Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting of the Ethics Review Commission

Agenda — original pdf

REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 13, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS, ROOM #1111a 4815 MUELLER BOULEVARD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78723 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. Vice-Chair Mary Kahle Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams Haksoon Andrea Low Alysa Nuñez Edward Espinoza William Ross Pumfrey Andrew Cates 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. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Consideration, discussion, and potential action regarding: 1 1. 2. 3. Review and evaluation of the contribution limits established in Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance) and consider making recommendations to the City Council as to those limits. Discussion and possible action regarding revisions to City Code 2-2 (Campaign Finance). APPROVAL OF MINUTES FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting on September 27, 2023. 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 formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Lizette Benitez, Wajiha Rizvi, or Victoria Hayslett at the Law Department, at (512) 974-2268 for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Ethics Review Commission, please contact Wajiha Rizvi at (512) 974-2171. For the 2023 meeting schedule, agendas, and additional …

Item 2: Chapter 2-2 Redline Edits — original pdf

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 DRAFT ORDINANCE NO. ____________ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 2-2 TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESSES FOR CANDIDATES WHO SUBMIT A VOLUNTARY CAMPAIGN CONTRACT, TO ENSURE CITY CODE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH COURT DECISIONS REGARDING THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCE PERIOD, AND TO DELETE OBSOLETE REFERENCES TO THE TERM “DATA FILE.” BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: PART 1. Section 2-2-2 (Definitions) is amended add a new Subsection (24) to read: (24) VOLUNTARY CAMPAIGN CONTRACT CAMPAIGN PERIOD applies only to those candidates who have elected to submit the voluntary campaign contract and means the time period beginning when a candidate timely submits a campaign contract in accordance with Article 2 of this Chapter and ending on the date of the general election. PART 2. Subsections (A), (B), and (G) of Section 2-2-7 (Commencement of Campaign Period) are amended to read: A) A [general election,] special election[,] and a runoff election each have a separate campaign period for purposes of City Charter Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures) and this chapter. The contribution limits set forth in City Charter Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures) apply separately to each general election, runoff election, and special election. (B) There is no mandated campaign period for a general election, except for the voluntary campaign contract campaign period for candidates who timely submit the voluntary campaign contract as provided in Section 2-2-11(B). [The campaign period for a general election begins the 365th day before the date of the general election.] (G) A candidate may only raise funds for a[n] special or runoff election during an authorized campaign period. PART 3. Subsection (B) of Section 2-2-11 (Voluntary Campaign Contract) is amended to read: (B) A candidate must submit a personally signed [the] campaign contract no later than the earliest occurring deadline below[the earlier of]: (1) 30 days after [he or she becomes a candidate under the Texas Election Code] the date the individual files an appointment of campaign treasurer or an amendment of campaign treasurer with the City Clerk’s office, if the applicable form was …