, UH, SOME, SOME DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY, THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF IT AND, AND THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THESE, THESE RULES AS WELL. WELL, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST HAS PUT TOGETHER A SPECIALIZED ETHICS PRESENTATION THAT'S FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS. UM, THAT BEING SAID, [00:20:01] I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY AWARE OF WHAT IN ADDITION, THE OFFICE OF, UH, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CREATES OR PUTS TOGETHER AS A PACKAGE TO GIVE TO BOARD MEMBERS. BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT INFORMATION AND GET, AND GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. THANK YOU. UM, AND THEN THIS LAST ONE, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER, I KNOW THERE'S SOME FOLKS READY TO SPEAK AS WELL, BUT, UM, THERE'S A SPECIFIC CITY BOARDS THAT RIGHT NOW YOU CANNOT SOLICIT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE, THE CONVERSATION OF EXPANDING THAT. UM, CAN YOU SHARE, UH, WHAT ARE THE PROS FOR DOING THAT? SO I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO SECTION 18 DASH THREE, WHICH PROHIBITS THE SOLICITING OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A CITY CANDIDATE OR OFFICE OFFICE HOLDER. WELL, LIKE PRETTY MUCH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS THAT ARE PUT INTO PLACE IN ARTICLE FOUR FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE, THOSE REGULATIONS ARE AIMED AT, YOU KNOW, AT PREVENTING AN APPEARANCE OF IMPRO PROPRIETY AS WELL AS ANY TYPE OF APPEARANCE OF QUID PRO QUO. THAT'S SORT OF A, A, A CONSTITUTIONALLY RECOGNIZED, PERMISSIBLE BASIS FOR REGULATING IN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REALM, WHICH DOES TRIGGER, UH, FIRST AMENDMENT CONCERNS. AND SO ANYTIME WE ARE INSTITUTING NEW REGULATIONS, THAT IS SOMETHING TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND. BUT THE COURTS HAVE HISTORICALLY RECOGNIZED, UH, PREVENTING AN APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY AND PREVENTING AN APPEARANCE AND ACTUAL QUID PRO QUO SCENARIOS FROM TAKING PLACE AS A BENEFIT AND AS A LEGITIMATE RATIONALE FOR PASSING SUCH REGULATION. THANK YOU, MS. SSO. UM, AND WE HAVE, UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ IN QUEUE. THANK YOU, DAN, DANIELLE, FOR THIS PRESENTATION. FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S OVERDUE. I WISH WE'D HAD THIS MONTHS AGO, BUT, UH, THIS IS VERY THOROUGH, UH, APPEARS TO BE ANYWAY, REGARDING CHAPTER 18. SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I'LL START WITH SLIDE THREE. UM, ONE OF THE LAST BULLET POINT IS, ANY PERSON WHOSE SERVICES ARE DONATED TO THE CITY WOULD QUALIFY AS A CITY OFFICIAL. AND THEN THERE'S SOME FURTHER DETAIL THERE, FULL OR PART-TIME SERVICE, UH, LONG TERM SHORT TERM BASIS PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT HAS THIS BEEN INTERPRETED TO MEAN? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY DON'T GET PAID. I'M THINKING OF ALL THESE FOLKS WHO SERVE ON BOARDS, UH, AND, AND A LOT MORE. UH, SO THEY WOULD FALL UNDER ANYONE WHO DONATES WOULD FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY OF CITY OFFICIAL. BUT, BUT YET THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE, WHO ARE EXCLUDED. CAN YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT DON DONATES ACTUALLY MEANS IN THAT CONTEXT? WELL, IN THIS PARTICULAR CONTEXT, IT'S, IT'S WRITTEN PRETTY BROADLY, ESPECIALLY AS THE, THE LANGUAGE UNDERNEATH INDICATES. AND THIS, UH, DEFINITION WAS ADDED, YOU KNOW, I THINK PRIMARILY TO DEFINE FOR OUR STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, ALTHOUGH IT DOES APPEAR IN OTHER PLACES IN CHAPTER 18, THAT IS REALLY, UM, I THINK THE, THE HIGHLIGHT OF ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS IN CHAPTER, UH, 18 IS SECTION 18 DASH THREE. AND LOOKING AT THOSE OBLIGATIONS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO, WHO VOLUNTEER FOR THE CITY, WHICH WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE WOULD VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AT NO COST TO ASSIST THE CITY. BUT IN THE COURSE OF VOLUNTEERING, THEY MAY COME TO, UM, UH, CONSIDERATION OF, OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION. THEY MAY BE INVOLVED IN INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS. AND SO THE, THE OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE LISTED UNDER THE, THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT REGARDING, YOU KNOW, NO DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, NO USING YOUR POSITION TO GET PERSONAL GAIN OVER SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S ON THE OUTSIDE WHO, WHO MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THAT CONNECTION. I THINK THEY WERE ADDED BECAUSE I GUESS THAT THAT IS, UM, THOSE OBLIGATIONS ARE EASILY AS IMPORTANT FOR AN ELECTED CITY OFFICIAL AS SOMEONE WHO VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CITY AS WELL IN REGARDS TO WHY THERE AREN'T OTHER PEOPLE EMPLOYED FROM THE, UH, THE CITY THAT ARE IN THIS DEFINITION. SO CITY OFFICIAL CONTEMPLATES, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TYPE OF PERSONS THAT WE SEE LISTED. MANY OF THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, SORT OF HOLD HIGHER LEVEL EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE IN CHAPTER 14, WHICH IS OUR CIVIL SERVICE CHAPTER THAT APPLIES TO PRETTY MUCH ALL EMPLOYEES. THERE IS A COMPANION STANDARDS OF CONDUCT SECTION, AND I APOLOGIZE THAT THE, THE SECTION NUMBER IS ESCAPING ME, BUT I CAN FORWARD THAT PARTICULAR CITATION TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN SEE IT. THAT HAS THE SAME TYPES OF STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, BUT FOR, FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO AREN'T CITY OFFICIALS. SO, UM, BOTH SOMEONE WHO QUALIFIES AS A CITY OFFICIAL IS [00:25:01] PROHIBITED FROM DOING SORT OF THE SAME THINGS AS EMPLOYEES ARE. THEY'RE JUST GOVERNED BY ANOTHER SECTION IN THE CHAPTER, I MEAN, IN THE CODE. EXCUSE ME. ALRIGHT. IF WE CAN MOVE TO SLIDE NUMBER FOUR, STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, UM, THERE ARE PARTS WHERE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARE USED, THOSE TERMS. WHEN, WHEN WE SEE THOSE TERMS IN THIS SECTION, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT STATE LEGISLATURE OR EXECUTIVE BRANCH, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT, RIGHT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. AND THOSE ARE DEFINED TERMS IN CHAPTER 18. WHAT SECTION ARE THEY DEFINED IN? THEY WOULD BE DEFINED IN THE, THEY APPEAR IN THE LOBBYING, UH, ARTICLE, WHICH IS ARTICLE FIVE. SO, UM, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND AGAIN, THIS IS AN ARTICLE FIVE, THE OKAY, NO, I SEE THAT. I SEE. I, I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, OBVIOUSLY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I GUESS. YES, APPROVE, APPROVE AT LEAST LEGISLATION OR DIS DISAPPROVE LEGISLATION. NOW WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WRITE LEGISLATION AND GET IT ON THE AGENDA. UH, WHAT ELSE BESIDES CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CONSTITUTE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH? THE DEFINITION THAT APPEARS IN THAT ARTICLE AS WELL IS EXCLUSIVELY A COUNCIL MEMBER, A COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT, OR A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY, THANK YOU. LOOKING AT NUMBER FIVE, DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN PROPERTY 18 DASH FIVE. UH, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY THAT IS TO BE ACQUIRED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS, I GUESS, GENERAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS THAT TALK ABOUT DISCLOSING OTHER, UH, PROPERTY INTERESTS THAT AN OFFICE HOLDER MIGHT HAVE? THAT THAT IS CORRECT. SO THE, THE FINE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS, BOTH THE, THE STATE FORM, WHICH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR MUST FILE, AS WELL AS THE CITY CREATED FORM FOR OTHER TYPES OF CITY OFFICIALS THAT THE CITY DECIDED TO IMPOSE THAT REQUIREMENT ON. THAT'S CONTAINED IN ARTICLE THREE ON FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. AND THAT DIS EXTENDS TO THINGS LIKE SOURCES OF SALARY INVESTMENTS, THE LIKE, BUT 18 DASH FIVE IS, IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AT MAKING SURE THAT A PROVISION THAT EXISTED AT STATE LAW THAT REQUIRED THIS NOTICE TO BE FILED IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WAS ALSO MIRRORED AND REQUIRED THE SAME FILING IN THE CITY'S SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE AND THAT THE CITY IS, UH, AWARE OF THAT INTEREST. NOW, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT, UM, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE, UH, REPORTS, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THESE RULES IN REGARDS TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE? THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS, THOSE ARE GOVERNED BY TITLE 15 OF THE ELECTION CODE, AND THOSE ARE ADMINISTERED AND ENFORCED BY THE TEXAS ELECTION COMMISSION. SO JUST THE, THE FILING AND WHAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN THOSE REPORTS IS GOVERNED BY THAT AREA OF LAW. NOW, IN REGARDS TO THE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS THAT THE CITY AND ITS AUTHORITY HAS IMPOSED ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE, BEYOND JUST THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, SO CONTRACTOR AWARD PERIOD, THAT SORT OF THING, THOSE ARE CITY PROVISIONS AND THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, ENFORCED AS, AS ALL PROVISIONS ARE IN, IN THE CODE. AND OFTEN THE CITY WILL RESPOND TO AND REVIEW COMPLAINTS THAT ARE MADE ABOUT VIOLATION OF, OF THOSE PROVISIONS. UM, IN REGARDS TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES, AGAIN, THE SITUATION IS IS THAT ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE STATE OFFICIALS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO FILE A STATE FORM, SUBJECT TO STATE LAW, AND THEN FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO FIND A REQUIRED TO FILE A STATEMENT BASED ON OUR CITY CODE, AGAIN, THAT IS IMPOSED BY THE CITY AND ENFORCED BY THE CITY AS AS, UM, IN THE SAME WAY THAT ALL PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE ARE, AND PARTICULARLY WITH FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO DE TO REVIEW AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S FILED TIMELY AND ALSO WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION. AND IF THEY'RE NOT FILED TIMELY, WHAT THEY, THEY FOLLOW UP AND SEND NOTICES TO ENSURE. OKAY. BUT WITH JUST YOUR BASIC, UH, CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING, UH, YOU SAID THAT THE ETHICS COMMISSION HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENFORCEMENT? YES, THE STATE TECH TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION, JUST TO DISTINGUISH THAT FROM OUR CITY'S OWN ETHICS COMMISSION. SO NOBODY AT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING, UM, CAMPAIGN, UH, FINANCE REPORTS. [00:30:01] THE ETHICS COMMISSION HASN'T ADVISED IN THEIR DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY PROVIDE TO LOCAL FILING AUTHORITIES THAT WE ARE A FILING AUTHORITY. WE ARE A REPOSITORY FOR RECEIVING THE REPORTS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY TO SORT OF REVIEW OR, UM, ISSUE, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CONTENT OF THOSE REPORTS. OKAY. I'LL GO BACK IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE AT THE MOMENT, COUNCIL RAMIREZ, BUT, UH, I HAD TWO FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, UH, JUST BRIEFLY ON, ON THE, UH, REGISTRATION FOR LO LOBBYISTS, UM, AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S SOMETHING THEY CAN DO ONLINE RIGHT NOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF ANY, ANY KIND OF, UH, METHOD TO DO THAT HERE AT THE CITY. CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE AN ONLINE FILING SYSTEM FOR THE LOBBYING REPORTS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. UM, BUT OF COURSE I WOULD DEFER TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO ANYTHING THAT THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT, UM, FOR THE FUTURE. FOR THAT. WE DO HAVE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM CURRENTLY FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS. CORRECT. WHICH HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE'S ETHICS COMMISSION. YEAH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT JUST TO MAKE IT A BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE HERE AROUND THE HORSESHOE. UH, THE OTHER ONE, UH, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING TO SOLICITING, UH, POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, UM, IF SOMEONE WERE ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION AND THEY DECIDE TO RUN, AND HOW DOES THAT, HOW DOES THAT GET REPORTED IF YOU DO KNOW OF SOMEONE DOING THAT? IT, DOES IT, IS THE CITY TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH OR IS DOES IT HAVE TO BE REPORTED BY SOMEONE NOT IN THE COMMUNITY? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN REGARDS TO SOMEONE WHO'S ON A BOARDS AND COM BORDER COMMISSION THAT'S SUBJECT TO 18 DASH 33? CORRECT. UM, TYPICALLY IT IS SORT OF BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITIES THROUGH SORT OF, UM, COMPLAINTS OR INFORMATION THAT IS SHARED AS, AND OFTENTIMES THE MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION THEMSELVES WILL REACH OUT TO THE CITY WITH QUESTIONS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING TO, UH, TO RUN FOR OFFICE. NOW, IN REGARDS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE A CITY POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THEM TO, UM, COMPLETE A FORM BASICALLY TO NOTIFY THE CITY IF THEY'RE CHOOSING TO RUN FOR OFFICE. YEAH, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT OFFICE, UH, THAT REPORT JUST LIKE SOME OR DOCUMENT LIKE SOME OF US AROUND THE HORSESHOE. UH, AND, AND I, AND I WANNA BRING THAT UP JUST BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, A BIG PART OF WHAT WE'RE HAVING AROUND THIS DISCUSSION IS, UH, OR THIS CONVERSATION IS HOW DO WE GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL? AND SO, UM, AS COUNCILOR RAMIREZ ALLUDED TO THIS, THIS, THIS CONVERSATION ON ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE HAS BEEN LONG OVERDUE. UM, I THINK HISTORICALLY ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE WOULD MEET MAYBE ONCE EVERY HANDFUL OF YEARS, IF EVEN, UM, AND SO WE DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING MORE OF THESE, THESE DIALOGUES SO THAT WAY THE LARGER COMMUNITY CAN BE, UH, MORE INFORMED. UH, COUNCILLOR, UH, RAMIREZ, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UH, DANIELLE, YOU MENTIONED, UH, THE CITY'S ETHICS COMMISSION. UH, WHEN IS THAT GONNA MEET AGAIN? I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED, BUT I CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION AND, AND FORWARD IT ON TO THE COMMITTEE. WITH REGARD TO LOBBYING. DOES THE CITY MAINTAIN A LIST OF LOBBYISTS CURRENT LIST? WELL, THE, THE ORDINANCE DOES REQUIRE REGISTRATION. SO ALL THAT INFORMATION IS CONTAINED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE. I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THEY HAVE IT ORGANIZED, BUT AGAIN, I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND GET THEM TO SEND YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE DOCUMENTATION LOOKS LIKE. WELL, I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN AN EXAMPLE. I'M, I'M JUST, UH, INTERESTED IN THE MOST UPDATED, THE MOST CURRENT LIST OF LOBBYISTS. YEAH. SO IF, IF YOU COULD MAYBE IMPRESS UPON THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THAT AVAILABLE, NOT JUST TO OFFICE HOLDERS, BUT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. AND SHARE THAT WITH THE REST OF THE, MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE, THE, THE GO AT THE END OF THE DAY IS, UM, TRANSPARENCY. UM, AND, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE CITY SECRETARY HAS THIS, UM, AVAILABLE, BUT TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT UPDATED? TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE? I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ALL WANNA SEE HAPPEN, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. DANIEL. CONTINUING TO SLIDE NUMBER EIGHT, CAMPAIGN FINANCE. UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S SOME BULLET POINTS THERE. THE FIRST ONE IS PROHIBITION AGAINST OFFERING OR ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTION FROM A CITY CONTRACTOR DURING A CONTRACT AWARD PERIOD, UH, SO-CALLED BLACKOUT PERIOD. RIGHT? IS THERE A LIST OF CONTRACTORS THAT FALL INTO THE BLACKOUT PERIOD AT A GIVEN TIME? YES. THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE TO MAINTAIN A LIST, AND THAT LIST IS, HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE. MM-HMM . I, I TRIED TO FIND THAT WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS. AND IT LOOKS, IF, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE LAST LIST WAS DATED SOMETHING LIKE MIDDLE OF JULY. [00:35:01] I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO, TO SEE THE STATUS OF THE LATEST LIST. I, I, I HOPE YOU DO THAT. 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, WE'D WANT THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT NOBODY VIOLATES UN UNWITTINGLY ANY OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT RULES. UM, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE HERE? SO SLIDE NUMBER SEVEN PROHIBITS, UH, MEMBERS OF THE LISTED BOARDS THERE FROM SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A CANDIDATE OR OFFICE HOLDER. YOU KNOW, IN, UM, IN, WE TALK ABOUT CRIMINAL LAWS IN GENERAL, THERE'S THE IDEA THAT ACCOMPLICES AND PARTIES CAN BE, UH, RESPONSIBLE AS WELL FOR CONDUCT ACTUALLY COMMITTED BY SOMEONE ELSE. IS IT, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MEMBER OF A BOARD TO VIOLATE THIS IF THEY ASSIST ANOTHER PERSON TO SOLICIT SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR, UH, CANDIDATE OR OFFICE HOLDER? WELL, THE PROVISION AS WRITTEN, THE, THE PLAIN LANGUAGE ONLY SPECIFIES THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL IS SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A CANDIDATE. SO WITH IT BEING A, A PENAL PROVISION, I'M NOT SURE THAT, UM, IT COULD BE APPLIED BEYOND WHAT HAS BEEN NOTICED AND SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THE, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. OKAY. COULD YOU CHECK WITH, UH, YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THE STATE LAWS REGARDING ACCOMPLICE, UH, ACCOMPLICE TYPE ACTIVITY COULD BE APPLIED TO THE FOLKS LISTED ON THESE BOARDS? OKAY, I WILL FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I'LL GO BACK IN THE QUEUE. SOUNDS GOOD. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU, CHAIR. ON THE, ON THE BLACKOUT PERIOD, REMIND ME THE DATES. IT'S WHEN IT, FROM THE SOLICITATION TO THE OH, YES. SO WITH THE BLACKOUT PERIOD, THAT'S IN SECTION 18 DASH 36, IT'S FROM THE DATE THAT NOTICE IS POSTED, UH, FOR A MEETING CONTAINING AN AWARD OF THAT, THAT CONTRACT TO 30 DAYS AFTER THE DETERMINATION UP OR DOWN ON THE AWARD OF THAT CONTRACT. OKAY. SO NOT, OKAY, SO JUST NOTICE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE VOTING ON THIS ITEM? YES. THE, THE, THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT NOTICE THAT THE CITY SECRETARY POSTS OF THE AGENDA CONTAINING THAT ITEM RIGHT. FROM THAT POINT. WHEREAS THE OTHER TWO CONTRACT PROVISIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, THE QUIET PERIOD, WHICH DOESN'T, UH, APPEAR IN THE CODE, BUT IS OFTEN A TERM IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PROCUREMENT. THAT'S THE ONE THAT STARTS WITH SORT OF THE, THE POSTING OF THE ACTUAL SOLICITATION AND ENDS WITH THE POSTING OF THE CITY AGENDA CONTAINING THE ITEM. THAT'S THE QUIET PERIOD. THAT'S PART OF THEIR PROCUREMENT RULES, YES. BUT THE RULES THAT APPLY TO US, SO THEY NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT WE, WE, WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES, LIKE, RIGHT. I MEAN, LIKE, THEY COULD COME, I MEAN, WE COULD CALL 'EM UP FOR MONEY AND THEY COULD SAY, SURE, , WE'D SAY, GREAT. AND THEN THEY, WE'D SAY, THEN THEY WERE BREAKING THE RULES, BUT WE, WE ARE NOT REALLY IN VIOLATION BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'RE IN VIOLATION. I GUESS WE WOULD BE IN VIOLATION. I DON'T KNOW. LIKE, BUT, BUT I, I, I KNOW THE PART ABOUT WHEN YOU, OF COURSE, WHEN IT'S POSTED AND YOU DON'T WANNA LIKE, OH, YOU'RE ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. I'M NOT ASKING YOU FOR MONEY OR DON'T GIMME ANY MONEY, BUT BEFORE THAT, FROM THE, FROM THE SOLICITATION, LIKE THE RFP OR WHATEVER TO, TO THAT PERIOD WHEN IT'S POSTED, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A LITTLE MORE GRAY. LIKE WHAT? LIKE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND LIKE, THAT, THAT'S FOR, THAT'S KIND OF ON THEM, RIGHT? WELL, IN THE SENSE THAT THE, THE, THE OBLIGATION SORT OF THE CONTRACT AND THE, THE SOLICITATION IS AN, YOU KNOW, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCUREMENT. SO IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY, THE, THE RESULT FOR THEM IS THAT THEY CAN LOSE OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY. THEY CAN BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR, THEIR BID OR THEIR SOLICITATION. AND SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT HONORING THAT. I REALLY DO. I JUST DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. AND I THINK ALSO AN IMPORTANT THING TO EMPHASIZE AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE SOLICITATION, THEY MAY ALSO HAVE A CURRENT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY THAT THERE MAY BE, UH, AN ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, A LEGITIMATE ISSUE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THIS IS [00:40:01] SPECIFICALLY IN AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THE AWARD. GOT IT. SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A CURRENT CONTRACT, YOU CAN DISCUSS THE CURRENT CONTRACT, BUT NOT THIS NEW SOLICITATION FOR THE NEW AWARD. OKAY. OKAY. THANKS. YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY. UH, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. OH, DANIELLE, AND, AND I KNOW YOU'RE DANIELLE, YOU HAVE, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THIS STUFF, BUT WHO, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE, UH, THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING WEBSITE AND ITS DESIGN AND, AND ALL THAT? LET'S SEE. UH, THE, THE, THE WEBSITE OR THAT FILING SYSTEM, I BELIEVE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 2007, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. AND SO I THINK THAT WAS SORT OF A, ALTHOUGH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IS, IS THE FILING REPOSITORY FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS. BUT, UH, WITH SOMETHING LIKE A FILING SYSTEM LIKE THAT, I THINK THAT WAS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE HITS THE ADMINISTRATION AT THAT TIME, AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO WORK TO CREATE A SYSTEM, UH, TO ALLOW FOR ELECTRONIC FILING OF A STATE MANDATED FORM. AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A STATE MANDATED FORM, SORT OF ANY CHANGES THAT ARE OFTEN MADE TO THE SYSTEM ITSELF, HAS TO GO THROUGH THE STATE'S ETHICS COMMISSION TO ENSURE THAT WHAT IS, UM, ULTIMATELY SORT OF SPIT OUT BY THE FILING SYSTEM OR THE FORM IS THE STATE FORM. MM-HMM . WELL, LET ME PUT A PLUGIN FOR UPDATING IT. IT'S LONG OVERDUE. IT'S VERY CLUNKY TO WORK WITH. YEAH. UH, VERY FRUSTRATING TO TRY TO ENTER, UH, ALL THE INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ENTERED. AND YOU AND I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION RECENTLY ABOUT A COUPLE OF, COUPLE OF TABS THAT DIDN'T EXIST THAT, THAT SHOULD HAVE EXISTED IF WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT. AND, UM, LET ME PUT A PLUG IN AS WELL, FOR SOMEONE AT THE CITY ENFORCING THESE DEADLINES AND COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REPORTS. I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH TO SAY, WELL, IT'S ON THE ETHICS, THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION. UH, IT, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. MY OWN EXPERIENCE FROM HAVING BEEN A CANDIDATE, UH, MY MAIN OPPONENT FILED REPORTS LATE TWICE, UH, ONE TIME ONLY BECAUSE THE NEWSPAPER CALLED AND FORCED THEIR HAND, AND THEN IN THE RUNOFF NEVER EVEN FILED THE EIGHT DAY REPORT, YOU KNOW? AND SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING AT LEAST TO DO IT RIGHT AND AGONIZING OVER THESE FILINGS, IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO EVEN TRY TO COMPLY, UH, WITH THESE RULES. UH, AND, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT. AND I HOPE SOMEBODY AT THE CITY WILL START, UM, ENFORCING THESE RULES. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, UH, TO TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. UH, COUNCILOR ALQUAN, I JUST SAY, I AGREE WITH YOU TOO. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, AGONIZING OVER, YOU KNOW, $50 ON YOUR REPORT AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN, UH, PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO IT, OR NOT FILING, OR FILING LATE, OR NEVER FILING. UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE PRECLUDED FROM GETTING, BEING MORE INVOLVED BY ANY KIND OF STATE THING OR WHATEVER, BUT I, I TOTALLY AGREE. AND, AND CHAIR, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON, UM, HAVING A DESIGNATED PERSON OR, OR A DESIGNATED ENTITY TO, TO KEEP UP WITH THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES BEFORE YOU EVEN GET IN HERE, , IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. . NO, UH, I TOTALLY AGREE. AND I THINK THIS IS, I'M GLAD THAT WE CAN, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE A MORE CONSISTENT, UH, ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE, UH, COMMITTEES BECAUSE, UM, TO, TO THAT POINT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT BEING LOOKED AT OVERSIGHT, THEN WE DEFINITELY GETS LOST IN THE WIN. AND, AND THEN THOSE CANDIDATES THAT AREN'T DOING THEIR BEST OR PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD, OR DEFINITELY GONNA BE PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD HERE AT, AT THE HORSESHOE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, VICE, VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU. UM, I WAS JUST GONNA, I GUESS PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THEY BOTH SAID. UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO SET THE RULES AND THE GUIDELINES, BUT IT'S ANOTHER TO ENFORCE THEM. AND WHETHER IT'S RESIDENCY, WHETHER IT'S FINANCE, WHEN, WHEN YOU START OUT BEING, YOU KNOW, OUT OF, UH, OUT OF, UM, COMPLIANCE WITH THAT, IT JUST, IT'S LIKE, WHY EVEN BOTHER? AND I THINK ON CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, DID YOU FILE A CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN REPORT? NO, IT DOESN'T MATTER. ANYWAY. AND THAT WAS A REPEATED AND A COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT $50 HERE OR THERE, AND IT'S LIKE, UH, AND THEN YOU LOOK AND MONTHS LATER, OPPONENTS HAVEN'T FILED. AND I, I HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED TO SEE WHO'S FILED OR WHO'S NOT, BECAUSE I, IT'S NOT OF INTEREST AT THIS POINT. BUT, UM, ANYWAY, I THINK THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT GUIDELINES AND, AND CODES AND WHATNOT ALL DAY LONG. BUT UNLESS THEY'RE [00:45:01] ENFORCED, IT'S, IT'S A MOOT POINT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT LOOKS, BUT I THINK TO KEEP BRINGING THIS INFORMATION FORWARD, UM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, ON THE BRIEFING THE OTHER DAY, I, I THINK IT'S JUST REITERATING THESE ARE THE FACTS AND COMING UP WITH A PLAN AS TO IF IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND HOW IT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED, AND WHO NEEDS TO ENFORCE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. YOU KNOW, 2007 TO 2024 IS, IS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, SO MAYBE TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, AND, AND BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION, UH, THERE IS A, THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ASSET I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL, IS THAT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ IS ASKING, WHERE IS THIS LOBBYING LIST? I, I'D LOVE FOR IT TO START WORKING TO PUT SOME OF THOSE LINKS TO THE ETHICS, UM, AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, UH, PAGE. UM, AND, AND REALLY AS MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WAY WE CAN DIRECT FOLKS TO THIS PAGE, UM, AND, AND ENSURE THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION READILY. UH, BUT THEN ALSO THE PUBLIC, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS OR STAFF IN THE QUEUE. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION, MS. FOLSOM. UM, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. SO THE, THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS AN ETHICS OVERVIEW, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOLLOWING UP ON A FEW TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN OUR LAST, UH, DISCUSSION OF ETHICS, UH, FOCUSING ON ABUSE OF OFFICE AND CITY RESOURCES. NEXT SLIDE. SO, OFTENTIMES WHEN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT RECEIVES, UH, INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPOSED USES OF COUNCIL OFFICE BUDGET FUNDS OF CITY STAFF TIME, OR CITY PROPERTY, THOSE PROPOSED USES MAY BE IMPERMISSIBLE. AND WHAT WE'RE OFTEN LOOKING AT IN REVIEWING THOSE PROPOSED USES IS, UH, ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STATUTES, UH, VIOLATION OF SECTION 39.02 OF THE PENAL CODE, WHICH IS ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY, VIOLATION OF ELECTION CODE SECTION 2 55 0.003, UNLAWFUL USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR POLITICAL ADVERTISING. THAT IS ONE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE OFTEN REVIEWING IN TERMS OF PROPOSED SIGNS, COMMUNICATIONS, UM, THAT TYPE OF THING. AND THEN FINALLY, VIOLATION OF STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR CITY OFFICIALS IN, UH, SECTION 18 DASH THREE OF THE CITY CODE. UM, SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON THE, THE ISSUE THAT'S BROUGHT BEFORE US, WE MAY ALSO BE LOOKING AT, UH, USE OF THE CITY SEAL AS WELL AS, UH, THE TEXAS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT PROHIBITS A GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. SO WE'LL BE REVIEWING TO LOOK AND SEE IF THE PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS, UH, SATISFIES A PUBLIC PURPOSE AS DEFINED IN THE LAW. SO IN REGARDS TO ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY IN CHAPTER 39, THAT BASICALLY COMES DOWN TO USE OF CITY PROPERTY SERVICES OR ANYTHING OF VALUE BELONGING TO THE CITY THAT COMES INTO YOUR POSSESSION BY VIRTUE OF YOUR OFFICE FOR PERSONAL OR PRIVATE PURPOSES. AND SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW THAT PROVISION HAS BEEN, UM, ENFORCED IN THE PAST REGARD, UH, REGARDS USE OF PUBLIC COMPUTERS OR STAFF TO PREPARE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS USING THE CITY'S MAIL SYSTEM TO SEND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION OR USING CITY STAFF AS A POLITICAL OR PERSONAL SCHEDULE TO MAKE PERSONAL APPOINTMENTS OR ORGANIZED POLITICAL EVENTS. HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T, UM, MEAN THAT, UH, USE OF CITY RESOURCES IS MISAPPLIED IF YOU KEEP TRACK OF AN OFFICIAL'S OVERALL SCHEDULE THAT MAY COMBINE AND CONTAIN BOTH OFFICIAL AND PERSONAL APPOINTMENTS AND, AND OFTEN THAT THAT HAPPENS. NEXT SLIDE. SO, POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND THE, THE BULK OF MY PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S, UH, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S VERY FACT INTENSIVE AND IT COMES UP A LOT FOR US. SO IT'S A CITY OFFICIAL, OR EMPLOYEE MAY NOT KNOWINGLY SPEND OR AUTHORIZE THE SPENDING OF CITY FUNDS FOR POLITICAL ADVERTISING. AND POLITICAL ADVERTISING IS NOT JUST YOUR STANDARD CAMPAIGN AD OR CAMPAIGN SIGN. IT'S A COMMUNICATION SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING A CANDIDATE TO PUBLIC OFFICE OR A PUBLIC OFFICER OR OFFICE HOLDER OR ADVOCATING PASSAGE OR DEFEAT OF A MEASURE IN A PAMPHLET, IN A CIRCULAR FLYER BILLBOARD OR OTHER SIGN, A BUMPER STICKER, OR SIMILAR FORM OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION OR ON AN INTERNET WEBSITE IN TERMS OF DETERMINING WHEN, UH, A PUBLIC OFFICER IS BEING PROMOTED. IT'S NOT JUST THE USE OF LANGUAGE OF, YOU KNOW, VOTE FOR SO AND SO, OR SUPPORT SO AND SO. UM, IT REALLY IS A FACT QUESTION THAT CAN [00:50:01] BE ANSWERED ONLY WHEN THE COMMUNICATION IS VIEWED AS A WHOLE. THAT IS WHY OFTEN WHEN THOSE QUESTIONS ARE PRESENTED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ASKING FOR A MOCKUP OF WHAT THE PROPOSED PURCHASE IS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT FONT SIZE, WE'RE LOOKING AT IMAGES, UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO EACH TIME BECAUSE IT IS A VERY FACT INTENSIVE, UM, ANALYSIS. AND SO A FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHETHER A PARTICULAR COMMUNICATION SUPPORTS OR OPPOSES A PUBLIC OFFICER IS WHETHER THAT INFORMA THAT COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION OF OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES WITHOUT PROMOTION OF THE PUBLIC OFFICER. SO PROVIDING NECESSARY INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT THAT PROMOTION. AND SO THE MERE APPEARANCE OF A PUBLIC OFFICER'S NAME OR THEIR PICTURE DOESN'T NECESSARILY DETERMINE THAT IT'S POLITICAL ADVERTISING, BUT THE CONTEXT AND THE FREQUENCY, YOU KNOW, HOW CLOSE THIS ITEM THAT MAY BE TO AN ELECTION, OR HOW MANY TIMES AN INDIVIDUAL'S NAME APPEARS OR THEIR IMAGE APPEARS, OR INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT, UM, THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THEIR OFFICE OR WHAT THEIR AGENDA IS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FACTS THAT ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DETERMINING IF WE CAN USE CITY FUNDS FOR WHATEVER THE PROPOSED COMMUNICATION OR PURPOSE IS. AND THOSE FUNDS INCLUDE SORT OF THE USE OF CITY STAFF AND RESOURCES IN CREATING THAT ITEM. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, WE PULL ALL THIS, THIS INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES POLITICAL ADVERTISING, WHAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF PROMOTION OF A PUBLIC OFFICER BY LOOKING AT THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION. 'CAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER PROVISION THAT'S UNDER TITLE 15 OF THE ELECTION CODE THAT IS ADMINISTERED AND ENFORCED BY THE COMMISSION. AND THEY ISSUE OPINION ADVISORY OPINIONS, UH, LOOKING AT PROPOSED, UH, USES OF PUBLIC FUNDS. AND WE USE THAT AS GUIDANCE TO, TO SEE WHERE THE LINE IS. SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT IS HOW OFTEN DOES A COUNCIL MEMBER NAME APPEAR? HOW BIG IS THE NAME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN RELATION TO THE REST OF THE ITEM? HOW MANY TIMES DOES THEIR PICTURE APPEAR? AND DOES THIS COMMUNICATION PROVIDE INFORMATION, MAY BE THE NECESSARY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR AN OFFICE OR FOR 3 1 1, OR DOES IT PROMOTE THE COUNCIL MEMBER? AND SO WE HAVE NEXT SLIDE, UM, SOME SPECIFIC SORT OF EXAMPLES TO, TO GO OFF OF. I WISH I COULD GIVE MORE, BUT AS YOU'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL SLIDES, IT'S A VERY FACT INTENSIVE ANALYSIS. SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO SAY IN EVERY SITUATION, X OR Y WORDING WOULD WORK WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE FULL CONTEXT OF WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS. BUT HERE'S SOME, SOME EXAMPLES THAT WE'VE SEEN. SO THINGS THAT WERE CONSIDERED TO BE, UH, POLITICAL ADVERTISING, AND SPECIFICALLY IN THESE TWO EXAMPLES, ETHICS, STATE ETHICS COMMISSION ADVISORY OPINIONS WERE ISSUED ON THESE ITEMS. SO A MAGNET WHERE THE NAME AND PHOTOGRAPH OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL APPEARS IN AN UNDULY CONSPICUOUS WAY WITH A LIST PROMOTING THAT OFFICER'S PRIORITIES. AND THEN A NEWSLETTER WITH 23 PHOTOS INVOLVING THE OFFICER COVERING ALMOST 50% OF AND APPEARANCE OF AN OFFICER'S NAME. 22. SOME EXAMPLES OF MORE PERMISSIBLE THINGS ARE SIGNAGE CREATED FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR CITY BUSINESS USE, IDENTIFYING A COUNCIL OFFICE OR A COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THAT MAY APPEAR ON STAFF SHIRTS, A TABLE CLOTH OR PENS. NEXT SLIDE. BEYOND THE USE OF SORT OF, UM, ABUSE OF CITY RESOURCES AND POLITICAL, UH, ADVERTISING, I WAS ALSO ASKED TO JUST GO IN AGAIN BRIEFLY, UM, ON A DISCUSSION ABOUT GIFTS AND HONORARIUM. SO THESE ARE, UM, REITERATING JUST A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT WE HAD FROM OUR PRIOR PRESENTATION. SO REEMPHASIZING AGAIN THAT IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND, AND EVERYTHING WE'VE DISCUSSED IN CHAPTER 18, THERE ARE STATE LAW PENAL CODE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, INCLUDING ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS IN CHAPTER 36 OF THE PENAL CODE. SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND THE BRIBERY PROVISION AND SECTION 36.08. SO THIS IS ACCEPTANCE OF A GIFT BY A PUBLIC SERVANT. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T ACCEPT A BENEFIT FROM A PERSON SUBJECT, SUBJECT TO CITY REGULATION UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, LOBBYING BEFORE THE CITY IN A POSITION TO BENEFIT FROM CITY ACTIVITY HOLDING OR SEEKING A CITY CONTRACT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND WE HAVE THOSE LISTED AS WELL. UM, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE RE IF YOU'RE RECEIVING A GIFT, UH, BASED ON A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL [00:55:01] RELATIONSHIP, INDEPENDENT OF YOUR STATUS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, ALSO POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER THE ELECTION CODE CODE DON'T QUALIFY AS GIFTS FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION. UM, FINALLY, YOU KNOW, AN ITEM WITH A VALUE OF LESS THAN $50, EXCLUDING CASH. AND THEN, UH, AN EXCEPTION THAT WE OFTEN RECEIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, WHICH IS THE GUEST HOST EXCEPTION OR WHAT IT'S TERMED, WHICH IS FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT OR TRAVEL ACCEPTED AS A GUEST, BUT THE HOST MUST BE PRESENT. AND IF THE VALUE EXCEEDS $250, THEN IT WILL HAVE TO BE INCLUDED ON, UH, YOUR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN AS A SUBSECTION OF WHAT WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK OF GIFTS OR BENEFIT, THERE'S A PARTICULAR TYPE OF BENEFIT THAT IS TARGETED IN PENAL CODE SECTION 36.07 AND IS PROHIBITED. SO THAT IS AN HONORARIUM. AND WHERE THAT BASICALLY USUALLY COMES INTO PLAY IS THAT, UM, OFTENTIMES INDIVIDUALS ARE OFFERED, UH, A FEE, EITHER CASH OR IN KIND AS LIKE A SPEAKING FEE. IF YOU'RE ASKED TO SPEAK AT A SEMINAR ON A CONFERENCE, UM, BASED ON YOUR OFFICIAL POSITION OR DUTIES, IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN YOU CANNOT ACCEPT THE FEE. YOU CAN STILL SPEAK, THIS PROVISION DOESN'T PROHIBIT YOU FROM PARTICIPATING IN THAT CONFERENCE OR SEMINAR, BUT YOU CAN'T ACCEPT THE FEE OR HONORARIUM WITH THE EXCEPTION FOR THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF SITUATION, BEING THAT YOU CAN ACCEPT TRANSPORTATION OR LODGING EXPENSES AND MILLS IN CONNECTION WITH ADDRESSING THIS AUDIENCE ENGAGING IN THE SEMINAR. BUT AGAIN, YOU'LL, UM, HAVE TO INCLUDE IT ON YOUR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. AND OF COURSE, IF THE, THE INDIVIDUAL ISSUE IS A MEMBER OF COUNCIL'S COUNCIL STAFF AND NOT, UM, AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THEN THEY'LL ALSO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE MAYOR'S GIFT POLICY AND MAY NEED TO SEEK A WAIVER. NEXT SLIDE. AND THAT'S THE END OF END OF END OF MY PREPARED REMARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DANIELLE. UM, AND JUST QUICKLY, WE WE'RE SPEAKING TO, UM, THE PROMOTION, YOU KNOW, NEWSLETTER AND OTHER PROMOTIONS. UM, IF YOU'RE NOT UTILIZING CITY RESOURCES TO PUT UP LIKE A BILLBOARD, RIGHT? UM, AND HOW, HOW DO YOU, UM, HOW DO YOU STILL, UM, IDENTIFY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT OR, OR THE, AN ENTITY THAT IS PROVIDING A, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT SERVICE FOR YOU TO PROMOTE SOME KIND OF, UM, PROGRAM. HOW, HOW IS THAT BEING, HOW SHOULD THAT BE REPORTED IF IT'S NOT CITY, UH, RESOURCES IS, IS IT A CONTRIBUTION? SO, UM, SO THAT PROVISION, YOU KNOW, THEN WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND THAT ANALYSIS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, ONLY APPLIES TO USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, BUT THAT DOESN'T PROHIBIT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS OR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR CANDIDATES FROM USING THEIR PERSONAL FUNDS OR THEIR CAMPAIGN FINANCE FUNDS, UH, TO GET, LIKE YOU SAID, TO BUY BILLBOARDS, TO BUY OTHER TYPE OF ADVERTISING, TO BUY OTHER TYPES OF THINGS. AND SO TYPICALLY THAT WOULD BE REPORTED, UM, AS A, EITHER AS AN IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION IF YOU DID RECEIVE IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE, OR IT COULD ALSO BE AN EXPENDITURE LISTED ON YOUR REPORT IF YOU'RE USING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUR CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT. OKAY. UH, JUST WANTED TO GET SOME CLARITY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY, UM, THERE'S BEEN ADVERTISEMENT WITH LIKE BARK RIGHT? OR, UH, A NONPROFIT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S FACES ON THERE AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME CLARITY THERE TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING BEING, UH, YOU KNOW, DONE IN, YOU KNOW, VIOLATING ANYTHING WITHIN THIS CODE OF ORDINANCE. OFTEN WHEN THERE'S INSTANCES OF USES OF BILLBOARDS, THOSE, UM, WHETHER IT'S A DEPARTMENT WORKING ON IT OR A COUNCIL OFFICE, UH, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED INQUIRIES FROM BOTH AND WILL AGAIN, REVIEW SORT OF THE SIZE, THE PURPOSE OF IT, THE CONTEXT, THE TIMING, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON, ON WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE, UM, IMPERMISSIBLE IN POLITICAL ADVERTISING. THANK YOU. YOU, UH, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND DANIELLE, JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT SLIDE NUMBER 13 POLITICAL ADVERTISING. SO THE TEXT ON THAT SLIDE SAYS, CITY OFFICIAL OR CITY EMPLOYEE MAY NOT KNOWINGLY SPEND OR AUTHORIZE SPENDING OF CITY FUNDS FOR POLITICAL ADVERTISING. SO THIS IS, UM, WHERE CAN THIS BE FOUND IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES? THIS IS A STATE LAW PROVISION AND IT'S FOUND IN SECTION 2 55 0.003 OF THE ELECTION CODE, AND THAT'S LISTED ON SLIDE 11. GREAT, THANK YOU. SO, POLITICAL ADVERTISING IS DEFINED PRETTY BROADLY INCLUDES SUPPORTING [01:00:01] A PUBLIC OFFICER, UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SLIDE 14 MAKES REFERENCE TO WHAT, HOW, HOW, UH, PROMOTING A PUBLIC OFFICER IS DEFINED AND IT, IT SHAKES OUT THAT IT'S A FACT QUESTION CAN ONLY BE ANSWERED WHEN THE COMMUNICATION IS VIEWED AS A WHOLE. AND SO BASICALLY, UM, IT'S UP TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT, UM, SOMETHING CONSTITUTES POLITICAL ADVERTISING BECAUSE IT'S FOUND TO BE SUPPORTING A PUBLIC OFFICER. IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, THE ETHICS COMMISSION DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE ADVISORY OPINIONS, WHICH CAN BE RELIED ON, UM, YOU KNOW, IN RESPONSE TO ANY KIND OF LIKE COMPLAINT. THAT BEING SAID, EVERY TIME THAT THERE IS SORT OF A PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS, THE CITY DOESN'T OR ANY OTHER, UH, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY DOESN'T WRITE TO THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION FROM THAT COMMISSION, WE, AND COPIES OF PAST ORDERS AND OPINIONS, WE CAN USE THAT AS GUIDANCE IN GIVING ADVICE TO CITY OFFICIALS, WHICH WE DO. OKAY. AND SPEAKING OF SECTION 2 55 0.03, WHAT IS THE, WHAT'S THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THAT? IT'S, IT IS A CRIMINAL PENALTY, BUT THE, THE LEVEL IS ESCAPING ME. I'LL HAVE TO TO LOOK IT UP AND FOLLOW BACK UP WITH YOU. ALRIGHT. AND YOU'RE CITING ON SLIDE 14 ETHICS, UH, TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION OPINION. SO I GATHER THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CASE LAW ON IT. THE, IT'S PRIMARILY ADVISORY OPINIONS WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION, BUT THEY ARE STATUTORY, STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE SUCH OPINIONS AND THEY ARE REGARDED WITH A LOT OF WEIGHT, BUT IT IS PRIMARILY AN AREA OF THE LAW WHERE THERE ARE ADVISORY OPINIONS AND NOT AS MUCH CASE LAW. ALRIGHT. IT JUST STRIKES ME THAT'S VERY SUBJECTIVE. I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA COUNT HOW MANY TIMES A COUNCIL MEMBER'S PICTURE IS IN A NEWSLETTER, HOW BIG THE FONT IS, HOW MANY TIMES THE NAME IS USED, AND WHAT IF YOU USE PRONOUNS LIKE I OR WE DOES THAT, IS THAT THE SAME AS USING THE OFFICE HOLDER'S NAME? OR, OR, OR WHAT? WELL, IT CAN BE LOOKED AT IN THE, IN THE FULL CONTEXT OF WHETHER OR NOT SORT OF, UM, CONSIDERING ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER IT COULD BE A PROMOTION, UM, THE, IN REGARDS TO THE, THE NEWSLETTER COMPONENT AND, AND THAT ONE THAT, UM, HAD ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PHOTOS AND THE REFERENCES TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER AFTER THAT ADVISORY OPINION WAS ISSUED. THE ETHICS COMMISSION ALSO WENT AS FAR AS TO ISSUE A SPECIFIC REGULATION WITH DETAILS ABOUT NEWSLETTER, ABOUT WITH EXACT SIZES OF PICTURES. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN BE NO MORE THAN 30%. AND WE HAVE A CITATION TO THAT IN OUR PRIOR, UH, PRESENTATION. SO, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, SEE THAT AS WELL. IT'S SECTION 26.2 OF THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION RULES DISCUSSES SPECIFICALLY PERSONALLY PHRASED REFERENCES, DISCUSSES DISCUSSION OF, OF SIZE OF COUNCIL MEMBER'S PHOTOS. I I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT, IT IS VERY SUBJECTIVE. THAT'S WHY WITH EACH SORT OF PROPOSED USE, WE OFTENTIMES THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS TO LOOK AT IT ANEW AND LOOK AT WHAT THE PROPOSED MOCKUP IS. BUT SECTION 26.2, AS WELL AS THE OTHER, OTHER RESOURCES AND OPINIONS ON THE ETHICS COMMISSION WEBSITE DO GIVE A LOT OF SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON WHAT THEY HAVE CONSIDERED IN THE PAST TO BE PROMOTION. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SLIDE 17 AS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES, SOME OF WHICH AS IT RELATES TO, TO STAFF, UM, SOMETIMES STAFF GETS OFFERED ITEMS OF SOME EVEN MINIMAL VALUE THAT ARE NOT FOOD AND DRINK LIKE PENS OR NOTEBOOKS AT AN EVENT THEY ATTEND, UH, AND, AND BY AT AN EVENT THEY ATTEND. I'M MEANING THINGS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE LIKE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO THE STAFF, UH, BECAUSE OF THE EVENT. YOU KNOW, SORT OF LIKE A LOBBYING VISIT IS, IS STAFF ABLE TO ACCEPT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WITH THE WRITTEN WAIVER FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR NOT? IN REGARDS TO THE, THE MAYOR'S GIFT POLICY, WHICH IS MORE STRINGENT THAN 36.08 [01:05:02] AND SOME OF THE PROVISIONS IN CHAPTER 18. SO WHEN IT APPLIES UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, EVEN LIKE THE THE SMALLEST DE MINIMIS ITEM, IT'S PROHIBITED UNLESS THERE IS A WAIVER. BUT THAT WAIVER IS GENERALLY FOR, UH, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, THAT TYPE OF THING. IF IT'S DETERMINED THAT IT IS, UH, A PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR THE CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES THE CITY DOES GET OFFERS, UH, FOR WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYEES OR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STAFF TO ATTEND SEMINARS OR DIFFERENT TRAINING THAT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR THEIR AREA THAT THEY PARTICULARLY WORK IN, UM, AT NO COST AND OTHERWISE THAT IS TRAINING THAT THE CITY WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET FOR. AND SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING WHERE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OR IN THE CASE, UH, WITH, UH, COUNCIL STAFF, IT IS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO, UM, UH, IS OVERSEEING THAT STAFF, UH, CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, OFTEN MAKES A DETERMINATION THAT THAT WOULD BE OF A, A PUBLIC INTEREST AND BENEFIT TO THE CITY. BUT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, IF IT'S JUST MERELY, UM, A GIFT ITEM AND THERE'S NO BENEFIT TO THE CITY, IT MAY NOT BE AN APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCE FOR A WAIVER. BUT THAT'S ULTIMATELY A DETERMINATION MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEN FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THEIR PARTICULAR STAFF IN THEIR OFFICE. OKAY, THANK YOU. BACK IN THE QUEUE OKAY. UH, WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCILOR MARY ANN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ON 13. UH, COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE STATE LAYS OUT OR IN, UH, OFFER A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERPRETATION ABOUT WHAT ADVOCATING PASSAGE OR DEFEAT OF A MEASURE MEANS? THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE SHARE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHARING A STANCE ON A PARTICULAR MEASURE, IS IT? YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS OFTEN, UM, COMES INTO PLAY FOR, FOR US, AND IN FACT, I THINK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT PROBABLY ENTERTAINS MORE AND ANALYSIS OR INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS THAN SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING A PUBLIC OFFICER. BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE CITY MEASURES THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT, OBVIOUSLY THE CITY WANTS TO PROVIDE, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT MEASURE. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT USE CITY FUNDS TO EVEN ADVOCATE FOR THE PASSAGE OR DEFEAT OF OUR, UH, CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT. BUT WHAT ABOUT A, UM, JUST LIKE A, AN AGENDA ITEM THAT COMES ON THE AGENDA? OH, WEEKLY. THIS IS, THIS IS A, OR THIS JUST LIKE A PROPOSITION TYPE? THAT, THAT'S CORRECT. I, I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING. OKAY. UM, A MEASURE IS DEFINED AS A, AN ELECTION MEASURE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE, THE BALLOT. SO IT COULD BE A CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT, IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER TYPE OF MEASURE. GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, ON THAT EXCELLENT QUESTION. SO AN ELECTION MEASURE WOULD BE LIKE THE, UH, HISD BOND ISSUE COMING UP IN NOVEMBER, RIGHT? SO COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN IN THEIR CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTERS, FOR INSTANCE, TAKING A POSITION YAY OR NAY ON IT. THAT'S CORRECT. AND, AND NOT ONLY, UM, THAT, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE. YEAH. UH, BUT I, THAT DOES BRING UP A GOOD ISSUE TO, TO EMPHASIZE WHY, UH, WHILE I'M HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DISCUSSED PROVIDING INFORMATION IN ON AN INTERNET WEB, THE CITY'S INTERNET WEBSITE ON THE CITY'S NEWSLETTER. BUT THEY'VE ALSO INTERPRETED, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS EVEN ENFORCED THE, UM, THIS PROVISION WHEN IT APPLIES TO POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SO IF YOU HAVE, NOT A PERSONAL ACCOUNT, BUT AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT THAT YOU, UH, POST, UH, PURSUANT TO YOUR OFFICIAL DUTIES ABOUT OFFICIAL BUSINESS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO THAT AS WELL. AND, AND LIKE I SAID, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS ENFORCED ON OTHER ENTITIES REGARDING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS IN THE PAST. THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST, JUST TO TACK ON THAT, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE AS WELL WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING TO AN OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND YOUR PERSONAL, JUST TO BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE THAT. 'CAUSE SOMETIMES EVEN THE PUBLIC MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. SO, UM, I THINK WHAT WE DECIDE TO PROMOTE OR, OR SUPPORT, UH, IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE THAT, THAT, THAT SENSE OF, UH, OF AWARENESS. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, SO, UM, THAT APPLIES TO BALLOT MEASURES, RIGHT? SO THAT'S CORRECT. BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO ADVOCATE FOR, LET'S SAY, LEGISLATION THAT, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE PASSED THAT MIGHT BENEFIT THE CITY. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. THIS PROVISION IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, UM, UM, AN ELECTION MEASURE. ALRIGHT. AND I WOULD NOTE AS AN EXAMPLE OF COMPLIANCE, UM, I JUST PARTICIPATED IN A, [01:10:01] IN A TEAMS MEETING COUPLE DAYS AGO WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA REGARDING THE FLOOD CONTROL BOND ISSUE THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AS WELL. AND HE WAS, HE WAS, UM, CLEAR TO POINT OUT THAT HE COULD NOT, AND WAS NOT ADVOCATING FOR PASSAGE OR, OR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU. IT WAS MERELY INFORMATIONAL, UH, PUTTING OUT DETAILS OF WHAT, WHAT, UH, WHAT WAS ENTAILED. SO ANYWAY, UH, THERE'S A, THERE'S A RIGHT WAY TO DO THAT. SO, UH, JUST TYING THE LOOP ON SLIDE 17 WITH REGARD TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ACCEPTING FOOD AND DRINK FROM SOMEONE, IS IT CORRECT TO SAY IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPORTED IF THE VALUE IS LESS THAN $250? IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDER THE GUEST HOST EXCEPTION? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. GUEST, HOST, PRESENT, YES. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. UM, AND I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION, UH, AND QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL, UM, AND ESSENTIALLY THE, THIS, UM, THIS MEETING AS WELL. UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SOME LAST COMMENTS, UH, FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING. UH, YOU MAY SEND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY EMAILING MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT I@HOUSTONTX.GOV. AND WITH NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, UH, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY. MEETINGS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.