NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2020 AT 6:30 P.M. ONE TEXAS CENTER, ROOM 325, 505 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, AUSTIN, TEXAS Vice-Chair Luis Soberon Secretary Kenneth “Tray” Gober Betsy Greenberg Raafia Lari J. Michael Ohueri CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chair Mary Kahle Debra Danburg Robin Lerner Donna Beth McCormick Nathan Ryan Pedro A. Villalobos AGENDA CALL TO ORDER GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION A maximum of ten persons will be allowed to speak during general citizen communications. Each person must sign up to speak prior to the meeting being called to order. Sign-in requirements and time limits per speaker are described in the “Notice Regarding Citizen Communication and Public Testimony”. See pages 2 – 3 of this document. 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Ethics Review Commission may announce it will go into Executive Session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to receive advice from legal counsel on any matters specifically listed on this agenda (Private Consultation with Attorney-Section 551.071). The Commission may go into executive session to discuss legal issues related to: a. Three complaints filed by Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaints allege violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance) Section 2-2-33 (Disclosure Statement Required). b. A complaint filed by Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaint alleges violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign) Section 2-2-32 (Reporting of Direct Campaign Expenditures). 1 2. PRELIMINARY HEARING Discussion and possible action regarding the following: Three complaints filed by Robert Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaints allege violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance) Section 2-2-33 (Disclosure Statement Required). 3. FINAL HEARING Discussion and possible action regarding the following: A complaint filed by Robert Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaint alleges violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign) Section 2-2-32 (Reporting of Direct Campaign Expenditures). 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: DECEMBER 11, 2019 REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING Discussion and possible action regarding the minutes for the December 11, 2019 regular commission meeting 5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion regarding: a. An item for the March agenda – working groups to report back to the Commission b. Other future agenda items ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative …
ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 12, 2020 The Ethics Review Commission (“Commission”) convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, One Texas Center, Room 325, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas. Chair Mary Kahle called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. Commissioners in attendance: Chair Mary Kahle, Vice-Chair Luis Soberon, Secretary Tray Gober, and Commissioners Debra Danburg, Betsy Greenberg, Raafia Lari, Donna Beth McCormick, Nathan Ryan, and Pedro Villalobos. Commissioner Robin Lerner arrived while the Commission was in executive session. Commissioner J. Michael Ohueri was absent. City Staff in Attendance: Lynn Carter, Commission Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney, and Sue Palmer, Staff Liaison, Law Department. Chair Kahle announced prior to executive session that she was recusing herself from items 1a, 1b, 2, and 3. GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION Each person who signed up to speak prior to the meeting being called to order and who designated this item on which to speak, or who did not designate an agenda item on which to speak will be allowed three minutes to speak. One speaker, Carlos León, spoke during General Citizen Communication. 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Ethics Review Commission may announce it will go into Executive Session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to receive advice from legal counsel on any matter specifically listed on this agenda (Private Consultation with Attorney-Section 551.071). The Commission went into executive session to discuss legal issues related to: a. Three complaints filed by Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaints allege violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance) Section 2-2-33 (Disclosure Statement Required). b. A complaint filed by Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaint alleges violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign) Section 2-2-32 (Reporting of Direct Campaign Expenditures). 1 The Commission went into executive session at 6:40 p.m.; the open meeting resumed at 7:10 p.m. Chair Kahle recused herself from participation on the executive session items. 2. PRELIMINARY HEARING Discussion and possible action regarding the following: Three complaints filed by Robert Mark Littlefield against Unconventional Austin SPAC, which complaints allege violation of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance) Section 2-2-33 (Disclosure Statement Required). Chair Kahle recused herself from participation on this item. Complainant Mark Littlefield appeared; Fred Lewis appeared on behalf of Respondent Unconventional Austin SPAC. Following the presentations of the parties during the preliminary hearing, Vice-Chair Soberon made a motion to find …
