Ethics Review Commission Special Called Meeting of the Ethics Review Commission - Austin Permitting & Development Center, PDC ROOM, #1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION JUNE 5, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN PERMITTING & DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PDC ROOM, #1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752 Some members of the Ethics Review Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public Speakers: Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak once, either in-person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. If participating remotely by telephone, a speaker must register no later than noon the day before the meeting. To register to speak remotely, contact Lizette Benitez at (512) 974-2915 or lizette.benitez@austintexas.gov or contact Meredith Mooney at (512) 974-2667 or meredith.mooney@austintexas.gov. Vice-Chair Mary Kahle Haksoon Andrea Low Vacancy – District 3 Vacancy – Mayor’s nominee Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams Vacancy - District 8 Mikki Teneyuca CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Chair Luis Soberon Amy Casto Michael Lovins Sidney Williams CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA There is no limit on the number of speakers who may speak on agenda items. There is a limit on the number of speakers who may speak on items not posted on the agenda—only the first ten speakers who register prior to the meeting being called to order will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address non-agenda items. For more information on public communication, please see the “Notice Regarding Public Communication” at the end of this agenda. 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 listed in this agenda. The Commission may go into Executive Session to discuss: 1 1. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Hanna Cofer raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). 2. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Evan Taniguchi, raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). PRELIMINARY HEARING 3. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Hanna Cofer, raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). 4. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Evan Taniguchi, raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). FUTURE AGENDA …
ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES JUNE 5, 2023 The Ethics Review Commission convened in a Special Called meeting on June 5, 2023, at Austin Permitting and Development Center, Room #1405, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas and via Videoconference. Chair Soberon called the Ethics Review Commission Meeting to order at 6:27 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Luis Soberon, Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Amy Casto, Haksoon Andrea Low, Mikki Teneyuca and Sidney Williams were present at the Permitting and Development Center. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None. Commissioners Absent: Vice-Chair Mary Kahle and Commissioner Michael Lovins. Vacancy: Mayor’s nominee, District 3 nominee, District 8 nominee. City Staff in Attendance: Meredith Mooney, Staff Liaison; and Wajiha Rizvi, Commission Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Three speakers signed up for General Communication in person and were each allotted three minutes to speak. Laura Massengale, Dorothy Lopez Barnett and Nina Miller all spoke regarding the Zilker Vision Plan. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Commission went into Executive Session at 6:39 p.m. Wajiha Rizvi advised the Commission. 1. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Hanna Cofer raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). 2. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Evan Taniguchi, raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Consideration, discussion, and potential action regarding: 1 3. A complaint filed by Teri Adams against Hanna Cofer, raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal). The Commission reconvened the public meeting at 7:48 p.m. and called forward two public speakers, Scott Cobb and Laura Massengale to speak on items 3 and 4. Scott Cobb and Laura Massengale both spoke on this item. Parties Attending: Complainant Teri Adams and Respondent’s counsel Ross Fischer, all appeared in person. All parties signed an oath form and spoke on item 3. The Commission heard opening statements from Complainant Teri Adams and counsel for the Respondent, Ross Fischer. The Commission then asked questions of both parties. Secretary Stanton-Adams’ motion to find that there are reasonable grounds that a violation of City Code section 2-1-24 (Conflict of Interest and Recusal) has occurred failed on a 4-2 vote of all members present and thereby the complaint against Respondent Cofer was dismissed. Commissioner Teneyuca …
