Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES JUNE 28, 2023 The Ethics Review Commission convened in a Regular Commission meeting on June 28, 2023, at City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room #1101, at 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas and via Videoconference. Chair Soberon called the Ethics Review Commission Meeting to order at 6:14 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Luis Soberon, Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Amy Casto, Haksoon Andrea Low, Michael Lovins, William Ross Pumfrey, Mikki Teneyuca and Sidney Williams were present at City Hall. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None. Commissioners Absent: Vice-Chair Mary Kahle. Vacancy: Mayor’s nominee and District 3 nominee. City Staff in Attendance: Lizette Benitez, Staff Liaison; and Victoria Hayslett, Commission Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No one registered to speak during Public Communication. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Consideration, discussion, and potential action regarding: 1. Review of the jurisdictional determination for the complaint filed by Janice Felder against John Umphress, raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-1 (City Boards), Section 2-1-48 (Rules of Order). Prior to the June Regular Commission meeting, Chair Soberon made the determination that the Felder-Umphress complaint was not within the jurisdiction of the Commission. No action was taken on this agenda item. 2. Review and approve potential amendments to City Code Chapter 4-8 (Regulation of Lobbyists), Sections 4-8-8 (Appearance) and 4-8-10 (Audit). 1  Corrie Stokes City Auditor, briefed the Commission on the amendments to City Code Chapter 4-8 (Regulation of Lobbyists), Sections 4-8-8 (Appearance) and 4-8-10 (Audit), made by the Law Department. The Commission asked questions of City Auditor Stokes. Chair Soberon’s motion to approve the amendments to City Code Chapter 4-8 with the change to replace “periodically” with “every 3 years” was approved on an 8-0 vote of all members present. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Voting in favor: Chair Soberon, Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Casto, Low, Pumfrey, Lovins, Teneyuca and Williams. Vice-Chair Kahle was absent. Chair Soberon briefly recessed the meeting at 6:39 p.m., and called the meeting back into session at 6:41 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2023. 3. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Meeting on May 24, Secretary Stanton-Adams’ motion to adopt the minutes was approved on a 7-1 vote of all members present. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Teneyuca. Voting in favor: Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Casto, Low, Pumfrey, Lovins, Teneyuca and Williams. Chair Soberon abstained and Vice-Chair Kahle was absent. Chair Soberon briefly recessed the meeting once more at 6:42 p.m., and called the meeting back into session at 6:44 p.m. 4. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Special Called Meeting on June 5, 2023. Secretary Stanton-Adams’ motion to adopt the minutes with Commissioner Low’s amendment to remove “Respondent Hanna Cofer” from the list of parties attending in person, was approved on a 6-2 vote of all members present. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Low. Voting in favor: Chair Soberon, Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Casto, Low, Teneyuca and Williams. Commissioners Lovins and Pumfrey abstained and Vice-Chair Kahle was absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Commission had no future agenda items. ADJOURNMENT Chair Soberon adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m. without objection. 2 The preceding minutes were approved on a 6-2 vote of all members present at the August 23, 2023 Regular Commission Meeting on Commissioner Williams’ motion and Commissioner Casto’s second. Vice-Chair Kahle and Commissioner Espinoza abstained. Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Nuñez and Teneyuca were absent. 3